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: Underground Ghost Tour & Greyfriars KirkyardYou walk through Edinburgh's Old Town closes, stand in Greyfriars Kirkyard at dusk, and descend into the 1788 vaults beneath South Bridge while a guide in character tells you true stories of Burke and Hare, executions, and witchcraft. The 75-minute tour includes all entry fees and runs most evenings; arrive 10 minutes early to the Old Town meeting point.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want Edinburgh's dark history told straight, not sanitized—you'll hear about real executions, murders, and medical crimes in the places they happened. The 75 minutes move at a steady pace through closes and underground, so moderate fitness helps, and the evening timing means you're there when the light is already going.
Edinburgh: Underground Vaults & Royal Mile Dark History TourYou walk the Royal Mile learning how Edinburgh's 1700s poor lived, then descend by candlelight into the vaults beneath the South Bridge with a costumed guide. You'll see a real witchcraft temple, hear stories of criminals and body snatchers, and face the choice of whether to step inside the haunted stone circle. The tour includes your guide and takes about ninety minutes, with no stops or facilities along the way.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want real Edinburgh history—not the polished version—and aren't squeamish about crime, death, and the supernatural. Expect tight spaces, candlelight, and no facilities; that's what makes the vaults feel authentic rather than staged.
Loch Ness & Glencoe Tour from Edinburgh: Scottish HighlandsA full-day guided tour from Edinburgh through Loch Ness, Glencoe, Pitlochry and the Cairngorms National Park, with an experienced driver-guide providing live commentary on Highland history and landscape. The tour runs in three versions — you choose whether to add an optional boat cruise on Loch Ness, a distillery visit at Deanston, or a shorter cruise combined with Urquhart Castle — and tickets for those activities are purchased during the tour if you decide to join them. Children from age 7 are welcome; the distillery option requires age 8 for the tour itself.Is it for me?Book the Boat Cruise version if you want to decide about the boat on arrival; the Distillery version if whisky is your focus and you prefer starting from Deanston; the Castle & Cruise version if you'd rather explore Urquhart Castle ruins with a shorter boat ride.
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour & Entry TicketYou walk the Edinburgh Castle grounds for 70 minutes with a guide who covers its 3000-year history, from King David I to Mary Queen of Scots. Entry is included, and after the tour ends you have free time to explore the museums, prisons, and Royal Palace at your own pace. The tour stays outdoors, but you get full access to the buildings afterward — which is what makes the guided framework useful rather than limiting.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want the Edinburgh Castle story told by someone who knows it, plus entry sorted in one booking. The tour is outdoors and involves steady walking, so plan for moderate fitness and weather-appropriate clothing — that's what lets you cover the whole complex and understand its layout before exploring the buildings on your own.
Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day TourYou board a coach in Edinburgh and spend the day moving through the Scottish Highlands with five scheduled photo stops, a lunch break, and the option of a boat cruise on Loch Ness. The driver-guide handles all the route planning and commentary, the coach is air-conditioned, and you're back in Edinburgh by evening without having to drive or navigate yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Scottish Highlands in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself — the fixed stops and driver-guide mean you get the views and the history without the logistics.
Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William Day TripYou travel north from Edinburgh through the Highlands with a driver-guide who points out film locations and stops for photos at Glencoe, lunch in Fort William, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint overlooking Loch Shiel. The tour is timed to catch the Jacobite Steam Train crossing the viaduct if it's running that day (seasonal, April to October). You return via Pitlochry and the Forth Rail Bridge, arriving back in Edinburgh after around ten hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Highland film locations and the Glenfinnan Viaduct in one day without arranging your own transport or timing — the driver-guide handles the route and the stops, and the schedule is built around catching the steam train if it's running.
