Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour in Edinburgh
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Make the most of your time in Edinburgh on a walking tour where your guide shows you all the highlights and some overlooked parts of the city. Wear comfy shoes, since you cover a lot of ground. Check out Edinburgh’s crown jewels, the Grassmarket, and much more.
- Meet up at an easy to find spot in Edinburgh
- Check off plenty of Edinburgh highlights in just one day
- Go beyond the guidebooks with insights from your guide
- Find hidden spots you'd miss on your own
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK
The Edinburgh Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour starts on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Royal Mile
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
St Giles' Cathedral
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
William Wallace Statue
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Grassmarket
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Greyfriars Kirk
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
National Museum of Scotland
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 160 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Naimb was a wonderful tour guide - full of lots of information on a wide range of Scotish topics. She had a fun way of sharing information and telling stories. It was a fun and entertaining tour, though maybe we could have seen a few more places of interest but we did hit most of the highlights. I would highly recommend, especially since the basic cost is so low and you tip based on your satisfaction!
It was fun and informative. Niamh was a great story teller and added substance to the tour. The walking was easy too.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Susan_T,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Edinburgh Old Town walking tour and found it both fun and informative.
It’s wonderful to know that Niamh’s storytelling added so much to the experience. Edinburgh’s Old Town is full of fascinating characters, history and little details that can easily be missed, so having a guide who can bring those stories to life really makes the walk special.
We’re also glad to hear that you found the walking comfortable and easy. We’ll be very happy to pass your kind words on to Niamh — we’re sure she’ll appreciate knowing that her storytelling made such a difference.
Thank you again for choosing SANDEMANs, and we hope to welcome you back to Edinburgh for another great tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
Fabulous introduction to the Old Town for my friends who were there for the first time and lots of new stuff for me, even though I had been before and done such tours. The coverage - from basics for those who didn't know much about Scotland or Edinburgh to niche stories and jokes ("human lasagna") were spot on. The family tartan trousers were a special touch as was the handling of the Harry Potter elements which could have been really commercial but ended up being gently teasing the fan mania. Despite there being a road race potentially disturbing the usual route, excellent impromptu changes to ensure that we didn't notice at all. And of course the taste of the Ghosts and Witches tour at the end was absolutely delicious!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for such a fantastic and detailed review! We’re delighted that the Old Town Highlights Walking Tour offered something for both first-time visitors and someone already familiar with Edinburgh. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the mix of Scottish history, niche stories, humour, and, of course, the Glaswegian accent!
We’re especially glad the route changes worked seamlessly despite the road race, and that the family tartan trousers and playful Harry Potter stories added a little extra character to the experience. We love hearing that you also enjoyed the introduction to our Ghosts and Witches tour at the end!
Thank you for exploring Edinburgh with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another SANDEMANs tour someday.
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Great tour guide the tour started in time from 130 Highstreet just a few doors up from Starbucks. The group was small so it was easy to connect with Niamh the tour guide. The tour was fun and informative, ending at Grey friars graveyard.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Louise,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re really glad you enjoyed your walk around Edinburgh’s Old Town with Niamh.
It’s great to hear that having a smaller group made the tour feel more personal and that you had the chance to connect with Niamh along the way. We’re also happy that you enjoyed the mix of history and fun, with Greyfriars Kirkyard being a memorable way to finish the tour!
We’ll definitely pass your kind words on to Niamh. We’re lucky to have guides who can make Edinburgh’s history so enjoyable and easy to connect with.
Thanks again for choosing SANDEMANs, Louise. We hope to see you again on another tour in Edinburgh!
Kind regards,
Karla S. | SANDEMANs Tours
Our guide was very informative and humorous. We learned a lot at the start of our trip which helped us understand more of the history of the city as well as navigating it. Highly recommend. Remember to tip you guide!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that your guide made the Old Town Highlights tour both informative and fun. It’s great to know the tour helped you get a better feel for Edinburgh’s history and find your way around at the start of your trip. We really appreciate the recommendation!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Excellent walking tour of Old Town with Brian who brought the history of Edinburgh to life with amazing stories from over the centuries. Really appreciated his attention to always making sure everyone could hear him.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Brian brought the history of Edinburgh’s Old Town to life with his stories and knowledge. It’s also great to know that you appreciated his attention to making sure everyone could hear and enjoy the tour. We’re so glad you had such a great experience!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Our guide was enthusiastic & jolly but this wasn’t really for us. I felt it was very basic and aimed at a maybe 14-year old level— a lot of time explaining things like “there were conflicts between Protestants and Catholics.” I also personally felt annoyed when he characterized the Writer’s Museum as boring and “basically here’s the pens they used.” We should have looked for a more serious historical tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you found your guide enthusiastic and engaging.
At the same time, we're sorry to learn that the tour wasn't the right fit for what you were looking for. We understand that some guests prefer a more in-depth historical experience, and we're sorry that you felt the content was too introductory. We also appreciate your comments about the remarks regarding the Writers' Museum, as we understand how personal opinions can shape the experience differently for each guest.
Your feedback has been shared with our team as we continually review and refine our tours, guides, and overall experience. Comments like yours help us strike a better balance between making our tours accessible to a wide audience while still providing the depth that many visitors are looking for.
Thank you again for your thoughtful review, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another tour that better matches your interests.
