Things to do in Edinburgh
Day Trips from Edinburgh12 optionsEdinburgh Underground City14 optionsEdinburgh Tour Highlands44 optionsEdinburgh Ghost Tour24 optionsStirling Castle Tours39 optionsWhiskey Tour Edinburgh13 optionsEdinburgh Walking Tour94 optionsEdinburgh Airport Taxi10 optionsEdinburgh City Tour7 optionsRosslyn Chapel Tours10 optionsBoat Tour Edinburgh6 optionsLoch Lomond Tours13 options
The unmissables
Most booked
Edinburgh: Underground Ghost Tour & Greyfriars Kirkyard★ 4.65 (10,755) · 1h 15m
Top rated
Loch Ness & Glencoe Tour from Edinburgh: Scottish Highlands★ 4.79 (7,346) · 12h 30m
Best value
Edinburgh: Underground Vaults & Royal Mile Dark History Tour★ 4.70 (9,436) · 1h
Recommended (7)
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour & Entry Ticket★ 4.81 (6,788) · 1h 30m£ 41View ›
Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour★ 4.92 (6,570) · 12h 30m£ 45View ›
Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William Day Trip★ 4.93 (6,292) · 12h£ 45View ›
Edinburgh: Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour with Cruise★ 4.72 (6,289) · 12h£ 103View ›
Edinburgh Castle Tour: Pre-Booked Entry & 3000 Years of History★ 4.89 (5,830) · 1h 30m£ 39View ›
Make Chocolate in Edinburgh: 90-Minute Guided Class★ 4.97 (4,845) · 1h 30m£ 28View ›
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Walking Tour with Trivia & Castle Views★ 4.89 (4,636) · 2h£ 15.50View ›Top rated (10)
Edinburgh: Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & TastingYou arrive with a gin and tonic, learn the story of Lind and Lime, bottle and label your own 5cl bottle on the production line, then mix and sip a Gimlet cocktail while hearing more about the distillery. The whole thing takes 75 minutes and includes two drinks plus tastings in the shop. You leave with a bottle you made yourself and the skills to mix a proper Gimlet at home.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a hands-on distillery experience rather than just a tasting — the bottling line and cocktail-mixing parts are what turn it into something you actually do, not just watch.
Edinburgh: Harry Potter & Horrible Histories Walking TourYou walk Edinburgh's Old Town with a specialist guide who connects J.K. Rowling's real writing spots to the city's medieval streets and darker history. You see the gravestones that inspired character names, visit the two cafes where Rowling wrote, stand in the Grassmarket execution site, and get views of Edinburgh Castle from angles most visitors miss. The group stays under twelve people, so the pace stays conversational and you're not fighting crowds.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand how Edinburgh actually inspired Harry Potter rather than chase film set locations, and you'd rather have a guide who knows both the literary history and the city's real past than navigate the Old Town alone trying to connect the dots yourself.
Edinburgh: Highlands & Loch Ness Private Tour with Ben NevisYou spend a full day in a private vehicle with a driver-guide, moving through Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, the Trossachs, Glencoe, Ben Nevis and Loch Ness. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are snacks and chilled water. You choose where to stop for photographs and whether to take the optional Loch Ness cruise. The vehicle is yours alone, not shared with other groups.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see the main Highlands landmarks in one day without renting a car or arranging your own transport and timing — the private vehicle and flexible stops mean you move at your own pace and don't follow a group schedule.
Make Your Own Gin in Edinburgh: Distill & BottleA hands-on gin-making class in Edinburgh where you design a bespoke recipe, distill 500ml on an individual mini copper still, and bottle your own gin to take home. The three-hour workshop includes a welcome gin and tonic, three spirit tastings, a cocktail while your gin distills, and guidance from a live English-speaking instructor. Minimum age 18.Is it for me?You'll distill and bottle your own gin in an afternoon—walk out with a 500ml bottle that's entirely yours, made from start to finish by your hands.
Edinburgh Private Tour Mercedes: Old Town, Castle, Royal MileA 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.Is it for me?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.
