tripadvisor best edinburgh tours

15 Best Tours in Edinburgh [2024]

Boasting a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the most iconic castles on earth, elegant Georgian architecture and much more, the Scottish capital surely belongs on everyone’s bucket list. If you want to discover this enchanting city, then booking the best tours in Edinburgh is an easy and enjoyable way to do exactly that. 

This guide to the best Edinburgh tours is here to help you choose which tours you should take. From foodie or whisky tasting experiences to spooky, Harry Potter and hop-on hop-off tours, there really is so much scope in this stunning city. 

Edinburgh Castle Tour: Fast-Track Guided Tour in English

Rating: 5⭐ | Price: $$ | Duration: 1.5 hours

Booking an Edinburgh castle tour can really help you make the most of visiting this famous location. I t also includes skip-the-line entry to save you precious time . 

The experience commences with a walk up the Royal Mile, before taking your guided tour of the famous fortress. This includes explanations of the castle dungeons, the iconic one o’clock gun salute and the Argyle Battery. 

→ Click here to check prices and availability

Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

Rating: 4.5⭐| Price: $ | Duration: 1 hour

If the best underground tour in Edinburgh is what you want to find, check out this spooky tour of the city’s ancient underground vaults. It’s said that ghosts lurk here beneath the Old Town, and during the one hour tour your guide will regale you with gory tales about witchcraft and historic murders in the area.

Exploring the South Bridge vaults puts an entirely new spin on things, so don’t miss this if you want to see a different side to this elegant city!

Edinburgh: The Dark Side Walking Tour

Rating: 5⭐ | Price: $ | Duration: 2 hours

Another of the more quirky Edinburgh tours is this Dark Side walking tour. Expect to hear all about Burke and Hare, the city’s most notorious murderers, as well as the trials and even burnings that witches once endured. The practices of grave robbing and body snatching, plus stories of real life vampires and cannibals, are also discussed.

Sites visited during the tour include narrow, twisting alleyways, Calton Hill, the Old Calton Burial Ground, one of Edinburgh’s chilling cemeteries or Canongate Kirkyard cemetery. The tour finishes at a local pub near the Royal Mile where you can purchase a beverage to steady your nerves!

Edinburgh: Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour

Rating: 4.5⭐ | Price: $ | Duration: 1 hour

If all that after-dark activity sounds a little too gruesome for your tastes, then the best ghost tour in Edinburgh to book might be a more light-hearted comedy horror trip. Your conductor will share tales of ghosts, murder, grave robbings and victims of the plague as you ride around town.

The tour takes you through both the ancient Old Town and the Georgian New Town. It all takes place aboard a restored and black-painted vintage double decker bus. This was the sole survivor of the Necropolis Bus Company fleet, following a rather mysterious 1967 fire. This is a fun, light-hearted tour and a perfect option if you’re travelling with teenagers!

Edinburgh: Old Town History and Tales Walking Tour

Rating: 4.8⭐ | Price: $ | Duration: 2 hours

This highly rated city tour of Edinburgh allows you to truly explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the safe hands of your knowledgeable tour guide, you’ll stroll along the twisting streets of the historic Old Town.

Expect to be enjoyably entertained throughout this tour, as your guide shares all the stories you’ll want to hear about the Scottish capital. Sights to see include the old pubs of Grassmarket, places that inspired J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, St. Giles Cathedral and more. 

Original Harry Potter Locations Tour

Rating: 5⭐ | Price: $$ | Duration: 2 hours

Should you be seeking fun Edinburgh tours for the whole family, this Harry Potter locations tour could be spot-on. As well as sites associated with the books and movies about the boy wizard, you’ll also visit key Edinburgh landmarks such as Princes Street, the Old Town and the castle.

J. K. Rowling wrote much of the books in Edinburgh, and during the tour you’ll see sights that inspired her works. These include the Castlehill graveyard that doubles as Voldemort’s final resting place, and winding lanes that Diagon Alley was based on. 

Edinburgh: JK Rowling’s Edinburgh & the Writing of Harry Potter

Rating: 5⭐ | Price: $$ | Duration: 4.25 hours

Another contender as best walking tour in Edinburgh for a Harry Potter fan is this magical guided tour with Sam. Discover the many Edinburgh locations that inspired JK Rowling. You’ll also get the chance to find out which Hogwarts house you’d be placed in. As well as whether you’re a muggle, a squib or a pure-blood witch or wizard. 

It’s worth noting that this is a long tour lasting over 4 hours so if you’re short on time or prefer a shorter walking tour, check out the other Harry Potter tour listed above.

Edinburgh: Comedy Walking Tour with Professional Comedian

Rating: 4.9⭐ | Price: $ | Duration: 2 hours

This walking tour led by a professional comedian has to be among the most entertaining tours in Edinburgh. Setting out from the Monkey Barrel Comedy Club in the Old Town, you’ll learn all sorts of fun local facts and trivia during the two hour walk.

