The Best Walking Tours in Edinburgh (Updated 2023)

Posted: 12/4/2023 | December 4th, 2023

I by no means get bored with visiting Edinburgh. I really like the enchanting cobblestone streets, the world-class whisky bars, the plethora of free museums, and arty vibe of town (it’s the inspiration for a lot of, many writers).

It has been Scotland’s capital because the fifteenth century and has a historical past that stretches again millennia (people have been within the space since 8500 BCE). There’s an epic medieval fortress, an historic volcano, the historic Old Town, and the New Town (each of that are UNESCO World Heritage websites).

One of the very best methods to soak all of it up is by taking a strolling tour. While ghost excursions are a few of the hottest right here (Edinburgh is supposedly one of the vital haunted cities on this planet), there are a lot of different excursions to expertise, from bike excursions to meals excursions to pub crawls.

Here’s my record of the very best strolling excursions in Edinburgh that can assist you plan your journey, lower your expenses, and take advantage of out of your keep!

 
While these two are my high suggestions for excursions in Edinburgh, listed below are a number of extra choices that can assist you profit from your time right here:

1. Secret Food Tours

Food is a crucial a part of each tradition. Scotland has all method of fascinating culinary delights, and one of the simplest ways to be taught extra about them (whereas sampling a bunch) is by taking a meals tour. Secret Food Tours gives the very best one in Edinburgh. On their three-hour basic tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town, you’ll strive delicacies like haggis, creamy Scottish cheese, neeps, and tatties (and be taught what these even are), in addition to get pleasure from conventional Scottish tea.

If you wish to strive extra native spirits, you’ll be able to take the Secret Whisky, Gin, & Beyond tour, which incorporates seven tastings of domestically brewed and distilled liquors.

Prices begin at 69 EUR.

2. A Wee Pedal Bike Tour

To cowl extra floor and get out of city a bit, take a motorcycle tour. A Wee Pedal has a number of completely different choices, so you’ll be able to see extra of Edinburgh and its surrounding countryside on two wheels. The hottest tour is the 20-mile loop tour, which circumnavigates your complete metropolis. There’s additionally a 12-mile model that goes out to the rugged shoreline for a extra off-the-beaten-path journey.

While rides are taken at a meandering, snug tempo, it’s also possible to lease an e-bike for an additional 15 GBP if you happen to’re not up for the problem. You may also guide particular personal excursions, together with one which ends at a brewery (tasting included), and a mountain bike tour.

Prices begin at 65 GBP.

3. City of the Dead Tours

If you’re trying to get genuinely creeped out, take a tour with City of the Dead. They provide a number of excursions that undergo the underground vaults. City of the Dead can be the one tour firm with entry to the ominously named Black Mausoleum and Covenanter’s Prison, a few of the most haunted locations on this planet. These spots are favorites of the Mackenzie Poltergeist, thought-about one of many world’s best-documented supernatural entities, with a whole bunch of supposed encounters. It’s certainly one of my favourite excursions within the metropolis!

Prices begin at 19 GBP.

4. Mountebank Tours

One of TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Things to Do within the UK, the Mountebank Comedy Walk, run by Daniel Downie, an award-winning humorist, is undoubtedly essentially the most hilarious technique to see Auld Reekie (an previous nickname for town). On this tour you’ll snort and be taught not solely about Edinburgh however all issues Scottish, from tradition to historical past to some well-known (and notorious) individuals. And if you happen to’re fortunate, Daniel’s cute canine Bonnie Prince may even be part of you.

Prices begin at 22 GBP.

5. See Your City

One of the largest strolling tour corporations within the UK, See Your City gives a number of enjoyable excursions in Edinburgh. Their greatest (and hottest) is the Harry Potter strolling tour, on which you’ll go to the locations that impressed JK Rowling as she penned her well-known sequence (and the café the place she did so). You’ll even get sorted into your Hogwarts home and get to check your guide and film information in a quiz to earn factors. It’s an excellent enjoyable tour and a should for Harry Potter followers.

Other distinctive See Your City excursions in Edinburgh embrace a Cheese Crawl and a True Crime strolling tour.

Prices begin at 16 GBP.

Edinburgh is an interesting place. It’s bursting with historical past and there are tons of strolling excursions on provide, permitting you to deepen your expertise and join with an area information who can reply all of your questions. Pick one (or a number of) from the record above and also you received’t go fallacious!

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