Edinburgh Private Tour Mercedes: Old Town, Castle, Royal Mile

Four hours covering Edinburgh's Old Town, New Town, and the landmarks in between

A private 4-hour guided tour of Edinburgh in a comfortable 6-seater Mercedes, covering the Old Town and New Town with stops at Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill and other major sites. You travel with a driver-guide who provides live commentary, stop to walk and photograph at each location, and can ask for tips on where to eat and shop on your own time. A maximum of 6 people travel together, and a small amount of walking is involved but can be excluded if needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private 4-hour Edinburgh city tour

• Travel around Old Town
• Stop at Edinburgh Castle
• Visit Grassmarket
• See Diagon Alley
• Visit Greyfriars Bobby
• Stop at Elephant House
• Walk along Royal Mile
• Visit St Giles Cathedral
• See Mercat Cross
• Visit Palace of Holyrood House
• View Arthur's Seat
• Stop at Calton Hill
• See Walter Scott Monument
• Explore New Town
• Visit Dean Village

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup and moves through Edinburgh's Old Town, where you'll stop at Edinburgh Castle, the Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby and the Royal Mile—each one a place to step out, walk around and take photos. The driver-guide narrates as you travel between stops, pointing out the medieval layout of the city and answering questions about what you're seeing. You'll also pass the Elephant House and the street that inspired "Diagon Alley" if you're interested in those details.

The second half takes you through the New Town and up to the higher vantage points: Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill and the Walter Scott Monument. St Giles Cathedral, Mercat Cross and the Palace of Holyrood House are also on the route, with time to stop and explore whichever ones appeal to you. The guide can suggest the best places to return to on foot later, or recommend restaurants and shops for the rest of your stay.

You travel in a spacious Mercedes that fits up to 6 passengers, so the group stays small and the vehicle doesn't feel crowded. The whole tour runs 4 hours, which is long enough to see the major attractions without rushing through them, but short enough to fit into a day when you're also doing other things. A small amount of walking is built into the stops, though you can arrange to skip that if you prefer to stay in the vehicle.

What’s included

• Private transport in a luxury 6-seater Mercedes.
• a driver-guide providing live commentary in English.
• stops at Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill, the Walter Scott Monument and other major sites.
• time to walk around and photograph at each location.
• pickup from your accommodation.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Edinburgh Cab Tours

Is this one for you?The live guide speaks English, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably and ask questions as you go. This works well if you want to understand the history and layout of Edinburgh in a single morning or afternoon, rather than piecing it together from multiple walking tours or navigating on your own.

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Top questions

What's the difference between Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town that I'll see on this tour?

The Old Town is the medieval core of the city, built on steep hills with narrow closes and historic buildings like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile; the New Town is the 18th-century planned district with wider streets and Georgian architecture, including Calton Hill and the Walter Scott Monument. The tour covers both, so you see how the city expanded and changed over time.

Can I get out and walk around at each stop, or do I stay in the vehicle?

You get out and walk around at the main sites—Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat and the others—with time to take photos and explore. A small amount of walking is involved across the tour, though you can arrange to skip the walking portions if you prefer.

How many people will be on this private tour?

A maximum of 6 people travel together on this tour, so it's a small group. You can book it for just yourself or bring family and friends up to that limit.

What's included in the 4-hour tour price?

The tour includes private transport in the Mercedes, the driver-guide's live commentary throughout, and all the stops and activities at the sites. Pickup is included; food and drinks are not.

Can young children come on this tour?

Children as young as 5 years old can join, and they must be accompanied by an adult. Infant seats are available on request if you let the operator know at the time of booking, though there's an additional charge for that service.