Top Edinburgh Culture

See the best of medieval yet modern Edinburgh on this walking tour with optional skip-the-line access to Edinburgh Castle. As you walk, listen as your guide shares the history of this formidable city with ancient Roman roots and UNESCO-listed pockets. Explore atmospheric cobbled walkways along the Royal Mile, breeze into Edinburgh Castle to witness royal opulence (if option selected), and pass iconic locations like St. Giles Cathedral, Parliament Square, and John Knox House.

Discover the Edinburgh Vaults—aka South Bridge Vaults—18th-century underground chambers that lie far below the city. On this underground walking tour with an entertaining and informative guide, hear tales of this dark and almost-forgotten place built below one of Edinburgh’s busiest thoroughfares. See evidence of excavated storage spaces, human habitation, taverns with wine vaults and more!

Get an in-depth perspective on Edinburgh on this guided tour that goes deeper than most. Usually led by a guide with a PhD in Scottish history, this tour offers a journey through Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town from the main thoroughfares to the hidden closes (alleyways) and courtyards. Your guide shares tales of dramatic events in the neighborhood's history, as well as those of the writers, philosophers, and inventors who called the area home.

This 'Harry Potter' walking tour gets fans closer to spots in Edinburgh that inspired J.K Rowling’s famous books. Walk past key sites that inspired places such as Diagon Alley, and even see the cafes and hotels where the writer wrote her book series. Your guide knows the quickest ways to get around the city on foot to fit more into your time, as well as fun facts about Harry Potter.

Step off the tourist trail and explore the Scottish capital’s hidden secrets on this underground walking tour in Edinburgh. Follow a guide from the South Bridge in Edinburgh Old Town down below street level, where a series of ancient vaults lie. As you explore the dark passageways, learn why the vaults were built, hear of the poor souls who sought refuge in the depths and discover a hidden witchcraft temple. Gain insight into city life during the 18th century, and learn of the deadly diseases which threatened Edinburgh’s inhabitants.

Discover the palaces and castles of TV’s ‘Outlander’ series on a 9.5-hour tour from Edinburgh. Visit some of the sites that starred in the fictional Jacobite saga, including Blackness Castle, the headquarters of Jack Randall, and Hopetoun House, the Duke of Sandringham’s residence. Explore Wentworth Prison, set in Linlithglow Palace, and see Midhope Castle (Lallybroch), Mercat Cross (Cranesmuir), and more, as you hear trivia on the series and its stars. Entrance fees are excluded.

See a different side to Edinburgh and combine the best of the underground and haunted graveyard tours on this double dead walking tour, during which you visit two of the city’s spookiest attractions: South Bridge Vaults and the Covenanter’s Prison. The latter is only accessible on City of the Dead tours and our guide provides plenty of exclusive insight you wouldn’t get on your own.

Journey to the frontier of ancient Rome on this full-day tour of Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish borders from Edinburgh. First up is a tour of the 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel, famously featured in ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and renowned for its mysterious stone carvings and unique architecture. After lunch (not included), stop at Melrose Abbey, the burial site of King Robert the Bruce’s heart, and look out over the English border from Cheviot Hills, before walking along the UNESCO-listed Hadrian’s Wall.

Follow the trail of the Romans through ancient Scotland on this full-day tour from Edinburgh. With an expert guide, visit millennia-old Roman ruins such as Hadrian’s Wall, Birdoswald Fort, Steel Rigg, and soak up the beauty of Northumberland National Park, the Irthing Valley, and the Southern Uplands. Travel with a small group to historic villages and hear the about Anglo-Scottish wars that once rattled the region.

Combine the magic of Harry Potter with the history of the Scottish borders on this day trip from Edinburgh. Ideal for fans of the world’s favorite wizard, this tour takes you to the coastal town of Bamburgh, home to the impressive Bamburgh Castle, and Alnwick Castle, a filming location featured in both Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey. Tour the historic structure’s opulent rooms—entrance fees at your own expense—before you admire the pretty town of Coldstream, straddling the border of England and Scotland.

Follow in the footsteps of Scottish icons like Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie as you unravel the truths and myths of Edinburgh’s royal history. Set out on a 90-minute walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, spot the royal sites along Canongate and admire the grand Palace of Holyroodhouse, The Queen’s official residence in Scotland. After a comprehensive introduction to Edinburgh’s royal roots, enjoy skip-the-line access (optional) to the Palace of Holyrood and explore the magnificent royal residence independently.

