Things to Do in Edinburgh

Experience Scotland's five whisky regions with a guided tasting tour showcasing the history, production, and alchemy of Scotch whisky.

Experience the beauty and history of the Scottish Highlands with our knowledgeable and friendly guide. Find out about the Jacobite Rebellions, mythical beasts, and the Wars of Independence.

What makes this experience unique is the fact that it is a very hands on, bespoke, personal and very knowledgeable workshop like no other in the country. Where you learn of the workings of a micro distillery, get to taste different spirit profiles, you also get to design and make your very own bottle of gin to take home with you after the class.

Hop on a bus and explore multiple royal attractions

Explore Edinburgh’s eerie past! Discover tales of witches and uncover spooky secrets on this Witches tour of Scotland's capital!

• Visit one of Scotland’s top wildlife attractions, home to 2,500 animals including big cats, primates, birds, reptiles, and rare mammals.
• Observe elusive species like Asiatic lions, sloth bears and pygmy hippos in custom-built habitats created to match their native ecosystems and behaviours.
• Take part in special events including keeper talks, family trails, and hands-on exhibits tied to international days like Conservation Day.
• Join ongoing efforts to protect wildlife as the zoo works to recover 50 endangered or critically threatened species worldwide.
• With easy 10-min access from the city centre, you can visit the zoo at your ease, stay as long as you like and explore at your own speed!

Go underground and delve into Scotland's darkest history at the Edinburgh Dungeon. See, hear, and smell Edinburgh's dark past.

Just a 10-minute journey out of the city centre by bus or car, Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 2,500 rare and beautiful animals including the UK’s only Queensland koalas and Scotland's only sloths.

During your private 4-Hour Tour soak up the amazing sights of both the Old and New Town of Edinburgh. You will be shown around in a comfortable and spacious vehicle by one of our experienced driver-guides. This private tour is perfect for the visitor who has limited time and who wants to see all of the major attractions. You will have time to get out, walk around and take photos and to learn about this beautiful medieval city from your guide. Or perhaps, you are a visitor who simply wants a shorter tour to orientate yourself to the layout of the city with hints and tips from your guide on the best places to visit, eat and shop in your own time. Here are just some of the places that you will be able to stop at on your tour: Edinburgh Castle Grassmarket Greyfriars Bobby Royal Mile St Giles Cathedral Mercat Cross Palace of Holyrood House Arthur's Seat Calton Hill Walter Scott Monument New Town Dean Village

Visit The King's official residence in Scotland

Discover Edinburgh's Old Town with this free walking tour of one of Scotland's most beloved cities. This tour is perfect for any first-visitors to Edinburgh!

• Get on board Tripadvisor's No. 1 Attraction in the World with timed entry to the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh's celebrated maritime landmark.
• Explore five accessible decks aboard the last British Royal Yacht, which served as Queen Elizabeth II's floating residence for 44 years.
• Enhance your visit with a free audio guide included with your ticket at no extra cost, available in 38 languages, Braille script, and British or American Sign Language.
• Tour the elegant State Apartments and learn how the yacht's 220 Royal Yachtsmen lived and worked in the Crew's Quarters.
• See the gleaming Engine Room, enjoy waterfront views from the Royal Deck Tearoom, and admire the historic Rolls-Royce Phantom IV.

Visit Glenfinnan Viaduct and see the Harry Potter steam train. Take in the views at Glencoe and enjoy the Highland town of Fort William.

Explore Edinburgh with a hop-on, hop-off tour with access to 2 sightseeing routes, the City and Britannia Tours. Explore landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, and Leith's scenic waterfront.

Explore the Highlands as you travel from Edinburgh through Glencoe to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The spectacular scenery features filming locations from Skyfall, Highlander and Harry Potter. Explore Glenfinnan and enjoy the panoramic views. Take your time to capture great photos and even view the Jacobite Steam Train crossing the viaduct (April - October only).

Explore the castle's promenade and learn about the the origins and sieges

Embark on a haunting journey into Edinburgh's eerie depths. Uncover ghostly secrets and enter the haunted underground vaults and Greyfriars Kirkyard by night!

• Enjoy full access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish home of the British monarch, located at the end of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.
• Wander through the hauntingly beautiful ruins of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey, steeped in almost 900 years of religious and royal history.
• Enhance your visit with complimentary multimedia guides and printed guidebooks, available with select ticket options.
• Opt for a 2-hour guided tour of the palace interiors, or a 1-hour guided tour of Queen Elizabeth II's private apartments, both led by an English-speaking expert guide.

