Ultimate Edinburgh Itinerary: Must-See Tours and Activities for Your Trip
- Jacqlyne
- Sep 7, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 10

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a vibrant hub of culture and history, renowned for its beauty. Its cobblestone streets and ancient architecture create a captivating atmosphere. The iconic Edinburgh Castle, housing Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, dominates the skyline. The city also features historic sites like the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Mile, and Arthur's Seat, offering panoramic views. Edinburgh's blend of history, culture, and natural beauty makes it a must-visit destination. Explore the activities available while visiting Edinburgh.
Disclaimer
Part of the job of a travel agent is to save clients time and money. I looked through hundreds of tours and picked out the best tours to book in various categories that are both the best in quality and price.
Prices listed are when booking for a single adult and are subject to change. Rates are typically discounted for larger groups and children, so use the links provided to see the exact cost for your specific scenario and book what is of interest to you.
Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour

Edinburgh Castle is the most famous and most visited monument in Scotland; unmissable for any visitor to the capital. On this tour you'll see it inside and out, discovering all its secrets.
Duration
1.5 hours
Availability
Everyday at 10 am and 1:30 pm
Price
$37 per person
Alternative
Edinburgh Queen's Gallery - $10 per person
Holyrood Palace - $20 per person
Rosslyn Chapel, Stirling Castle & Dunfermline Abbey Tour - $44 per person
Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & The Kelpies - $49 per person
Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park - $49 per person
St Andrews and Falkland Palace Tour - $52 per person
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria - $52 per person
West Highland Lochs, Mountains & Castles - $61 per person
Scottish Highland Games Day Trip

Immerse yourself in the spirit of Scottish revelry with a full-day trip to the Scottish Highland Games from Edinburgh. Enjoy the rugged natural beauty of the highlands as you pass lochs, mountains and sweeping glens en route to the gaming site. Watch men in traditional Highland dress compete in hammer throwing, tug-of-war and tossing the caber.
Duration
9 - 12 hours
Availability
Saturdays at 8 am
Price
$102 per person
Alternative
Scottish Highlands & Whisky Full-Day Tour - $47 per person
Full-Day "Outlander" Explorer Tour - $51 per person
Loch Ness, Glencoe, Highlands & Ben Nevis - $59 per person
Oban, Lochs & Inveraray Full-Day Tour - $60 per person
Hadrian's Wall & Roman Britain - $63 per person
Glenfinnan, Mallaig & Glencoe Adventure - $72 per person
Rosslyn Chapel and Hadrian's Wall - $74 per person
5-Day Isle of Skye, Oban, St Andrews and North West Highlands Tour

Instead of rushing to fit all your sightseeing into a day; take your time, relax, and explore the beauty of Scotland over five days. This comprehensive adventure saves hours of research time as a full itinerary is planned out for you. Visit ancient castles, mountains, glens, historical sites, a whisky distillery, geological wonders, and beautiful lochs. Highlights include Loch Lomond, the Culloden Battlefield, Urquhart Castle, and St. Andrews Cathedral.
Duration
5 days
Availability
Wednesdays at 8:15 am
Price
$343 per person
Alternative
Loch Ness, Inverness and Highlands 2-Day Tour - $115 per person
2-Day Eilean Donan, Loch Ness & Highlands - $115 per person
2 Day Loch Ness, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct & St Andrews - $123 per person
3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour - $193 per person
Isle of Skye, The Highlands and Loch Ness 3 Day Tour - $203 per person
Edinburgh Guided Walking Tour

This walking tour of Edinburgh, led by Stuart or Richard Usher of Scotland's historic House of Usher or professional historian Dr. Alison Duncan, focuses on the historical, cultural, and architectural heritage of the city.
Duration
3 hours
Availability
Everyday at 10 am and 2 pm
Price
$35 per person
Alternative
Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour - $12 per person
Hop-On Hop-Off Britannia Tour - $12 per person
Old Town Walking Tour & Optional Holyrood Palace - $13 per person
Outlander Walking Tour - $13 per person
The Mountebank Comedy Walk of Edinburgh - $23 per person
Royal Mile Guided Walking Tour - $29 per person
Edinburgh Zoo - $29 per person
Scenic Bike Tour - $40 per person
Royal Edinburgh Ticket - $68 per person
Traditional Spirit of Scotland Show - $88 per person
The Edinburgh Dungeon

