edinburgh ghost tours free

Free Ghost Tour

Discover the dark side of Old Edinburgh

Secure your space now.

The original Edinburgh Free Ghost Tour

• Every night
• 154 High Street (Royal Mile)

No card info required

Free Ghost Tour of Edinburgh

Edinburgh's dark side included body snatching, public executions, gruesome jails and tortures. Come to the FREE Ghost Tour and hear ghostly tales and sinister stories that will transport you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh as we walk spooky shadows and haunted alleyways.

Ghost, Murder and Tortures' Tour!

"Funny, Engaging, Educational, Interactive, Welcoming HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Roisin had so much energy and did the job above what might have been expected."

TripAdvisor (Apr. 23)

Spooky and faszinating!

"You don't believe in ghosts? Nevertheless, you won't dare to deny their existence after this tour! Interesting, horrible, and faszinating stories all over Edinburgh's Old Town!"

TripAdvisor (Dec. 22)

Superb Ghost Tour

"An engaging story-teller with plenty of tales of the macabre from this wonderful city. You will learn about the history of the city as well as its darker side. The tour concluded in the cemetery at Greyfriars Kirkyard. An atmospheric and chilling way to end the evening."

TripAdvisor (Oct. 22)

"What a brilliant night it was, my wife jumped out of her skin when something creepy touched on the arm in Greyfriars cemetery near the covenanters prison. Full recommend this tour."

Norfolkmick

TripAdvisor (Sep. 22)

Tour Description

Edinburgh is known as one of the most haunted cities in Europe, with a past of murders, witchcraft and plague. Its wynds and closes have witnessed the two sides of the city: beauty and horror .

Edinburgh's dark side also included body snatching, public executions, gruesome jails and tortures .

Come to the FREE 1.5 hour Ghost Tour and hear ghostly tales and sinister stories that will transport you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh as we walk spooky shadows and haunted alleyways.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of more than 14 people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Free Ghost Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Ghost Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Edinburgh Free Tour

Every day @ 10am, 11am & 1 pm

Duration: 2 hours

Get to see the most interesting and intriguing spots of the old city of Edinburgh guided by an engaging local.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

Edinburgh Travel Guide

Useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

Where to stay

Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

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The 13 Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh (Updated 2024)

Is it a trip to Edinburgh if you don’t do something spooky? I recommend taking one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh to complete your spooky Scottish itinerary.

The Scottish city of Edinburgh is known for its disturbing dark past, and ghosts linger in every corner of the city.

With nearly 900 years of history, Edinburgh survived plagues, witchcraft, grave robbers, and so much more dark history. Want to learn more and find out more about the ghosts that haunt Edinburgh? Check out one of the ghost tours down below.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please see my  Privacy Policy  for more information.

The 13 Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland

1. auld reekie tours.

Head down to Edinburgh’s haunted vaults by taking the Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour . This is one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh and offers a unique experience as you head into the vaults. 

The Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour begins with a walk around Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, where you will hear tales of the terrifying Tolbooth Prison that once sat outside St. Giles Cathedral.

Before heading down to the haunted vaults, you will pass through a small museum that features an array of medieval instruments once used on real people in the past. Finally, you can find out what a scold’s bridle was used for!

The tour takes you down to the South Bridge vaults, where you will see the infamous stone circle vault . The stone circle is said to hold an evil presence. If you step inside the circle, you may regret it! (I stepped inside, and I am fine if that makes you feel better, or am I?!)

And, to top it off, the vaults are home to a former witch’s coven, so if you are interested in witchcraft history in Scotland , this is the tour to take.

Book here: Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

2. Mercat Tours

If you want to find things for adults to do in Edinburgh , check out the Edinburgh Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky .

The tour takes you through Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, where you will hear all about the gruesome and ghastly tales that occurred on Edinburgh’s historic cobbled streets.

Once you are properly spooked by the terrifying tales that occurred above ground, you will be taken down to the atmospheric Blair Street Vaults.

The vaults are home to various ghosts, including the friendly cobbler and the very scary Mr. Boots! Be sure to take the tour to hear all about their history!

What makes this tour even better? While listening to more ghost stories, you will drink some delectable Scotch Whisky in a candlelit vault.

One thing that makes this one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh is they provide headphones to listen to the tour guide so that you won’t miss out on any of the spooky stories.

Looking for spooky things to do in Edinburgh? Going on a ghost tour is the perfect way to spend Halloween in Edinburgh .

Book here: Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky

3. City of Edinburgh Tours

On The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour , follow an expert guide dressed in a period costume deep down into Edinburgh’s haunted vaults.

Fully immerse yourself in Edinburgh’s spooky past while walking through Greyfriars Kirkyard before heading deep into the underground vaults.

What helps make this one of Edinburgh’s best ghost tours? All of the guides are dressed up as real people from Edinburgh’s sinister past. Will you walk through Old Town Edinburgh with Dr. Robert Knox, Deacon Brodie or Maggie Dickson? (to name a few). 

This is a family-friendly tour, so feel free to bring the kids along to experience a fright!

Book here: The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

4. Sandemans New Europe – Britain

Edinburgh’s Dark Side Walking Tour is one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh, as it takes you to the site where witches were burned during the Great Scottish Witch Hunt on Calton Hill. 

If you want to learn more about Edinburgh’s historic graveyards and who is buried within them – the tour also stops at either the Old Calton Burial Ground or Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh’s most haunted graveyard .

This tour covers a lot of ground, so be prepared to do quite a bit of walking, including hills – but the views and stories along the way are worth it!

Book here: Edinburgh’s Dark Side Walking Tour

5. Auld Reekie

Head down to Edinburgh’s spooky Niddry Street vaults and visit Edinburgh’s most haunted graveyard with the Edinburgh: Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour .

Follow an expert guide through Edinburgh’s dark streets as they regale you with tales of Edinburgh’s dark past. The tour takes you to places where criminals like Burke and Hare would roam the city streets.

