15 Royal Mile & Old Town Walks

1.Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8,506 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide on the Lawnmarket for an hour-long Old Town walk into the South Bridge vaults. Hear about 18th-century hardship, criminals, and people who sought shelter below ground, then visit a former witchcraft temple and a vault associated with ghost sightings. Guides such as Louisa, Josh, James, and Kieran have been praised for lively storytelling.

“The tour was very interesting and Nick our guide, told the stories well and was so lovely and friendly. A really enjoyable experience. We would highly recommend.”

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2.Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,168 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24Top rated

Explore Edinburgh’s Old Town on a guided, two-hour walk through cobbled streets and narrow lanes. The route may vary by guide, with stops near St Giles Cathedral, the Mercat Cross, George Heriot’s School and Edinburgh Castle, viewed from outside. Guides such as Max, Greg, Jule and Angus bring history to life with stories, humor and practical tips.

“I took my 16 year old to Edinburgh for a birthday weekend and we loved this tour when we went in January despite the weather. Not much walking really and the guide was great.”

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3.Royal Mile and Old Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,596 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

In three hours, a guide leads you from Usher Hall through Grassmarket, Old Town closes, the Royal Mile and St Giles’ Cathedral, finishing by the Scott Monument. Groups are limited to 12. Guides have included Fiona, Stuart Usher, David Forsyth and Dr Alison Duncan. The castle is viewed from outside, not entered.

“An entertaining and informative tour with Douglas! A fun and fascinating walk through Edinburgh. There was no question that Douglas didn't know the answer to. We learned all about Edinburgh through stories and fun facts. Definitely recommend this tour.”

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4.Old Town Historical and Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,574 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Spend about 90 minutes walking Edinburgh’s Old Town and entering an exclusive section of the South Bridge vaults. A guide with Scottish history expertise leads the way, with time for questions and stops including Tron Kirk and Canongate Kirkyard. Guides such as Holly, Chihon and Emilie have brought the city’s stories to life for past groups.

“Lagre group. A lot of information. To many tiny details about persons? Good guide. Nice walk. No problem with kids 10 and 12 years.”

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5.Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle – Small Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $70

Follow a guide along the Royal Mile, through narrow closes and old courtyards, past St Giles’ Cathedral and John Knox House, then up to Edinburgh Castle. The group is capped at 18, and the castle option includes a 45-minute introduction before free time. Guides have included Craig, Linda, Nicola, Marina, and Mally.

“Amazing tour guide and tour, Marina was well informed, so knowledgeable and made the tour fun, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend attending sing this if you are visiting Edinburgh.”

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6.Edinburgh Old Town: Historical Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,016 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

Walk Edinburgh’s historic center with a professional guide, from the High Street to Greyfriars Kirkyard. In about two hours, you’ll hear stories spanning medieval to modern Edinburgh and get pointers for exploring on your own. The tour is listed in English or French; guides named in traveler accounts include Gavin and Urs.

“Urs war super, unterhaltsam, gut auf die Gruppe acht gegeben. Weiß absolut Bescheid! Keine absolute mainstream Geschichte, achtet auf Details.”

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7.Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour – Ticket Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 894 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Follow Edinburgh’s Royal Mile from the Mercat Cross and St Giles’ Cathedral to Victoria Street, the Grassmarket and Edinburgh Castle. A local guide covers the Old Town and the castle grounds, with admission included and time to explore the castle’s indoor exhibits at your own pace. Guides have included Paul, Mark, James and Zenon.

“Paul was a fantastic tour guide. He had terrific knowledge of Edinburgh's history and presented it with a lot of fun, humour and energy. We'd highly recommend him.”

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8.90min Underground Whisky Tasting in Edinburgh’s Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 350 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

In Edinburgh’s Old Town, meet at John’s Coffee House & Tavern for a 90-minute tasting in the underground Lost Close. A guide introduces four whiskies from Scotland’s main whisky regions, along with stories about how whisky is made and how regional styles differ. Choose a standard, intermediate, or high-end tasting when booking.

“It’s for those who want to know the history of Scotch Whiskey and the different tastes, along with the reason for them. Very informative and fun. There were 4 different kinds of whiskey we tried and I got to know which one I preferred.”

