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
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Edinburgh Whisky Tour: Royal Mile & Underground TastingA small-group whisky tour in Edinburgh starts at the Mercat Cross, moves through the Old Town's whisky history on the Royal Mile, then descends into Mercat's underground vaults for a guided tasting of four Scottish single malts from Speyside, Highland, Islay and Lowland distilleries. Minimum age 18; the tour runs year-round and lasts two hours.Is it for me?The small-group format and fixed two-hour schedule suit anyone who wants to learn whisky history and taste four regional styles without spending a full afternoon or arranging their own transport between stops. The underground vaults and audio layer make it different from a standard tasting room, so it works well if you want the sensory depth beyond the four drams alone.
Edinburgh: Canyoning Day Trip with Cliff Jumping & AbseilingYou get picked up in Edinburgh, driven to the canyon, and spend the day jumping, sliding and abseiling through Scottish waterfalls with a guide who knows the water. Wetsuit, harness and helmet are provided; the vehicle is air-conditioned for the drive back. The whole day is built around small groups and high physical commitment.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day physical challenge that gets you into actual Scottish terrain — not a scenic walk, but jumping and abseiling in water and stone. The small group size and included gear mean you show up and move, without arranging anything yourself.
Private Greyfriars Kirkyard tour: Scottish history storiesA private walking tour of Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh with a local guide, where you learn the history of the people buried in the ground beneath you—Covenanters, grave robbers, a famous terrier and others whose lives shaped Scottish history. The tour stays entirely within the burial ground and runs 90 minutes; you choose the group size (1 to 10 people) at checkout.Is it for me?Book this if you want to move at your own pace through the kirkyard and hear the stories of the people buried there without a large group around you. The private format means the guide can adjust the route and the depth of each story to what interests your group, and you control when to linger at a grave or move on.
Edinburgh: Private Black Cab City Tour & Rosslyn Chapel OptionYou’ll ride through Edinburgh in a classic black cab with your own guide—exploring everything from the Royal Mile’s bustle to quiet corners like Greyfriars Kirkyard or Calton Hill’s windy summit. Stops are flexible: maybe you’ll squeeze in Rosslyn Chapel or linger over city views instead. Expect local stories, hotel pickup, and time for photos along the way—you’ll leave with more than just snapshots.
Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tour: Castle, Royal Mile & StoriesYou’ll walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide who brings history to life—stories behind St Giles’ Cathedral, secrets along the Royal Mile, and legends at Grassmarket. Expect laughter, unexpected details (and maybe a chill or two), plus plenty of chances to pause or ask questions as you go.
Edinburgh: Loch Lomond Bike Tour & Stirling Castle with E-BikesYou cycle 18 miles through Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park on quiet roads and cycle paths, with views of Doune Castle, Stirling Castle, and an optional 30-minute walk to Balquhidder Braes. E-bikes are available for a gentler pace. Hotel pickup from Edinburgh and lunch at a local cafe are included; the tour runs at a relaxed speed with a small group and an experienced guide.Is it for me?Best for cyclists who want to see the Highlands without arranging their own transport or route—the guide handles the navigation and pacing, the van covers the drive out, and e-bikes are there if you want to coast through the harder sections.
Edinburgh E-Bike Tour: Arthur's Seat & Old Town with Local GuideYou cycle Edinburgh's main sights—Scottish Parliament, Arthur's Seat, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Dean Village, and Leith waterfront—in one afternoon without arranging your own transport or getting exhausted on climbs. The e-bike motor handles the hills, a local guide handles the history, and small groups (max 10) mean you're not herded. All gear—jacket, gloves, helmet, bike—is included; the tour takes 3–4 hours.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to cover Edinburgh's main sights in one afternoon without renting a car or walking uphill for hours—the e-bike motor and small-group pacing mean you see more ground and stay comfortable doing it.
Edinburgh Royal Mile Walking Tour with Local GuideYou walk the Royal Mile from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle with a local guide who grew up in the Old Town and teaches in a primary school there. Robert wears traditional Scottish dress and tells the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, Prince Charles Edward Stewart, and the civil wars that shaped the street. The tour is wheelchair accessible and takes around two hours, moving uphill through closes and wynds at a steady pace with frequent stops.Is it for me?Book this if you want the Royal Mile's history told by someone who actually grew up there rather than learned it from a script — Robert's local knowledge and five-star rating mean you're not just walking a famous street, you're understanding why it matters.
Edinburgh Old Town Treasure Hunt with Local FolkloreYou’ll wander Edinburgh’s Old Town solving clues about local folklore, spot hidden creatures carved into ancient buildings, share laughs with your team (and maybe some strangers), and finish with a small prize to remember it by. It’s playful, surprising, and you’ll see the city through new eyes.
Edinburgh Coasteering: Cliff Jumps & Sea CavesYou're picked up from Edinburgh and driven to a Scottish coastline site where you spend the day cliff jumping, sea swimming, scrambling over rocks and exploring sea caves with a small group and a guide. Everything you need — wetsuit, helmet, buoyancy aid — is provided, and the experience is built around high-fitness adventurers who want to move through the coast rather than look at it. The fixed schedule and transport mean you don't have to arrange the logistics yourself; you just show up ready to go hard.Is it for me?Book this if you're fit, comfortable in the sea, and want to move through the Scottish coast rather than observe it from the shore — the small group size and provided equipment mean you can focus on the jumps and caves instead of arranging safety gear or worrying about logistics.
