Scotland · CITY TOURS IN EDINBURGH
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 city tours in Edinburgh worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
City Sightseeing Edinburgh hop-on hop-off bus with a 24-hour pass, open-top views, and multilingual audio. Kids go free for value.
“It's an excellent tour of the city. The ear buds make the narration easy to listen to. The information about the city is awesome.”
A small-group Edinburgh ghost tour hitting South Bridge Vaults and Greyfriars prison, with admission included and a guide who mixes humor and chills.
“Brilliant spooky tour Ian our guide was the best he made the experience so enjoyable would definitely recommend”
Go underneath Edinburgh on a small-group Underground City of the Dead tour, exploring the South Bridge vaults in 1h 20m.
“A very well organized and entertaining tour. Heather did an amazing job portraying the history of Edinburgh and what it was like to live in the vaults”
Edinburgh e-bike tour for small groups, from Union Canal and parks to Arthur's Seat, Portobello Beach, and Leith.
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an absolutely fantastic time on the e-bike tour around Edinburgh and couldn’t recommend it more. From start to finish, everything was so well organised — clear directions, excellent quality e-bikes, and all the equipment you need to feel comfortable and confident on the road. Our tour guide was truly lovely: incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about Edinburgh. They shared fascinating history and local insights while keeping the ride relaxed and enjoyable, making it easy to take everything in without feeling rushed. The small group size was perfect — it felt personal, safe, and easy to keep together, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable....”
Small-group haunted walk in Edinburgh through Greyfriars Kirkyard and Covenantor's Prison, led by local guides, about 1h20.
“Even though our tour was on a cold, wet, rainy, windy ‘Scottish’ July night, Ross made our tour excellent! He did a great job of getting to know each person and introducing the groups so we made friends along the way. Although I didn’t get any paranormal experiences, the history was great and the stories were brought alive by Ross. Bravo!! I hope to come back one day with more ‘paranormal enthusiasts’ from the US 👻”
Hop on and off Big Bus Edinburgh with a 48-hour pass and free headphones on two routes, including the Royal Yacht Britannia stop.
“The bus ride was ok but the audio didn’t always sync to where we were We also thought the tour included a visit to the royal yacht Britannia but this was not the case and we had to buy tickets to do this tour so it was not made clear”
Explore Edinburgh’s South Bridge Vaults in a small group, with lantern-lit storytelling, real-life misery accounts, and spooky underground tales.
“On March 19th, 2025, our small lovely group led by charismatic guide Joshua descended into the dark and mysterious vaults of old Edinburgh. I was rather sceptical - until Joshua started telling us his bone-chilling stories, in the complete darkness, illuminated only by the faint light of a lantern. I still get goosebumps when I remember that strange sensation of being in the presence of something dead and ghostly! The frightening reality of the past intertwined with horror. A brilliant and fascinating tour, played out like a small performance. Bravo, Joshua! For the first time in many years, I went to bed that night with the lights on!”
Private Edinburgh half-day tour by VIP Mercedes, with hotel or port pickup, expert storytelling, and a stress-free route from Old Town to viewpoints.
“We had the time of our lives. Allan was so knowledgeable and friendly showing us all the highlights of Edinburgh. We highly recommend this tour.”
Private 4-hour Edinburgh tour by black cab LEVC TX with pickup, local guide, photo help, and stops from Royal Mile to Calton Hill.
“I think what made the difference is the knowledge and the passion of my guide/driver Jovan. We had a great time”
A private 90-minute Edinburgh kickstart with a local guide, stopping at St Giles and Edinburgh Castle for fast orientation.
“If you choose to do this tour on your visit do it first. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable full of tips and facts about the city. Well worth doing but take advantage of the knowledge provided. We did this on our last day but still thoroughly enjoyed it”
Live-guided hop-on hop-off Edinburgh bus with WiFi, stops from Princes Street to Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle.
“Very convenient and worth every penny if you have never visited the town before. Gives you a good idea and lay out of the town you are visiting.”
Cruise-ready Edinburgh shore tour with Royal Yacht Britannia, Holyroodhouse photos, and Edinburgh Castle, timed to return to port.
“We did not ever receive a response from the tour guide once we reached out due to the cruise port issue.”
Private one-way transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the city, met at arrivals with a sign, air-conditioned van with Wi-Fi, up to 8.
“We were greeted at the airport with a sign. Dropped off at the hotel. No issues. The airport was super busy and we were thankful for the assistance.”
A private, customizable Edinburgh walk with a local guide. Tailor stops, dodge crowds, and cover Royal Mile, Castle, Dean Village, and Mary King’s Close.
“I was able to learn so much about Edinburgh on this walking tour. Our guide Gwen was very knowledgeable and made sure to tailor our experience to our interests. She also gave us plenty of resources and great recommendations for the rest of our stay.”
A 2-hour Old Town Royal Mile walk with local guide Rishi, mixing UNESCO history, hidden lanes, and a few Harry Potter touches.
“Richi was a great tour guide, would highly recommend. He certainly knows his stuff! Went over the 2 hours because he had so much to tell us.”
Every kind of day out, from an hour under the Old Town to a week in the islands.
