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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Isle of Skye 3-Day Tour: Castles, Lochs & MountainsA 3-day guided tour from Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands to Isle of Skye, with stops at Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe, the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and Fort Augustus. The tour includes two nights in a mixed-gender hostel dorm in Portree, transport in an air-conditioned coach and a local English-speaking guide who shares Celtic myths and legends at each stop. Minimum age is 18; a moderate level of fitness is recommended.Is it for me?Book this tour if your trip to Scotland is short and you want to see the Highlands and Isle of Skye without renting a car or coordinating separate bookings—the route, timing and accommodation are arranged, so the three days hold together as one trip.
Loch Ness & Highlands Day Trip in Spanish with GlencoeYou’ll ride from Edinburgh into Scotland’s wild heart with a Spanish-speaking guide, meeting Highland cows at Kilmahog and hearing stories in Glencoe’s misty valleys. Pause at historic sites like the Commando Memorial and spend time at Fort Augustus on Loch Ness—maybe even spot something mysterious on a boat cruise if you want one. It’s not always tidy or predictable—but that’s half the charm.
Edinburgh: Dewar's & Glenturret Whisky Distillery TourYou visit two working Scottish distilleries—Dewar's Aberfeldy and Glenturret—with guided tours and tastings at each, a lunch break in Aberfeldy village, and a photo stop at the South Queensferry Bridges. Transport and driver commentary are included; distillery entry fees are paid on arrival. The whole day takes you from Edinburgh into Perthshire and back.Is it for me?Book this if you want to visit two working Scottish distilleries in a single day without arranging your own transport or timing the stops—the fixed route and driver knowledge mean you move between Aberfeldy and Glenturret without thinking about logistics.
Edinburgh: City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard TourYou walk the Royal Mile and Edinburgh's closes with a local expert guide, then enter the locked Covenantor's Prison inside Greyfriars Kirkyard—the only tour operator with access to this section. The 90-minute tour covers the city's haunted history and the Mackenzie Poltergeist legend, where thousands of visitors have reported physical encounters. You're told upfront it can cause distress and you enter at your own risk, which is exactly what makes it credible.Is it for me?Book this if you want the real history of Edinburgh's darkest corners and don't mind walking uneven ground for 90 minutes to reach a place most visitors never see—the locked Prison is what makes the encounter possible.
Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tour: Royal Mile & medieval historyA 2-hour walking tour of Edinburgh Old Town with a local guide covers the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, St Giles' Cathedral and the graveyard that inspired Mary Shelley and J.K. Rowling. Small groups hear how major events shaped the city over 2000 years, including the gruesome medieval history of the closes and the connections to hangings and body snatchers. Children from age 12 are welcome; the Old Town is hilly with cobblestones.Is it for me?The tour walks at a steady pace through hilly, cobbled streets for 2 hours, so it suits travelers who are comfortable on their feet and want the real history of the Old Town rather than a surface overview. If you prefer to sit while you learn or need level ground, a bus tour would work better.
Edinburgh Nuclear Bunker Tour: Cold War Secret UndergroundThe Barnton Quarry Nuclear Bunker tour is a guided walk through a three-storey R4-class Cold War shelter hidden beneath Edinburgh, just minutes from the city center. You explore restored rooms, the BBC studio for national warnings, and the operations centers once used to track Soviet bombers, learning how the bunker would have functioned during a nuclear threat. The tour runs about an hour with a live guide in English, and children are welcome from age 8.Is it for me?The tour starts from the bunker site itself, which sits just minutes from Edinburgh's city center with public transportation nearby—so if you're staying in the city without a car, you can reach it easily and spend a focused hour underground without the logistics of getting there becoming part of the day. It's built for a free afternoon or a break from walking the usual Edinburgh landmarks.
Edinburgh: Cheese Crawl Food Tour & Tastings in StockbridgeYou’ll wander Edinburgh’s Stockbridge Market with a local guide, sampling unique Scottish cheeses (and maybe some fizz), trading puns and trivia as you go. Expect laughter, new favorites you didn’t see coming, and a taste of real city life beyond the usual postcard views.
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.
Outer Hebrides & Isle of Skye: 6-Day Highlands Tour with Jacobite TrainYou’ll feel Scotland’s wildness up close: ferry rides through misty seas, stories echoing at Glencoe and Dun Carloway broch, a dram at Harris Distillery. Ride the famous Jacobite Steam Train (if you choose), explore ancient castles and rugged beaches on this 6-day adventure—ending each night warm in a Highland B&B.
