The 15 Walking Tours in Edinburgh to Pencil In First

1.Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8,506 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33Our pick

Walk from Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket into the South Bridge vaults with an English-speaking guide. Expect Royal Mile history, cramped stone chambers, stories of poverty and crime, and a spooky former witchcraft site. The one-hour tour costs $33.29 and suits curious visitors who can manage steep, uneven access.

“The tour was very interesting and Nick our guide, told the stories well and was so lovely and friendly. A really enjoyable experience. We would highly recommend.”

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2.Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,540 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51Top rated

Enter Edinburgh Castle with a local guide for about 90 minutes, including an outdoor tour of the fortress, Mary Queen of Scots’ palace, and the Great Hall. Guides such as Joe, Sonia, Raj, and Valeria bring Scottish stories to life. Afterward, explore the museums, prisons, royal rooms, and other buildings at your own pace.

“Had our review with Jen and she was as mad as bag of cats , made our tour experience for sure. I’m not sure our tour would have been as interesting with a different guide , she had a great insight on the castle and Edinburgh and seemed very knowledgeable as a whole. Would recommend.”

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3.Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,214 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Meet Little Fish Tours near Adam Smith’s statue on the Royal Mile, walk to Edinburgh Castle, and spend about 90 minutes hearing stories about Scotland’s kings, dungeons, Crown Jewels, and unusual characters. Guides such as Koffe, Steph, Greg, Graeme, Euan, and Ben bring humor and energy. After the guided portion, explore the castle buildings on your own.

“Started late as waited for others that were running behind. Wasn’t told we couldn’t get into Castle until later we wouldn’t of booked if we had know this as we were on a tight schedule”

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4.Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,862 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $29

Spend two evening hours exploring Edinburgh’s darker side with a local guide. Hear tales of murder, witchcraft, Burke and Hare, David Hume, and haunted Old Town corners before ending at a Royal Mile pub. Guides such as Niamh, G, Brian, James, and Charlie bring different styles, from witty storytelling to serious historical detail.

“A Great tour in Edinburgh, Brian was an excellent guide with a thorough knowledge of the area and he told some great ghost stories with enthusiasm.”

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5.Haunted Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

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

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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6.Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,168 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24Best value

Join Little Fish Tours for a two-hour English walking tour through Edinburgh’s Old Town. Guides such as Max, Greg, Angus, Jule, Ben, and Euan bring history to life with stories, humor, and local tips. Expect St Giles Cathedral, Mercat Cross, George Heriot School, and an outside look at Edinburgh Castle.

“Really knowledgeable guide. Interesting information and really got into the history. I recommend it!!”

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7.The Mountebank Comedy Walk of Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,813 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $36

Join Scottish comedian and historian Daniel Downie for a two-hour walk from Monkey Barrel Comedy through Edinburgh’s Old Town. Expect Scottish vocabulary, sharp jokes, castle views, tales of executions and body snatchers, and plenty of attention from Daniel’s dog Brahan. The humor is adult and personal, so a thick skin helps.

“This was a great walking tour! Funny, irreverent and informative! Scottish history and humor at its finest!”

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8.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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9.Royal Mile and Old Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,596 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

Walk from Usher Hall through Edinburgh Castle viewpoints, Grassmarket, historic closes, St Giles’ Cathedral, and the Royal Mile to the Scott Monument. A guide such as Fiona, Stuart Usher, Craig, David, Douglas, or Dr Alison may lead your group. Expect lively stories, uneven streets, and no interior castle visit.

“minimal elevation gain and loss, maximal amount of historical tidbits. Tour started on the west side of the castle hill and proceeded through the Grassmarket up to the Royal Mile and St. Giles”

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10.Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle – Small Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $70

This 2-hour-15-minute Mercat Tours walk follows Edinburgh’s closes, wynds, courtyards, and Royal Mile from Mercat Cross to Edinburgh Castle. Guides such as Craig, Linda, Nicola, Marina, and Mally bring the stories to life. The castle entry option adds a 45-minute introduction, followed by free time to explore.

“The information and pictures Linda had were amazing. She was the best and was so intuned to the group and how different things would be more interesting to us.”

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11.Edinburgh Skip-the-Ticket-Line Castle Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,283 reviews · from $51

Meet at 130 High Street for a roughly 90-minute Edinburgh Castle tour with priority admission. Guides such as Alasdair and Charles explain the castle’s battles, royal stories, dog cemetery, and St. Margaret’s Chapel. Much of the commentary takes place outdoors, so save time afterward for the Crown Jewels, National War Museum, and other interiors.

“The views from this castle were definitely a must see. Very informative & friendly guide! Lots of historical information & interesting stories/facts.”

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12.Edinburgh Old Town: Historical Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,016 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Start on the Royal Mile at 10:30 am and walk Edinburgh’s historic center with a professional guide. You’ll connect medieval and modern history, hear local legends, spot details you could miss alone, and finish at Greyfriars Kirkyard. Tours are offered in English, with French and some other language availability requiring confirmation.

“This was a great 2 hour tour that hit the highlights and got us comfortable to explore more on our own. Thanks to Gavin, we were cared for, entertained, and left with great ideas on what to do next.”

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13.Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour – Ticket Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 894 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town from the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle with a local English-speaking guide. Hear stories at Mercat Cross, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Writers’ Museum, Victoria Street, and the Grassmarket, then enter the castle for a guided overview and free time to explore its museums and roofed buildings.

“Zenon was a great tour guide. Super knowledgeable and fun. Would recommend to anyone visiting Edinburgh!”

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14.Edinburgh Full Day Walking Tour with Castle Included -Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 676 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $112

Spend about five hours walking from Charlotte Square through New Town, Princes Street Gardens, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and Edinburgh Castle. A local guide such as Ben, James, or Mark leads the history, art, and storytelling. Lunch is on your own, and the tour ends inside the castle.

“Ben was wonderful and it was a great experience. I will recommend this for family and friends. Kudos…”

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15.JK Rowling’s Harry Potter Walking Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 547 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide who connects J.K. Rowling’s life to places linked with Harry Potter. See Victoria Street, Greyfriars Kirk, Tom Riddle’s grave, and the hotel where Rowling finished the final book. Guides such as Sarah, Kristel, Ryan, and Callum bring plenty of book trivia and Edinburgh stories.

“Sarah, our guide, is a passionate Potter enthusiast. She capably led the group in an organized manner as she painted the story of how JK Rowling used Edinburgh sites to create her magical tale.”

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