The 11 Best Edinburgh City Tours

1.Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,761 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24Our pick

Spend about an hour on a vintage Routemaster as an English-speaking guide turns Edinburgh’s executions, witch hunts, and ghost stories into a theatrical night ride. You’ll pass landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Greyfriars Kirk, and Grassmarket. Guides such as Tommy Terror have brought the tales to life, though the bus can feel crowded.

“Fun, interesting tour of the city at night. Humorous guide, with just the right amount of scary tricks!”

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2.City Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,683 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Ride an open-top double-decker around central Edinburgh, passing stops for the Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood and Dynamic Earth. Your 24-hour pass lets you hop off to explore and board again during service hours. Audio commentary comes in nine languages, with a children’s version too. Up to three children travel free with each full-paying adult on eligible dates.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the hop on hop off experience in the city of Edinburgh. It was a great way to get the lay of the land and to see the whole city. I went around all stops before getting off just to see everything first. I would highly recommend this tour option for anyone visiting Edinburgh for the first time. I was challenged finding where to catch the hop on and hop off, so it’s best to ask a local or a hotel concierge as there are many different stops in different locations”

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3.‘Firth of Forth’ Three Bridges Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,383 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $27

From South Queensferry, take a 90-minute Firth of Forth cruise beneath the Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, and Queensferry Crossing. Hear English commentary, watch for seals and seabirds, and see Inchcolm Abbey from the water. You can buy a separate landing pass to explore the island, though access is not suitable for wheelchair users.

“Well worth the money ,pre recorded audio guide was very informative with some very interesting facts and not just about the bridges . Pilot slowed the boat down to have a look at a seal laid down on a floating buoy . Just over 90 minutes thoroughly enjoyable .”

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4.Royal Edinburgh Ticket – Hop-On Hop-Off and Attraction Admissions

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,023 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $105

Use a 48-hour pass on Edinburgh’s three bus routes to reach the castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Royal Yacht Britannia, with admission included. Ride an open-top deck or sit inside as English live or multilingual recorded commentary points out the city. The route also stops near the Botanic Garden, National Museum of Scotland and other sights.

“The best way to see the sites! The crew were so friendly and knowledgeable! We had such a great experience!”

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5.Maid of the Forth 1.5-Hour Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 723 reviews · from $24

Sail for 1.5 hours from Hawes Pier beneath the Forth Bridges and around Inchcolm Island. Your skipper points out local landmarks and wildlife, while you take in views of the Edinburgh and Fife coasts from the open top deck or indoors. An optional Inchcolm Island landing is available with the appropriate ticket.

“Just what we expected - pretty water views of the river and an informational narrative.”

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6.Sightseeing Cruise to Inchcolm Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 577 reviews · from $28

Sail from Hawes Pier aboard the Maid of the Forth, with English audio commentary, views of the Forth bridges and a chance to spot seals and seabirds. On Inchcolm, you have about 1.5 hours to explore the medieval abbey, wartime fortifications, visitor centre and shore. The landing fee is extra.

“Thoroughly enjoyed my trip and the abbey was amazing. Nice to see the island is kept to a high standard. Highly recommend”

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7.Sightseeing Cruise to Inchcolm Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 274 reviews · 3 hours · from $27

Sail from Queensferry beneath the Three Bridges, with onboard commentary and a chance to spot seals, puffins or dolphins. Spend at least 1.5 hours on Inchcolm exploring its medieval abbey, wartime defenses and shore paths. The £27 fare does not include the island landing fee, so budget extra before you go.

“Lovely cruise and sightseeing throughout! Got to see some seals too. Informative and friendly staff!Highly recommend”

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8.Stunning 90-Minute Firth of Forth Sightseeing Cruise Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 237 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $24Top rated

Sail for about 90 minutes from Hawes Pier in South Queensferry, passing beneath the Forth Bridge and viewing the other two bridges, Inchcolm Abbey and small Forth islands. The crew shares local history, and you may spot seals or seabirds. Inchcolm Island landing passes cost extra and depend on availability. There is a bar and food onboard.

“Trip was really good and went smooth. Easy for adult s and children. Stunning views. A lot of history facts were told. Recommend!!!”

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9.Guided 60-Minute Photography and sightseeing Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $68

In this one-hour walk, a local guide such as photographer Vasileios shows you how to frame Edinburgh Castle, find better light at St Giles’ Cathedral, edit for Instagram, and spot photo angles in Old Town closes. Expect city stories, practical phone tips, and some stairs. It starts at 8:00 am near the Witches Well and welcomes up to 15 people.

“Vasilieos was a wonderful guide and we met right on time. As I was the only guest, he was very accommodating to what I wanted to see and do, as well as my ability to get around, climbing stairs, etc. He gave me a lot of tips on taking a good picture and took some for me as well. I was glad there was no one else on the tour because after 45 minutes I was really tired and he had no problem ending the tour early. He accompanied me back to the "Hop On Hop Off" bus stop and made sure I got on okay. The only thing I…”

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10.Big Bus Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off City and Britannia Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 172 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Use one mobile ticket for two Edinburgh bus routes, with unlimited hop-on hop-off travel for 48 hours. Ride through central landmarks or head to the Royal Yacht Britannia, with recorded commentary in nine languages. Britannia entry is not included, and the Britannia bus runs less often than the city route.

“Great way to get a highlight tour of the city. We sat up top and had great views. We also used the bus later to get to some stops, but in the end found it quicker to just walk. The employees were really helpful. Twice I had schedule glitches that were not their fault, but they accommodated anyway.”

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11.Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Britannia Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 77 reviews · from $21Best value

Ride Bright Bus Tours’ Britannia route from Waterloo Place toward Leith, the Royal Botanic Garden and Royal Yacht Britannia. Your 24-hour ticket allows unlimited hop-on hop-off rides and includes audio commentary in nine languages. It does not include admission to Britannia, and it is separate from the city sightseeing route, so check the route and bus times before you set out.

“We loved the tour of the city on the way to seeing the Britannia. The tour was very well marked and we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch in the tea room. We could’ve even spent a little more time during the boat rush after a few hours to get back on the bus. Lovely day.”

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