Edinburgh Private Tour with a Local - Highlights & Hidden Gems
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visiting an unfamiliar city without knowing anyone there usually means relying on dated and often inaccurate travel guides. Enjoy a more personal experience in Edinburgh by spending time with a local Edinburgher who customizes your private, bespoke tour to your own interests, whether you want to check off the highlights or go off the beaten path to discover locals' favorite spots.
- Enjoy your private local guide's undivided attention
- Personalized itinerary tailored through an online questionnaire
- Flexible durations and start times to suit your schedule
- Hotel pickup available in central Edinburgh for added convenience
What's Included
- Private and personalized walking experience with insider tips from a passionate local
- Online questionnaire link sent after booking to tailor your experience and match you to a local host
- Get picked up (on foot) at your accommodation if it's central!
- Flexible durations and start times - Pick your preferred duration when you book
- Direct communication with your host for itinerary planning and local recommendations
- Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Edinburgh (Pass By)
New Town (Pass By)
Scott Monument (Pass By)
Royal Mile (Pass By)
Grassmarket (Pass By)
Dean Village (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private City Unscripted experience: real people, real connections
- After booking, you'll receive a short online questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your City Unscripted guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
- This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis may be used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 81 reviews
stephanie_l, Apr 2026
Andre was wonderful! We learned so much in this private walking tour. He made sure we were near the castle at 1 since my daughter wanted to hear and see the cannon. He showed us the clock that has all the different things in it. He made 6 hours go by quickly
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We truly appreciate your feedback and are glad the time spent together felt engaging and well-paced. We hope to welcome you again for another experience in the future.
Robin_L, Mar 2026
Alice was phenomenal! If I could leave her 50 stars I absolutely would! We were captivated by her stories and the choices she made for us were perfect! We asked to get out of the busy tourist areas and see things off the beaten path. She did exactly that! She even chose a local pub that was wonderful. It was here that she wrapped up our tour with a few final stories and personal experiences. Request Alice and you will have such a unique and truly enjoyable experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re thrilled to hear that Alice made your experience so memorable, from sharing captivating stories to taking you off the beaten path and even finding a wonderful local pub to end the day.
It’s wonderful to know that her choices and personal touches created such a unique and enjoyable experience for you. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!
Julie_V, Mar 2026
Calcedonio gave us a great tour of Edinburgh. He gave us wonderful background on the history, architecture and growth of Edinburgh over the years. Calcedonio was very passionate about Edinburgh, welcomed questions and made recommendations. He was also very flexible to our requests. Well worth the experience and very reasonable.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Calcedonio's passion for Edinburgh, along with his knowledge of the city’s history, architecture, and development, truly makes each tour special. It’s also wonderful to know that he was able to tailor the experience to your interests and provide helpful recommendations along the way. We hope to welcome you on another experience in the future!
Amy_T, Mar 2026
Our trip with Gee was awesome! He was a great storyteller, photographer, and made great recommendations.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re so happy to hear that your time with Gee was such a highlight. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon!
ELAYNE, Feb 2026
We had a private tour of Old Town Edinburgh with Edgar and it was fantastic. He’s very knowledgeable and explains the history in a way that’s engaging and easy to understand.
We learned so much more than we expected, and the experience felt personal and relaxed. If you’re visiting Edinburgh and want a meaningful and informative tour, I definitely recommend booking with Edgar!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s wonderful to know that Edgar's knowledge and storytelling made the history of the city come alive for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so happy that you had a personal and relaxed experience. Your feedback means a lot, and we hope to host you again on future adventures! Thank you once again, and best wishes for your travels!
Laura_H, Jan 2026
G Davidson was an amazing tour guide. Very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. We had an amazing time visiting the different sites along the Royal Mile.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re so glad to hear you had such an enjoyable time exploring the Royal Mile and taking in its many highlights. Thanks for sharing your kind feedback; it means a lot to us.
Carlos_E, Jan 2026
Alice was wonderful, she truly made the difference.
We want to come back!! She made the tour to our needs and her story telling just exceptional.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re so happy to hear this experience made such a lasting impression and felt perfectly suited to what you were hoping for. Knowing it left you excited to return and full of great memories means a lot to us, thank you for sharing your kind feedback.
Colleen_M, Jan 2026
Our tour guide G did a fantastic job of leading our 3 hour walking tour by sharing history, telling stories and answering any questions.
We had a great time and absolutely love Edinburgh!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re so pleased to hear that you had a fantastic time on your walking experience in Edinburgh and that Gee brought the city to life through history, stories, and thoughtful answers to your questions. It’s wonderful to know the experience helped make you fall in love with Edinburgh.
