20 Best Edinburgh Tours

Duration: 1 hour

 (401 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• A ghostly guided walking tour of Edinburgh's Old Town.
• Move from street level down into the underground vaults.
• Learn Edinburgh's dark history from an English speaking guide and master storyteller.
• What You’ll Do:
• Walk the streets of Edinburgh on a ghostly guided tour.
• Listen to gruesome tales of torture and murder from your storyteller guide.
• See a hidden side of Edinburgh as you move from the old cobbled streets down underground to the vaults.
• What It Includes:
• A 1 hour guided walking tour.
• Entrance to Edinburgh's underground vaults.
• The dark history of Edinburgh as told by an English-speaking guide.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "A Very scary but enjoyable experience."
• "A great way to experience Edinburgh's history!"
• "A Fascinating tour by a fantastic tour guide"
• Is It Right For Me:
• If you love giving yourself a scare and enjoy horror stories, this is the tour for you. It's equally good for those who love history, especially dark history!
• This is a walking tour so you need to be reasonably fit.
• Tours are not suitable for under 5's and the night tours are for adults only.

Duration: 2 hours

 (266 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• A 2 hour walking tour seeing the places that inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter.
• A must for true Harry Potter fans!
• Discover Edinburgh from a magical point of view.
• What You’ll Do:
• See the architecture that inspired Hogwarts and Diagon Alley.
• Visit the cafe where she wrote some of the Harry Potter books.
• Learn how Edinburgh's dark history inspired J.K. Rowling.
• What It Includes:
• 2 hour walking tour.
• Guided tour in English or Spanish
• Insight into JK Rowling's life in Edinburgh.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "Awesome time exploring Edinburgh learning about Harry potter. Things were pointed out we would have never found by ourselves. A must for any potter fan "
• "So knowledgeable and fun. My partner has never seen Harry Potter and even he enjoyed the tour!"
• "The HP tour was truly entertaining from beginning to end"
• Is It Right For Me:
• All Harry Potter bookworms, young or old, will enjoy this tour.
• Best for lover's of the books as the tour is about the author and where she found inspiration rather than the movies.
• Muggles will enjoy the tour of Edinburgh even if they have no idea about any of the Harry Potter storylines!

Duration: Recommended 1.5-2 hours

 (626 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• Fast track entry to the Royal Britannia Yacht – The floating Royal Palace!
• Learn the history of the ship in the visitor centre.
• Then step aboard and see what life was like onboard for the Royal Family as well as the crew.
• What You’ll Do:
• Learn the history of the ship through the handheld audio guide.
• See the State Drawing Room, the Queen's Bedroom, the Admiral's cabin and more.
• Go below deck to see the crews quarters and the engine room.
• What It Includes:
• Fast track entry to the visitor centre and yacht.
• Access to the Britannia's 5 decks.
• Handheld audio guide in 28 languages.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "Fantastic tour - well set up and organised."
• "Excellent half day out, worth every penny of the admission fee"
• "It was fabulous had a real feel for how the Royals relax and entertain"
• Is It Right For Me:
• If you take an interest in the Royal Family, you'll enjoy this tour!
• Fun for the whole family.
• A good way to spend an enjoyable couple of hours on the coast.

Duration: Recommended 2-3 hours

 (1458 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• Fast track entry to Edinburgh Castle.
• Explore the Royal Palace and grounds including the Crown Jewels exhibition at your own pace.
• Admire the panoramic views of Edinburgh.
• What You’ll Do:
• Take a free 1 hour long guided tour of the castle.
• Learn the history of the Scottish Monarchs
• See where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son.
• What It Includes:
• Fast track entry to the castle.
• 1 hour guided tour (on a first come, first served basis)
• Access to the on-site National War Museum.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• " Edinburgh Castle is a ‘must-see attraction’ when visiting the city. I highly recommend to take a tour."
• "Certainly a must see, spent a good 3 hours here. The Scottish Crown Jewels and sword were awe inspiring and the views are breathtaking"
• "It is really the heart of the city, you don't want to miss this experience, but be ready to spend half a day there, it is huge!"
• Is It Right For Me:
• If you love history, royals, military, and sightseeing this is a ticket you don't want to miss out on!
• For for the whole family.
• This ticket does not include audio commentary and the guided tour is a first-come-first-served basis – If you want to get a comprehensive overview of Edinburgh castle a guided tour would be preferable rather than the standard entrance ticket.