Edinburgh: Arthur's Seat Sunset Hike & Castle ViewsYou climb Arthur's Seat from the Royal Mile with a local mountain guide, reaching the 251-meter summit as the sun sets behind Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. The route stays on quieter paths through Holyrood Park, and you get a head torch for the descent. Plan for an early arrival—the guide won't wait for latecomers, and the timing around sunset is tight.Is it for me?Right for anyone with a free evening and moderate fitness who wants to see Edinburgh from above without arranging transport or timing the sunset themselves—the guide handles both, and the small-group format means you're not herded through the experience.
Edinburgh Pirate Treasure Hunt with Local Game MasterYou’ll follow cryptic clues through Edinburgh’s streets, using real objects and pirate gear to unlock secrets about Captain Kidd. With support from a local game master if you get stuck, you’ll laugh, puzzle-solve, and maybe even argue over directions—before finally cracking open the treasure chest together.
Edinburgh: Arthur's Seat E-Bike Tour & Holyrood PalaceYou ride an e-bike around an extinct volcano in the heart of Edinburgh, stopping at Holyrood Palace, the Scottish Parliament, and Craigmillar Castle, with a qualified guide explaining the history and views. The e-bikes handle the hills, the group stays small, and the whole loop takes 2.5 hours from Bridgend, returning the same way.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Arthur's Seat and Holyrood from angles you can't reach on foot, and you'd rather not arrange your own transport or navigation — the e-bikes and small group size mean you cover more ground and hear the stories without the effort of a long walk.
Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Whisky Distillery & St AndrewsYou spend the day moving between three Scottish landmarks — Stirling Castle, a whisky distillery with tasting, and St Andrews — with a professional guide handling the route and timing. Transport by minivan or coach is included, though entry fees to attractions are separate. The day runs 10+ hours, so you're back in Edinburgh in the evening.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see three major Scottish sites in one day without renting a car or piecing together train connections — the guide and transport handle the logistics, leaving you to focus on the places themselves.
Edinburgh Airport to City: Private Transfer, No WaitYou're met at arrivals with a name board, driven directly to your Edinburgh accommodation in a private air-conditioned car, and skip the taxi queue entirely. WiFi is on board, luggage is included, and the price is fixed before you land—so you know exactly what the journey costs and when you'll arrive.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your Edinburgh accommodation without arranging transport or negotiating a fare—the driver meets you at arrivals and the price is fixed, so the first part of your trip is already decided.
Edinburgh Royal Mile Walking Tour: Medieval Old Town GuideA two-hour walking tour of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and Old Town with a local guide in English, Hindi or Bengali. You explore the medieval layout, UNESCO World Heritage streets, and hidden sites including Harry Potter locations, learning how people lived in ancient Edinburgh and how the city walls once enclosed it. Children under 12 join free; kids under 5 need a private tour arranged in advance.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're new to Edinburgh and want the medieval Old Town explained by someone who knows the hidden streets and the real history—the guide shows you what the city walls enclosed and how the layout actually worked, which makes sense of what you're walking through. If you're bringing kids under 5, arrange a private tour in advance so the pace works for them.
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.
Edinburgh: Arthur's Seat & Calton Hill Hike with ViewsYou hike up Arthur's Seat via the quieter route through Holyrood Park, starting at Calton Hill and passing Holyrood Palace, with a professional guide keeping the group under ten people. You get photo time at the summit, views across Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth, and the descent includes more historic sites before the walk ends. The pace is steady but not rushed, with built-in stops to look around.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Edinburgh's three most historic green spaces in one guided walk without figuring out the route yourself or joining a crowd — the small group size and the quieter path are what make that possible.
Edinburgh: Tantallon Castle & Puffin Boat Trip Small GroupYou spend the morning exploring Tantallon Castle's clifftop ruins with a knowledgeable guide, then break for lunch in the seaside town of North Berwick. The afternoon is a boat trip searching for puffins and seals off the Scottish coast. Entry to the castle and boat tour are included, as is transport in a small group of no more than 16 people, so you avoid the crowds and get back to Edinburgh by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Scotland's east coast and wildlife without arranging your own transport, buying separate tickets, or navigating the timing yourself — the fixed itinerary and included entry fees mean you just show up and spend the day exploring.
Edinburgh: Loch Ness & Glencoe Private Day TripYou get picked up from your accommodation and driven through Glencoe, Fort Augustus, and Fort William in a private vehicle with a driver who can adjust the route to your interests. Entry to Dalwhinnie Distillery is optional, water and WiFi are included, and the full day is yours to shape. Expect to be out from early morning into late afternoon, moving through some of Scotland's most dramatic mountain scenery without the rhythm of a group tour.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Edinburgh who want to see Glencoe and Loch Ness without driving themselves or following a group schedule. Plan for a full day out—that's what lets you move at your own pace and stop where the landscape demands it.