Book your Jacobite Steam Train and Scottish Highlands tour and discover Edinburgh's connections to Harry Potter as you check out the scenery.

Journey from Edinburgh to the Highlands, visit Glen Coe, cruise Loch Ness, and take in stunning landscapes before returning via the Cairngorms and Forth Bridges. An unforgettable adventure awaits!

We are dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. With our expert local guides, you will be able to explore the stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture of Scotland in a way that is tailored to your interests and preferences. Embark on a breath-taking journey from Edinburgh to Glencoe, The Highlands and Loch Ness. Enjoying the stunning views of The Kelpies, Stirling Castle, Cairngorms, and Ben Nevis along the way. This tour will take you through some of Scotland's most magnificent landscapes and landmarks, and leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Starting in Edinburgh, our private driver guide will lead you through the heart of Scotland, as we make our way to the Scottish Highlands. We offer an exceptional on-board experience, enjoy luxury leather seats, self-rear controlled AC, WIFI, and USB ports, complimentary cold drinks and snacks in our onboard cooler. We look forward to helping you experience the magic of Scotland!

Roam around the sets used to bring the magic of Harry Potter to life onscreen

Want to travel on the Hogwarts Express? Travel through Scotland's breathtaking scenery on board the Jacobite with this Harry Potter Train Tour.

• Timed-entry tickets give you a 15-min window to enter, reducing wait times and letting you explore the attraction without crowds or hassle.
• Meet Scotland’s darkest figures like Major Weir and Burke & Hare in shows about witch trials & body-snatching—all recreated using live performance.
• Strap in for the Drop Dead Ride, where a judge sentences you to a sudden 20 feet vertical plunge inspired by the city’s historic public executions.
• Want to skip the fixed entry slot? Select the anytime entry upgrade in the next steps for total freedom to arrive anytime that day.

Discover Edinburgh in a horror sightseeing show and learn about the most haunted city in Europe.

Visit Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Rannoch Moor on a full-day small-group tour from Edinburgh and discover the area's history. Take a boat ride on Loch Ness and look for the legendary monster.

This is a 2-14 day private tour of the Scottish Highlands operated by Dirty Daves.... there is no set Itinerary..... no rules and no holds barred..... join us for the most crazy and unique tour of Scotland. If you dont find what you are looking for we are happy to build a fully custom itinerary ... all you have to do is ask 🙂 We arrange all hotels and they can be paid on arrival.

See the latest exhibitions at the royal residence in Scotland

Travel from Edinburgh to Loch Ness on this tour of some of the Scottish Highlands' most stunning attractions - an unforgettable day trip at the best price!

• Make the most of your time in Edinburgh by curating the perfect itinerary with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass, valid for 12 months, offering flexible travel.
• Access the Red Route, with 14 stops spread across the city, and hop on and off as you please, with buses arriving every 20 minutes.
• With your pass, learn about the city’s history through a multilingual audio guide, along with a dedicated kids’ commentary channel for younger travelers.
• Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views from an open-top double-decker bus, perfect for sightseeing, including landmarks like John Knox House, Grassmarket, Holyrood, and Johnston Terrace.

Book your Tour of Chocolate at the Chocolatarium and discover the origins of this sweet treat, make your very own bar and tuck into delicious samples.

Explore Edinburgh’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems on an e-bike. Glide through history, breathtaking viewpoints, and UNESCO heritage sites.

Niall McOwan is an experienced Scottish tour guide. Raised in the mountains and glens of Scotland and inspired by his father, renowned Scottish author and historian Dr. Rennie McOwan, Niall feels passionately about his role as a bespoke guide. Directly descended from legendary Highland stalker Donald Ross, Chief Stalker to the Duke of Portland, Niall aims to give clients the best possible experience whether it be heritage related , historical, cultural or perhaps a mixture of all three – the best that Scotland has to offer . Niall ‘. . . showing visitors my native Scotland is quite simply the perfect job’. Niall will ensure you have a truly memorable and bespoke private tour tailored to suit your needs , interests and time frame. .

Hear the real stories of Edinburgh's past residents underneath the city streets

Edinburgh Castle is the most visited monument in Scotland; an unmissable sight in the Scottish capital. Don't miss this Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour!

