Things to do in Scotland
Day Trips from Edinburgh12 optionsEdinburgh Underground City14 optionsEdinburgh Tour Highlands44 optionsJacobite Steam Train Tours30 optionsEdinburgh Ghost Tour24 optionsStirling Castle Tours39 optionsWhiskey Tour Edinburgh13 optionsLoch Ness Tours60 optionsEdinburgh Walking Tour94 optionsBoat Tour Loch Ness9 optionsEdinburgh Airport Taxi10 optionsIsle of Skye Tours29 options
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Isle of Skye & Fairy Pools 2-Day Tour from InvernessYou’ll travel from Inverness through Highland scenery toward Skye, stopping at Kilt Rock and The Old Man of Storr before an overnight in Portree. Walk to the Fairy Pools with your local guide and share stories over lunch in a castle setting. Expect moments of quiet awe, laughter with fellow travelers, and landscapes that linger long after you’ve left.
Edinburgh: Underground City of the Dead Walking TourYou walk into Edinburgh's sealed South Bridge Vaults for ninety minutes with a local expert who tells you what really happened in these tunnels when families lived in them. The tour covers the section called Damnation Alley, where conditions were brutal and the history is unfiltered. Entry and the guide are included; you need to be at least twelve years old and able to walk steadily through dark, damp stone. Expect cold, low light, and stories that don't get softened for comfort.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want Edinburgh's real dark history, not a sanitized ghost story, and who can handle ninety minutes walking through cold, dark, confined stone. The unfiltered content and tight spaces are what make the history hit harder.
River Tay: White Water Rafting Aberfeldy to GrandtullyYou’ll paddle through lively rapids on Scotland’s River Tay with a local guide, passing sights like Dewar’s Distillery and sharing laughs with your crew. All gear is included—just bring old shoes and a towel—and free group photos capture those splashy moments. Expect cold water, friendly encouragement, and that feeling you get when you try something new together.
Edinburgh: Whisky Day Trip Glengoyne, Deanston & Loch LomondYou’ll leave Edinburgh behind for a day filled with whisky tastings at Glengoyne and Deanston distilleries (entry included), stories from your local guide, and time by misty Loch Lomond. Expect laughter over drams, glimpses into Scotland’s traditions, and those small moments you remember long after you’re home.
Edinburgh City Bike Tour: E-Bike & Manual, Calton Hill & BeachYou ride through Edinburgh's quieter neighborhoods and secret spots — from a volcanic rock garden to a sandy beach to a working harbor — on either an e-bike or manual bike, with a guide who's spent a decade riding these routes. The tour includes helmet, gloves, rain jacket and pannier bag, covers about nine stops, and finishes back in the New Town. Book a private option if you're bringing kids under 13.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Edinburgh beyond the castle and Royal Mile without arranging your own transport or navigation — Riccardo's route and decade of local riding knowledge is what gets you to the beach, the volcanic rock, and the working harbor most visitors miss.
Edinburgh: Private Walking Tour with Historian Guide & Flexible StopsYou’ll wander Edinburgh’s Old Town and Royal Mile with a historian guide who brings centuries-old stories alive. See Usher Hall’s grand façade, step quietly into St Giles’ Cathedral, and pause at the gates of Edinburgh Castle. With flexible routes and hotel pickup available, you’ll feel less like a tourist and more like part of the city’s ongoing story.
Standing Stones, Castles & Highlands Tour from GlasgowA full-day guided tour from Glasgow visits Inveraray Castle, Kilchurn Castle, and ancient standing stones across the Scottish Highlands, with an experienced guide leading a small group of no more than 16 travelers. The tour includes transport in an air-conditioned minibus and combines driving with short walks at each site; children from age 12 are welcome, and the operator runs in all weather conditions.Is it for me?Book this if you want to cover three distinct historical periods—standing stones, castles, and Highland landscapes—in one day with a small group of maximum 16 people, rather than piecing together separate visits.
Scotland 5-Day Tour from Edinburgh: Skye, Loch Ness & GlencoeYou travel by mini-bus through five days of Scottish landscape — lochs, glens, castles and the Isle of Skye — with four nights in accommodation and a professional guide. The route covers Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Eilean Donan, Loch Ness and Culloden, ending with a whisky distillery visit. Transport, lodging and guide are all included; you just need to pack light and show up ready to move.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want the Highlands, Skye and Loch Ness without arranging their own transport or accommodation — the fixed itinerary and included lodging mean you show up and move through five days of Scottish landscape without logistics getting in the way.
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.
Glasgow Merchant City Food & Drink Tour with Local GuideA three-hour food and drink walking tour of Glasgow's Merchant City and city centre with a local guide, stopping at five locally owned restaurants and bars for Scottish tastings. You'll taste plates equivalent to a full meal and four paired drinks—whisky liqueur, two other alcoholic drinks, and one non-alcoholic. Dietary requirements can be arranged with 48 hours' notice.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste your way through Glasgow's food scene at four venues with a local guide steering you through what pairs with what—you're following their route and their drink selections, not choosing your own stops.
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.
Aberdeen: City Centre Walking Tour & Street Art StoriesYou’ll follow a local through Aberdeen’s twisting old streets, hear stories about witch trials and ancient markets, and spot bold street art hidden in plain sight. Expect laughter with your guide, surprising details around every corner, and moments where history feels strangely close beneath your feet.
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 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 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.
Glasgow: Glencoe, Oban & West Highland Castles Day TripYou spend a full day moving through the West Highlands in a guided coach, stopping at Inveraray Castle (or its Georgian town), passing Kilchurn and Castle Stalker, eating lunch in Oban with free time to explore, and standing in Glencoe before returning via Loch Lomond. The driver handles the route and provides live commentary; you just show up 15 minutes early and bring weather-appropriate clothes.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the main West Highlands castles and lochs in one day without renting a car or planning the route yourself—the fixed itinerary and driver-guide are what fit five stops into a single trip and keep you from missing the smaller castles as you pass.
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.
Invergordon: Culloden, Cawdor Castle & Loch Ness Cruise TourYou board a 16-seat minibus at the port gates, visit Cawdor Castle or Urquhart, stand at Clava Cairns, walk the Culloden Battlefield, drive along Loch Ness, and stop at a Highland cattle farm with a shop. The guide is a local Scottish woman, the minibus is air-conditioned, and you're back at the ship by mid-afternoon — all without arranging your own transport or timing.Is it for me?Book this if your cruise stops at Invergordon and you want the main Scottish Highlands sights without renting a car or navigating timing yourself — the small minibus and local guide are what make the full route fit inside a cruise day.