Wander through the haunted Greyfriars Kirkyard, where you will hear the terrifying tales of the poltergeist who scratches people who visit the graveyard.

Finally, the tour ends in the haunted Niddry Street Vaults, home to a cursed stone circle and former witches coven.

Book here: Edinburgh: Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour

6. The Ghost Bus Tours

If you love ghost stories but would instead enjoy them in a warm vehicle? Look no further than the Ghost Bus Tours ! Why walk around in the cold weather like a sucker when you can ride through town in a vintage black double-decker bus?

The ghost tour is full of theatrics and comedy over super scary stories. So, if you want an evening of fun rather than stories so frightening you won’t be able to sleep – you must take this tour.

One of the best things about this ghost tour is it allows you to cover so much more ground than a walking tour! You can see sights that most tours won’t visit in one night!

Book here: The Ghost Bus Tours

7. Mercat Tours

If you want to go on a ghost tour in Edinburgh but hate large crowds, I recommend going on Mercat Tours Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour .

The tour starts with listening to gruesome stories while wandering around Edinburgh’s Old Town before you descend into the dark and spooky Blair Street Vaults. Spend time listening to the horrifying tales of Edinburgh’s dark past, including stories of body snatching with flickering candles as the only light source.

The Blair Street Vaults are home to their own ghosts whose spirits linger in various spots within the vaults. Listen to the spooky tales of ghosts, including the cobbler and the terrifying Mr. Boots.

So, if you want to take one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh but want to avoid the big groups, I highly recommend the Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour.

Book here: Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

8. Auld Reekie

Why not make a ghost tour even more terrifying by taking it late at night? They do say that ghosts become more active at night!

Auld Reekie’s Late-Night Underground Vaults Terror Tour takes you deep below Edinburgh South Bridge into the dark South Bridge Vaults, home to the super scary ghost known as The Watcher. 

If you feel a tingle on your neck or shivers run up your spine, the Watcher may be following you as you tour through the haunted vaults. You will hear stories about the former criminals who used to roam through the vaults, causing a reign of terror.

The tour also features a cursed stone circle vault and a museum of medieval devices that punish people who committed simple crimes. 

Book here: Edinburgh: Late-Night Underground Vaults Terror Tour

9. City of the Dead Tours

Visit the incredibly haunted Covenators Prison with the City of the Dead’s Double Dead Tour . This is the only tour that takes you to the locked-up area of Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard. Why is the prison locked up? The ghosts that haunt the area are brutal, and tour guests often leave with scratches, bruises or feeling unwell.

Then, head down to the South Bridge Vaults, where you may meet the evil presence known as the South Bridge Entity. The vaults are terrifying and give off a creepy vibe. This gives the South Bridge Vaults the perfect spooky atmosphere for people who love to be scared.

Book here: City of the Dead’s Double Dead Tour

10. City of the Dead Tours

The Underground City of the Dead Vault Tour takes you to vaults known as Damnation Alley. The vaults were recently unsealed, and a dark poltergeist was discovered to haunt them. 

You will stand within the ominous vaults, and the City of the Dead tour guides will regale you with Edinburgh’s macabre history as you stand in dark, quiet vaults where this history once occurred.

I spent the night inside these terrifying vaults and experienced a lot of paranormal activity, including a dog barking through an EVP recorder. It was a cool experience, and I recommend taking the  Underground City of the Dead Tour if you enjoy being scared.

Book here: Underground City of the Dead Tour

11. The Cadies & Witchery Tours

Want a light-hearted tour filled with laughter but still want to be scared? Then, check out the Ghosts and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh .

Your guide for the evening is Alexander Clapperton, a deceased cemetery director who ruled over the cemeteries of Edinburgh in the 1840s.

You will learn all about the horrors of witchcraft history in Edinburgh and all of the dark histories that lurk within the shadows of the city’s ancient closes.

What makes this one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh? The tour includes a free book, “Witchery Tales” by Adam Lyal. 

They also do a great tour for those who want to tour Greyfriars Kirkyard. Check out their Edinburgh: Greyfriars Kirkyard Tour if you are interested.

Book here: Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh

12. Historic Edinburgh Tours

If you want to tour the dark history of Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard, you should take the Historic Edinburgh Tour of Greyfriars.

This private tour, called Greyfriars Kirkyard Tour in Edinburgh , takes you around the graveyard, telling you about the macabre history that sits right beneath your feet.

This tour is not paranormal, but it discusses the history of body snatchers, Covenanters Prison, and all of the gruesome histories in between.

Your tour guide, Robert, is an incredible storyteller. He will keep you captivated from start to finish!

Book here: Greyfriars Kirkyard Tour in Edinburgh – Private tour

13. Thistle Knights Tours

One thing Scotland has a lot of is Witch History. The Great Scottish Witch Hunt consumed Scotland, and much witch-related torture occurred between 1590 and 1690 in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh: The Witches Tour takes you around Edinburgh and details why someone may have been accused of being a witch. Why witchcraft existed in Edinburgh and shows you actual human remains that were once used for witchcraft rituals.

What makes this one of the witch tours in Edinburgh? You get a chakra reading and balance work done on the tour. This is done for an extra cost if the Witches shop is open.

If you would like to learn more about witches in Scotland , check out the podcast episode on YouTube . 

Book here: Edinburgh: The Witches Tour

More Spooky and Haunted Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

• Spooky Things to Do in Edinburgh
• Unusual Things to Do in Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Castle Ghosts – Is Edinburgh Castle Haunted?
• The 10 Best Cemetery Tours in Edinburgh
• Haunted Hotels in Scotland
• The Dark History of Half Hangit Maggie
• The 17 Best Edinburgh Vaults Tours

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Discover Edinburgh with the best Tour Guides

Best-rated Tours in Edinburgh

Choose the leading free walking tour company in scotland.

