Private Edinburgh City Half-Day Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Edinburgh, Scotland
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Edinburgh in the comfort of an air-conditioned VIP Class Mercedes minibus on this private tour. Admire Edinburgh Castle, perched atop an extinct volcano, and hear tales of attempts to capture it. See the Old Town and hear from your guide about what life was like there in medieval times before contrasting it with the elegant Georgian buildings of the New Town. Includes hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
- Private tour for just you and your party
- Explore Edinburgh in the comfort of a VIP Class Mercedes minibus
- Get insight into Edinburgh's history, culture, and neighborhoods from your guide
- Hassle-free round-trip transport from your hotel or the port
What's Included
- Driver/guide
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- Private tour
- Gratuities
- Optional entrances
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Your Edinburgh accommodation
Itinerary
1
Royal Mile
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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 69 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
It was a fantastic experience. Our tour guide provided great information and made it a memorable experience
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi Bernard, thank you for taking the time to submit your review, and thank you for the 5* rating. I'm absolutely delighted that you had such a memorable experience
Excellent tour of the city. Paul is a great guide. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and the right guide helps you understand the city, in addition to seeing it. Paul is such a guide.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Many thanks for your 5* review. I'm delighted that you had such a wonderful experience and I will make sure that Paul receives a copy. Best regards, Alan
We were running late due to a cruise boat issue. I contacted them to let them know that we would be late and asked if we should cancel or reschedule for a later time. They said no, that it would be fine, and that they would work to make our experience whole knowing the issue was out of our control. Then once we started the tour they told us they’d have to cut it short for another tour essentially giving us half the time and we saw very little. They lied and misled us and Viator won’t issue a partial refund because they wont approve it. They will mislead you just to get their fee. Communication was also terrible with zero response to multiple messages until the day before. I would never book with this group.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
In response to your awful review, I am compelled to remind you of the following: 1, When you contacted me to advise that you were running slightly late, you stated that you "had probably left it a bit late, as the line for the tenders was huge" I did say that you shouldn't worry as your Driver would wait for you. Which he did. 2: Your tour was completed as advertised, and the driver dropped you at approximately 45 minutes over the allotted time for your tour, so he ran over to make sure that you had almost your full four hours (actually 20 minutes short). 3: During the tour you advised that "We have tickets booked for the Castle for 1230hrs, that you had only booked that morning", but your tour wasn't meant to end until 1300hrs. Paul, your Driver/Guide, contacted the Castle on his own initiative and arranged for you to enter the Castle later than your reserved time (by 45 minutes), I further understand that he arranged for you to skip the line as well? Under all of the above points, I feel that although deprived of around 20 minutes on your tour, and that YOU had arranged entry tickets to Edinburgh Castle for a time before the tour would actually have ended, your 1* rating, your unfair and defamatory remarks, and your request for a refund (which I rejected), are totally unfounded.
Stuart, our unforgettable, devil may care tour guide! What a great way to experience our first taste of Edinburgh. Stuart was a great guide, with a great car to accommodate our family. His knowledge of the major tourist areas and beautiful vistas, coupled with his willingness to go off the beaten path were exactly the experience we were hoping for. Stuart was a perfect private tour guide, making the experience great for the whole family, including my father who has some ambulatory concerns. I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Many thanks for your wonderful review, I'm delighted that Stuart looked after you all so well, and you had such a good experience. I shall make sure that Stuart receives a copy. Very best wishes, Alan
Alan with Ecosse was fabulous. Freezing day and he kept it fun, engaging, great with my kids - was best way to end our 3 weeks in UK/Europe
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Many thanks for your 5* review, it's very much appreciated. I'm delighted that you had such a great experience. Regards, Alan
Alan was a wealth of knowledge about Edinburgh; he know all the stories to go along with each location. He was on time, and very flexible adjusting the itinerary to accommodate my wife’s mobility issues. We will not hesitate to book again when we return in 2026.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Dan. Many thanks for taking time to send in a review, and thanks you for your kind words. It was an absolute pleasure to spend some time with you both and I look forward to seeing you again next year. Very best & warmest regards, Alan
Viator chose Ecosse Executive for our Edinburgh tour and Alan was fantastic! Not only was he very knowledgeable about Edinburgh and Scottish history overall, he went above and beyond the call of duty when we told him of our not so good tour the day before with another company. He immediately called his associate Paul (who was off the next day) asking him if he could take us out and give us a great tour day which he did to make up for the bad one. They went above and beyond what they needed to do, never rushing, just wanting us to have a great two days which we did. I highly recommend this company if you can get them.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi you two!!! Thank you for your lovely review, it means a lot. It was a pleasure to spend the morning with you both, and delighted that you had such a great experience over the two days. My very best & warmest regards, Alan
