Best Tours & Day Trips in and from Edinburgh, Scotland
Our Favorite Experiences You Don’t Want to Miss
Edinburgh is one of our favorite cities. Each time we visit this medieval city we discover something new and amazing. Edinburgh is one of those cities where history isn’t tucked away in museums—it’s layered into the streets, the skyline, and the stories you hear along the way. Walking around the city gives you that sense of medieval wonder with modern amenities where you can see the eras of history laid out before you. From medieval castles and royal palaces to underground vaults, whisky tastings, and jaw-dropping Highland landscapes, Edinburgh is a city that truly shines and is waiting to be explored. While we recommend taking some time to wander the city on your own and create your own memories, guided tours can really help to put things into perspective and uncover those hidden sides of the city you may not have otherwise discovered.
We’ve visited Edinburgh multiple times and taken many of these tours ourselves (with a few still on our wish list). Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to dig deeper, these are the best tours in Edinburgh and unforgettable day trips from the city that we genuinely recommend.
If you’re short on time, guided tours are one of the best ways to maximize your trip, gain a different historical perspective, and see places that would be difficult to cram in or reach on your own.
Why We Recommend Booking Tours in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s charm is in its history. It is layered, complex, and sometimes dark—and having a knowledgeable guide completely changes how you experience it (for example we found the “close” sort of odd, until we learned about their unique history)! We think tours help you:
Understand the stories behind the stone
Skip the guesswork and logistics
Explore places and make them more accessible (We’ve been there, where we planned to visit a site only to miss the ONE bus that leaves per day that was supposed to take you to that one sight you REALLY wanted to see)
See more in less time (especially on day trips)
Pro Tip: Edinburgh tours book up fast in peak season (May–September). We recommend booking your must-do tours in advance, especially castle tickets and Highlands day trips. The great thing about Viator and GetYourGuide is you can always book and advance and cancel if something happens.
Best Tours in Edinburgh (Within the City)
Edinburgh is such a cool city to explore and with so much to see and do, sometimes it can be overwhelming where to start. These are the experiences we think truly enhance your time in Edinburgh itself, whether this your first time or your fifth.
Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour (Truly a can’t miss!)
Edinburgh Castle dominates the city skyline—and while you can wander it on your own, we highly recommend a guided tour. While the audio guide and the map are great when you are wandering around, having a guide can really enhance the experience and give you the opportunity to ask questions. We also recommend it because you can hit the highlights with a guide and then wander around on your own afterwards, truly the best of both worlds.
The guides provide:
Clear historical context
Fascinating royal and military stories
Insight into Scotland’s turbulent (and interesting!) past
Without a guide, it’s easy to miss why certain spaces matter. With a guide you feel the stories come alive.
Why we recommend it: The storytelling makes all the difference and provides you a unique perspective that you may not get on your own.
Perfect for: First-time visitors, history lovers - even if you aren’t a huge history buff, the guided tour of the castle provides a great background on the history of Edinburgh.
Helpful Hint: Book an early morning time slot to avoid peak crowds
Ready to make the most of your experience book the Edinburgh Castle Tour here.
Scotch Whisky Experience (One of Matt’s Favorites)
Even if you’re not a whisky expert, this experience is fun, informative, and surprisingly approachable. While Matt absolutely really enjoys whiskey, Ash is definitely not a huge fan of whiskey, but still had an amazing experience. Even if whiskey isn’t necessarily your thing, it still is a really amazing experience and tour.
At the Scotch Whiskey Experience You’ll learn:
How Scotch whisky is made
The differences between regional styles (you can try the different styles from the five recognized Scotch regions)
How to properly taste whisky
The setting is immersive, and the tastings are thoughtfully done—not rushed or touristy.
Why we loved it: We found it fun and informative (plus you can go back and impress your whiskey drinking friends)
Perfect for: Couples, small groups, rainy afternoons, bachelor parties, and solo travelers.