Edinburgh Free Tour

Every day @ 10am, 11am & 1pm

Duration: 2 hours

Explore the most fascinating spots of the amusing old city of Edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Come to the FREE 1.5 hour Ghost Tour to discover the dark side of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Discover the relationship between Edinburgh and JK Rowling.

Free New Town Tour

Learn about the greatest transformation of Edinburgh.

Castle Tour

Every day @10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 5 hours

6 bars & clubs, 6 shots, free club entry. Edinburgh nightlife at its best!

Edinburgh Bike Tour

Every day @ 11am

Duration: 3 hours

Your guide will take you through some of the most iconic spots of Edinburgh.

1-day Loch Ness Tour

Every day @ 8am

Duration: 12.5 hours

Loch Ness, Glencoe, Inverness and the Highlands departing from Edinburgh.

1-day Stirling Tour

Wed, Sat & Sun @ 9am

Duration: 9.75 hours

Stirling, Loch Lomond and a distillery departing from Edinburgh.

Scotland Tours

1-3 Day Tours of Scotland to the Highlands departing from Edinburgh.

Private Tours

Enjoy a unique experience with a personal tour guide all around the city of Edinburgh.

Food & Drink Tours

Explore the best Food and Drink Tasting Tours in Edinburgh.

Meeting Point

All our FREE Tours start on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Edinburgh travel guide, useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

Where to stay

Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

Address 154 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1QS

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One of the graveyards we visit on the Tour

Free Ghost Tour

On our Free Ghost Tour, join us for a walk through the most unsettling side of town. Discover tales of paranormal activity, bodysnatchers, witchcraft, cursed locations, and the most aggressive and active poltergeists in the world on this adventure!

Edinburgh had one of the highest population densities in the world in Medieval times, and suffered terribly during one of humanity’s worst epidemics: the plague. This disease, along with inhumane living conditions, public executions, physical punishments, witch trials, and murders, were just part of daily life in Medieval Edinburgh.

All of this created the perfect breeding ground for many kinds of fascinating legends and stories to emerge, which have been told by generation after generation, and are still an important part of the city’s culture today.

Dare to discover them with us!

From £0 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

• +44 () 7873871360
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Large Group (31+)
• Medium Group (17-30)
• Small Group (1-16)
• Ghosts and Supernatural
• Outdoor Activities

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Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Orange tours edinburgh.

Orange Tours Edinburgh is a fresh tour operator based in the Scottish capital which organises walking tours around the city centre of Edinburgh. Explore Edinburgh on one of our walking tours! The Free Edinburgh Tour, Free Ghost Tour, Free Harry Potter Tour, and Edinburgh Castle Tour, all available in English and Spanish! And join us to explore Edinburgh's nightlife on The Orange Pub Crawl, every night from Biddy Mulligans Pub in Grassmarket!

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Opening times

Free Edinburgh Tour 11am-1pm Food Tour 12.30pm-4pm Castle Tour 12.30pm-2pm (Sat & Sun only) Free Harry Potter Tour 1.30pm-3pm Free Ghost Tour 6pm-7.30pm Pub Crawl 8pm-12.30am

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Free Edinburgh Tour

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Can you imagine a tour that spans the past and present? A tour to help you to di...

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The Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh

When it comes to spooky cities, Edinburgh takes the cake. It’s often considered one of the most haunted cities in the entire world — and anyone who has been will be hard-pressed to argue.

When I was there a few years ago, I took part in some of the city’s many ghost tours. Regardless of whether you believe in ghosts or not, these tours take you on an adventure that not only teaches you a part of Edinburgh’s history but also leaves you feeling just a little “weird.”

Or, if you are like me, scared shitless.

While I hate horror movies because I always find them too unbelievable, as Alfred Hitchcock said, a good fright comes from what people don’t see or know.

When I finished my ghost tours, I was so spooked that I refused to sleep with the light off that night. The only other time I felt such unease was after I saw The Blair Witch Project .

Whether you’re looking for a fright or just want to learn about this historic city’s spooky past, you’ll definitely want to take a ghost tour during your visit. Here are the best ghost tours in Edinburgh to help you make the most out of your next visit:  

1. City of the Dead

City of the Dead is one of the top-rated ghost tours in Edinburgh. This tour takes you through the underground vaults that were used as storage space and workshops for businesses in the 1780s. The vaults were then abandoned in 1795 and became slums, turning into a red-light district with countless brothels and pubs.

Moving through the vaults in the dark, with your mind in overdrive, creates an atmosphere of unease that you want on a ghost tour.

There are 4 different tours available daily at 3:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm, 9pm, 9:30pm and 10pm (hours vary in the winter, check the website for availability). Tours last 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes and are not suitable for children under 12. Tickets are 16-19 GBP per person.

2. Mercat Tours

Mercat Tours offers 5 different ghost tours. They have tours in the haunted vaults and the graveyard as well as through the Old Town of the city.

This is the only company in the city that offers vault tours during the day , which is a good way to beat the crowds. (They also have tours available in French and German too.)

Tours last 1-2 hours and run daily from 11am-9:30pm. Tickets start at 20 GBP per person.

3. Auld Reekie Tours

Like Mercat, Auld Reekie Tours offers a few different tour choices for anyone looking for a fright. They have vault and graveyard tours, as well as an adult-only tour for anyone looking for an extra scare. If you’re looking for a frightening tour, check out their nightly Terror Tour . It’s only suitable for 18+ and will definitely leave you wishing you had a nightlight when you get home!

Not only do they have the standard vaults tour but you can actually book out the vaults for an overnight stay if you’re feeling like an extra scare (it’s not cheap, but it would definitely be a memorable experience!).

Tours operate daily from 10:30am-10pm and last 1-2 hours. Tickets start at 18 GBP.