Great tour, great guide. Alan described lots of sites as we were driving through the area, lots of history, with lots of humor. We had a wonderful time and learned a lot. What a lovely city. Absolutely recommend!!!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Nancy! Thank you for your 5* review, it's greatly appreciated. Regards, Alan
Allen was our guide. He happens to be the owner of the company . He has a degree in history. He’s quite the interesting historian. He gives a lively tour of the city of Edinburgh. Absolutely a beautiful introduction to the city. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Mary, I'm delighted that you had such a good time. It was a pleasure to spend some time with you. Very best, Alan
The driver, Gary, was wonderful. We saw a lot and he gave us a lot of information about Edinburgh. He picked us up and returned us directly to the ship.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review, it is very much appreciated. I'm delighted that Gary looked after you so well and will ensure that he receives a copy of this. Regards, Alan
We had Keith for a half day tour of Edinburgh. He explained everything about the area, and even showed us some special locations. He was very knowledgeable, cordial and answered all our questions. We would book with him again if we come back.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Paul, many thanks for your 5* review, it's greatly appreciated. I'm delighted that Keith looked after you so well and will make sure he receives a copy of this. Regards, Alan
You must book Alan with Ecosse Executive. Alan absolutely ensured that our family saw and learned as much of Edinburgh that you can see in a day. Alan is an amazing story teller and passed on so much education about the history and culture of Scotland. Unbelievably amazing.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi James! Thank you for your 5* star review and nice words. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to spend some time with you all. Very best regards, Alan
This was a most excellent tour! Great for our family with members with limited mobility. Really interesting stops, great guide, super comfortable. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your 5* review, it's very much appreciated. I'm delighted that you had such a good experience. Regards, Alan
We had an incredible experience with Gary as our private tour guide! He was extremely accommodating to our group, going above and beyond to make sure we saw everything on our list—and even more. Gary was incredibly knowledgeable about the city, sharing interesting insights and local history throughout the day. He managed our time perfectly, fitting in all the sights we wanted to see without ever feeling rushed. His friendly and professional demeanor made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommend booking a tour with Gary—you won’t be disappointed!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Good afternoon Robert, many thanks for your 5* review. I'm delighted that you had such a great experience, and I shall make sure tat a copy of this is forwarded to Gary. Regards, Alan
We had the time of our lives. Allan was so knowledgeable and friendly showing us all the highlights of Edinburgh. We highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Barbara! Many thanks for your 5* review, I'm very grateful. I'm delighted that you had such a great experience, and it was a pleasure to spend some time with you. Very best regards, Alan
Our guide Alan was excellent. He took us to all of the places we wanted to see and was very knowledgeable. He told us great stories, showed us great places to eat after our tour. Alan is a native from the Edinburgh area so he really knew how to get around in a busy city. He is a very interesting man. We really enjoyed our time with him and our tour.
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Ben, thank you for your lovely review it's very much appreciated. It was an absolute pleasure to spend a few hours with the 4 of you, and I look forward to perhaps meeting up again on a future date? Very best & warmest regards, Alan
This was a nice tour for us as my husband was recovering from surgery and a walking tour would have been too difficult. We got to see a great deal of the city and our driver described the pertinent structures and historical significance.
I wish we had the opportunity to drive up to the castle, but I might have misunderstood the description.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hi Donna. Thank you for your kind review, it's very much appreciated. Unfortunately, because of security, vehicles are not allowed up to the castle unless visitors have booked entry tickets prior to there visit. Our half day city tour doesn't include time to visit due to time constraints. Perhaps, if you return to Edinburgh in the future, we can arrange for you to have an opportunity to see it properly? Best regards, Alan
Paul was an excellent tour guide -- extremely friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. The best part of the private tour was that he took us places no other vehicles were able to go, like Calton Hill to see the unfinished National Monument as well as an incredible view of Edinburgh. We learned lots about Edinburgh history and present day life. It was a fascinating and educational afternoon.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hi Ann. Many thanks for your lovely review, I'm delighted that you had such a good time. I shall make sure that Paul receives a copy. Best regards, Alan
We spent a wonderful day touring Edinburgh and the surrounding area with our great guide Paul, resulting in what turned out to be the overall favorite tour of our two-week vacation.