Edinburgh: Loch Ness & Highlands Small-Group Tour with CruiseYou drive north from Edinburgh through Glencoe and the Cairngorms, with coffee stops at Loch Lomond and Spean Bridge, a 50-minute cruise on Loch Ness, and a short walk in Pitlochry before returning by 8pm. The guide handles the route and the stories; the small group size means you're not herded through stops. Luggage is limited to one carry-on bag per person.Is it for me?A good fit if you want the main Highlands and Loch Ness in a single day without renting a car or navigating trains — the fixed schedule and included cruise handle the logistics. Expect a full day out (12 hours) and to pack light (one carry-on bag), which is what makes covering this much ground possible in one trip.
Edinburgh Castle Tour: Pre-Booked Entry & 3000 Years of HistoryYou get entry tickets, a ninety-minute guided walk through the castle grounds, and the history that makes the fortress make sense—all without arranging tickets separately or waiting in line. The guide covers three thousand years in one session, and you leave with enough context to explore the buildings on your own afterward if you want. Plan to be on your feet the whole time on uneven ground; that's what lets the tour cover the full site.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to understand Edinburgh Castle's history and significance without arranging tickets separately or waiting in line. Expect to be on your feet for the full ninety minutes on steep, uneven ground—that's what lets the tour cover the entire site and give you the context to explore the buildings afterward on your own.
Make Chocolate in Edinburgh: 90-Minute Guided ClassA 90-minute guided chocolate class in Edinburgh where you make your own Scottish-themed bar to take away, learn how cacao beans become chocolate, and taste over 30 varieties from Scottish and international makers. The experience runs daily for ages 6 and up, with a live guide in English and vegan or milk-free options available.Is it for me?You'll craft your own Scottish-themed chocolate to take home, then taste your way through 30+ varieties from makers worldwide—from haggis to chilli to gin chocolate.
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Walking Tour with Trivia & Castle ViewsYou’ll join fellow fans for a Harry Potter walking tour through Edinburgh’s winding streets, get sorted into your house by a lively guide, test your knowledge with trivia games, and discover quirky spots that inspired the books. Expect laughter, local stories, and castle views—plus those little moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Ben Nevis Full DayYou travel twelve hours through Stirling Castle, Glen Coe, Fort Augustus and Cairngorms National Park in a single day, with an optional fifty-minute Loch Ness boat cruise included. Transport, a local guide and the route are all arranged — you just show up at least fifteen minutes early and bring layers for the weather.Is it for me?Right for travellers based in Edinburgh without a car who want to see the Highlands' most famous landmarks in one push. Expect a full day in the coach — that's what fits Glen Coe, Loch Ness and Ben Nevis into a single departure and return.
Edinburgh: Dark Side Ghost Tour & Burke and HareYou walk Edinburgh's Old Town after dark with a professional guide who brings murder, witchcraft, and body-snatching to life through real history rather than invention. You visit Old Calton Burial Ground and Canongate Kirkyard, descend into the South Bridge Vaults, and climb Calton Hill for both views and witch-trial history. The guide separates legend from the grim reality that created it, so you leave understanding why this city earned its haunted reputation.Is it for me?A good fit if you want Edinburgh's real dark history—not invented scares—told by someone who knows the city's streets and graves. The narrow closes, steep hills and stone stairs mean it's not for wheelchair users, but for walkers aged ten and up, it's the side of the city most visitors never find.
Edinburgh: Ghost Bus Tour & Historic HauntsYou board a vintage Routemaster bus and spend 75 minutes hearing tales of executions, grave robbers and tortures while passing Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars Kirk and Grassmarket. A professional guide narrates from onboard, and you see the actual locations where these dark histories unfolded. Arrive 20 minutes early; the bus departs on schedule and doesn't admit latecomers.Is it for me?Book this if you want Edinburgh's darker history without arranging your own route through the Old Town at night—the bus, the guide and the 75-minute structure handle the pacing and the storytelling, leaving you to absorb the tales as the city passes by.