4. Free Ghost Tour

When it comes to free haunted walking tours, this is your best choice in the city. Free Ghost Tours offers daily tours that depart from the Royal Mile, covering all the major sites and stories of the city such as the real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the haunted graveyard, witch trials, and the Westport Murderers.

If you’re not looking for a terrifying experience, this is a good tour for you as it’s suitable for children. Just be sure to tip your guides at the end (the entire tour runs on tips, so be generous!).

Tours run nightly at 7pm and last 90 minutes. Admission is free — just be sure to tip your guide!

5. The Ghost Bus

The Ghost Bus is a ghost tour on wheels, providing a spooky ghost tour with a comedic touch. You’ll be whisked around the city in a black double-decker bus from the 1960s while being informed and entertained along the way. The tour guides are all trained actors, giving this tour a much more theatrical touch.

The buses are decorated too, making it a fully immersive experience. If you’re looking for something more unique than a standard walking tour, this is it!

Tours offered daily at 6pm, 7:30pm and 9pm and last 75 minutes. Tickets are 19 GBP.

No matter which tour you choose or whether or not you believe in ghosts, like all good ghost tours, haunted houses, and Halloween exhibits, these tours do a great job of making you feel uncomfortable by playing on your innate fear of the unknown.

Are these places really haunted or is your mind just playing tricks on you?

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter — what matters is that you had fun and learned something about Edinburgh and it’s spooky past in the process.

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Book Your Trip to Edinburgh: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

My favorite place to stay in the city is Castle Rock Hostel .

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Edinburgh? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Edinburgh for even more planning tips!

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Free Ghost Tour - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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FREE GHOST TOUR (Edinburgh) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Free Ghost Tour Edinburgh

• Explore the spooky Canongate Kirk and hear shocking stories about how its deceased residents met their end.
• Walk over the Blair Street Vaults and discover how they hid all kinds of dastardly deeds.
• Feel the chills up your spine as you hear tales of infamous grave robbers and murderers Burke and Hare in Greyfriars Kirkyard .

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Free Ghost Tour

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Our Free Ghost Tour starts every night at 7 PM & 9 PM on The Royal Mile. Hear ghostly tales and sinister stories that will transport you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh as we walk spooky shadows and haunted alleyways.

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Edinburgh Ghost Tour

Unravel the sinister secrets of Scotland’s capital…. Our expert guides will lead you on a spine-chilling journey through the dark and twisted history of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, sharing haunting tales of the supernatural, infamous criminals, and terrifying events that have shaped the city’s past.

As we navigate the atmospheric streets, we will delve into the horrifying stories of the Black Death, graverobbers, and notorious serial killers such as Burke and Hare. Discover how their heinous crimes sent shockwaves through the city and earned them a place in Edinburgh’s grisly folklore. Our tour will also take you to the eerily beautiful Old Calton Hill Burial Ground and Canongate graveyard, where we will explore the macabre history of torture, executions, and their restless spirits. From the haunting cries of the condemned to the sinister whispers of the undead, you will be left questioning the very fabric of reality. Edinburgh’s supernatural history extends beyond its graveyards, and our guides will regale you with tales of the Scottish Fairies and the city’s infamous witch hunts. Learn how superstition and fear led to the persecution of countless innocent souls and how their tortured spirits still linger in the city’s hidden corners.

Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, our Edinburgh Ghost Walking Tour promises to captivate, educate, and send shivers down your spine. Immerse yourself in the city’s darkest secrets and join us on this unforgettable journey into the supernatural world. Book your spot today and dare to uncover the mysteries, legends, and murders that haunt Edinburgh’s past.

During 2 hours on Edinburgh Ghost Walking Tour: Mysteries, Legends and Murders, we will explore:

• Edinburgh’s Old and New Town
• The Black Death and its devastating impact on the city
• Graverobbers and the dark history of body-snatching
• Serial killers, including the infamous Burke and Hare
• Old Calton Hill Burial Ground and its spine-chilling stories
• Canongate graveyard and its haunted past
• The horrifying world of torture and executions
• The Scottish Fairies and their place in folklore
• The tragic history of Edinburgh’s witch hunts

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This tour is also available as a Private Tour.

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9 Best Edinburgh Ghost Tours

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: April 5, 2023

Don’t miss adding an Edinburgh ghost tour to your itinerary! Discover the spookiest and most fun Edinburgh ghost tours with our complete guide.

Recognised as one of the most haunted cities in the world if taking a ghost tour of Edinburgh is a must-have inclusion during your visit to the Scottish capital (it was for my husband who enjoyed a Vaults Tour while I explored the Old City above ground) you will find our comparison guide to the best tours invaluable for choosing the best one for you.

We have included the best ghost walks in Edinburgh, ghost tours of Edinburgh vaults, a spooky tour suitable for kids and even an Edinburgh ghost tour bus option!

👻 Best Edinburgh Ghost Tours – Quick Picks

Edinburgh vaults: ghost tour, edinburgh ghosts & gore walking tour, terror walking tour in edinburgh, comedy horror edinburgh ghost bus tour, dark secrets of the old town ghost walking tour.

• Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drinks in Megget's Cellar

Underground Vaults & Graveyard Evening Tour

Treasures of edinburgh: ghosts, myths & legends private tour.

• Old Edinburgh's Gory Stories: Kids Underground Tour

👻 Which Edinburgh ghost tour do you dare to take?

👻 best spooky tours & ghost walks in edinburgh.

• Access to Edinburgh Vaults
• Live tour guide

Enter the famous underground vaults (reputedly one of the most haunted places on earth) during this one-hour tour. Listen to tales of gruesome goings-on including witches, murders and even hangings in the oldest part of the city.

Learn about the history of the vaults and the ghosts that haunt it!

CLICK TO BOOK THIS TOUR

• Qualified Ghostly Guide
• Copy of the best-selling “Witchery Tales” book by Adam Lyal (deceased).