What really made the experience so wonderful was our tour guide, Paul, who was probably the most personable, fun, and knowledgeable guide we experienced during our trip. Paul was very patient with our group, and suggested many interesting things to see and do during our day,
We now have many great memories and photos of this time in Edinburgh, and our entire group feels very fortunate that we were able to experience it in this manner. Thanks again Paul for sharing your wonderful city and your day with us!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hi Sidney. Many thanks for your wonderful review, I shall pass on a copy to Paul. I'm delighted that you had such a great experience, and perhaps we shall see you again at some time in the future. Very best regards, Alan
We highly recommend this tour! Our guide was Paul and he was so much fun. We had a family member in a wheelchair in our group and he catered the tour to make it so that our family member saw as much as we did and didn't feel left out at all. We got an overview of the history of Edinburgh and Scotland with a healthy dose of fun facts, jokes and laughter. Communication with Alan leading up to the tour was great as well. If you're looking for a laid back but still so much fun tour- book this one!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Good morning Michelle. Thank you for such a lovely review, it's very much appreciated, and I'm delighted that you had such a wonderful experience. Paul definitely is a character!!! I shall make sure he receives a copy of your review. Very best regards, Alan
Spending the day with our guide, Paul, was one of the highlights of our trip. He was hilarious and even kept our teenagers entertained (they even picked up a few Scottish sayings from him that they still use!). After a little bit of confusion in finding him at the port, we had an amazing day exploring Edinburgh. We definitely want to return to see more of this beautiful city. We wanted to see the castle as well, so he dropped us off close by at the end of the tour and gave us excellent directions as to how to get a taxi back to the port. He even gave us his cell phone number in case we couldn't get a taxi in time to get back to the port since our timeline was tight. Highly recommend this tour!!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hi Catherine. Thank you for your lovely review, and I'm delighted that you had such a great experience. I shall pass on a copy of this to Paul. Regards, Alan
I booked this tour several months in advance. The company messaged me the day prior to the tour to confirm the details and provide our tour guide's information. The tour guide, Darren Primrose, called the morning of the tour to introduce himself and re-confirm the details which was nice. Mr. Primrose picked us up on time and asked us if we had anything specific in mind we wanted to see or just hit the highlights. The only "must see" thing we saw was the Greyfriars Bobby. We also saw a perfectly preserved 19th century Scottish upper-class house, a 900-year old church, Arthur's Seat, the Pantheon, Holyrood Palace, and several other sites. It was absolutely wonderful. Mr. Primrose was a policeman for over 20 years before he retired and took up guiding tours for the last 7 years, so he was a wealth of information. I highly recommend this tour if you are in Edinburgh for a short time and want to have a great personal and intimate tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hi Daniel. Many thanks for taking the time to give us such a lovely review, I'm very grateful. I'm delighted that Darren looked after you so well, and that you had such a great experience. I will make sure tat Darren gets a copy of this. Best regards, Alan
Gary picked us up as scheduled. He asked if we had any special interests and off we went for a tour of Edinburgh. He has great knowledge and insight into Scotland and Edinburgh.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for your review. I'm delighted that you were looked after so well, and I will make sure that Gary receives a copy. Regards, Alan
James - very proud of his Cameron and MacDonald heritage plus growing up in Edinburgh- he really knew his history! My brother and I enjoyed a private tour in his Tesla - he used the map to show geographical references - really enjoyed !! I want to book more trips with James!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hi Laura! Thank you for taking the time to give us such a lovely review, it's very much appreciated. I'm delighted that you were looked after so well by James and I shall ensure that he receives a copy. Regards, Alan
We met our driver and guide, Paul, at the dockside at South Queensferry as we were on a cruise ship. The drive into Edinburgh takes approx 20 minutes. The vehicle was immaculate and plush, and Paul was an amazing local guide. His wicked sense of humour and knowledge made the tour one of the highlights of our trip. This tour is perfect for anyone wanting an overview of this fantastic city and we left Paul in the city so we could continue sightseeing and have lunch. Taxi back to the port was £35. We would recommend this company, guide and tour to anyone - you will not be disappointed and we feel we made a great friend in such a short space of time.
Sights seen - Carlton Hill, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scottish Parliament, Castle, Victoria Street (Inspiration to Harry Potter Diagon Alley) and Edinburgh Old Town. We want to return for a weekend and spend time going into the actual places above.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Good afternoon Sharon. Thank you for taking the time to give us such a lovely review. I'm delighted that Paul looked after you all so well and will make sure that he gets a copy. Many thanks, Alan
Great tour to see parts of the town outside walking distance from our hotel near the Royal Mile. Comfortable mini-van and personable guide.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for your 5* review, I'm delighted that you had such a good experience. Regards, Alan
Purchase, Keith, had the misfortune of having a nail pierce the sidewall pop f a tire. He arrived late with an alternative vehicle. Them gave us an extended tour of ALL the most notable sites, taking into account that my wife requires a wheelchair,
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Good afternoon Anton. Thank you for your 5* review, it's very much appreciated and I'm delighted that Keith looked after you all so well. I will make sure that he receives a copy of this. Regards, Alan
My mother and I booked this half day Tour of Edinburgh from our Cruise ship, and we had a wonderful time!
James was our guide. He was on time, very friendly and made it both a fun and educational morning. He really knows the city well, and is very knowledgeable of both the History of Edinburgh and Scotland, as well as current events.
My mom has a bad knee and had to limit her walking, and he was very conscious of that, and very helpful with navigating places for her when we were out of the car. We had a few spots we wanted to stop at to get some things that we forgot to bring with us on our trip, as well as get lunch and a coffee stop, and he fit those things in seamlessly throughout the tour! I highly recommend booking him as your guide!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Hi Laura! Many thanks for your lovely review, I'm delighted that you all had such a great experience. I shall make sure that James gets a copy. Many thanks, Alan
Had a wonderful time exploring the City of Edinburgh with our excellent guide Alan!! Thank you for bringing Edinburgh up close and personal!!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Hi Kristin! Thanks for the lovely review, It was my absolute pleasure to spend some time with you, and look forward to your next visit. Very best regards, Alan
James was amazing. He was knowledgeable and friendly. He showed us everything we wanted to see and more,
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review, I am very grateful. I'm delighted that you had such a good day, and will ensure that James is given a copy. Regards, Alan
Member Pricing
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$544.42
per group (up to 8)Was $573.08(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Edinburgh City Half-Day Tour
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