Expect some swearing, adult humour and a strong Scottish accent from your guide, which is why this tour is intended for over-16s only. If you want to know why the gun salute takes place every day at one o’clock or other city facts, this could be your chance to find out. This recent review says it all:

“BEST SIGHTSEEING TOUR EVER! Seriously guys, if you’re thinking about booking any of the walking tours through Edinburgh, THIS ONE is the one to go for! Daniel is not only incredibly funny, but also really knows his Scottish History!”

Edinburgh: 24-Hour Family-Friendly Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Rating: 4.5⭐ | Price: $ | Validity: 1 day

As with many cities across the world, some of the best tours of Edinburgh are jump-on, jump-off bus tours where you can travel when you please. This one is especially family friendly, and tickets are valid for 24 hours. 

With stunning city views throughout, this tour allows you to see places like the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, the New Town, Castle Rock and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. You can hop off whenever you like to explore further, before boarding another bus to take you somewhere else. 

Edinburgh: Royal Attractions with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

Rating: 4.8⭐ | Price: $$ | Validity: 2 days

Royal Edinburgh is the focus for this hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Tickets include three fast-track entrance tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle as well as flexible transport for up to 48 hours.

To simplify things even further, your pass includes use of buses operated by three different hop-on-hop-off bus tour companies. These are Edinburgh Tour, Majestic Tour and Edinburgh City Sightseeing.

Edinburgh: The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting

You simply cannot come to Edinburgh as an adult without sampling the famous Scottish tipple! This whisky tasting and tour allows you to do exactly that. Your guide will also teach you about the five Scottish whisky-making regions. 

Comprising close to 3,500 bottles, one of the largest whisky collections on the planet also forms part of this tour. Single malt and blended whisky tastings are also included, and you’ll also get a crystal tasting glass to keep as a souvenir. 

Edinburgh: Whisky Tasting with History and Storytelling

Another option for whisky lovers! If you’re looking for something to do in Edinburgh during the evening, how about this whisky tasting experience? It includes local history and folklore tales, so you can learn about the city while sipping for single malts.

The tour takes place on the atmospheric Royal Mile, after meeting your guide at the aptly-named Hot Toddy. With the whole of the first floor reserved for your group, there’s plenty of space to stretch out in while learning about Scottish whisky production. You’ll also sample four distinctive single malts from different distilling regions of Scotland. You can also choose to do the tour with no drinks included.

Edinburgh: 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour

Rating: 4.8⭐ | Price: $$ | Duration: 3 hours

Whether you’re searching for unusual tours in Edinburgh because you’re a second-time visitor or because you really like to get under the skin of a city, this secret food tour can tick that box. Lasting for three hours, you’ll make half a dozen stops to sample Scottish delicacies.

Food and drinks to taste during the tour include haggis, neeps and tatties (mashed swede and potatoes), local cheeses, scones with butter and jam, gin and of course single malt whisky. The secret dish might also tickle your tastebuds. 

Edinburgh: Silent Disco Adventure Tour

Rating: 5⭐ | Price: $ | Duration: 1 hour

If you want to experience Edinburgh in a truly unique way, then surely this Silent Disco tour is unbeatable! It’s not for shy and retiring types, though, as you’ll need to sing and dance your way through the city streets.

Moving through the historic Scottish capital to hits from several decades, you’ll pass lots of famous landmarks en route. It’s a different way to see the city, that’s for certain. 

Edinburgh: Chocolatarium Tour, Tasting & Chocolate Making

Rating: 5⭐ | Price: $ | Duration: 1.5 hours

A tour of Edinburgh’s Chocolatarium also provides visitors with something different to do while visiting the city. During the 90 minute experience you’ll discover how chocolate is produced, from South American cacao plantations to the finished bars available from Scottish chocolate makers.

You can even make your own chocolates, including the flavours of your choice, as part of the tour. Sampling Scottish and global chocolates is also included, with options ranging from chilli to whisky. I took my daughter here for something a little quirky to do together and we had such a fantastic time!

Whether you prefer the idea of dancing and singing your way through the streets, laughing until your sides split or visiting a Chocolatarium, we hope you’ve enjoyed discovering 15 of the finest Edinburgh city tours!

Similar Posts

30+ Top Things To Do with Kids in Edinburgh: The Complete Guide

Edinburgh’s Top Instagrammable Places

10 Free Museums & Art Galleries in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Quirky & Unique Bars [+map]

Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary: Edinburgh with Teenagers [2024]

Top Things to do in East Lothian

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh tours.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Multi-day 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
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• 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. Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

2. Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

3. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

4. Loch Ness and Highlands Day Tour Including Cruise from Edinburgh

5. Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh

6. Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours

7. City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

8. The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

9. Isle of Skye, Highlands and Loch Ness 3-Day Tour from Edinburgh

10. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe and Fort William Tour from Edinburgh

11. Private Edinburgh Walk and Whisky Tour

12. Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

13. Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

14. St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh

15. Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour

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

17. Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

18. Royal Edinburgh Ticket - Hop-On Hop-Off and Attraction Admissions

19. Edinburgh: Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour

20. Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh

21. Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh

22. Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

23. Rosslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey and Stirling Castle Day Tour

24. Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

25. 3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh

26. Outlander Locations Tour Including Admissions from Edinburgh

27. Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

28. Full-Day Trip: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands from Edinburgh

29. Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh

30. Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included

What travellers are saying.