Edinburgh: Royal Mile & Old Town Private Walking TourYou walk the Royal Mile and Old Town's closes with a local guide who carries archive photographs and dresses in a kilt, stopping at Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, St Giles, the Mercat Cross, and the University of Edinburgh. The tour covers Mary Queen of Scots, Deacon Brodie, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the Burke and Hare murders, with Robert adjusting the pace and depth to your interests. It's a private tour, so you're not part of a larger group, and the whole experience is built around the stories that actually happened on these streets.Is it for me?This works best if you want the real stories behind Edinburgh's most famous streets without joining a larger group — the private format means Robert can slow down where you're curious and skip ahead where you're not. You'll need to be comfortable walking on cobblestones and uneven ground for several hours, but the pace is yours to set.
Edinburgh: Glencoe & Glenfinnan Viaduct with Steam TrainYou travel by mini-coach from Edinburgh through Callander and Glencoe, stopping for refreshments and lunch, then head to the Glenfinnan Viaduct overlooking Loch Shiel where you can watch the Jacobite Steam Train cross (April–October, weather and schedule permitting). The route also passes Fort William and Ben Nevis, with a final stop in Perthshire before returning to Edinburgh. A driver-guide handles all navigation and timing, so you just show up and ride.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Highlands scenery and the Glenfinnan Viaduct in a single day without renting a car or navigating between stops — the driver-guide handles the route and timing, which is what makes a ten-hour loop feel manageable instead of exhausting.
Edinburgh: Pentland Hills Hike & Highland Cows with All-Day BusYou’ll hike through Edinburgh’s Pentland Hills with a local guide, spotting Highland cows if luck’s on your side and learning little bits of Scottish history along winding trails. Expect muddy boots, fresh air, snacks included, plus an all-day bus ticket so getting there (and back) is no stress. It’s part city escape, part wild adventure—hard not to feel changed by it.
Private Highlands Tour from Edinburgh: Customize your dayYou spend a full day driving through the Central Highlands with a local guide who adjusts the route to what you actually want to see—castles, lochs, walks, whisky, or Rob Roy's story. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, the van is private, and you move at a pace that lets you linger or skip without holding anyone else up. Distillery visits are optional and booked separately.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see the Highlands without following a coach schedule or managing a rental car themselves. Expect a full day out with flexibility built in—that's what makes customizing the route possible without holding other passengers back.
Edinburgh Gin: Classic Tour & Tasting in Old TownYou spend ninety minutes in a working gin distillery learning how botanicals shape flavour, then taste three different gins with proper mixers and garnishes. The Flavour Arch—where you smell and taste the actual ingredients—is the part people remember. Entry, welcome drink, and all three tastings are included, plus access to the shop and bar if you want to stay longer.Is it for me?Right for gin drinkers who want to understand how flavour actually builds, not just taste spirits. The ninety minutes are paced for learning and tasting together, which means you're not rushed but also not standing around between pours.
Lowest price (10)
Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tour: Royal Mile & Greyfriars BobbyYou walk the Royal Mile from High Street down through St Giles' Cathedral and the Grassmarket to Greyfriars Kirkyard, hearing stories of Scottish history, William Wallace, and the legendary Greyfriars Bobby along the way. A local guide handles the narration and timing, so you don't have to plan the route or wonder what you're looking at. The tour ends near a museum, leaving your afternoon open.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Old Town landmarks connected by real stories rather than visited as separate stops — the guide's knowledge is what turns a walk into a narrative, and the fixed route means you don't spend time figuring out where to go next.
Edinburgh: Witch Hunts & Burke Murder Walking GameYou work through a self-guided game across Edinburgh's most haunted landmarks, solving clues at each stop to unlock stories of witchcraft trials, public executions, and infamous murders. Play offline, start anytime, and move at your own pace through Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, Mary King's Close, and beyond. No guide, no fixed schedule, no internet needed — just you, the clues, and the city's darkest past.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to explore Edinburgh's haunted history at your own pace without a guide's schedule dictating your day — the self-guided format means you can linger at any location, take breaks, or spread the experience across multiple visits without penalty.
Bobby's Bar Crawl Edinburgh: 5 bars, nightclub & shotsBobby's Bar Crawl is a guided tour of Edinburgh's nightlife, starting at 9 PM at Pilgrim Bar and moving through five venues including Frankenstein and ending at Hive nightclub. The crawl includes entry to all bars and the club, complimentary shots at selected venues, exclusive drink deals, a wristband, professional photos, and a local host leading a mixed group of solo travelers and groups through the night.Is it for me?The local host speaks English and leads the group at a social pace through live music venues and nightclubs, so solo travelers and groups mixing together can follow comfortably and meet people throughout the night. You'll need to be 18 or older to join.