Delve into Scotland’s rich history and heritage on this 1-day Rosslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey and Stirling Castle tour from Edinburgh. Head from the Royal Mile over the UNESCO–listed Forth Bridge to Dunfermline with a guide, and explore the Abbey Kirk — burial place of Robert the Bruce. See where the Battle of Bannockburn raged and learn of Scotland’s struggle for independence. Take in top local attractions including Stirling Castle, and enjoy breathtaking views from the top of the iconic Wallace Monument. Then, visit Rosslyn Chapel before returning to Edinburgh.

Take the guesswork out of your 'Outlander' pilgrimage on this guided walking tour that takes you to the exact locations featured in the TV series and novels. In a small group of no more than 12 people, see such sites as Jamie's printshop and the Tolbooth prison while learning from your guide about life in Edinburgh during and after the time of the Jacobite uprisings.

Explore famous landmarks and hidden secrets in Edinburgh on this walking tour. Explore Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile with a guide, and gain insight into famous writers and inventors who have called the city home. Hear tales of Scotland's national bard—Robert Burns—and discover top landmarks such as St. Giles’ Cathedral and the National Galleries of Scotland. Capture Edinburgh through the eye of your camera as you go, and find out what makes this ancient city tick.

Come with us as we reveal the stories of some of the people who were buried under your feet. Covenanters, bodysnatchers, murderers and murdered, this graveyard has it all!Perfect for anyone who wants to discover Scottish history and who wants an Edinburgh guided tour with a smaller amount of walking.Prices start at £40 for up to four people.

Experience the legend and mystery of Rosslyn Chapel and the Holy Grail on this ‘Da Vinci Code’ tour from Edinburgh. In a small group, travel to the charming town of Melrose and through the Scottish borderlands. Explore Melrose Abbey and Rosslyn Chapel, and hear intriguing tales of Cistercian monks, the Knights Templar, and Robert the Bruce.

Ideal for first-time visitors, this tour of Edinburgh's Old Town lets you follow in the footsteps of important Scottish figures such as Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. In a small, private group, you’ll visit three of the Old Town’s former execution spots, admire the cobbled streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, and see the site of the notorious Tolbooth Prison. Throughout the tour, your guide provides archive imagery of historical Edinburgh to enhance your experience.

Ideal for those fascinated by the supernatural, this tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults is sure to make your spine tingle. With a ghoulish guide, descend into the darkened depths of the Blair Street Vaults and hear vivid retellings of torture, murder, and body snatching. Abandon thoughts of manufactured frights and prepare to experience the sinister side of Edinburgh on this small-group tour.

Explore a sinister side of Edinburgh on this late-night ghost walking tour that includes the Blair Street Vaults under South Bridge. Stroll mysterious alleyways as you listen to your guide’s grim and ghastly tales of treason and torture. Then venture underground for a candlelight tour of the 18th-century chambers and hear haunting stories of supernatural forces lingering in the city's darkest corners.

Get a comprehensive look at Scotland during this 5-day journey through its rugged and rural landscapes. Travel through the Lowlands, Northern Highlands, West Coast, and the Isle of Skye, including a stop at Loch Ness and Eilean Donan Castle plus a seasonal railway ride on the Jacobite steam train. Enjoy overnight stays in Oban and Loch Ness, and a 2-night stay in Isle of Skye, with daily breakfast included

Learn about J.K. Rowling and the origins of the 'Harry Potter' books during a walking tour of Edinburgh. See places that inspired Rowling such as the Balmoral Hotel and University of Edinburgh's Old College; locales that shaped the Dementors and Ministry of Magic; and cafes where Rowling liked to write. Your guide is a 'Harry Potter' fan who shares fascinating details about the wizarding world in Edinburgh.

Scotland’s rugged landscapes and historic castles provide a spectacular backdrop to hit TV series Outlander, but you’ll need a guide if you want to follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters. This full-day tour from Edinburgh gives fans the inside scoop, visiting memorable filming locations such as Doune Castle, Culross, and Falkland.

Experience the rugged beauty of England’s Lake District on 3-day small-group trip from Edinburgh. Aboard a comfortable coach, wind through the picturesque borderlands into England, visiting the Victorian Spa town of Moffat en route. Then cozy up in the town of Keswick, and spend three days relaxing and visiting idyllic lakes like Lake Windermere, Grasmere, and Ullswater.

The award winning Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour was the first literary tour to be launched in Edinburgh in 1996! Why is it regarded by many as a pioneer in its field and a Must-See cultural attraction in guide books throughout the world - standing out from all the rest.......? Performed by professional actors and not academics or tour guides reciting from books. It represents great value for money and has a very high entertainment factor! Join the intrepid duo, Clart ( as in muck!) and our clean-hankied intellectual Mcbrain, who will lead you on a brilliant and witty dramatic romp through the wynds, courtyards and pubs of Edinburgh's Old and New Town. A Hilarious duel of wits across three hundred years of great writing and colourful characters.