Duration: Unlimited access on a 1 day ticket. 1 loop takes 60-80minutes.

 (1085 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• A hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh with 14 stops.
• 24 hour / 1 day unlimited access.
• The modern open-top buses have Wi-Fi access and audio guides.
• What You’ll Do:
• Move around all the key sights of Edinburgh hopping on and off the bus at 14 stops.
• Audio commentary via headphones ensures you know the sights that you're passing.
• Enjoy the panoramic views from the open-top deck and make use of the onboard Wi-Fi to upload your photos to social media instantly!
• What It Includes:
• 1 day / 24 ticket with unlimited hop-on-hop-off access.
• Headphones and audio commentary in 8 languages.
• Map and onboard Wi-Fi access.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "A grand day out!"
• "A wonderful way to see the highlights of the city."
• "Informative and good value for money"
• Is It Right For Me:
• If you have enjoyed hop-on-hop-off bus tours in other cities, Edinburgh's version will also please you.
• Great for people who are limited on time and want to move around the city with ease.
• Suitable for the whole family including disabled visitors.

Duration: 1.5 hours

 (10 790 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• Holyrood House Palace is the official Scottish residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
• The grounds contain the iconic ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
• This entrance ticket includes an audio guide available in 9 languages.
• What You’ll Do:
• See the State Apartments where the Queen and the Royal Family stay when in Scotland on official matters..
• See the historic chambers of Mary Queen of Scots'.
• See the iconic 12th century ruins of Holyrood Abbey and wander in the gardens.
• What It Includes:
• Entrance ticket to Holyrood House Palace
• Entrance to Holyrood Abbey ruins.
• Audio guide available in 8 languages.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "I thoroughly enjoyed the tour around Holyrood Palace and found it very interesting. "
• "The palace is beautiful. The tour uses hand held recorders but there are many staff available to answer any questions you might have."
• "Beautiful castle, wonderful displays and ever-helpful and knowledgeable wardens."
• Is It Right For Me:
• A must for those who love seeing inside 'real life' castles and palaces.
• Anyone with an interest in history and the Royal Family will enjoy this tour.
• Not suitable for photographers because photography is not permitted inside the palace rooms.

Duration: 12 hours

 (948 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• A full day tour to see the beauty of Scotland's dramatic scenery.
• Visit Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Glencoe.
• See small quaint villages plus iconic locations.
• What You’ll Do:
• Visit Loch Ness and take a cruise in search of Nessie, or explore the ruins of Urquhart Castle.
• Visit Glen Coe, the site of the 1692 massacre of the Clan MacDonald.
• See Highland Cows, mountains, bogs, moors, hills, lochs, and more!
• What It Includes:
• Full day trip by coach with local driver/guide.
• Live commentary onboard the air-conditioned coach.
• 12 hour round trip.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "Great value and a wonderful sightseeing trip, would do it again"
• " Loved the tour. The information provided by the tour guide was interesting and insightful"
• "The trip was amazing, we really enjoyed it and we learnt tons of new things about Scotland"
• Is It Right For Me:
• A great way to see the countryside and experience more of Scotland than just Edinburgh.
• A good introduction for those who are short on time but want to see Loch Ness and other places.
• The price does not include food or entrance fees so do take this into consideration if you're on a budget.