Edinburgh: Royal Mile & Castle Walking Tour in SpanishYou walk the Royal Mile and Edinburgh's Old Town with a Spanish-speaking guide for three hours, stopping at Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Grassmarket. The guide shares historical facts, myths and legends about the Scottish capital while you navigate the atmospheric streets and alleyways. You'll see the major landmarks, hear the stories behind them, and end with an iconic view of the castle from a narrow close—no need to arrange your own route or worry about missing the context.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Edinburgh sights and their stories in one morning or afternoon without planning your own route—the guide handles the pacing and context, which is what turns a walk into an understanding of how the city actually works.
Edinburgh Comedy Attic: Late-Night Stand-Up & Drinks Above PubYou get admission to an intimate, rotating stand-up show hosted by Rick Molland with three acts pulled from the UK circuit each night. The room is small enough that comedians can see you react, heckling is fair game, and the late-night slot means no early finish. Book ahead—seats fill fast.Is it for me?Book this if you want stand-up comedy without the theater-seat distance—the room is small enough that the show feels like a conversation, and the rotating line-up means no two nights are the same. The late-night slot and pub setting keep the energy high without an early finish.
Edinburgh Old Town Pub Crawl: 5 Bars, Free Shots & Queue JumpYou get taken through five-plus bars in Edinburgh Old Town with free entry, a free shot at each venue, discounted drinks on a wristband, and all the night's photos afterward. The guide handles the route and timing, so you just show up at Stockbridge Market and go. Book if you want the main spots without the queue stress and the logistics sorted.Is it for me?Book this if you want to hit Edinburgh's best drinking spots without figuring out the route, waiting in queues, or paying cover charges — the guide and the wristband deals handle all three. Group size and composition are restricted to keep the vibe right, so check the rules before booking.
Edinburgh Party Pub Crawl: 7 Bars, Free Shots & VIP Club EntryAn Edinburgh pub crawl visiting 7 bars with a live English-speaking guide, free shots at every venue, drinking games, exclusive drink discounts, and VIP entry to a top nightclub. The crawl runs 5 to 6 hours and is designed for solo travelers and groups, with group sizes that vary from smaller midweek crowds to bigger weekend parties. Minimum age is 18.Is it for me?The crawl starts in central Edinburgh and a live guide leads the whole group, so you don't need a car or advance knowledge of where the bars are—you just show up and follow along. This works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere, since the route is planned and the guide handles the navigation.
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Walking Tour & Castle ViewsYou walk the Royal Mile, stop at Greyfriars Kirkyard to see the real graves that inspired character names, pass Victoria Street (Diagon Alley's model), and end with views of Edinburgh Castle. A local guide handles the two hours and the connections; kids go free. No need to arrange your own route or miss the smaller details that make the walk worth taking.Is it for me?Pick this if you want the Harry Potter locations without planning the route yourself and want to understand why each place mattered to Rowling—the guide does that work. Kids going free makes it practical for families.
Edinburgh Old Town & Underground Vaults Ghost TourYou walk the closes of Edinburgh's Old Town for 30 minutes with a period-costumed guide playing a historical figure, then descend into the South Bridge vaults for another 30 minutes to explore the underground chambers and hear the darker stories tied to them. It's family-friendly enough for kids over 5, includes all entry to the vaults, and runs in afternoon slots so you're not committing your whole day. Book the time that fits your schedule — 1:15, 3:15, or 5:15 PM.Is it for me?Book this if you want the darker side of Edinburgh's history without spending hours researching it yourself or navigating the closes alone — the guide handles the storytelling and the vault access, and the afternoon slot means you can fit it around the rest of your day without committing to an evening.
Edinburgh: Royal Mile & Castle Walking Tour 3 HoursYou walk the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle surroundings for three hours with a professional guide who covers the history, myths and landmarks you'd otherwise miss. The route includes St Giles' Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, and a climb to views of the castle. Small groups and steady pacing mean you actually absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing through a checklist.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand Edinburgh's Old Town layout and history without arranging a guide separately, and who can walk steadily for three hours on hilly cobblestone streets. The small group size and professional guide mean you'll absorb the stories and context that make the landmarks stick with you.
