Top Edinburgh Private Sightseeing Tours
Must-Dos in Edinburgh
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What are people saying about Edinburgh
Russell_B, Oct 2026
Shak is the Man!
Where to start? Shak was an EXCELLENT guide on our trip through the highlands. A few days before the trip he reached out and I told him my plans to propose to my girlfriend while we were in the highlands. He was incredibly accommodating and went above and beyond to help me find the perfect spot. Scottish weather is temperamental but he made me well aware when the iron was hot to strike and we got a perfect moment of sunshine and an unforgettable experience.
The tour itself was wonderful and we saw so much and wouldn’t have had such a great experience if it wasn’t for Shak. Yes it was a long day but the views and experiences made it 1000% worth it.
Franklin_B, Oct 2026
Fantastic!
Fantastic! We especially enjoyed talking with our very personable guide, Chris, a walking encyclopedia of Scottish history and culture, as we toured the village of Culross and, separately, the Rosslyn Chapel. Being picked up and dropped off at our hotel could not have been more convenient. Honestly it felt more like being with an exceptionally knowledgeable than like a formal tour. We would do it again in a heartbeat.
Virginia_T, Oct 2026
St Andres Experince
Ed our driver was amazing. We saw everything possible with great access to St Andrews by leaving earlier than planned. From there he took us throughout the town and shared his knowledge of the area. He went out of his way to provide us with two small things that we wanted to see which was so nice! We highly recommend him to anyone.
Christine_F, Oct 2026
Ask for James
We booked James for 3 hours which was perfect- any more and it would become fatiguing as there’s lots of information to soak up. James has an education background which you could tell. So informative but would check in regularly to make sure we were happy with the content. He was simply outstanding and we were so grateful to do the tour at the beginning of the visit so we could revisit sights and review what we learned. The tour company did an excellent job communicating. Highly recommend!! Prepare to walk!
Mary_M, Oct 2026
Great guide
Veni our guide was most interesting and knowledgeable and entertained us from the beginning with facts, small and large, about the city, the Royal Mile, and the castle. We got a really good feel for the city and its people. We were very impressed and thank Veni for conducting the tour
Linda_S, Sep 2026
Private tour with Jill
Having a private tour gave you the opportunity to customize what you wanted to see and to ask questions as you went along. Jill was a wealth of information and historical background. She took us to places that we would not have seen on a large group tour.
jackieenglish, Sep 2026
A great day out
Simon got in touch immediately after
I booked to confirm the trip and was a superb tour guide.
He was personable helpful and flexible. The trip provided a good overview of the Highlands including Loch Lomond and the Kelpies .
We had plenty of comfort breaks - a great day put and we would recommend.
Robert_T, Sep 2026
Edinburgh Private City Tour with Laura
I highly recommend taking this tour with Laura McKenzie as your guide. Yes, you can tour the city by yourself walking, but with this tour you have a local person driving (which can be confusing if you come from a country where you drive on the right side), explaining the local customs, bits of history that you will later verify at the museums and also architectural landmarks. Laura was polite, professional, cheerful and made us feel like we knew her for a long time, she even took our photos. It rained that day on and off, but Laura was prepared, so every minute of our tour was used for our experience, we like bathroom breaks, so she was on top of everything. Definitely worth every penny. I recommend taking this tour at the beginning of your stay in Edinburgh so that you get an idea of where the historic and shopping landmarks are and also the bathrooms :). We had two open days so she gave us suggestions of which experiences were fun according to our preferences, it was a wonderful experience. thanks Laura.
BethJ_M, Aug 2026
The BEST Way to See a City
I recommend the Hop On Hop Off bus experience for any city you visit. I have used it in 4 different European cities. The bus gives you a great orientation to the city, historical information and anecdotes, through ear buds, as you travel by the location. If you get the 48 hour ticket, it’s helpful for traveling to sights you may want to get off, visit and then hop back on to another location.
Maggie_L, Jul 2026
Magic and Rainbows in the hills of Glencoe!
Wow, wow, wow—five stars all around!
Jimmy was an absolutely phenomenal tour guide and superb driver. We experienced the adventure of a lifetime in a single day thanks to his incredibly well-curated itinerary. From visiting the former home of Mary, Queen of Scots, to Stirling Castle, the majestic Kelpies, feeding Highland cows, discovering rustic waterfalls and a breathtaking ancient loch, sampling delicious Scottish salmon and cheese, enjoying an unforgettable lunch in a cozy Highland café, and ending the day surrounded by the iconic Three Sisters of Glencoe—it was pure magic from beginning to end.
Every moment of the journey was filled with laughter, great conversation, snacks, drinks, stunning scenery, and unforgettable memories.
Jimmy is warm, friendly, and genuinely entertaining, but what really sets him apart is his incredible knowledge of Scottish history, folklore, and culture. You can tell he truly loves Scotland, and that passion shines through in every story he tells. He also happens to be an expert photographer (an underrated but very important talent!), always knowing exactly where to capture the perfect shot. He captured me and my son in the heart of the highlands in an unforgettable lifetime photo with a rainbow! That photo will be framed and sit on my mantelpiece forever.
What impressed me most however was how intuitive and thoughtful he was. We had just arrived in Scotland and were still very jet-lagged. Without me even saying much, Jimmy sensed when my son and I needed a little quiet time to rest, and he naturally gave us the space to relax. That level of kindness and awareness made the experience even more special.
The drive itself was smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable, and I felt completely at ease the entire day.
If you're considering booking this tour, don't hesitate. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland, and I would recommend Jimmy to anyone without reservation. You won't regret it!
Robert_R, May 2026
A wonderful tour of Edinburgh Castle in the city
Our guide, Hugo was extremely knowledgeable and very personable. We enjoyed our time with him and all of the unique and insightful stories. He had the history of both both Edinburgh Castle, and the city. We would highly recommend this tour, it was a great and unique experience. I think Hugo could’ve gone to whatever level of detail and depth if we wanted at each spot, but there is just so much to see and learn about and he did an excellent job weaving in and out of history through his stories and narrative.
Really can’t say enough about how good this experience was.
Thank you Hugo!
Linda_L, Dec 2025
Great experience
Our tour was fabulous! Our tour guide Gain was terrific. very knowledgeable, and we had several laughs along the way. he led us at a pace the two of us could handle given that we both use a cane. we still managed to see so many parts of Old Town even with the sloping streets and the stairs. highly recommend this experience and our tour guide Gain.
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When you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time, trying to cover the centuries of history that have shaped Scotland's capital can feel daunting. Instead of relying on your phone or guidebook, delve deeper into the city's heritage on an Edinburgh private sightseeing tour. You'll experience the city through the eyes of a local, either by walking or driving, and can tailor your tour to include local food tasting or even cover filming locations on a Harry Potter-themed tour.
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