Scotland · EDINBURGH TOURS & ACTIVITIES
The Old Town is small enough to walk and dense enough to need a guide. These 15 build the spine of a first visit: the castle with its ticket sorted, the vaults, the closes off the Royal Mile, and the day trips that leave from Waverley Bridge before nine.
Night Ghost Tour in Edinburgh: Royal Mile wynds, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and 400-year vaults with a costumed guide, about 75 minutes.
“Can’t express enough how much fun I had exploring Edinburgh at night with the Fairy Wife. She transported us to the 16th century with colorful and enthusiastic storytelling. Genuinely one a kind!”
Step into Edinburgh’s underground vaults with a guide, hear dark 18th-century tales, then walk from the Royal Mile to South Bridge.
“Not that informative and very little time underground. Only go in 3 little vaults with nothing in them. You don’t see anything really.”
Edinburgh to Loch Ness and Glencoe in one day, with expert guide stories, great photo stops, and optional Nessie cruise.
“I wouldn’t do this tour when the sun is setting so early. We arrived at our last stop just after 5pm and Pitlochry was pitch black and only 2-3 places were open. It was disappointing. Only 30 mins in the first stop too, not really enough time to enjoy the sites.”
See Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Loch Ness from Edinburgh on a small-group day tour, with a sonar Nessie cruise included.
“It was a unique experience. We were amazed by the beauty of nature. Please note that it is an approximately 12-hour experience, and most of the time is spent traveling by bus. Fortunately for us, our tour guide made it pleasant with important information and explanations, as well as local music that fit the tour perfectly. I would definitely recommend it.”
Guided walking tour inside Edinburgh Castle grounds with entry ticket, great photo time, and stories from local guides, plus free exploration time.
“I would recommend this tour as it covers Edinburgh Castle long and fabulous history. We went with Niamh who is an excellent tour guide, very passionate and knowledgeable with a great sense of humour.”
Skip-the-line Edinburgh Castle entry plus a guided walk up the Royal Mile. Learn the key stories, then explore the castle on your own.
“Great tour lead by Koffe! Very knowledgeable and engaging with all those in our group. Koffe is witty and friendly.”
12-hour Highlands drive from Edinburgh to Glencoe and Glenfinnan, with Jacobite Steam Train views at Loch Shiel and photo breaks.
“Scott from Scotland was a really great tour guide for our group. The tour itself was perfect for seeing part of The Highlands by going to Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct, and through some cute small towns. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour!”
A guided chocolate tour in Edinburgh where you taste 30+ varieties, then make your own chocolate bar to take home, in about 90 minutes.
“Book early! Very entertaining, educational and delicious way to spend a couple of hours! Chocolate expert Hannah was terrific.”
A 2-hour Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh’s Old Town, guided and family-friendly, with famous filming spots, trivia, and fun.
“We had a fantastic time on the Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh! Our guide, Orla, was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She brought the stories to life and shared lots of fascinating facts about Edinburgh itself, which made the tour feel even richer. I especially loved the house tournament quiz we did along the way — such a fun touch, and having a winner at the end added a nice bit of excitement. Overall, a really enjoyable experience and highly recommended for any Harry Potter fan visiting the city!”
12-hour coach trip from Edinburgh to Glencoe and Fort Augustus, with optional Loch Ness cruise, Great Glen scenery, and picnic lunch.
“Beautiful highlands and places along the way. Only one downfall. The lunch. When asked for prefences for lunch I made the comment that I needed one for diabetic. It wasn’t even listened to. They had sandwiches with chips with cookie. All carbs and nothing for my husband. If they couldn’t supply then if they had told us we would have supplied our own. For a 12 hour day it was little for a long day. If this part was changed it would make for better time. They did make a point of plenty stops for bathroom breaks as the bus wasn’t equipped with a toilet.”
Evening walk on Edinburgh’s Old Town dark side: murders, witch trials, cemeteries, and Calton Hill views. 2 hours, English, $29.
“Despite being brutally cold, our guide was excellent - colorful and lively. Our guide guide smartly kept us moving otherwise we may have stuck to the ground!”
A long but rewarding coach day from Edinburgh to Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness and Pitlochry.
“Keith was perfect. Enjoyed the accent and true Scottish knowledge. The places we went were astonishing, so beautiful”
A full-day Highlands coach trip from Edinburgh, with Loch Ness time, Urquhart Castle ruins, and Glencoe photo stops.
“This is a MUST DO! It was an amazing trip into the Highlands. This shouldn’t be missed! Our guides gave us so much history, showed us breathtaking views of Scotland, and took amazing care to make the day phenomenal. Shout out to Brody and Jaclyn for a day well spent!”
Ride a vintage double-decker ghost bus through Edinburgh Old Town, with spooky history stops, funny guide theatrics, and easy 1-hour sightseeing.
“fabulous evenings entertainment really great Ghostly trip with a really good actor for a fab evenings entertainment”
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.”
Every kind of day out, from an hour under the Old Town to a week in the islands.
