(800) 814 COOL Questions? Call Us Now!

Edinburgh Old Town Private Walking Tour

2 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 2 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Edinburgh, Scotland

Loading Options

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation

Overview

Join us for a private tour of Edinburgh Old Town to discover the fascinating history of the city.

Understand how Edinburgh developed from a medieval burgh to an international hub.

Learn about royal history at Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse

We'll talk about the Scottish Reformation in St. Giles Cathedral

Visit Greyfriars Graveyard, Grassmarket and the closes of the Royal Mile. Listen to the stories of murderers, executions, and bodysnatchers.

Visit the National Museum of Scotland and its highlights, including Viking chess pieces and Pictish carved stones.

Find out about Edinburgh cultural scene, from writers and books to the Fringe Festival.

What's Included

  • Guided Tour of the National Museum Highlights
  • Local Tour Guide
  • Tea and coffee Should clients wish to stop for coffee and tea during the tour, this would be at their own expenses.
  • Snacks Should clients wish to grab a snack at some point during the tour, this would be at their own expenses.
  • Gratuities
See 1 moreSee 4 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Castlehill
Edinburgh EH1 2NE, UK

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8DX, UK

The tour will end outside of Holyrood Palace.

What To Expect

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

The Castle Esplanade will be our first stop. From here, we will enjoy stunning views of the city and see where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place. We'll talk about the history of one of Edinburgh's oldest buildings. As we recall the fascinating stories of kings, queens, battles and sieges, we'll delve into the secrets of the castle.
Read more

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Victoria street

From the Castle Esplanade, we will walk down hill towards Victoria Street, the most picturesque and colorful street of Edinburgh.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grassmarket

At the end of Victoria Street we will enter the Grassmarket, a large plaza famous for its pubs and its dark past.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Greyfriars Bobby

From the Grassmarket, we will walk up Candlemarker Row. At the end of the street we will find Edinburgh's most famous and loyal dog, Bobby! We'll also see the dog statue located just outside of the graveyard.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Behind Bobby, we will find the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. This historic graveyard we will understand what the Mortsafes are, and learn about the connection between the Scottish Covenants and the George Mackenzie Mausoleum.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

National Museum of Scotland

We'll enter the National Museum of Scotland and walk through the Grand Gallery: we'll explore some of the museum's highlights in the Scottish and international collections. There will be time for coffee and a rest.
Read more

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St Giles' Cathedral

After the National Museum of Scotland we will head towards the Royal Mile via Cowgate. We will explain where the name Royal Mile comes from and explore its historical highlights. The first stop will be St. Giles Cathedral. We'll talk about the architecture of the most important church in Scotland, and discover the history of the Presbyterian religion. We will also walk to West Parliament Square to talk about the Act of Union.
Read more

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mercat Cross

Behind St. Giles Cathedral we will find the Mercat Cross, once the site of public announcements and punishments. We will also explain why the unicorn appears at the top of this structure.
Read more

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Royal Mile

As we walk down the Royal Mile we will explore some of the 'closes' and understand what these narrow, dark, alleyways were used for. We'll recall the stories of those who once lived here.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

John Knox House Museum

On the Royal Mile, we will stop outside of John Knox House and also see where one of the city gates used to stand.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Canongate Kirk

We'll stop at the Canongate Tolbooth and explain why, in this part of the city, we find representations of a golden stag’s head with a cross between its antlers.
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Scottish Parliament

A few minutes down the road from Canongate, we will see the Scottish Parliament. This modern building is very controversial, let's see what you think of its quirky architecture!
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Palace of Holyroodhouse

We will then move to our final stop. the Palace of Holyroodhouse. We'll look at the Palace from the main gate, and discuss its history and architecture.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 11 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Please note that this is a walking tour and private transportation is not offered. It will be up to the client to make their way to the meeting point.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Edinburgh Old Town Private Walking Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-454922P4

Reviews

5.00
2 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 2 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Loading Options

Similar Tours & Activities

The Scottish Borders Private Day Tour with Scottish Local

The Scottish Borders Private Day Tour with Scottish Local

New To The Site!
 8 hours  Hotel pickup offered  Free Cancellation
from
US$699.04

Private Driving Tour to Stirling, Battle Of Banockburn,William Wallace,whisky

Private Driving Tour to Stirling, Battle Of Banockburn,William Wallace,whisky

1
 8 to 9 hours  Hotel pickup offered  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$1,226.74

Edinburgh Walk: A Romantic Stroll through History and Beauty

Edinburgh Walk: A Romantic Stroll through History and Beauty

New To The Site!
 3 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$278.70

Pub Crawl in Edinburgh

Pub Crawl in Edinburgh

 6 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$20.56

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh

Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh

 12 hours 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$82.24

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour - Tickets Included

 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$50.71

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket
Likely to Sell Out

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

 1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$50.71

Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

 1 hour 20 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$28.78

What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Guided Tour of the National Museum Highlights
  • Local Tour Guide
  • Tea and coffeeShould clients wish to stop for coffee and tea during the tour, this would be at their own expenses.
  • SnacksShould clients wish to grab a snack at some point during the tour, this would be at their own expenses.
  • Gratuities
  • Private transportation

Additional Info

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Please note that this is a walking tour and private transportation is not offered. It will be up to the client to make their way to the meeting point.

Report Product Issue

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Free Cancellation

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).

Sorting, ranking, and search results

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

City Boat Tours wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through City Boat Tours over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.