Edinburgh Darkside Ghost Tour of Mysteries and Murder and Legends
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Listen to Edinburgh’s grisliest tales on a haunted evening walking tour. Experience the ghastly histories of monsters, madness, and murder that cast a dark shadow on Scotland’s capital. See where witch trials, pagan rituals, and executions took place, then visit the chilling Old Calton Burial Ground and Canongate Kirkyard to learn about body-snatching and some of the infamous individuals interred here.
- Explore the eerie, cobblestone streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town
- Walk Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile—with a spooky twist
- A fun alternative evening out: Wander the streets without getting lost
- Learn more about Edinburgh's dark past than you would on standard tours
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 130 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK
Your Edinburgh Dark Side Tour starts at 130 High Street, on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close. Looking at Starbucks? Look right, 130 High Street is two doors up the street. If you hit traffic lights, you went the wrong way. Look for the SANDEMANs Tours team with a SANDEMANs red umbrella.
End point
- Canongate Kirkyard153 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BN, UK
Your Edinburgh Dark Side Tour usually finishes by the Canongate Kirkyard, a 8-min walk away from the starting point of the tour. There are MANY great options for food and drinks in the area after your tour, and your guide will be happy to share their favorites.
Itinerary
Your ghostly adventure starts in the evening on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in Old Town. Meet your local guide and steel yourself for a walk through the dark recesses of Edinburgh’s haunted history, hearing stories of murder, monsters, cannibals, and other local oddities. Cross your fingers that you encounter (or don't encounter!) a spooky character at one of the venues to come.
First wind through shadowed alleys and cobbled streets to North Bridge and Calton Hill, where you get panoramic views of the city and a dose of gruesome history. Explore the monuments perched high above the city and learn about the grisly witch trials that occurred here. Still a sacred area for many, Calton Hill continues to host pagan rituals like the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival.
Afterwards, continue to one of Edinburgh’s famous cemeteries. Stop at the 17th-century Canongate Kirkyard cemetery or Old Calton Burial Ground, where David Hume is buried. Hear about his fabled deal with the devil, as well as the history of Burke and Hare, body snatchers who made a killing (so to speak!) by selling corpses to medical science.
Between stops, hear other creepy stories of execution, murder, torture, and hauntings. Your tour returns to the Royal Mile at a local pub. Pop inside for a drink to help warm your chilled soul (own expense).
First wind through shadowed alleys and cobbled streets to North Bridge and Calton Hill, where you get panoramic views of the city and a dose of gruesome history. Explore the monuments perched high above the city and learn about the grisly witch trials that occurred here. Still a sacred area for many, Calton Hill continues to host pagan rituals like the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival.
Afterwards, continue to one of Edinburgh’s famous cemeteries. Stop at the 17th-century Canongate Kirkyard cemetery or Old Calton Burial Ground, where David Hume is buried. Hear about his fabled deal with the devil, as well as the history of Burke and Hare, body snatchers who made a killing (so to speak!) by selling corpses to medical science.
Between stops, hear other creepy stories of execution, murder, torture, and hauntings. Your tour returns to the Royal Mile at a local pub. Pop inside for a drink to help warm your chilled soul (own expense).
1
Edinburgh Old Town
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Royal Mile
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
South Bridge- Edinburgh
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Old Calton Burial Ground
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Calton Hill
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Jacob's Ladder
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Canongate Tolbooth
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Canongate Kirkyard
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Our guides have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 2-2.5 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group.
- We unfortunately do not advise guests in wheelchairs to join the Dark Side Tour, due to the narrow stairways and steep hills. We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused.
- Recommended for ages 10 and up. This tour covers murder, witch trials, and body-snatching through storytelling — spooky and atmospheric, but not graphic. Great for older kids and teens who enjoy a scare; parents of younger children may want to ask their guide about content in advance.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 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 3,933 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
This tour was a lot of fun! It was insightful and relaxing, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the tour with the group. They were all lovely people from different walks of life, and they all seemed to enjoy the tour. Our tour guide, Mister G, was a really cool guy. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and a fun guy. I learned quite a bit about the city from this tour, and we ended on a high, literally and figuratively, at Calton Hill. Overall, it was a great tour, and I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a good time.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Mike_C,
Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fun time on the Edinburgh Darkside Tour and that you enjoyed not only the stories and history, but also the atmosphere within the group. It sounds like you had a great bunch of people along for the evening!
And of course, we’re especially happy to hear that Mister G made such a great impression. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun is exactly the kind of energy we love to see from our guides, and it’s wonderful to know he helped make the tour so enjoyable for you. We’ll definitely pass your kind words on to him.
We also love that you picked up so much about Edinburgh along the way and enjoyed finishing the tour at Calton Hill — quite literally ending on a high! It’s a brilliant spot to take in the city after hearing some of its darker stories.
Thank you again for recommending the tour, Mike, and for choosing SANDEMANs. We hope to welcome you back to Edinburgh for another adventure with one of our great guides!
