Scotland · HISTORY TOURS IN EDINBURGH
The 15 best history tours in Edinburgh you can book right now, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Edinburgh Old Town walking tour with a pro guide, cobbled streets, major sights like St Giles, Mercat Cross, and views of the Castle.
“Ben was great! He was very informative and a relaxed tour guide and answered all of our questions we had!”
Explore Edinburgh Old Town and underground vaults at Tron Kirk and Canongate Kirkyard, with an expert English guide and relaxed pace.
“Chihon was an excellent guide. He was very engaging, knowledgeable and had us laughing throughout the tour. Our 10yo loved hearing about the history of Edinburgh just as much as we did. Highly recommend!”
A small-group underground Edinburgh vaults tour with multi-sensory storytelling from Mercat Cross down to Blair Street. Max 18.
“Linda was very knowledgeable - kept us all entertained for whole time. Enjoyed it and would recommend”
2-hour guided walk through Edinburgh Old Town, medieval to modern stories, classic highlights, and tips for exploring further, ends at Greyfriars.
“Very informative. Now I see the city with different eyes. History and places were a good match. There were also many tips.Auto-translated”
A guided Royal Mile walk through Edinburgh’s courts, plague, and graveyard stories, with free stop-ins along the way.
“James was phenomenal. The tour was insightful and entertaining highly recommend it to anyone visiting.”
A 90-minute walking tour through Edinburgh’s witch trials, dark legends, and key Old Town streets, guided by theatrical storytellers.
“In spite of the rain was a nice tour. We were running late with our Uber and got a quick response in how to handle delay. The guide was amazing with her theatrics! In spite of her trying so hard to speak to everyone her mic couldn’t keep up. All in all was a fun tour.”
Edinburgh’s Old Town pub walk with beer tastings, brewing heritage stories, and cozy cask ale stops. Small group, about 2 hours.
“Wag was an exceptional guide with an incredible wealth of knowledge about beer making and its history. Could not recommend more!!”
A 2-hour small-group Old Town walk through Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Greyfriars, Grassmarket, and St Giles, with standout storytelling.
“We had such a great time on this tour! Katie was fun and engaging and very knowledgeable. She made sure to answer everyone’s questions. The length of the tour was perfect and we learned so much. Next time we are in Edinburgh we will definitely book with this company again!”
Step into 1829 Edinburgh for a one-hour escape room in a basement anatomist study, with sensory clues and a mission to find Dr. Malcolm’s journal.
Private Greyfriars Kirkyard tour in Edinburgh with guide Robert. 90 minutes of tailored graveyard stories, mobile ticket, meet at Greyfriars Place.
“Robert was absolutely fantastic. Loved this tour. His knowledge and stories where fun and entertaining.”
Small-group Fife day from Edinburgh, with Queensferry views, Lady’s Tower coastal walk, St Andrews ruins, and Dunfermline Abbey.
“I had SUCH A GREAT TIME on this tour! Magnus, our guide, was friendly, approachable and full of knowledge! I learned alot on this tour and I loved the mini van experience as opposed to a tour bus as it made conversing and connecting with fellow travellers much easier.”
A 2-hour Edinburgh walking tour with local stories and a tasting of tablet, haggis, and whisky, ending at Holyrood Palace gates.
“Darcy was great and extremely informative. She had great energy while showing us the best areas of Edinburgh”
Private Royal Mile walk in Edinburgh with a local guide. Hear Mary Queen of Scots and Prince Charles stories on a 2-hour route.
“It is both factual and humorous. Finding out about the characters that shaped Edinburghs history. Robert was very knowledgeable and easy to learn from.”
Follow spooky tales through Edinburgh pubs with a welcome cocktail on a 3-hour small-group tour from the National Museum for $39.85.
“Ended up with a private tour for two because the other scheduled guests canceled, but our host, John, didn't miss a beat. We visited 4 great pubs with interesting, and/or sinister histories. John was welcoming and funny, and answered any questions we had about Edinburgh. He also gave us a great revommendation for fish and chips after. All of the suggested beverages were a hit, especially the traditional ale at Grey friar's Bobby. Would highly recommend this experience.”
Private Edinburgh medical history walk from Royal Mile to Royal Infirmary, led by physician Moray. Free-entry stops, 3 to 4 hours.
“What a wonderful tour of the history of medicine in Edinburgh. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic. History is truly surrounding you on this experience. If it matters, we did not tour a medical history museum.”
Every kind of day out, from an hour under the Old Town to a week in the islands.