A popular ghost tour taken by award-winning Cadies & Witchery Tours the Edinburgh Ghosts and Gore Walking Tour receives rave reviews for their fun family-friendly tour.

• Professional guide
• 90 minute tour

Enjoy a 90 minute terror walking tour of Edinburgh’s ancient Old Town with a guide. Visit hidden underground vaults under cover of darkness and learn of famous landmarks from past and present such as Tolbooth Prison and St Giles’ Cathedral.

• Admission fees

If you fancy a laugh whilst ghost hunting this is the tour for you! Enjoy a one-hour bus tour of the Old and New City of Edinburgh and be entertained as you explore some of the spookiest destinations (including a chilling walk through one of Edinburgh’s spookiest graveyards)

• Walking tour

Discover Scotland’s mythical sites. Walk around the city of Edinburgh passing graveyards, aged houses, and the sites where witches and warlocks were burnt on this sinister yet insightful walking tour.

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

• Award-winning local storytellers
• Small group experience
• Exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults
• TourTalk radio receiver to enjoy immersive storytelling
• Alcoholic Beverage

During this evening tour visit the eerie Blair Street Underground Vaults, follow in the footsteps of the infamous Edinburgh Mob, and then settle your nerves with a dram of Scotch whisky in Megget’s Cellar!

• Radio receiver (to hear the guide)
• Entry to Blair Street Underground Vaults

Descend the underground vaults under cover of darkness before following your guide through the narrow streets to Canongate graveyard where many famous Edinburgh residents are interred.

• Local Guide
• Private Tour

Learn about Edinburgh’s ghosts, myths and legends and why they are such a unique part of the city’s character on this exclusive private tour.

Old Edinburgh’s Gory Stories: Kids Underground Tour

• TourTalk radio receiver to enjoy live storytelling

This personal small group family-friendly tour is perfect for kids aged 5 and over. Learn about life for children in 19th century Edinburgh and explore some of the city’s spookiest haunts

Enjoy your ghost tour of Edinburgh – hope it is not too scary!

You can read more about planning your perfect trip to Edinburgh in the following posts:

• Things to do in Edinburgh (+ Itinerary Guide)
• Top tips for first time visitors to Edinburgh
• Where to stay in Edinburgh
• Best day trips from edimburgh
• How to get from London to Edinburgh (and vice versa!)

THE 10 BEST Edinburgh Ghost Tours

Ghost & vampire tours in edinburgh.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers

• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

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

3. Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh

4. Haunted Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

5. Haunted Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour in Edinburgh

6. Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

7. Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

8. Small-Group Edinburgh Old Town Ghost Walking Tour

9. Tour of Terror

10. Edinburgh - Dark History

11. Small Group Edinburgh Night Walking Tour with Underground Vaults

12. Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drink in Megget's Cellar

13. Small Group Edinburgh Underground Vaults & Graveyard Ghost Tour

14. Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh

15. Edinburgh Ghost Tour: Mysteries, Legends and Murders

16. Terror Walking Tour in Edinburgh

17. Edinburgh’s Ghostly Trail Private Tour

18. 2 Hours Ghost Tour - English Tour Guide

19. Edinburgh’s Loathsome Lawbreakers: A True Crime Walking Tour

20. City of the Dead's Double Dead Tour

21. Treasures of Edinburgh: Ghosts, Myths & Legends Private Tour

22. City of the Dead Underground Vaults (Day)

23. City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour

24. Private Edinburgh Dark History Tour - Auld Reekie After Hours

25. Gory Stories: The Kids Tour

26. Edinburgh Ghost Tour: Uncover Haunting Tales and Dark Stories

27. Guided Walking Tour of Edinburgh Old Town

28. Edinburgh : The Royal Mile Old Town Walking Tour

29. Unmissable Edinburgh Private Sightseeing Tour

30. The Best Of Edinburgh's Amazing Old Town

What travellers are saying.

• Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh
• The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour
• Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends
• Haunted Vaults walking tour in Edinburgh
• Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh
• See Your City
• Cadies & Witchery Tours
• All-Star Guides
• Mercat Tours
• Auld Reekie Tours
• Hi Amy Edimbourg
• City of Edinburgh Tours
• Free Ghost Tour
• The Ghost Bus Tours

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• 5 Edinburgh Ghost Tours (That Are Truly Worth it)

Edinburgh is said to be one of the world’s most haunted cities.

Its mist-laden hills, cobbled streets, ancient buildings and subterranean vaults are a wonderful place to explore – during the day or after dark. 

And as you explore and learn more of the fascinating and at times gruesome history of this place, you can also keep your eyes peeled for any ghostly visitors that might still haunt the Old Town. 

You could definitely simply take matters into your own hands, and explore areas of the city where a haunting might occur. But to gain the most from visiting these spooky locations, you might want to consider taking one of these 5 Edinburgh ghost tours:

5. Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour

5 edinburgh ghost tours you won’t want to miss, 1. small group edinburgh underground vaults and graveyard ghost tour.

This historically fascinating ghost-hunting tour will take you to two of the city’s most haunted locations – the shadow-shrouded subterranean world of Blair Street, and Canongate Kirkyard. 

• Meeting Point: Mercat Cross High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK ( open in google maps )
• Duration: 75 minutes
• Cost: currently about $34 ( check current pricing here )
• Free Cancellation: Yes!
• Where to Book: Book on Viator.com (here )
• Other: Adults-only (18+)

Blair Street Underground Vaults is a labyrinthine network of chambers below the South Bridge with a storied and at times horrific past. This is the place for an Edinburgh underground tour. 

Here, in 19 arches below the bridge, workshops, storage spaces and drinking establishments were abandoned and the seedy underbelly of the city moved in.

Brothels, gambling dens and moonshine distilleries were housed here, and it is believed that body-snatchers even used the dark spaces to store the corpses they stole. 