Kind regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
Belen was absolutely fantastic! Super knowledgeable, friendly, and funny guiding us through the mysteries of charming Edinburgh! Would definitely recommend the experience!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Federico_F,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great experience discovering Edinburgh’s darker side with Belen.
It’s wonderful to know that her knowledge, friendliness, and sense of humour brought the city’s mysteries, legends, and stories to life for you. Those are exactly the qualities that make a Darkside tour so memorable, especially in a city as atmospheric and full of history as Edinburgh.
We’ll be very happy to share your kind words with Belen. We’re also thrilled that you would recommend the experience, and we hope to welcome you again on another SANDEMANs tour in Edinburgh or one of our other cities!
Kind regards,
Karla S. | SANDEMANs Tours
We really enjoyed the walking tour with Brian. He is very knowledgeable and adds humour to his stories too. It’s a good 2 hours spent, covered all the major spots.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Dear Supriya_S,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Edinburgh Darkside tour with Brian and that his mix of knowledge and humour made the stories even more engaging.
It’s great to know you felt the two hours were well spent and that you had the chance to discover the major spots along the route. Edinburgh has plenty of dark stories to tell, and having a guide who can bring them to life while keeping things fun makes all the difference.
We’ll be very happy to pass your kind words on to Brian. We’re lucky to have such knowledgeable and entertaining guides who help make SANDEMANs walking tours memorable.
Thank you again for choosing SANDEMANs, and we hope to welcome you back to Edinburgh for another tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
Belle, the tour guide, was an amazing storyteller. Her delivery rang true, with the perfect mix of humor, horror and facts. Make sure to wear good walking shoes, as the uneven terrains can make walking tricky, especially in the dark.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Belen brought the stories of Edinburgh’s darker side to life with the perfect balance of humour, horror and fascinating facts. We’re also glad you found the tour enjoyable, and we appreciate the helpful tip about wearing good walking shoes!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Our tour guide James was spectacular! The energy and style in which he told these dark historical facts bought each of the characters to life. The walking pace was steady, had good amount of stops. Totally worth the time &money! Best part was how we ending— up on high grounds seeing the beautiful skyline of Edinburgh! My kids and i thoroughly enjoyed it.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that James brought Edinburgh’s scandalous history and its characters to life with such energy and storytelling. It’s great to know that the pace and stops worked well for your family, and we agree that ending with those beautiful skyline views is a pretty special way to finish the tour. We’re so glad you and your kids enjoyed it!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Wonderfully informative, Brian had a wealth of knowledge & good humour to boot. Good walking pace & he did several headcount’s to ensure there was always 32 people.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that Brian made the Darkside tour both informative and entertaining with his knowledge and good humour. It’s also great to know that the pace worked well for you and that Brian’s regular headcounts helped everyone stay together throughout the tour. We hope you enjoyed discovering Edinburgh’s darker side with him!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
“Belle” was great. Probably 20-30 mins too long, but a good walk and talk. Weather was good, which matters here.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear that Belen made the Darkside tour an enjoyable experience and that you appreciated the combination of walking and storytelling. We’re also happy the weather was on your side for exploring Edinburgh! We hope you enjoyed discovering the city’s darker history and legends with Belen.
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
We had such a great time with our hostess, Belen (Belle)! She was funny and very knowledgeable. Great tour with beautiful views at Jacob’s Ladder!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that Belen made the tour such a fun experience with her humour and knowledge. It’s wonderful to know you also enjoyed the beautiful views from Jacob’s Ladder along the way. We hope you had a memorable time discovering Edinburgh’s darker side with Belen!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Belen was awesome! Not only was she knowledgeable but very funny and outgoing. I’d definitely recommend her!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Belen made your Darkside tour such a fun experience with her knowledge, humour and outgoing personality. It’s fantastic to know you enjoyed the tour with her, and we really appreciate the recommendation!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Niamh was informative, enthusiastic and fun! What a great way to spend an evening in Edinburgh! Totally recommend the tour
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that Niamh made your Darkside tour such a fun and engaging way to spend an evening in Edinburgh. It’s great to know that her enthusiasm and knowledge made the experience so enjoyable. We really appreciate the recommendation!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
The tourguide from Sandemans, Mister G, was a very enthousiastic guide with lots of knowledge from Edinburgh! The only thing I would at was that it was more of a historic tour then a ghost tour. It lacked some elements of "scary" wich made it more informative then "ghost" like. Again, this was more on a info basis than the tourguide itself. Mister G did everything perfecty and it was nice to walk around the city with him.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re glad to hear that G made the tour an enjoyable experience with his enthusiasm, knowledge and great company along the way. We also appreciate your feedback about the balance between the historical and ghostly elements of the tour. We’re happy to know that, despite this, you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with him!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
James was great! Very entertaining and informative and covered a good bit of ground during the tour as well which I loved! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that James made the Darkside tour both entertaining and informative, while also covering plenty of ground around Edinburgh. It’s great to know you enjoyed exploring the city with him, and we really appreciate the recommendation!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
James was a wonderful tour guy as well as a great storyteller. He was very knowledgeable about the history of Old Edinburgh.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that James was such a wonderful guide and storyteller. It’s great to know that his knowledge of Edinburgh brought the city’s history to life and made the tour such an enjoyable experience.
