Ghost Tours in Edinburgh: 15 to Book Before You Go

1.The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9,272 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26Our pick

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town after dark with a guide playing a notorious Scottish character. Hear grim tales in the closes, visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, then descend into underground vaults with 400 years of stories about crime, witchcraft, murder, and unexplained events. The 6:45pm departure suits families, though the tour includes sudden scares and some steps.

“Tour guide so so rude never again don’t book it’s awful Treats you like a child and is offensively rude to participants”

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2.Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,761 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Ride a vintage Routemaster through Edinburgh after dark as an English-speaking guide covers Burke and Hare, witch hunts, executions, and haunted places. You pass Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and Holyroodhouse. Guides such as Tommy Terror and Sinead O’Horror add theatrical comedy, sound effects, and spooky bus theatrics.

“Informational, funny and spooky. The Ghost Bus Tour in Edinburgh was a perfect choice for our Halloween weekend trip. Tommy Terror is very good, funny, kind and knowledgeable about Edinburgh ghost tales. He gave us details about books to read about these amazing tales.”

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3.Haunted Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,183 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33Top rated

Meet your guide on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, walk to the underground vaults, and hear dark tales of torture, death, and reported paranormal activity. Guides including James, Louisa, Dom, Aimee, and Brendan bring plenty of humor and storytelling. Expect steep, narrow stairs, a maximum group of 36, and content best suited to ages 12 and up.

“Good tour lots of useful info. Dom was really knowledgeable and friendly. I recommend it! Very spooky and raises many interesting questions!”

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4.Haunted Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,702 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Walk Edinburgh after dark with a professional guide, visiting Greyfriars Kirk graveyard and the underground vaults beneath South Bridge. Guides such as James, Diva, Jordan, Darren, and Brendan blend grim city history with ghost stories and humor. Expect a 90-minute tour, dark passages, stairs, and content about death, torture, and hangings.

“We enjoyed learning about the history of graveyards and the vaults. We also loved walking and exploring the little streets, as well as parts of Edinburgh we would not have thought about exploring.”

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5.Multi-Sensory Haunted Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,649 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Follow a cloaked Mercat Tours guide from Mercat Cross through Edinburgh’s Old Town, hearing tales of murder, torture, body snatching, and restless spirits. The tour ends in Blair Street Underground Vaults, where candlelight, narrow stairs, and dramatic storytelling create a spooky experience without planned jump scares. Guides include Steph, Shannon, Mike, Marie, and Nicola.

“We paid for a small group tour but there was close to 15 or more on it. It was crowded and uncomfortable. We found this tour really disappointing. In the attempt to make stories interesting and lively - they came across silly and far less interesting. The price for a one hour presentation was steep especially when the time in the vaults was max 20 minutes. We found this tour underwhelming.”

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6.Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,587 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Meet your costumed guide at 9:15 pm on Edinburgh’s High Street for an 80-minute walk through the Old Town, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and South Bridge vaults. Guides such as David Rizzio, Dr Knox, Lafayette, and Raticus use theatrical storytelling, dark humor, and tales of murder, torture, body-snatching, and reported hauntings. This is an adults-only tour.

“This is a great and spooky way to discover Edinburgh's darker past. Make sure you bring a coat - it gets cold!”

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7.Edinburgh Ghost Tour: Mysteries, Legends and Murders

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 762 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $22

Walk Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Old Calton Cemetery, and Canongate Kirkyard with guides such as Jen, Sonia, Gavin, or Joe. Expect a lively blend of murder, burial customs, witches, local history, and ghostly atmosphere. The tour is best for curious walkers who want storytelling and city history, not guaranteed supernatural encounters.

“It's my first time in Scotland and I always fantasized about the rich history, Gotham style buildings etc. and this was my first tour I took after coming to Edinburgh. Absolutely amazing. Sonia as our guide made this tour memorable. She is - knowledgeable, very funny, passionate (and high intellect based on her interest in medicine). She even has recommendations on what to do after the tour. I liked it so much that I took three other tours (different genre) in next 1.5 days and my overall experience was pretty good.”