Duration: 75 minutes

 (811 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• A thoroughly entertaining ghostly experience!
• A theatrical ghost bus ride & walking tour through Edinburgh's most haunted places
• Ghost stories galore to send shivers up your spine!
• What You’ll Do:
• Ride the only spooky black bus that survives from the Necropolis Bus Company.
• Learn about the grave robbers, plague victims, and ghosts of Edinburgh.
• Walk in the graveyards with your spooky storytelling conductor.
• What It Includes:
• Bus ride on a black vintage route master bus.
• Commentary in English.
• A theatrical walking tour.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "What an entertainment!!!! Loved it loved it loved it....So much fun and information at the same time. "
• " Mr Volvo was hysterical. Great tour. Enjoyable time"
• "It was amazing, from the minute we stepped on the bus until the end!"
• Is It Right For Me:
• If you want fun and laughter mixed with spine-tingling thrills, this is a tour for you.
• Good for those looking for an evening of fun.
• Not recommended for younger kids or those who hate horror stories!

Duration: 60-80 minutes

 (246 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• A walk-through historical experience with actors, special effects, scenes, shows, and rides.
• 11 360-degree interactive shows.
• 2 fun & frightening underground rides.
• What You’ll Do:
• See, hear, touch, smell, and feel the dark side of Scotland's history.
• Walk through 11 interactive 360-degree shows as you uncover real-life ghost stories.
• Take a spooky boat ride into the lair of cannibal Sawney and scream with delight on the Drop Dead Drop Ride.
• What It Includes:
• Entrance to Edinburgh Dungeon experience.
• 2 thrill-tingling rides.
• 11 interactive shows to walk through.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "From beginning to end it was filled with tension, humour, frights, palpitations and nervous sweats!!"
• "A super experience for all, a must see and do when in Edinburgh."
• "We had a fantastic time, great history, spooky stories and the vaults were amazing!"
• Is It Right For Me:
• A fun experience for those who love interactive tours and a fascination for horrible history.
• Not suitable for people with a nervous disposition.
• Not recommended for children under the age of 8 and not suitable for under 4's.

Duration: 60 minutes

 (642 reviews)

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• Highlights of Tour:
• Access to the 17th century subterranean streets located below The Royal Mile.
• A fully narrated history tour.
• Costumed characters help bring history to life.
• What You’ll Do:
• Visit the pre-tour exhibition room to get a basic understanding of what you're about to see.
• Then, with your tour guide and other members of your group, make your way below ground to Mary King's Close.
• See the warren of streets and spaces and learn about the people who lived here and how the lanes came to be underground.
• What It Includes:
• Entrance ticket to the Real Mary King's Close tour.
• Access to the pre-tour exhibition room and gift shop.
• Guided tour in English or Spanish with audio guides available in other languages.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "Very interesting, especially for those who enjoy history."
• "A very entertaining and informative hour with a delightful blend of facts and humour. "
• " So much information and context, you really get a feel for what it was like in that time period."
• Is It Right For Me:
• An interesting tour for those who like history and sightseeing, learning about a city's past.
• Not suitable for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues due to uneven surfaces, low-level lighting, and steps.
• Although this tour is not intentionally scary, some young kids might find it so due to the location.

Duration: The duration of the walking tour is between 1:30 and 2 hours.

 (1036 reviews)

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• What Is It:
• Edinburgh Castle is a big complex consisting of various museums that overlooks the Scottish capital.
• The tour reveals interesting historical facts about the historic castle.
• During the guided tour, visitors will see one of the smallest existing shrines and one the largest cannons they have ever seen.
• What You’ll Do:
• You will learn about the historical significance of the Edinburgh Castle and turbulent events related to the big complex.
• Admire views of the Scottish capital and its surrounding area.
• Benefit of the priority entry and visit exhibition venues displaying Scottish Crown Jewels, weapons and armor.
• What It Includes:
• A fast-track entry to the Edinburgh Castle.
• Assistance by a licensed and passionate tour guide.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "Overall, the tour was paced well and covered the right amount of history/information..."
• "I would definitely recommend this tour."
• "Fun tour with a great guide."
• Is It Right For Me:
• Edinburgh Castle is a must-see attraction of the Scottish capital, and the guided tour offers insights most travelers are unaware of.
• Especially recommended to fans of history and warfare.
• The tour is suitable for children and adults alike.