Edinburgh: Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness & Glencoe Day TripYou travel north from Edinburgh through the Cairngorms, stop to feed Highland cattle and stretch, then spend the afternoon at Loch Ness with the option to cruise and tour Urquhart Castle ruins. Glen Coe's dramatic valley closes the day with time for photographs. A driver-guide narrates the history and stories throughout, and you're back in Edinburgh by evening without arranging transport or timing anything yourself.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Highlands and Loch Ness sights in one day without renting a car or planning connections — the fixed departure time and driver-guide handle the logistics, leaving you to watch the landscape change.
Edinburgh: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Kids FreeYou board at any of 14 stops around Edinburgh and ride the open-top bus for as long as you want within 24 hours, hopping off to explore the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace at your own pace. Audio commentary in nine languages explains what you're seeing; up to three children travel free with each adult ticket. The voucher is valid for a year, so you can book now and travel later.Is it for me?Best for families and independent travelers who want to see Edinburgh's main sights without booking a guided tour or arranging their own transport — the kids-free offer and flexible 24-hour window mean you can move at your own pace and return to stops that interest you most.
Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour from EdinburghA 12-hour guided day tour from Edinburgh that covers Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness in a single day, with live commentary from a driver-guide and frequent stops for photos and refreshments. The route is fixed and the timing is arranged, so you travel without building the itinerary yourself; lunch and optional extras like the Loch Ness cruise are on you to arrange or add at checkout.Is it for me?Pack Glencoe, Ben Nevis, and a Loch Ness cruise into one day with a guide handling all the routing and timing—you just watch the Highlands unfold from your seat.
Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour with EntryYou walk the Royal Mile with a guide who explains the closes, the Mercat Cross, St Giles' Cathedral, Victoria Street, and the Grassmarket before climbing to Edinburgh Castle. Inside the castle, you see the Crown Jewels, Great Hall, and St Margaret's Chapel, then explore the roofed areas on your own. Entry is included, and the whole guided portion takes around three hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want the main Edinburgh sights connected by someone who knows the history and stories — the guide is what turns separate landmarks into a coherent picture of the Old Town, and entry to the castle is what keeps you from buying a ticket separately at the gate.
Edinburgh: Private Harry Potter Walking Tour & Comic GuideYou’ll follow in JK Rowling’s footsteps through Edinburgh with a comic local guide who brings every story to life. Expect gravestones that inspired characters, secret Hogwarts inspirations, lively banter, and time to linger wherever you like. The city feels different when you’re walking its magical corners — especially with someone who knows every twist.
Edinburgh: Haunted Vaults & Royal Mile Walking TourYou descend into 1700s vaults beneath Edinburgh's Royal Mile with a guide who walks you through the torture exhibition and the paranormal history of these former slum dwellings. The tour takes 2–3 hours, includes admission, and requires moderate fitness to handle the spiral staircases and low ceilings. Not suitable for children under 12 or anyone with difficulty walking; arrive sober and without luggage, as storage isn't provided.Is it for me?Book this if you're interested in Edinburgh's darker history and don't mind confined spaces, cold air, and unsettling content — the vaults' reputation for paranormal activity comes from the real weight of the place, not from theatrical effects, which is what makes the experience feel genuine rather than staged.
Edinburgh Old Town: 2-Hour Walking Tour & Castle ViewsYou walk the cobbled streets and back alleys of Edinburgh's UNESCO Old Town for two hours with a professional guide who knows the history and chooses their own route. You see St Giles Cathedral, the Mercat Cross, George Heriot School, and Edinburgh Castle from outside, moving at a steady pace through the historic heart of the city. The guide is passionate about the place, not reading from a script, and the tour works year-round as long as you wear appropriate Scottish weather gear and comfortable shoes.Is it for me?Book this if you want a solid grounding in Edinburgh's history and layout without arranging a guide yourself—the two-hour format covers the main Old Town sites and sets you up for exploring further or joining other tours afterward.