Loch Ness, Glen Coe & Ben Nevis: Full Day Highlands Tour from EdinburghYou travel north from Edinburgh in a coach with a local guide, passing Stirling Castle and stopping in Callander before reaching Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness. You get free time at Loch Ness to boat or walk, and another stop in Pitlochry on the return. The tour includes transport and a guide; lunch and any boat trips are on you. Plan for a 12-hour day and arrive early for check-in.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main Highlands landmarks in one day without arranging your own transport or timing — the fixed route and guide handle the logistics, and the free time at Loch Ness lets you decide how to spend it.
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: 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.
St Andrews, Dunnottar & Falkland: Spanish Small Group Day TripYou’ll cross ancient bridges out of Edinburgh, stroll through Falkland’s storybook square (yes, Outlander fans), explore St Andrews’ cathedral ruins and university corners, then hike dramatic cliffs to reach Dunnottar Castle — all with a Spanish-speaking guide who keeps things real. Expect small moments: warm bakery smells, seaside wind on your cheeks… plus plenty of laughs along the way.
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: Loch Ness & Inverness 2-Day Highlands TourYou travel north from Edinburgh through Glencoe and Loch Ness to Inverness, staying overnight in the Highland capital, then return through Culloden Battlefield and Cairngorms National Park with a distillery stop. Transport, guide, accommodation, and all the major stops are handled — you just show up 15 minutes early with one suitcase and dress for Scottish weather.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in Edinburgh who want the Highlands in two days without renting a car or planning logistics — the fixed itinerary and overnight stay in Inverness let you cover Glencoe, Loch Ness, and the major historical sites without backtracking. Plan for a full two days of coach travel and walking stops; the pace is steady but not rushed.
Loch Ness day tour from Edinburgh with Glencoe includedYou travel north from Edinburgh through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, stop for refreshments in Callander, then drive through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe with time to photograph and learn the history. You pass Ben Nevis, reach Fort Augustus at Loch Ness for a long lunch break and optional boat cruise, then return via the Cairngorms and Perthshire with an evening stop before arriving back in Edinburgh.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see the Highlands' most famous valleys and lochs in one day without driving yourself or arranging multiple transport connections. The full day out—and the small group size—is what makes it possible to reach Loch Ness, spend real time there, and still return to Edinburgh the same evening.
3-Day Loch Ness & Isle of Skye Tour from EdinburghA 3-day guided tour from Edinburgh into the Scottish Highlands, visiting Loch Ness, Isle of Skye and Glencoe with a local English-speaking guide, air-conditioned coach transport and two nights' B&B accommodation. The tour departs Edinburgh at 8:30am each morning and includes stops at Eilean Donan Castle, Culloden Battlefield, the Fairy Pools and the Kelpies sculptures, with meals and gratuities arranged separately.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're arriving in Edinburgh without a rental car and want to see the Highlands, Loch Ness and Skye without driving yourself—the guide, transport and accommodation are arranged so you can focus on the stops instead of the logistics. The small-group format and fixed itinerary mean you travel with other visitors rather than alone, and you stay in the same B&B both nights instead of packing and unpacking.
Isle of Skye & Highlands: 4-Day Small-Group Tour from EdinburghYou travel by minibus with a professional driver-guide through Glencoe, cross to Isle of Skye by ferry, spend a full day exploring Skye's peaks and coastlines, and return via Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness. Three nights of en-suite accommodation with breakfast, transport, and a group capped at 16 people are included. The guide adapts the itinerary to weather and group interests, which is what keeps the tour from feeling rushed.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in Edinburgh who want the Highlands and Isle of Skye without renting a car or planning four separate stops—the fixed route and small group size handle the logistics. Expect four full days of driving and walking; that's what fits both Skye's peaks and the castle, the viaduct, and Loch Ness into one trip.
Scotland Highlands Day Trip: Blair Castle, Hermitage & LochsYou’ll join a small group day trip from Edinburgh into Scotland’s Highlands—see Dunkeld Cathedral’s quiet beauty, explore Blair Castle with lunch inside its walls, walk beneath towering trees at The Hermitage waterfall, and meet Highland cows up close. Expect stories from your local guide and time to wander at your own pace—this isn’t just sightseeing; it’s breathing in Scotland for a day.
Edinburgh: Haunted Old Town Walking Tour & Royal MileYou walk the Royal Mile and the closes of Edinburgh's Old Town for ninety minutes with a guide who knows the darker history—executions, disease, graverobbers, the people who lived in those narrow spaces. The tour includes St Giles' Cathedral, the Mercat Cross, and ends at Greyfriars Kirkyard. You're on your feet the whole time, moving through actual streets, and you finish understanding why Edinburgh's Old Town still feels haunted.Is it for me?A good fit if you want the darker side of Edinburgh's Old Town without arranging a guide yourself—the ninety minutes are paced to cover the main haunted sites and the Royal Mile properly, which is what makes the history stick rather than just skim past.