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Belen was our tour guide. She was great and knowledgeable. The tour was an easy pace and a lot of information. Was nice to explore parts of the city on foot.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with Belen and found her knowledgeable and engaging. We're glad the relaxed pace and fascinating history made the tour enjoyable, and that you had the chance to discover more of the city on foot. We hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Karla M
SANDEMANs Team
Niamh was an excellent tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We’re not usually partial to ghost walks but this was perfect.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We're delighted to hear that Niamh made the Edinburgh Darkside Ghost Tour such an enjoyable experience, especially as ghost walks aren't usually your thing. We're glad you found her knowledgeable and entertaining and that the tour struck the perfect balance for you. We hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Karla M
SANDEMANs Team
The walk was absolutely fantastic, and Brian gave a fascinating and engaging explanation of the origins of Edinburgh’s ghosts. It made the whole experience even more memorable
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Edinburgh Darkside Ghost Tour and found Brian's stories about the origins of Edinburgh's ghosts fascinating and engaging. We're glad his storytelling made the experience so memorable, and we hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour in the future!
Kind regards,
Karla M
SANDEMANs Team
I went here in 2024 and meant to write a review and completely forgot. I ran across this again and I HAVE to leave a review. To this day, this is the best tour I have ever booked. I had so much fun. There was so much knowledge and history. Everything was interesting and the tour guide was amazing! 100% recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for coming back to leave this wonderful review! It means a lot to hear that your Edinburgh Darkside tour from 2024 has stayed with you and is still one of the best tours you’ve ever booked. We’re delighted that you enjoyed the stories, history and atmosphere so much. We really appreciate the 100% recommendation!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
This was a fascinating tour. Clara is an amazing story teller full of knowledge.
There is walking up stairs and a hill at tail end of trip
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that Clara made the Darkside tour such a fascinating experience with her storytelling and knowledge of Edinburgh. We also appreciate you mentioning the stairs and hill towards the end of the tour, which is helpful for future guests to keep in mind. We hope you enjoyed discovering Edinburgh’s darker side with Clara!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Our guide was fantastic - Even though she was from Spain she has lived and worked in Edinburgh for many years. She definitely knows the city. Her English was clear and easily understood. I am coming back to Edinburgh with myself husband soon and I hope to do this tour again
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your guide made the Darkside tour such a fascinating experience and that her knowledge of Edinburgh came through so clearly. It’s lovely to know you’re planning to return to Edinburgh, and we’d be thrilled to have you join us again for another Darkside tour!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Charles was an excellent tour guide! He was captivating, funny, and knew his Scotish history! We walked from old town to new town and saw some great sites along the way... An AMAZING visit to a very old graveyard and the trek uphill to where all the witches were hung, had the most gorgeous views of Scotland! Hands down, this was our best tour on our vaction!!
James was our guide. He was fantastic and entertaining. Great stories. I would definitely recommend this.
Brian was awesome! It was less of a ghost tour and more of a fascinating history of the area. I really enjoyed the entire time.
Excellent walking tour with lots of interesting stories. James Stewart the guide did a fantastic job.
Niamh was great. She sprinkled in humor with horror. We moved at our own space and she had lots of stories!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour.
It's fantastic to know that Niamh struck the perfect balance between humor and horror, bringing Edinburgh's mysteries, murders, and legends to life in such an engaging way. We're also pleased that you enjoyed the relaxed pace and the many fascinating stories shared throughout the tour.
Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour soon!
Best regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
What a great tour, even though it’s dark history, my two boys loved it (14&10). G, crushed it. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone coming to Edinburgh
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review!
We're so happy to hear that both of your boys enjoyed the Darkside Tour. It's wonderful to know G's storytelling made Edinburgh's darker history so engaging for the whole family. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back on another tour!
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Tour guide Joe was brilliant, he was loud, funny and very informative. Would do this tour with Joe again,
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour.
It's fantastic to know that Joe's energy, humor, and engaging storytelling made the experience so memorable. We're thrilled you found the tour both entertaining and informative, and it's great to hear you'd happily join another tour with Joe.
Thank you for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back on another SANDEMANs tour soon!
Best regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Our guide was excellent and created a very immersive experience with all of the tales of Edinburgh’s dark past. I would happily take this tour again!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour.
It's fantastic to know that your guide created such an immersive experience, bringing Edinburgh's dark history, mysteries, and legends to life through captivating storytelling. We're especially pleased to hear that you'd happily take the tour again—that's one of the best compliments we could receive!
Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back on another SANDEMANs tour soon.
Best regards,
Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Excellent tour. Very informative. Its a great way to learn about the cemeteries. Its also a great time to do a tour as the city is less crowded at night.
A good, brisk tour of the city. Great views and gory insights into the local history of Edinburgh. Irish Mark was an informative and friendly guide.
The tour was great! Niamh was an excellent guide—friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging throughout. She made the experience enjoyable and memorable. Highly recommended!
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