Nicole_M, Jan 2026
Amazing tour!!!! Alice did amazing job and had the best stories!!! I would recommend this tour to everyone
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re thrilled to hear that Alice made your experience so memorable with her stories. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we can’t wait to welcome you or your friends on another adventure soon!
Han, Dec 2025
It is a custom tour so G will adapt on the spot and give you a great background of Edinborough. He is well informed, very witty and very accommodating to our wishes.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We're delighted to hear that your host adapted so well to your tour and provided a fun, informative, and accommodating experience in Edinburgh. We’ll be sure to share your kind words.
Jeffrey_R, Nov 2025
Doug was amazing, kind and very knowledgeable about Edinburgh. He was kind enough to meet us at our hotel and friendly enough to help my sister along who is handicapped and requires the use of a mobility scooter for long and/or uneven distances. We got to see the highlights in a 3 hour tour, but we should’ve booked a 4 hour tour. I can’t say enough good things about Doug and the whole experience.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re so happy to hear your time in Edinburgh with Doug was such a wonderful experience! It’s great that his kindness, knowledge, and care made exploring the city so enjoyable and accessible for everyone. Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt feedback!
Joseph_B, Nov 2025
Our tour guide Lilia was amazing. She was very knowledgeable and had a lot of stories to share. We really appreciated her time!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re so happy to hear that Lilia made your experience special and that her stories added so much meaning to your time together. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you again on a future trip!
AnneMarie_E, Oct 2025
Doug was very prompt and met us at our hotel. He asked what we had seen so far and worked around that. We took a 3 hour walking tour of Edinburgh that was wonderful- cobbled streets, picturesque scenery and just the right amount of history. Doug is a true Scottish character & we would highly recommend him.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re so happy to hear your Edinburgh tour with Doug was such a wonderful experience! It’s great that his local charm, flexibility, and storytelling brought the city’s cobbled streets and history to life. Thank you for your lovely feedback and recommendation!
Rebekah_T, Oct 2025
When they say this tour is customizable, they really mean it! After booking, I received a detailed survey asking about our interests, and I shared that we wanted time to shop for local souvenirs and artisan crafts. Our guide, James, went above and beyond — taking us to charming local shops and recommending beautiful spots for handcrafted jewelry. We also mentioned our love for cozy cafés, and he made sure we had time to enjoy one during our walk.
Throughout the tour, we learned so much about how Edinburgh was built and the fascinating bits of history hidden in plain sight — things we never would have noticed without a local guide! (For example, the subtle markings that show where the old city walls once stood — we’d walked past them several times before without realizing what they were!)
Our must-see list included Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Scott Monument, and Edinburgh Old Town. Even though our castle visit was only from the exterior, the 4-hour walking tour was packed with insight and charm. By the end, James felt like family — my 12-year-old even joked that she wanted to adopt him as her new granddad!
Honestly, this was the best thing we did during our trip to Scotland. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants a meaningful, personalized, and truly local experience of Edinburgh.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled that James helped make your Edinburgh experience so personalized and memorable. From exploring local shops to uncovering hidden history. It’s great to know your family felt at home with him, and that the tour brought your must-see list to life. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Scotland again someday!
Elaina_A, Sep 2025
It was a great historical tour of all the sites in Edinburgh. Edgar was very knowledgeable of all the history. He even to met us at our guesthouse so we wouldn’t get lost on the bus to the center of town.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
It's wonderful to know that Edgar went the extra mile to meet you at your guesthouse and ensure a smooth journey into town. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Michael_M, Sep 2025
Michael showed us an interesting and unexpected side of Edinburgh. The 4 hour tour seemed to fly by. We learned so much about this beautiful and exciting city.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
It’s wonderful to hear Michael gave you such a memorable tour — his knowledge and ability to reveal a different side of Edinburgh clearly made the four hours fly by. Thanks for sharing your kind feedback!
Juan_G, Sep 2025
Great way to start off your trip in Edinburgh! Alice was a wonderful/witty guide….definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
It’s wonderful to hear Alice gave you such a great start to your Edinburgh trip — her wit and warm guidance clearly made the experience memorable. Thanks for the kind recommendation!
Jane_C, Aug 2025
Excellent guide. Lilia was extremely informative about history and intriguing facts. Would recommend this tour highly.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
So glad to hear you had such a great experience with Lilia — it’s wonderful that her knowledge and engaging facts made the tour so memorable. Thanks for the warm recommendation!
gregory_s, Aug 2025
Very good experience. Doug was excellent. City the historical sites castles were all interesting. Doug was very enthusiastic about his cuty
Response from Host, Aug 2025
So glad to hear you had such a great experience with Doug — it’s wonderful that his enthusiasm and knowledge made the city’s historic sites and castles come to life!