Duration: The validity period of the package is 48 hours

 (1345 reviews)

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• What Is It:
• A convenient tourist pass allowing its holders to visit the most important royal attractions of the Scottish capital city.
• The ticket entitles its owners for a 2-day hop-on hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh.
• The 48-hour attraction ticket grants its holders to avoid waiting in lines at specified attractions.
• What You’ll Do:
• You will enjoy unlimited rides on the Edinburgh hop-on hop-off bus.
• Save time when visiting the Holyroodhouse Palace, Castle of Edinburgh and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
• With the price of the ticket, you pay less for enjoying the services and visiting the attractions than by doing so separately.
• What It Includes:
• Entrance to the Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse Palace and the Britannia Royal Yacht.
• Unlimited rides on the Edinburgh sightseeing bus during the validity period.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "We used all 3 bus routes which saves money and time."
• "This tour is a very good value."
• "Great package! Worth the money!"
• Is It Right For Me:
• The package offers a great value for money to travelers interested to visit the top three royal attractions of the city.
• The ticket is very convenient for first-time visitors to Edinburgh and travelers curious about its past.
• The package saves travelers money and time.

Duration: Around 13 hours

 (40 reviews)

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• What Is It:
• The tour is a journey through the picturesque Scottish countryside better known as the Highlands.
• Visitors travel to various points of the Harry Potter film series.
• The Hogwarts Express train traverses and takes passengers near some iconic places featured in the Harry Potter films.
• What You’ll Do:
• You will ride the Jacobite Steam Train, which most people know as the Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films.
• Visit multiple locations where filming of the popular TV series took place.
• Admire incredible landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, including hills, lakes and valleys.
• What It Includes:
• Train ride on board the Jacobite Steam Train, aka Hogwarts Express.
• Trip to Fort William by coach.
• Knowledgeable and certified guide.
• Breakfast
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "The trip is definitely worth the price."
• "A very long day, but it was an extremely thorough tour of the highlands."
• "The Jacobite steam train was something I will never forget..."
• Is It Right For Me:
• Taking the guided tour is the right activity for fans of the Harry Potter films.
• Admirers of amazing landscapes will enjoy the trip for sure.
• The tour is suitable for travelers of all ages.

Duration: About 10 hours

 (389 reviews)

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• What Is It:
• The tour introduces the history of Scotland, its amazing landscapes and one of the most famous Scottish exports - Whisky.
• Stirling Castle used to be a residence of the Scottish royals, while scenic Loch Lomond is the largest lake of Scotland.
• Glengoyne Distillery produces high-quality Whisky for around two centuries.
• What You’ll Do:
• Learn stories about famous heroes of Scotland, such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
• Visit Loch Lomond, one of the most beautiful lakes in Scotland, from a vantage point.
• Taste extraordinary Scotch Whisky in Glengoyne Distillery.
• What It Includes:
• Round-trip transportation by a mini-coach.
• Expert guide on board.
• Pickups and drop-offs at selected points.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "I had no idea we'd see so much in one day!"
• "This was a great tour!"
• "Beautiful lochs and castles on an informative tour."
• Is It Right For Me:
• The tour is highly recommended for fans of Scotland and its history.
• People fond of capturing amazing landscapes by camera shouldn't miss this tour.
• This is a must-do activity for travelers enjoying Scotch Whisky.

Duration: Two hours

 (95 reviews)

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• What Is It:
• An authentic Scottish experience involving different varieties of Whisky and traditional storytelling.
• Presentation of whiskies from different parts of Scotland.
• An insightful tour spotlighting the significance of Whisky to the national identity of the Scots.
• What You’ll Do:
• Enjoy traditional Scottish storytelling while having a few glasses of Whisky.
• Distinguish the difference between lowland and highland whiskies.
• Drink four different types of Scotch Whisky.
• What It Includes:
• Interesting storytelling and four types of Whisky.
• What Travellers Say About It:
• "A lotta laughs"
• "Our guide and storyteller is charming and honest."
• "My husband enjoyed the whiskey and we both had a great time."
• Is It Right For Me:
• Join the activity to learn how best to appreciate Whisky.
• The activity is suitable for everyone appreciating great stories and authentic Scottish experiences.
• The tour is suitable for people not drinking alcohol since substitutions are available.