Top Activities on the Ground in Edinburgh

Even if you’ve only got limited time in Edinburgh, its still possible to see the breadth of the city’s natural landscapes. Cover more sights in less time during a 3-hour bike ride which takes you from Arthur’s Seat to the beaches of Portobello and the Port of Leith. Plus, you’ll be able to choose between an electric or manual bike depending on your fitness level.

Swap sightseeing tours for a more unique and engaging way to explore Edinburgh. This game leads you and your team through the city by presenting you with a selection of puzzles to solve. From one clue to the next, you'll work out a path, learn some fascinating historical tidbits, unravel the story and ultimately discover the secret connection between Edinburgh and Sherlock Holmes.

Jog around Edinburgh and see more of the city than you would walking on this running tour. Climb Calton Hill for panoramic views, and jog through the Old and New Town, stopping at famous and unexpected sights to discover their history. Your run covers about 4.3 miles (7 kilometers), with the pace set by your small group of 15 or fewer. Souvenirs of a running T-shirt, Edinburgh poster, and other extras are included.

Intrepidus Outdoors is an adventure tourism and outdoor education provider based in Edinburgh. We specialise in canyoning, coasteering, mountain biking and mountaineering, and deliver these adventurous experiences across Scotland and the North of England. The experiences that we provide take clients into some of the most exquisite, incredible and extreme environments the UK has to offer.

Intrepidus Outdoors is an adventure tourism and outdoor education provider based in Edinburgh. We specialise in canyoning, coasteering, mountain biking and mountaineering, and deliver these adventurous experiences across Scotland and the North of England. The experiences that we provide take clients into some of the most exquisite, incredible and extreme environments the UK has to offer.

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.

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.

Journey through Edinburgh’s grisliest tales on a haunted walking tour. Experience the ghastly histories of monsters, madness, and murder that cast a dark shadow on the capital city. Discover the stories and sites of witch trials, pagan rituals, and executions, and hear about local monsters that live in urban myth. Then visit the chilling Old Calton Burial Ground or Canongate Kirkyard cemetery to learn about body-snatching and some of the infamous interred.

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.

Edinburgh is known for its dark past, and this evening walking tour is the original one to showcase the city's historically sinister and spooky side. Discover the hidden ‘wynds’ (alleys) and closes of the Old Town as you learn their mysteries and horrors; visit the ghost-ridden Greyfriars Kirkyard; and explore the city’s underground vaults to uncover their spirits and secrets. Your tour is led by a creepily costumed guide.

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.

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!

The Waverley Pub is one of Edinburgh’s most popular drinking establishments and stocks a huge variety of Scotch whisky. On this tasting tour, sample four single malt whiskies from four different whisky-producing regions of Scotland, uncover the secrets of Scotch whisky-making, and experience the Scottish tradition of storytelling.

Get a taste of Edinburgh on this guided tasting tour. Try locally sourced dishes and drinks beyond the Royal Mile. Along the way, learn about the history of the area. Plus get recommendations on places such as bars, restaurants, museums, and galleries to go following the tour. Listen with an audio headset so you can walk at your own pace.

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.

Edinburgh’s stately streets hide a darker, more mysterious side of the city, rooted in its 18th-century slums, ‘wynds,’ (alleyways), and vaults. This 75-minute tour takes you back in time to this shadowy world, exploring dark cobbled lanes, a haunted cemetery, and underground vaults. As you explore, your costumed guide shares captivating tales of the city’s history, along with stories of ghosts, murders, crimes, and more.

A fantastic way to see the city. A classic treasure hunt with a twist that will have you interacting with your surroundings whilst learning about the traditional beliefs of Scotland and the world. This is a small business and a work of passion created by some local tour guides that love games and game design.

Travel back to the action-packed world of Outlander on a private day trip to Scotland's TV filming locations. Enjoy a guided tour from Edinburgh to the Highland areas featured in the popular program like the villages of Culross and Falkland—which represents Inverness in the series—and cinematic landmarks like Castle Leoch (Doune Castle). Along the way, enjoy insider stories and trivia about the series, cast, and crew. 

Get out of Edinburgh's crowded city center and discover the wonderful nature that surrounds the Scottish capital. This guided tour takes you walking in the Pentland Hills, which are on Edinburgh's doorstop, yet largely overlooked by tourists. As you walk, your guide will fill you in on Edinburgh's natural and cultural heritage, as well as the geology of the hills.

This is a cycle tour you won't find anywhere else. I shall take you where other tourists will not know about. There are other cycle tours in Edinburgh, but as I take small groups, you will be able to go at your own pace, ask as many questions as you like and take numerous photos without pressure of being rushed. This tour requires you to be able to cycle for a maximum distance of 20 miles with regular stops and at a slow -steady pace. This tour is not suitable for under 12 years. From Craigmillar Caste, to the stunning Dean Village, Leith and Portobello, you will be cycling through all the 'must-see' parts of Edinburgh that are off the tourist trail. E-bikes can be hired at an additional cost of £15pp cash on the day. Please let me know if you would like this option. (If you think you would prefer a shorter tour, please check out our 'cycle tour to the coast' which is 12 miles, 3 hours)

Join the hunt for hidden treasure on this interactive game played out in the wilds of Scotland. Take your bag of clues and head out around Edinburgh and its green spaces to discover the true history of Scotland’s pirates and hear myths about their lives and the booty they stashed around the city. Will you solve the clues and find the treasure?

See a different side of Edinburgh—from the seat of a pushbike! Set off on a cycling tour of Edinburgh led by your local and knowledgeable guide, and see Craigmillar Castle and Arthur’s Seat as you whizz by. Pass through the Victorian railway tunnel into Holyrood Park and see where the Scottish Parliament is now held. Push on out of the city and you’ll be rewarded with views of the sea as you head towards the coast.

We love running and we love Edinburgh, bring your trainers and let us show you our wonderful and vibrant city on foot! Hear stories of Edinburgh past and present whilst we tour the capital city at your pace. We will take in all the main city sights and then finish off with a breathtaking climb up Arthur's Seat to see the city from a panoramic view.

Swap crowded bus tours for a much more fun and exhilarating way of exploring Edinburgh—a trike tour. Feel the wind in your hair as you travel in style between historic sights and stop off at scenic viewpoints. Along the way, enjoy the perk of having two malt whisky tastings included.