The rooms also housed some 2,000-3,000 of the city’s poorest residents – conditions were squalid and disease ran rife – until the city sealed off the vaults and they remained forgotten until the 1980s.  

After touring these eerie vaults you will weave your way to Canongate Kirkyard – a huge cemetery where you can keep your eyes peeled for spectres and ghouls wondering through the darkness.

As you explore these two locations your guide will regale you with a commentary filled with gruesome tales of cannibalism, torture and witchcraft and you can find the final resting places – or not – of a number of famous Scots. 

2. Terror Walking Tour in Edinburgh

This Edinburgh Walking Tour is one of the best ghost tours in the city! And the most popular on our list .

• Meeting Point: Tourist information police box across the road from Brodie’s tavern
• Where to Book: Viator.com

Starting at the tourist information police box across the road from Brodie’s tavern, this terrifying adults-only tour will take you on a 75 minute tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town after dark, culminating in a visit to the gruesome Torture museum, for which entry is included in the price. 

As on the tour above you will enter the notorious city vaults, see St Giles cathedral by night, and hear of the Tolbooth Prison and the troubled souls who were held there, with your professional guide. 

The Old Tolbooth was a mediaeval structure that has served a number of different purposes over the centuries. It was the main jail here where not only incarceration but also physical punishments and torture were routinely conducted, and from 1785, this was the site of public executions. The buildings were demolished in 1817 but who is to say whether or not some ghosts or ghouls may linger here on this site…

Then you will have the opportunity to enter the terrifying Torture Museum.

Is your stomach strong enough to handle the tales of brutal torture in times gone by and to learn how the devices you will see were used? 

3. Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh

This popular Ghost and Gore Walking Tour is perfect if you are looking for an early evening tour that is a bit more family friendly then this is one of the Edinburgh ghost tours might be a fun option to consider.

• Meeting Point: Outside the Witchery restaurant just before 7pm
• Duration: 80 minutes
• Cost: currently about $16 ( check current pricing here )
• Where to Book: Book on Viator.com (here)

Light-hearted yet informative, this 80 minute walking tour of the historic Royal Mile is full of fun and frolics. 

Meeting outside the Witchery restaurant just before 7pm, you will be guided by a former city cemetery director, mr Alexander Clapperton (deceased) and will meet a number of infamous apparitions along the way such as the mad monk of Cowgate, a witch called Agnes Fynnie, and bloody Highlander Rhuari McLeod. The tour includes a copy of ‘The Witchery Tales’ by Adam Lyal. 

Enjoy a fiendishly funny outing that will be enjoyed by the whole family as you walk the cobbled streets and courtyards of Edinburgh’s old town and are jumped out at by a host of different characters (typically played by the same person). 

4. Two Hour Ghost Tour

Back on the more serious side, this almost two hour long ghost tour starts and ends on High Street, Edinburgh. This is one of many Edinburgh walking tours that will allow you to explore the Old Town and learn more about its dark yet fascinating history. 

Quick Info:

• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: currently about $19 ( check current pricing here )
• Meeting Point: 190 High Street, Edinburgh
• Highlights: Edinburgh Old Town (after dark), High Street, Old Calton Burial Ground and more

Beginning at 6pm, it will lead you through Edinburgh’s Old Town where you can explore hidden closes and find out about the gruesome things that have gone on there over the centuries.

During this tour you will have the experienced narrative from your informative guide to help you navigate the history and wynds of this old part of the city. 

You will also have the opportunity to visit Old Calton Burial Ground – where the Scottish philosopher David Hume as well as several other notable Scots are buried. Atop Calton Hill , to the north east of the city centre, this burial ground was opened in 1718 and offers not only ghost-watching opportunities but also panoramic views over the city. 

Another option for adults who want to explore and go ghost hunting around the Old Town is this well-organised example, with stops in the Greyfriars cemetery as well as the underground vaults mentioned above.

If you are looking for an Edinburgh vaults tour with something a little extra this is one of many options to consider. 

• Meeting Point:
• Cost: currently about $25 ( check the most up to date pricing here )
• Highlights: Visit Edinburgh’s most haunted graveyard (after dark), underground vaults
• Where to Book: Book on Getyourguide.com (here)

Burials have been taking place at Greyfriars Kirkyard since the late 16 th Century. A number of notable Edinburgh residents are buried there.

Greyfriars takes its name from a Franciscan friary which used to be on the site. The graveyard is best known for Greyfriar’s bobby, a loyal dog who guarded his master’s grave, sleeping there for 14 years. 

This tour will take you to this haunted graveyard, then on through many wynds above the ground and the vaults below, in the presence of a theatrical and entertaining guide who will be dressed in appropriate costume for the evening. 

Even if you don’t actually see any ghosts on one of the Edinburgh walking tours above, you should still have a wonderful time. 

Other Top Rated Ghost Tours in Edinburgh that are not included in this list:

• Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour – read reviews here.

READ MORE ON SCOTLAND:

Traveling to Scotland was a dream come true. These are my most popular blog posts on Scotland to help you plan your trip.

• 21 Romantic Things to do in Edinburgh for Couples  – I’m sure your not surprised that I had trouble cutting down this list because there are SO many romantic things to do in Edinburgh.
• Best Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh! – These tours will not disappoint Harry Potter fans
• Best Castles in Scotland : You can’t go to Scotland and not add these epic castles to your itinerary.
• Top 10 Things to do in Scotland: My absolute favorite places included in this guide!
• 6 Best Edinburgh Food Tours
• Where to see the Heather in Scotland: Must see guide!
• Best Things to do in Stirling Scotland : One of my favorite small towns just outside of Edinburgh.
• 10 Unique Things to Know About Scotland’s Culture
• Edinburgh or Glasgow, Which City in Scotland Should You Visit? – A guide to the two main Scottish Cities – Edinburgh or Glasgow?
• 28 Mind Blowing Photos Of Scotland

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Explore Edinburgh with the best-rated Tour Guides

Edinburgh Free Tour

The best introduction to edinburgh, secure your space now.

