7 City Tours in Edinburgh Worth Booking

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

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

Use a 24-hour City Sightseeing pass to circle Edinburgh on an open-top double-decker bus, with 15 stops, commentary in nine languages, and a children’s track. Ride the full 70-minute route first, then hop off near Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, Holyrood, Dynamic Earth, and the Royal Mile. Up to three children travel free with each paying adult until March 31, 2026.

“A fab thing to do especially with our children, helped explore the city and rest their legs in hilly edinburgh, the commentary was informative and everyone learnt something new! Fab offer of kids go free made it excellent value for money.”

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2.City of the Dead: The Double Dead Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 900 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $31Top rated

Join City of the Dead Tours for 1 hour 45 minutes of Edinburgh history, underground vaults, graveyard stories, humor, and well-timed scares. Meet at St Giles’ Cathedral and finish at Greyfriars Kirkyard. Guides such as Ben, Nat, Ian, Grant, and Charlie lead the English-language tour for groups of up to five.

“Grant was an awesome tour guide. Good stories at the Underground with just the right mix of history, humor and jumps. Fast paced walking between sites, but was able to keep up.”

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3.Underground City of the Dead Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 272 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Head below Edinburgh’s streets into the South Bridge Vaults and Damnation Alley, where your English-speaking guide explains the grim lives once lived here and the legend of the South Bridge Entity. Guides have included Ben, Beth, Rebecca, Lloyd, and Heather. Tours run by day or night, with groups capped at five.

“Heather , very good , great information about the vaults , some very good facts about the city that would never have known”

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4.Edinburgh City Bike Tour – Choice of E-Bike or Manual

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 241 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $87

Join Ricky, Stuart, or Ricardo for a 3.5-hour ride from central Edinburgh through the Union Canal, Meadows, Holyrood Park, Portobello Beach, Leith, and the New Town. Choose a manual bicycle or e-bike, with helmets, gloves, rain jackets, and panniers available. Lucy the guide’s dog may join the outing.

“Great guide and a terrific tour. The electric assist bikes made the tour super easy. The tour provided a great overview of Edinburgh.”

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5.City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 225 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Tree of the Dead by St Giles’ Cathedral, then walk from the Royal Mile into Greyfriars Kirkyard. Guides such as Ross, Gerry, Grant, and Graham mix dark history, humor, and ghost stories before taking you into the locked Covenanters’ Prison, home of the Mackenzie Poltergeist legend.

“Our guide, Ross, was spectacular, engaging, and full of dark humor. It was a very fun tour where we learned many anecdotes we didn’t know about Edinburgh, as well as terrifying stories from different spots around the city, with the cemetery as the main highlight. We had a great time, and it’s an experience we highly recommend if you want to enjoy yourself while discovering the darker side of the city.”

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6.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 ticket on two Edinburgh routes for 48 hours. The City Tour links Waterloo Place with the Old Town, Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth, and the National Museum. The Britannia route runs to the Shore, Victoria Quay, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Fishmarket Square, and the Botanic Garden. Audio commentary comes in nine languages, with headphones provided.

“It was very easy to find the bus and both the drivers and street staff were friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend.”

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7.City of the Dead Underground Vaults (Day)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 113 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Meet your English-speaking guide at St Giles’ Cathedral for an 80-minute walk into Edinburgh’s South Bridge vaults. Hear grim tales of families who once lived underground, learn why Damnation Alley earned its name, and listen for stories of the South Bridge Entity. Guides Joshua and Giuseppe have both led memorable tours.

“On March 19th, 2025, our small lovely group led by charismatic guide Joshua descended into the dark and mysterious vaults of old Edinburgh. I was rather sceptical - until Joshua started telling us his bone-chilling stories, in the complete darkness, illuminated only by the faint light of a lantern. I still get goosebumps when I remember that strange sensation of being in the presence of something dead and ghostly! The frightening reality of the past intertwined with horror. A brilliant and fascinating tour, played out like a small performance. Bravo, Joshua! For the first time in many years, I went to bed that night with the lights on!”

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