• Dimitra E 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience Ryan was the best tour guide we could have asked for! So informative and willing to expand on any questions asked. He made a 12 hour road trip feel like 6h with his jokes and fun historical facts ! We will for sure be asking for him to be our guide next time we come to Edinburgh Read more Review of: Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh Written 25 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh
• The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour
• Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
• Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh
• City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• The Potter Trail
• The Mountebank Comedy Tour of Edinburgh
• See Your City
• Little Fish Tours
• Cadies & Witchery Tours
• Viajar Por Escocia Tours en Espanol
• Edinburgh Guided Tour
• Soul of Scotland Tours
• Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours
• Iconic Tours
• Silent Adventures
• Mercat Tours
• Auld Reekie Tours
• Little Scottish Treasures
• Heartland Travel - Day Tours
• Edinburgh Run Tours

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Definitely worth it! - Scotland City Tours - Somos Escocia

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• Scotland    
• Edinburgh    
• Edinburgh - Things to Do    
• Scotland City Tours - Somos Escocia

Definitely worth it!

We really enjoyed the walking tour, our guide Jen was super informative and knowledgeable about Edinburgh’s history! Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting.

Niamh had phenomenal knowledge and an infectious enthusiasm! We truly appreciated her tour with great information. I highly recommend using this service and Niamh in particular!

Excellent day with niamh, very knowledgeable on Edinburgh to say it was her 1st castle tour. Definitely one to see.....

Very knowledgeable and professional. Didn't want the tour to end. Knows a lot about the city as well, and explained the Scottish history very well.

The tour was brilliant! A big shout to Niamh for bringing out the best of Edinburgh. Literally nothing I would've rather done on this lovely Thursday morning

Really good. Learned lots about the castle. Was fantastic to have the tour guide meet on the high street and walk up to it. Enjoyed the tour.

Top Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh tours.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Multi-day 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
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• 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. Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Pitlochry Tour

2. Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

3. Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

4. Loch Ness and Highlands Day Tour Including Cruise from Edinburgh

5. Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh

6. Edinburgh Food & Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours

7. City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

8. The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

9. Isle of Skye, Highlands and Loch Ness 3-Day Tour from Edinburgh

10. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe and Fort William Tour from Edinburgh

11. 2 Hour Holyrood Palace Private Walking Tour

12. Skip-the-Line Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour

13. Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour Including Admission

14. St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife Small-Group Day Tour from Edinburgh

15. Guided Edinburgh Private Walking Tour

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

17. Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

18. Royal Edinburgh Ticket - Hop-On Hop-Off and Attraction Admissions

19. Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh

20. Eden Mill Edinburgh Love Gin Cocktail Masterclass

21. Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh

22. Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

23. Rosslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey and Stirling Castle Day Tour

24. Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour in English

25. 3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh

26. Outlander Locations Tour Including Admissions from Edinburgh

27. Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

28. Full-Day Trip: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands from Edinburgh

29. Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh

30. Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included

What travellers are saying.

• Dimitra E 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience Ryan was the best tour guide we could have asked for! So informative and willing to expand on any questions asked. He made a 12 hour road trip feel like 6h with his jokes and fun historical facts ! We will for sure be asking for him to be our guide next time we come to Edinburgh Read more Review of: Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh Written 25 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh
• The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour
• Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
• Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh
• City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• The Potter Trail
• The Mountebank Comedy Tour of Edinburgh
• See Your City
• Little Fish Tours
• Cadies & Witchery Tours
• Viajar Por Escocia Tours en Espanol
• Edinburgh Guided Tour
• Soul of Scotland Tours
• Edinburgh Expert Walking Tours
• Iconic Tours
• Silent Adventures
• Mercat Tours
• Auld Reekie Tours
• Little Scottish Treasures
• Heartland Travel - Day Tours
• Edinburgh Run Tours

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

2 hours visit of centre of Edinburgh - Tours et Detours d'Edimbourg

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• Scotland    
• Edinburgh    
• Edinburgh - Attractions    
• Tours et Detours d'Edimbourg

Mary was a really good guide. She shared informations and anecdotes not only on Harry potter of... read more

Excellent tour for Harry Potter fans , we learned a lot and the walk was very pleasant . Real... read more

2 hours visit of centre of Edinburgh

My wife and I really appreciate to get an overview of some historical points of Edinburgh and Scotland. In 2 hours, Karine gave us a lot of interesting information.

Merci beaucoup pour votre commentaire et ravie que vous ayez passé un bon moment en la compagnie à Édimbourg. Karine

Great tour with Aude. I would strongly recommend the Old town tour to better understand the Edinburg history.

Merci tout plein de votre avis, cela nous touche beaucoup, et Aude sera contente de voir cela qu'elle a pu vous aider dans votre découverte de la ville.

The tours were in french. The guide Katia was just perfect. She gave us ma lot of information and many of them were like a little secret to discover. I would never hesitate to take other tours from them.

Thanks a million. Si vous revenez l'an prochain, nous avons des nouveautés, n'hésitez pas!