The best-rated Edinburgh Free Walking Tour

• 10am, 11am & 1pm
• 154 High Street (Royal Mile)

No card info required

Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting Edinburgh, its inspiring capital, a cosmopolitan town teeming with genius and culture. On this 2 hours FREE Tour your expert guide will show you the most attractive spots of this seductive city.

Wonderful walking tour

"What a wonderful walking tour with Graeme. A beautiful summer day and an extremely engaging guide. Would definitely book again next time I visit Edinburgh."

Tricia Butterfield

Google (July 23)

It was worth every second

"I did three walking tours with City Explorers and it was worth every second! Definitely recommended. Ashlyn, Emma and Dr Rory were super fun and highly informative."

Sanyukta Desai

Highly recommended!!

"We had a PHENOMENAL ghost tour with Emma! We also had a AMAZING day time walking tour with Glen. Both guides were funny, knowledgeable, and friendly. Could not recommend these tours enough!!!"

Katie Cummings

Free Walking Tour of the Old Town

"Wonderful intro giving us enough info about where to spend our time as well as some great restaurant recommendations. Kenny was amusing, knowledgeable and easy to listen to so I highly recommend this walk."

Annelise Giddings

Google (June 23)

Tour Description

The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile , just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should correlate with your budget and how much you enjoyed it.

Our Edinburgh FREE Walking Tours are both informative and fun and offer something for everyone.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of 15 or more people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Edinburgh Free Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Discover the ghostly tales and sinister stories that will get you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Duration: 2 hours

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

Edinburgh Travel Guide

Useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

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Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

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Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

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Edinburgh Walking Tours

Featured Tours

Old Town + The Royal Mile Free Tour

Old town + the royal mile free tour highlights.

• Historical introduction to Edinburgh
• Victoria Street
• Grassmarket
• Greyfriars Cemetery
• Mysteries about Harry Potter
• Mackenzie and paranormal activity
• National Museum of Scotland
• Writers Museum
• St. Giles Cathedral
• Presbyterianism
• Public executions
• Maggie Dickson
• Heart of Midlothian
• Mercat Cross
• Fringe Festival

Edinburgh is one of the most historic cities in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom and should be on your bucket list.

The city's rich past, royal legacy, and elegant medieval streets will make you wish you never had to leave.

The well-known spots are also close together, which makes it a perfect walkable city.

There are 4 types of free walking tours available in Edinburgh, Scotland:

• Harry Potter-themed Tours
• Ghost Tours

We are a group of local walking tour guides who lead daily walking tours in Edinburgh. We have also written several self-guided walks and recorded two city audio tours.

And, in the video below, Margaret, one of our local guides, takes you on a virtual walk of Edinburgh's Old Town.

We let you know about your options, provide schedules, and explain what you will see on each tour.

Hope to see you on one of our tours!

TOUR CALENDAR

Below is a calendar of some of the great walking tours available in Edinburgh, all from local guides.

Searching Availability...

More Tour Options?  More tours are available in the individual tour sections below.

• Harry Potter Sights

This schedule above is for tours in English. Click here for  tours in other languages , such as Spanish, German, or Italian.

This model of "free" tours is tours that are free to take. There's no need to pay at the end, but you can if you want. Engaging locals adds to the experience by offering understanding and insights. You can pay what you think the walk was worth at the tour's end, even nothing.

According to reviews on TripAdvisor, most people give €5 to €20 per adult to the tour guide when they like the tour.

These free tours are usually well-reviewed, and as good as any other walking tour in Edinburgh.

OLD CITY AND ROYAL MILE TOUR

This section provides information about each of the pay-what-you-like Edinburgh tours which cover the older parts of the city, including historical details to show how Edinburgh became such a notable location.

You can expect to see the following sites during these tours:

• Edinburgh Castle
• Canongate Church
• Scottish Parliament
• Queen’s Palace

If you want to learn more about these locations, please consider taking our GPS-led audio tour one of the pay-what-you-wish walking tours listed below.

We offer a 2-hour guided walk daily at 10:00 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. In summer months, you'll find afternoon tours as well. Book this tour here .

GPS-Enabled Audio Tour

We also offer an audio tour of historic Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides, that you could take whenever you wish.

Here’s a sample.

• Purchase an audio tour (£2.30)
• Get a confirmation email with .mp3, pdf, and embeddable Google Map
• Enjoy the tour(s).

NEW CITY TOUR

As the name implies, this section will cover some of the more notable modern areas of the city, providing details about the recent history of Edinburgh.

If you’re looking for tips about the best places to eat or the most interesting newer attractions in the city, this is probably the best type of tour to take.

While on a New City tour, you can expect to see popular landmarks and sites such as these:

• Princes Street Gardens
• Scottish Prime Minister’s House
• Scottish National Gallery
• The main street for shops, pubs, restaurants
• Best views in the city
• Calton Hill

To see these sites and learn more about them, consider taking the following tours.

City Explorers

In addition to their Old City tour, this company also offers an outing that covers the newer, more modern areas of Edinburgh as well.

This New City tour is available in both English and Spanish every Sunday and Thursday at 14:00 (2 pm).

FREE HARRY POTTER EDINBURGH TOUR

Did you know that Edinburgh was actually one of the biggest influences on the Harry Potter franchise?

Many of the locations from the book are inspired by real-life places in this city.

To learn a bit more about these sights, or to visit on your own, take a look at our self-guided tour of Potter locations in Edinburgh.

And, in the video below, Margaret, our local Edinburgh Muggle, takes you on a virtual tour of Potter locations in the city.

Discover how Edinburgh became the birthplace of this young prodigy wizard who would eventually take the world by storm

There are at least two companies currently offering pay-what-you-wish walking tours which cover the many ties between Edinburgh and Harry Potter.