• Explore the eerie and spooky side of Edinburgh on a 60-minute guided tour of the famous South Bridge vaults in the Old Town.
• Set off on a guided journey through the vaults and discover how they evolved from merchant storage spaces into slums, taverns, and criminal hideouts.
• Enter the notorious stone circle hidden within the vaults and hear lesser-known stories of its mysterious past from your guide.
• Step inside a witchcraft temple, once used by a modern coven known as the “Source Coven of the Blue Dragon,” and learn why it was no longer safe for them to practise there.
• Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for eerie sights while hearing stories about the criminals, body snatchers, and witches once linked to these spaces.

Book this vaults and graveyard tour of Edinburgh now to discover its paranormal side, visit Greyfriars Graveyard and go deep underneath the city.

Enjoy a day in the medieval kingdom of Fife on this small-group day trip from Edinburgh. Visit its fishing villages, the town of St. Andrews, and the picturesque Falkland and its formal royal palace.

Why book with A wee pedal? We are Visit Scotland's award winning 'Best outdoor experience' praised for high quality guest experience whilst supporting the local community. This cycle tour is unique; a 20 mile carefully planned route, mostly off road, seeing the Edinburgh most visitors miss. We have no need to use vehicles as we start right on the cycle path and are proudly named a zero-carbon company. Groups are kept small for high guest experience and safety and you'll learn about this ancient city whilst having a lot of fun with our qualified and experienced guides. You will start right in the heart of Craigmillar Castle grounds, close to the city centre and easily accessed by foot, bus, taxi or car (there is free on-site parking) E-bikes can be hired at an additional cost of £25pp 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 'family-friendly cycle tour to the coast' 12 miles, 3 hours)

A barrel of Scotch fun in the world of whisky

Make the most of your stay in Edinburgh with this St. Andrews and Fife's Fishing Villages Day Trip. Explore the famous golfing town and quaint coastal towns.

• Celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s centenary with a rare 1-hour tour of her private rooms at Holyroodhouse with a guided apartment visit plus full entry to the Palace.
• Available only in 2026, step inside Queen Elizabeth II’s private apartments, opened to the public for the first time ever to mark her 100th birth anniversary.
• An expert guide reveals the 70-year history of these rooms, sharing stories of how the Queen and Prince Philip lived and worked while in residence.
• Tour the Royal Breakfast Room, the Sitting Room with its iconic red dispatch boxes, and a Dressing Room featuring three of Her Majesty's historic outfits.
• Your ticket includes a self-guided tour of the main Palace with a multimedia guide, allowing you to explore the Throne Room and Mary, Queen of Scots’ historic chambers at your pace.

Book your silent disco adventure in Edinburgh and get ready to get groovy! Meet your guide and have a boogie while seeing the sights.

Why settle for an ordinary day out when you could dive into history aboard the only British Royal Yacht in the world! Come rain or shine we’re an all-weather visit with five highly accessible decks.

Edinburgh Walks offer unique small group private guided walks through parts of this UNESCO World Heritage city of Edinburgh. Your guide was born in Edinburgh, has lived all his life in the city and has an intimate knowledge of the place. With local knowledge to the fore, you can customise your tour to your own requirements. You are in charge. Discover the real Edinburgh in a friendly, relaxed and informative way. You will experience breathtaking views of Edinburgh and learn about the history of the surrounding area. Each of the walks around Edinburgh will take you to places of interest and beauty that tour buses cannot reach, allowing plenty of opportunities to stop, shop, rest and take photographs. Edinburgh, a city that HAS to be walked.

Hear stories about the franchise and visit famous filming locations

Discover the Medieval Kingdom of Northumbria: explore the ruined castles, quaint villages and wild coastline of North-East England on this tour from Edinburgh.

• Choose the perfect whisky experience for your budget and palate at the world-renowned The Scotch Whisky Experience, located right beside Edinburgh Castle.
• Embark on an interactive journey through the ‘Origins’ of whisky and the art of blending before stepping inside a breathtaking vault of 3,384 rare bottles.
• Choose the Silver Tour for the ideal introduction featuring a fully guided 50-min tour, a regional dram of your choice, and a crystal tasting glass to take home as a souvenir.
• Pick the Gold Tour to elevate your visit with everything in the Silver Tour, plus an extra flight of four regional single malts to compare like a professional taster.
• With the Taste of Scotland Tour, you get everything included with the Gold Tour, followed by a 3-course, 7-dish gourmet menu at the award-winning Amber Restaurant.

Book this day tour now to discover mysterious Loch Ness, wild Glen Coe and marvel at the vast and magical Highlands, combining nature and history.

Explore Tantallon Castle and North Berwick on this exciting day trip from Edinburgh. Enjoy a boat tour to see puffins, seals, and other wildlife. Tour Times change daily. Not 9am-5pm as stated.