Top Edinburgh Historical Tours

Discover more about Scottish history on this guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle. Walk up the Royal Mile with your guide while learning about the castle's 3,000-year history and its role in Scottish heritage. Explore the castle grounds with detailed insights into key features like the one o'clock gun and Argyle Battery, gaining a deeper understanding than a casual visitor.

A trip to the capital of Scotland isn't complete without a tour of Edinburgh Castle. Follow your guide through the grounds and hear tales of the castle's royal residents—including Mary Queen of Scots—and learn more about the rich history of the building. After your tour ends, there's plenty of free time explore the castle's interior and the rest of the grounds, which includes three museums, two prisons, a canine cemetery, the Chapel of Saint Margaret, the National Monument to the fallen of Scotland, the Great Hall, and a Royal Palace.

Uncover a different side of Edinburgh and learn about its dark past with this guided walking ghost tour. Uncover the mysteries, legends, murders, and dark stories over the centuries, including stories about corpses, serial killers, witches, fairies, as you walk along the Royal Mile, with stops at the Old Calton Cemetery and Canongate Kirkyard.

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.

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.

Venture beyond Edinburgh to see the best of Scotland in just one day on this comprehensive, small-group tour. Save hours trying to navigate public transport, and instead, relax as your driver whisks you from location to location. Visit castles, mountains, lochs, and more, as you gain local insight —including context you'd miss if exploring independently. Highlights include historic Blair Castle, the Highland viewpoint of Queen’s View, and a waterfall walk at The Hermitage.

See Scottish history come to life in a guided walking tour of Edinburgh Castle. Hear gripping tales of battles won and lost and learn about the people who have called the castle home over the centuries. Enjoy sprawling views of Edinburgh and the countryside. Whether you’re a casual observer or a history buff, this experience will immerse you in the city’s cultural heritage.

Discover the beauty of the Scottish Highlands on this coach tour setting off from Edinburgh. Enjoy stunning scenic views from the window of the comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. See Glencoe, Callander, Pitlochry, Loch Ness, the Commando Monument, and more, with lots of opportunities to take photos and soak up your gorgeous surroundings.

See the best of medieval Edinburgh—without the hassle of putting together your own sightseeing itinerary—on this walking tour, which includes 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 historical attractions. Explore atmospheric cobbled walkways along the Royal Mile, then breeze into Edinburgh Castle to witness royal opulence.

This walking tour of Edinburgh is a great choice for first-time visitors who want to get their bearings of the city and learn more about its history. By exploring the city with a guide, you’ll be able to stop looking at a map and focus on enjoying the sites around you. Your guide will teach you about secret places locals love, as well as the Old Town’s most famous sites. Highlights include St. Giles’ Cathedral, the Mercat Cross, Edinburgh Castle, and much more.

Explore Edinburgh’s spookiest closes and strangest places and learn about the Old Town’s history while hearing tales of accused witches and warlocks. This walking tour takes you to some of Edinburgh's lesser-known haunted locations, letting you avoid crowds and discover a darker, mysterious side of the city.

Swap the crowds of the Royal Mile for a more intimate view of Edinburgh. This small-group tour takes you to some of the city's most atmospheric (and less-visited) neighborhoods, including the picturesque Dean Village. You'll discover hidden alleyways, quirky cafes, and historic buildings and take a wander along the city's only river.

As Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh packs in plenty of historical monuments and cultural destinations—and this hop-on hop-off bus tour provides a thorough introduction to the city’s top sights. Choose a 24- or 48-hour ticket and explore Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks at your own pace, including Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and more. With panoramic open-top views, convenient stops across the city, and the freedom to create your own itinerary, it's an easy way to experience Scotland's capital.

Check off Stirling Castle, the Kelpies monument, and Loch Lomond on this day trip from Edinburgh. Have a photo stop at one of the largest equine sculptures in the world—The Kelpies, then travel through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Finally, visit Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's most important landmarks (upgrade to include admission).

Make sure you see all the spots you want in Edinburgh on this private, personalized tour led by a local guide. Your customized itinerary takes you to places you request, with commentary based on your interests. Visit famous locations like Edinburgh Castle or explore areas known only by locals for an authentic experience.

Discover the dramatic beauty, history and mystery of Scotland on this full-day trip from Edinburgh. Aboard a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, wind through the Scottish Highlands and marvel at the majesty of Cairngorms National Park and the mysterious Loch Ness—fabled home of the elusive water monster, Nessie. Spot the famous Urquhart Castle en route and hear about legendary warfare like the battles of William Wallace and the massacre of Glen Coe in the 17th century.

Explore the rugged beauty of the Scottish countryside with a guide who speaks English and Spanish, showing you local landmarks and some of the most scenic spots on this tour from Edinburgh. Sit back, relax, and let your guide plan the itinerary and handle all the driving while you watch the lush landscape roll by your car window. See Luss, the Kelpies, the Glen Ogle Viaduct, and lots more.

Experience some of the best of what Edinburgh, Scotland has to offer in one small group walking tour. Let your tour leader show you around Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish National Gallery, and from April 2026, one historic house such as Gladstone's Land or The Georgian House. See Princes Street Gardens, Heart of Midlothian, Greyfriars Bobby, and more while you learn all about the city’s history, culture, and heritage from your guide.

Delve into Scotland’s rich history and heritage on this 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. Then, visit Rosslyn Chapel before returning to Edinburgh.

Step into Scotland's most iconic fortress with a true Scotsman dressed in a traditional kilt. With so many tour options at Edinburgh Castle, it's difficult to know which offer the most authentic insight. This experience delivers genuine Scottish storytelling from a local who shares centuries of royal drama, bloody battles, and castle secrets while exploring the Crown Jewels, St. Margaret's Chapel, and more.

Set off from Edinburgh and enjoy an unforgettable day touring the Scottish Highlands in a comfortable vehicle. See Linlithgow Palace, Stirling Castle, the historic town of Pitlochry, and more while your guide points out film locations for the James Bond and Harry Potter movies on this scenic route. Explore the Glenfinnan Viaduct with views over Loch Shiel; the Jacobite Steam Train may be seen crossing if running on the day.

Edinburgh's underground network of vaults, which dates from the 1700s, is one of the most fascinating parts of the city to explore. To truly understand these former slum dwellings, and their dark histories, you need to explore them in the company of a guide who can provide all of the necessary context, background information and spooky stories.

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.