The Witchery’s Guide to Edinburgh’s Best Walking Tours

If you’re thinking of exploring the capital by foot, you’ll find that many of the best Edinburgh walking tours can help you unearth hidden gems as well as iconic landmarks.

Edinburgh is well-known for being a labyrinth of steep, cobbled streets so a guided walking tour is a useful way to take in the sights of the city, gaining local insights and becoming acquainted with interesting points of interest and hidden courtyards or alleys you might otherwise have missed.

Not to mention, there’s a whole range of guided tours available, so if you’re not entirely convinced that a history tour is for you and you prefer more cultural pursuits, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from; from comedy tours to Harry Potter.  

Our guide will help you explore the full range of Edinburgh walking tours available, including those near or around Edinburgh’s Old Town where you can stay at our historic 16th century building near Castlehill. This area itself is steeped in history, having been reputed as a site where more witches were put to death during the reign of James VI than anywhere else in Scotland, making it an ideal place for walking tour enthusiasts to start their exploration. 

Best Paid & Free Edinburgh Walking Tours

1. Witches Old Town Walking Tour & Underground Vault

If you’re interested in discovering Edinburgh’s Old Town and learning more about Edinburgh’s association with witchcraft, Enthral Experiences offers a Witches Tour that uncovers the stories of the capital’s real life witches, paying respectful homage to those wrongly accused. 

Led by an engaging character guide, the experience blends history and storytelling and includes a visit to “The Lost Close,” a recently discovered underground site that has been cloaked in mystery since the Great Fire of 1824, and The Ancient Vaults where you will enjoy the final tales of the tour date back to 1742.

Prices for the tour are £15 for adults and £12.75 for children, with an optional add-on of a magical cocktail or mocktail experience at The Cauldron for an additional fee. The tour meets at St. Giles’ Cathedral, outside Caffe Nero, at least 5 minutes before the start time.

2. Underground Vaults Walking Tour

Step inside Edinburgh’s South Bridge Vaults with a local guide who’ll reveal tales of hardship and struggle in 18th-century Edinburgh and reveal grisly stories from the city’s dark past.

The vaults were once used for illicit and criminal activities and were even reputed to have housed some of the poorest members of society. 

To explore the site for yourself, there are a number of tour operators dedicated to the Underground Vaults with some of the most popular being Auld Reekie Tours’ Vaults Tours which provides an extensive tour of The Vaults for £20 per person or Mercat Tours’ Historic Underground Tour.

3. Harry Potter Locations Tour

 

If you prefer a cultural outing, be sure to consider taking a Harry Potter Locations Tour to discover the movies’ filming locations and the iconic places that inspired J. K. Rowling to create the world-renowned books.

See Your City offers one of the most popular paid tours, with a 2-hour tour available that combines visiting famous landmarks like Edinburgh Castle with interesting facts, trivia, and behind-the-scenes stories about the Harry Potter movies.

You could also try the Potter Trail for a free Harry Potter Edinburgh walking tour experience that’s been around for more than a decade.

4. Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour 

No visit to the capital is complete without visiting Edinburgh Castle. A guided tour is a great way to learn about the bloody history, including the stories of the kings and queens who lived there and to get to grips with the different parts of the fortress.

Scotland City Tours is an authorised tour operator that will guide you through the complex, including three museums, two prisons, a canine cemetery, the Chapel of Saint Margaret, which is the oldest building in the city, the National Monument to the Fallen of Scotland, the Great Hall and the Royal Palace, from £25 per person.

5. Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

Looking to discover Edinburgh’s dark underbelly? Edinburgh’s Darkside Walking Tour lets you delve into the city's gruesome past as you explore the haunting sites of witch trials, pagan rituals, and public executions that live in urban myth. 

The tour is then complete with a visit to either the Old Calton Burial Ground or Canongate Kirkyard cemetery to learn about body-snatching and some of the infamous interred. Available from £20.84

6. City Explorers Edinburgh Free Tour

You don’t have to fork out a lot of money to explore the city. City Explorers offers free guided tours of the capital with time slots available every day. 

Choose from 10 am, 11 am or 1 pm and experience highlights including Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Old & New Towns and Mercat Cross, starting from 154 High Street on the Royal Mile. Be sure to book in advance to secure your place.

7. The Mountebank Comedy Tour of Edinburgh

The Mountebank Comedy Tour is a hilarious and unique walking tour of Edinburgh led by award-winning comedian Daniel Downie.

A blend of comedy and history, this brilliant tour takes you through the cobbled streets of the Old Town while sharing humorous anecdotes about Scottish culture, history, and its colourful characters. It's a fantastic way to experience Edinburgh with a side of belly-aching laughter.

8. The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

Prepare to be spooked with the popular World Famous Underground Ghost Tour that combines a walking exploration of the Old Town, including the infamous Greyfriars Kirkyard, with a descent into the eerie underground vaults beneath the city.

You'll meet a historical character who will guide you through the city's dark past, including the gruesome living conditions, infamous jail, and the notorious Greyfriars Kirkyard. The tour ends in a descent into the underground vaults, where you'll explore the remains of a 17th-century street and hear tales of its ghostly inhabitants.

9. Old Town Walking Tour

The Old Town History and Tales Tour from Little Fish Tours covers everything from history to religion and folklore in its tour of Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town. Their talented entertaining guides will walk you through the streets and alleys of Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) while enthralling you with its history, folklore and tales.

If you’re looking for the opportunity to explore The Mercat Cross, St Giles Cathedral, David Hume and the Scottish Enlightenment, The National Museum, Greyfriars Bobby, The Grassmarket, and Edinburgh Castle in more depth, the tour is available both in the summer and winter seasons for £20 per adult, while kids under 7 go free. 

10. Edinburgh Food and Drink Tour with Eat Walk Tours

Eat Walk Tours offers a delightful culinary journey through Edinburgh. This food tour is a fantastic way to experience the city's vibrant food and drink scene while learning about its rich history and culture.

Along the tour, you'll visit a selection of local eateries, sampling a variety of Scottish delicacies and beverages. Expect to savour everything from hearty traditional dishes to modern culinary creations. Their knowledgeable guides will share fascinating stories about the city's food heritage and the people behind the dishes.

Recharge at The Witchery

After a long day of exploring Edinburgh on foot, retire to our decadent dining rooms and enjoy a light lunch or an evening meal at the foot of Edinburgh Castle in Old Town. 

Awarded the AA’s Best Restaurant With Rooms, Scotland 2023/2024, immerse yourself in decades of Edinburgh’s history as we sweep you away with delicate flavours, award-winning wine, and an unforgettable atmosphere. 

Discover our two-course lunch offering and á la carte menu and book your table for a dining experience you can treasure for a lifetime. 

Explore more of Edinburgh

Discover more wonderful things to do in Edinburgh, and continue reading:

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• Explore Edinburgh City to find the best viewpoints and photo opportunities
• Bring your significant other with our list of the most romantic things to do for couples in Edinburgh
• Find out about Edinburgh’s eerie history and haunted hotels