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8.The Edinburgh Dungeon Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 683 reviews · 1 minute to 2 hours (approx.) · from $20Best value

Step into Edinburgh’s darker past with live actors playing Sawney Bean, Agnes Finnie, Burke and Hare, and Judge Mental. You’ll move through plague stories, witch trials, ghosts, and grim comedy before a surprise Drop Dead Ride to Doom. The experience runs in English, lasts about an hour to 90 minutes for most people, and suits older children and adults who enjoy theatrical scares.

“Well organised , great experience throughout. Good value for money. Loved the drop ride at the end !”

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9.Witches & Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 632 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Follow a costumed guide such as Juniper, Hazel, or Angelica through Edinburgh’s Old Town. Hear about witch trials, Mary Queen of Scots, North Berwick witches, accused women, warlocks, public executions, and Half-Hangit Maggie. The 75-minute walk uses storytelling, humor, and real Old Town sites, but requires steady footing on cobbles, slopes, and steps.

“Witch hazel gave an informative and entertaining tour. She weaved history with local sites and we learned a good bit. Worth the money!”

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10.Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drink in Megget’s Cellar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 608 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Meet a cloaked storyteller at Mercat Cross for a two-hour walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, then enter the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Guides such as Sarah, Steph, Michael, Jack, and Jade mix grim history with ghost tales before serving whisky, beer, or a soft drink in candlelit Megget’s Cellar.

“Jack was an excellent storyteller and guide; funny and interactive. I am not what I'd call a "true believer" in ghosts, but it *did* have me swivelling my head about, looking for activity. Great fun!”

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11.Multi-Sensory Night Walking Tour with Haunted Vaults in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 596 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $37

Follow a costumed storyteller through Edinburgh’s dark lanes, old crime sites, and the candlelit Blair Street Underground Vaults. Guides such as Nicola, Emily, Ross, and Stephanie bring murder tales, body-snatching lore, and ghost stories to life. The one-hour tour suits first-time visitors who want a short, atmospheric evening activity.

“Our guide, Steph, made the tour enjoyable and spooky!! Unique way to experience Edinburgh! We did the one hour tour, and it was just enough.”

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12.Small Group Edinburgh Underground Vaults & Graveyard Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $43

Join a costumed Mercat Tours guide for 1 hour 45 minutes of Edinburgh’s darker past. Walk from Mercat Cross to the Blair Street Underground Vaults, then continue to Canongate Kirkyard, where stories of witches, cannibals, body snatchers, and famous Scots unfold. Groups are limited to 18, and the tour runs in English.

“Great experience, we had our guide Gerard (I think that’s how his name was pronounced) who made this tour more engaging with his theatrical presence. You can hear everything in earphones which is perfect when walking across the busy old town and beyond. Would highly recommend.”

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13.City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 225 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet outside St Giles Cathedral and follow a local guide such as Ross, Gerry, or Grant through Edinburgh’s dark closes to Greyfriars Kirkyard. The 1-hour-20-minute walk ends inside the locked Covenanter’s Prison, linked to the Mackenzie Poltergeist. Expect English storytelling, humour, history, and a strong horror theme.

“Terrible storyteller, obnoxious loud, wasting time with uninteresting topics! He invaded personal space, shouting on people’s faces!”

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14.Ghost Tour in Spanish

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 209 reviews · from $24

Follow a Spanish-speaking guide through Edinburgh’s Old Town, Greyfriars Cemetery, and a set of underground vaults. Guides such as Rosa Mari, William Brodie, and Deacon Brodie bring stories of ghosts, torture, witchcraft, and executions to life, with a little humor. The 75-minute walk begins at 8:15 pm and is limited to six people.

“Muy bien contando por un guía excepcional (Deacon Brodie) ,ameno y divertido. Lo hemos pasado genial y hemos aprendido mucho sobre la vida en otras épocas en la ciudad y sus leyendas. Lo recomiendo.”

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15.Tales from the Crypts: Ghouls, Graves and Ghostly Tales

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · from $52

Join See Your City at 7 pm for a two-hour walk through Edinburgh’s darker corners. Your guide may be Jenny, Jean, Xander, or another local storyteller. Expect tales of Deacon Brodie, grave robbers, witch trials, castle ghosts, execution sites, and the Wizard of West Bow, with an interactive quiz along the way.

“Foi fantástico, descobrir as histórias macabras, andar a noite em cemitérios... foi relamente único! Recomendo esta visita a todos os que adoram o macabro...”

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