Kind regards,
Karla M
SANDEMANs Team
The guide certainly has a lot of knowledge about this area of the city and had a lot of stories to share with the group.
Very detailed tour. James’ storytelling skills were captivating. We took away so much information which made us curious to explore areas even further. The tour might seem lengthy on foot but it was a gentle pace, with quite a few stops allowing for educational rest periods. Wow! The history was starkly contrasted between the poor, middle class, and rich. Have James tell you all about it!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear how much you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with James. It's fantastic to know his storytelling brought the city's history to life and left you curious to discover even more. We're also glad the pace felt comfortable and gave you time to take it all in. Thanks for joining us!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
This was a very good tour. Our guide, G, was a knowledgeable and proud Scotsman. It was good to hear from a local. The tour was a nice balance of history and the arts, informed by the experiences of a knowledgeable local.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Edinburgh: Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour.
It's fantastic to know that G's local perspective, knowledge, and passion for Scotland helped make the tour such an enjoyable experience. We're pleased you appreciated the balance of history, culture, and the arts, all brought to life through the insights of a proud local guide.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour in the future!
Best regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Very informative and interesting. Would highly recommend. Belle was wonderful and make our experience great
Great tour of old town! Very informed guide. Be aware that this is a free tour offered in Edinburgh and the fee paid through Viator is only a booking fee. Tour guide is not paid through Viator and tips are encouraged and expected.
We really enjoyed our tour. Robert was friendly, knowledgeable, and full of stories, history and fun facts. Highly recommend!!
Wear really good walking shoes!
2 hour tour well worth it! Gives you a wonderful idea of the area and history! Be prepared to tip your guide well. Since the experience his free the only way he gets paid is from tips.
Charlie provided us with a very personable, informative, entertaining walk around the Old Town of Edinburgh. We used the information he provided during the walk to navigate our way the following day to some of the places he suggested. Thank you Charlie
Excellent walking tour of Edinburgh. Our tour guide was Niamh and she was excellent! She was very informative, knowledgable, funny and engaging. We were treated to historical insights, great local knowledge, vocal performances and even a lesson in Scottish from a true local. Niamh was very passionate - she was 5 star, all the way...but the 4 star review is not because of the guide it is because this is FREE tour where you pay the guide what you think the tour is worth. The guide receives no payment from your booking. So the tour actually cost us £40 (£20 each) which is the real value of the tour and we received a full refund from Viator after complaining because this was not clear on the way the experience is described and we have no idea why you need to pay anything on the booking site. My advise is to just meet the guide (holding a big umbrella saying "FREE TOURS") and don't book on this site.
It was a wonderful tour and very informative. Would recommend going to the restroom beforehand but there is a bathroom break 3/4 a way through the tour.
Our guide Charlie was easy to find and welcoming.
The tour was interesting although our guide showed a definite rudeness and dislike to the English. Whilst I appreciate these tours tell the history I did feel his attitude, especially around Brexit was a bit too personal.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Sarah_S,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear that Charlie was easy to find and welcoming, and that you found the tour interesting.
However, we are very sorry to hear about your experience with the comments and attitude you encountered during the tour. We take this kind of feedback seriously, as our guides should always create an inclusive and respectful environment for guests from all backgrounds. While our tours cover historical and political topics, they should be presented in a balanced and professional way, without making any guest feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will follow up with the guide to address your concerns. Thank you again for helping us maintain the high standards we aim for.
Ewelina
SANDEMANs Team
Kriystal was really knowledgeable and fun to walk throughout Edinburgh with. She shared all local insights during the tour
One of my favorite tours I’ve taken! Joe was a knowledgeable guide and I learned so much about the history of Edinburgh, as well as got some great recommendations for the rest of my trip. Definitely recommend!
This was a great overview of Edinburgh’s history. Our guide “G” was knowledgeable and entertaining. We would highly recommend this tour.
An informative and interesting two hours spent at important historical and current sites in Edinburgh's Old Town. Despite the windy and rainy weather, Joe did a brilliant job at keeping the fairly large group entertained with his wit, humour and knowledge of Scottish culture, history, politics and achievements. A good way to get a good idea of the the lay of the land too. Highly recommend.
A brilliant guide, informative, knowledgeable, friendly and good humoured. Most importantly too - Scottish!
Even in the high winds, our tour guide made the time fun and gave us a lot of great information and recommendations of things to do! It’s a perfect way to see the old town of Edinburgh and a gives you good direction for what to do next. I recommend doing this on your first day!
Fun and professional and informative. Good overview of the city. Recommended for first time visitors.
Joe is engaging and knowledgeable with self deprecating humor yet such pride about scottish history—a treat!
Interesting stories about Scotland’s past. Our guide treated us to a lovely traditional folksong. I do recommend.
The tour leader knew her subject and delivered a thoroughly entertaining commentary on Edinburgh's history and architecture.
Can't remember our tour guides real name but her nickname was Steve and she was great .. lol. The tour was awesome and we enjoyed it very much. Highly recommend
An excellent tour full of interesting facts and tales of Edinburgh. Our guide Niamh was a mind of information and was also very entertaining. I would strongly recommend this tour to all the city's visitors and the experience would be enhanced by having Niamh as their guide.
Member Pricing
From
$4.36
per personWas $4.59(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour in Edinburgh
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2 hours 30 minutes
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