The Edinburgh Dungeon is the ultimate underground journey through Edinburgh's darkest history, using live actors, theatrical sets, and thrilling rides.
Duration
1.5 hours
Availability
Everyday from 10 am - 4:45 pm
Price
$23 per person
Alternative
The Witches Tour - $6 per person
Real Mary King's Close Guided Tour - $26 per person
Scotland's Dark Secrets Walking Tour - $12 per person
Afternoon Old Town and Underground Ghost Tour - $13 per person
Edinburgh Vaults: Ghost Tour - $14 per person
Edinburgh Ghosts & Gore Walking Tour - $15 per person
Ghost Tour with Greyfriars Kirkyard - $16 per person
Edinburgh Ghost Bus Tour - $21 per person
Holyrood Distillery Gin and Whisky Guided Tour

Enjoy a guided flavor-forward experience, learn how gin and whisky are made, and explore the craft distilling methods at Holyrood Distillery.
Duration
1 hour
Availability
Everyday at 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm
Price
$21 per person
Alternative
Beer Tasting Session - $12 per person
History of Whisky with Tasting and Storytelling - $18 per person
The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting - $22 per person
The Secret Garden Distillery - $20 per person
Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors" - $20 per person
Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery - $29 per person
Pickering's Gin Distillery Tour - $29 per person
Leith Taproom Tour - $42 per person
The Whiskies and Gins of East Lothian - $48 per person
Discovering Malt Whisky Distillery Day Tour - $53 per person
Historic Coffee Tour - $18 per person
Pub Crawl

Visit 7 bars in Edinburgh's old town with an expert guide. Enjoy 6 shots specially chosen for you by your party professional. Skip any cover charges and find the best places in town to get your drink on.
Duration
5 hours
Availability
Everyday at 8 pm
Price
$14 per person
Alternative
Pub Crawl - $10 per person
Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds Day Trip - $69 per person
White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip - $69 per person
Oxford and Cambridge Universities Full Day Tour - $69 per person
Guided Secret Food Tour

Get your taste buds tingling on a 3-hour guided food tour of Edinburgh's Old Town, including 6 stops to learn the culinary history and culture of the city. Sample a selection of traditional Scottish fare, such as haggis with "neeps and tatties" and more.
Duration
3 hours
Availability
Everyday at 12 pm
Price
$80 per person
Alternative
Chocolatarium Tour, Tasting & Chocolate Making - $22 per person
The Edinburgh Cheese Crawl - $29 per person
Afternoon Tea Experience on a Bus Tour - $40 per person
Edinburgh Food Tour - $73 per person
Silent Disco Adventure Tour

It’s a flash mob. It’s a silent disco. It’s a roaming, rhythmic riot across the sound soaked city. Expect all your inhibitions to disintegrate as you bust some serious moves in a unique 1-hour musical walking tour of Edinburgh.
Duration
1 hour
Availability
Saturdays at 3 pm and 4:30 pm
Price
$23 per person
Potterhead Private Pilgrimage

Delve into the magic of the Harry Potter stories on this walking tour in Edinburgh. Follow your guide through the streets and discover the buildings that inspired J.K. Rowling. Learn how Rowling’s European travels inspired the stories she went on to tell, and savor lunch in a Harry Potter café—with divination lessons and quill writing. Enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour—limited to six people.
Duration
8 hours
Availability
Tuesday - Sunday at 10am
Price
$24 per group of 6 plus £80 for access to Greyfriars Kirkyard
Alternative
Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour - $ 16 per person
Blackness Castle & Forth Bridges Cruise with Cream Tea

Take in views of Blackness Castle, featured in Outlander, during this Cream Tea cruise. There are also seals and views of Limekilns village, mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Kidnapped'.
Duration
1.5 hours
Availability
Everyday at 2 pm and 4 pm
Price
$28 per person
Alternative
Bridges of the Firth of Forth Cruise - $19 per person
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours & Firth of Forth Cruise - $44 per person
Dollar Falls Canyoning Trip

Step into the spotlight at Madame Tussauds London, the home of famous fun in the capital. Star in immersive experiences and get up close with more than 250 lifelike figures of your favorite celebrities. Enjoy plenty of fun new additions.
Duration
7 hours
Availability
Sunday - Friday from 10 am - 2:45 pm
Price
$158 per person
Alternative
Coasteering Day Trips - $158 per person
Full Day Sailing Trip - $195 per person
Ben Nevis Hiking Day Trip - $204 per person
Edinburgh Photoshoot Lost

Create beautiful memories of your time in Edinburgh by booking this photoshoot experience in the Old Town or Dean Village of Edinburgh. Your personal professional photographer will take you to the perfect locations, including some hidden gems, that make the perfect backdrops for striking images. After your photoshoot, you'll receive 20-30 digital photos to keep.
Duration
1 hour
Availability
Everyday from 10 am - 3 pm
Price
$94 per person
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