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9.History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 216 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $24

In about two hours, Local Eyes Tours takes you from Princes Street into Edinburgh’s Old Town, with stories at Greyfriars, Grassmarket and St Giles’ Cathedral. Expect history with humor, time for questions, and guides such as Madge, Shanna, Kieran or Zander, depending on the date. The group is capped at 18; cathedral admission is not included.

“This is a great walking tour to start a vacation in Edinburgh. Fun way to learn history and the layout of the town. Katie kept it fun and was very knowledgeable.”

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10.Eating Edinburgh: Old Town Food & Drinks Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $134

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a local English-speaking guide, stopping for Cullen skink, haggis with whisky marmalade, pub pie, Scottish cheese and a possible deep-fried Mars bar. Along the way, take in the Royal Mile, Victoria Street and castle views. Guides such as Ailsa, Luana, Andre and Emery have led the tour, but the lineup and tastings can vary.

“Awesome tour with Emery! She greeted us in a Philadelphia Eagles hat (go Birds!), so I knew it was going to be a great day :). Emery was very knowledgeable about Edinburgh and its history, and you can tell has a real passion for the city. Her narration and explanations were all very detailed, and her personality really made the tour fun. As for the locations and food itself, I enjoyed everything. The venues were all high quality with really interesting and authentic foods. The tour length of three hours was perfect (especially in hilly Edinburgh), and I highly recommend it.”

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11.Old Town’s Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $4Best value

Spend two hours on foot in Edinburgh’s Old Town, starting at 130 High Street and returning to the same meeting point. An English-speaking local guide leads you along the Royal Mile, into St Giles’ Cathedral, past stories of William Wallace and down to Grassmarket. Guides named in guest feedback include Joe, Niamh, Alasdair and Julia.

“The tour leader knew her subject and delivered a thoroughly entertaining commentary on Edinburgh's history and architecture.”

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12.Private Walk: Edinburgh Old Town and New Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.)

Walk Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns with local guide Gerry, whose private route can include the Grassmarket, Greyfriars, the Royal Mile and Georgian streets. Start at your central accommodation when possible, then set the pace and focus to suit your group. Ask about Harry Potter connections, architecture, local history or other interests.

“An amazing and educational tour of Edinburgh. Gerry had so much interesting insights and facts about the history of the town. He was able to customize the tour to our liking as well.”

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13.Old Town Stories

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $20

This two-hour Old Town walk runs from West Parliament Square to Greyfriars Kirkyard, linking St Giles’ Cathedral, the Mercat Cross, the Writers’ Museum, Grassmarket and Greyfriars with stories of Scotland’s past. Guides include James, Robert, David and Edgar, though your guide may vary. Expect a small-group-friendly pace, stops for tales and landmarks, and no admission fee for the listed stops.

“Enjoyed seeing old town and hearing about some of the landmarks! Tour was a good length, and it helped me appreciate things I might have walked right past without a guide.”

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14.Private Royal Mile walking tour – Discover the history of our most famous street

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Follow Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on a private, roughly two-hour walk with a local guide. Robert is the guide named in tour accounts; the route links the Palace of Holyroodhouse’s exterior with Edinburgh Castle’s drawbridge, using closes and wynds to bring Scottish history to life. Entry to either palace or castle is not included, and the finish can be tailored.

“It is both factual and humorous. Finding out about the characters that shaped Edinburghs history. Robert was very knowledgeable and easy to learn from.”

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15.Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.) · from $11

Walk from the Royal Scottish Academy to the Scottish Parliament with a VoiceMap audio guide and map. In about 90 minutes to two hours, you’ll hear about Old Town architecture and landmarks including St Giles Cathedral, Gladstone’s Land, and Riddle’s Court. The tour is in English, works offline, and comes with lifetime access. Bring your own phone and headphones.

“It was our first time using the app. Overall, the experience was relatively good. Sometimes it knew exactly where we were, but sometimes it didn't, which was a bit challening. This particular tour was very focused on the city's architecture, which I didn't recall from the description, so if you aren't as interested in that aspect of the city's history, you may want to try another tour.”

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