You can expect to see and learn about some of the following locations on this tour:

• The Original Diagon Alley
• The Inspiration for Hogwarts
• The Elephant House
• Where Lord Voldemort Was Buried
• Cafes and Hotels Which Inspired J.K. Rowling
• Discover the Origins of Quidditch

If these sites and subjects are of interest, consider taking one of the following free walking tours.

We also offer an audio tour of Harry Potter sights in Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides.

• Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map

FREE EDINBURGH GHOST TOUR

The history of this city is filled with legends and myths, but there’s also a darker side to Edinburgh’s past. 

Learn about some of the creepier and more disturbing aspects of Edinburgh’s past, including tales of witchery, body-snatching, assassinations, and even the plague.

You can expect to see or hear about some of the following subjects:

• Haunted Graveyards
• Burke and Hare Murders
• History of Public Executions
• The Real Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
• History of Witch Trials

Consider one of the following pay-what-you-wish ghost tours if you want to discover the haunted history of this city.

Ghosts and ghouls, vampires and cannibals - Edinburgh's dark history with Brian Pendreigh

This 2 hour name your own price ghost tour is highly reviewed but does not run daily.

Like most evening ghost tours in Edinburgh, it covers the witches and other darker side aspects of Edinburgh history, not just ghost stories.

Book a free ghost tour here .

If you can't attend the free tour, check out our ticketed Ghost Tour which runs every night.

Free Tours with Tourist Passes

If you're planning to explore multiple attractions in Edinburgh, the Edinburgh City Pass may be your best value for the trip.

With this pass, visitors can access free walking tours at no additional cost, including:

• Edinburgh Castle Tour
• The Royal Yacht Britannia
• The Scotch Whisky Experience
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Edinburgh Bus Tours
• Auld Reekie Tours
• Edinburgh Zoo
• Museum of Edinburgh

By purchasing the Edinburgh City Pass, you not only gain access to these amazing spots of the old city of Edinburgh but also enjoy the best value of your visit without the need to queue.

Whether engaging with local history or uncovering sinister stories, this pass offers a more personalized experience for your Edinburgh exploration.

We have a g uide to the Edinburgh City Pass to help you decide if it is a good deal for your trip.

RELATED POSTS

• Top Things to Do in Edinburgh
• How to Get Discounts to Edinburgh Attractions
• Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours

About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

And much, much more, north america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Free Ghost Tour

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Free Ghost Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Most Popular

World Famous Underground Ghost Tour @ 18:10; 18:45; 19:45

Are you brave enough?

Quick Details

• Tags Ages: Ages 5+
• Hour Glass Duration: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
• Clock Schedule: Daily @ 18:10; 18:45; 19:45

Discover the Most Haunted City in the World on a Ghost Tour of Edinburgh!

Join us for our World Famous Underground Ghost Tour!

Let one of Edinburgh’s most infamous sons or daughters lead you round the dark side of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Learn cooking skills from Cassandra Bean or surgical ethics from Dr Knox. Once you’re acquainted they will lead you through the upper half of the Old Town, around St Giles Cathedral, showing the sites of the city’s former parliament and infamous jail. Discover the grim living conditions of this city’s Old Town throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

After crossing George IV Bridge the next part of the tour takes place in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Inside this decidedly sinister, 450 year old cemetery you will hear of its famously loyal dog, petrifying poltergeists as well as the notorious body snatchers and serial killers Burke and Hare.

For the last part of the tour follow your guide to the underground, a section of a former seventeenth-century close absorbed into South Bridge when it was constructed. See bridge arches from the 1700s, walls and doorways from former houses and the modern pavement (with people walking over you) through our skylight. This old street has had many inhabitants through the centuries but some have not seen their own deaths as a reason to depart! The Underground Ghost Tour Edinburgh ends with your guide leading you out of the underground and back to our ticket office.

Edinburgh guided tours FAQ

• Chevron down Meeting Point & Location

The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour starts from our Old Police Box, 124A High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1QS.

Our tickets box is just outside the Tron Kirk and directly infront of Starbucks.

The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour ends from our Old Police Box, 124A High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1QS.

• Chevron down Where can I book this tour?

This tour can be booked online using the widget above, through our ticket office which you can call on 0131 220 6868, or at the office itself at Old Police Box, 9 Hunter Square, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS. It is recommended that you book because our tours can very easily sell out especially during the summer months.

• Chevron down Is there a lot of walking on this Tour?

With the exception of the Alternative Tour and the Ultimate Old Town Historical Tour, there is only a small amount of walking on our tours. However please wear comfortable shoes otherwise you will find the Old Town’s cobblestones rather unpleasant!

• Chevron down Can children come on this tour?

Children over five years old are welcome on all our tours, except for the Pub Crawl, the Extreme Paranormal Tour and the Ladies of Pleasure Tour, provided they are accompanied by an adult.

• Chevron down Is the underground wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately our underground is only accessible via a flight of stairs. For more information about the underground visit our accessibility section.

• Chevron down Will this tour run in bad weather?

Our tours run in rain, hail, sleet or snow, so long as we have people booked on, willing to do the tour it will run. Please wrap warm though if the weather is not on our side.

Related Activities

• Hour Glass 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
• Tags Ages 18+

Extreme Paranormal Ghost Tour Edinburgh @ 21:15

For the hardened Ghost hunter, or the non-believer, this late night walking ghost tour is not for the faint-hearted! Explore the mysterious Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery and more at night.

• Hour Glass 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
• Tags Ages 5+

Old Town & Underground Historical Ghost Tour @ 11:00; 14:15

Join a local historian on our historical walking tour around Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. Learn about Edinburgh’s fascinating history, literature heroes, infamous criminals and battles that shaped our city.

• Hour Glass 1 Hour

Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour @ 13:15; 15:15; 17:15

The Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour will then take you on a guided tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults, for close encounters with the paranormal!