KimL_K, Aug 2025
Gwen did an outstanding job of personalizing the tour and was very accommodating. She did a great job, accommodating my pace and was very knowledgeable.. I would highly recommend the tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
So glad to hear Gwen made the tour such a personalized and comfortable experience — it’s wonderful that her knowledge and flexibility helped make it so enjoyable. Thanks for the glowing recommendation!
Heather_C, Aug 2025
The Isle Of Skye tour was the perfect way to see the Highlands and learn all about the country's history and to see its beauty. Our tour guide, Allen, was fantastic! Not only did he share all of his knowledge about Scotland, but he also knew his audience and kept us entertained with jokes and music while on the bus. He made ample stops to use the toilet and shopping. As for all the sites to see, it is amazing! We were blessed with beautiful weather and were able to see and enjoy all the stops in Skye and along the route. We even squeezed in an extra stop to the beach for 30 minutes! Our accommodations were perfect and the town of Portree was super fun! This adventure is well worth the money. Thank you Allen for an absolutely lovely 3 days!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It’s great to know that Allen made your journey both informative and entertaining—he truly has a special way of bringing Scotland’s rich history and stunning landscapes to life. Thank you again for your kind words. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
Paul_R, Aug 2025
Lilia was very knowledgeable and helpful and she had interesting stories about the area and the royal bloodlines.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed your time with Lilia and appreciated her knowledge and stories. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
Martha_C, Jul 2025
Michael took us to places that we would have had trouble finding on our own! Very personalized tour and we learned lots of fun facts.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for sharing this! We're so happy to hear Michael helped you discover hidden spots and shared fun insights — that’s exactly the kind of special, personalized experience we love creating.
Maya_T, Jul 2025
The guide was perfectly nice and fine but I would have prefered a local native with a deep dive into local history and culture and with a passion for the city and country. It was a fine for a general overview.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hello Maya,
We’re sorry to hear that the experience didn’t fully meet your expectations in terms of depth and local insight. Had we been made aware of your preference for a native local host, we would have gladly arranged that for you. Unfortunately, we did not receive a completed questionnaire.
We sincerely appreciate your feedback and will take it into account as we continue to enhance our host matching process.
Warm regards,
Sheenah and the City Unscripted Team
Cheryl_H, Jun 2025
This was the best experience. Private and customizable. If we wanted to stop it wasn't a problem. We learned a lot.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
We’re thrilled to hear this was your best experience! It’s great that the flexibility and personalized approach made such a strong impact. Thanks so much for sharing!
Allen_M, May 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Jill. She was very personable and knowledgeable. Having a personal guide enabled us to easily navigate the back streets and “Closes” of Edinburgh. We visited the National Gallery and National Museum which greatly expanded our understanding of Edinburgh and Scotland. Highly recommend!!!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're so happy to hear that your time with Jill was such a highlight. Her warm personality and deep knowledge of Edinburgh truly make her an exceptional guide. It's wonderful that you were able to explore the hidden back streets and "Closes" with ease and gain a deeper understanding of the city through your visits to the National Gallery and National Museum.
We're thrilled you enjoyed the experience and really appreciate your recommendation!
We can't wait to create another unforgettable adventure for you.
Kayla_K, May 2025
We had a great tour with our guide, Jenny! She asked what we liked to see and suggested great ideas. I would highly reccomend!
Response from Host, May 2025
Your positive review is incredibly valuable to us and Jenny. Thank you sincerely!
Kevin_M, Apr 2025
Our tour guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable of the area and he showed us and educated us about the area. The kilt was a nice touch. Definitely would recommend this private tour. It does include alot of walking.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We're so pleased to hear your host made the experience both informative and enjoyable—kilt and all! It’s great that you appreciated the depth of knowledge and the walking exploration. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to host you again on another adventure!
Mrskarentweedie123, Mar 2025
James was a truly wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable, loved talking about the history of this beautiful city
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We’re so glad to hear that James made your experience special. His passion for the history of the city really shines through, and we’re happy you enjoyed learning more about it. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
Lisbeth_K, Dec 2024
Fantastic inspiring walk with guide Doug Scott History and stories about life in Edinburgh old Town.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your inspiring walk with Doug and his stories about Edinburgh's Old Town. We hope to host you again for more memorable experiences!
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