Helpful Hint: Some tours include additional tastings—worth the upgrade (or at least Matt thinks so)
If you are looking for something even more immersive, there is a Whiskey and Forklore tour that we have been really wanting to try out and have heard nothing but amazing things.
Ready to book the Scotch Whiskey Experience at the top of the Royal Mile? Book it Here.
Prefer a Whiskey and Forklore experience? Book that here to get a different Whiskey perspective!
J.K. Rowling famously wrote parts of Harry Potter in Edinburgh, and this walking tour does a great job connecting real locations with the wizarding world. Even wandering around Edinburgh on your own, you can catch glimpses of inspiration all around you. The walking tour does a great job of providing both general Edinburgh history and connecting it to the Harry Potter story, making it a great tour for all different kinds of fans, whether you’ve seen all the movies and read all the books or just vaguely remember quidditch.
During this walking tour you’ll explore:
Inspiration for Diagon Alley
Tom Riddle connections (the real Tom Riddle’s grave)
Key Old Town locations
Even if you’re only a casual fan, the tour is engaging and well-paced.
Why it works: Blends the books and movies with real history
Perfect for: Potter fans, families, curious walkers, solo travelers, and general history lovers
Helpful Hint: Wear comfortable shoes (preferably ones with good tread!)—Old Town streets are steep and uneven, plus in the rain they can get a little slippery
Ready to see the true inspiration for Harry Potter? Book the tour here.
Palace of Holyroodhouse (another one of our favorites!)
At the opposite end of the Royal Mile from the castle sits the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Scotland. This was another one of our standout tours and places to visit in Edinburgh. The palace has so much history (relearning about Mary Queen of Scots was really fascinating!), plus seeing the chambers, rooms, and royal decorations were simply amazing.
A guided visit (or audio guide) adds valuable insight into:
Mary, Queen of Scots
Royal ceremonies
Scotland’s royal past
Why we recommend it: Complements Edinburgh Castle beautifully and adds another unique layer to Edinburgh’s history
Perfect for: History lovers and royal enthusiasts
Helpful Hint: Combine with a walk up Arthur’s Seat afterward (one of those iconic viewpoints in Edinburgh!)
Ready to visit the King’s residence in Scotland? Book a tour here.
Edinburgh’s pub and bar scene is fantastic, with a cool eclectic mix of college students (from nearby University of Edinburgh), to tourists, business people, and locals alike. Whether you are backpacker looking to meet new friends or an (almost) elder millennial, like us, a bar crawl is a unique way to explore the city and meet some amazing people. Edinburgh’s pub scene is legendary, and a guided bar crawl helps you:
Find historic pubs you’d never stumble into
Learn local drinking culture
Meet fellow travelers
It’s a relaxed, social way to experience the city after dark.
Why it’s fun: Low-pressure, social, and authentic
Perfect for: Solo travelers, friend groups, couples, small groups
Helpful Hint: Eat beforehand—this is about atmosphere, not dinner, and in some cases you may not stay at each pub very long
Read to experience a night out and meet some new friends? Book a bar crawl here.
Edinburgh is often called one of the most haunted cities in Europe, and a ghost walking tour is practically a rite of passage. Edinburgh has such an interesting dark history and a walking tour does a great job of showing you a different side of Edinburgh at night.
These tours blend:
Dark history
True crime
Local legends
Some are spooky, some are theatrical—but all are entertaining. Depending on your level of “spooky”, be sure to find one that suits your level. The one we recommend is a pretty good middle ground between spooky, entertaining, and historical, but you can find others that focus more on true crime or more dark and spooky tales.
Why we recommend it: Unique way to learn history at night and see a different side of the city
Perfect for: First-time visitors, couples, small groups, and explorers
Helpful Hint: Choose smaller group tours for better storytelling
Ready to book your ghost tour adventure? Book it here.
Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour (A Fun Twist)
If you want scares and laughs, this one stands out. We’ve tried to get on this tour several times and it always seems to be either sold out or we end up missing it. In either case, we’ve heard nothing but great things about this unique bus tour. If you are looking for something spooky but still fun and lighthearted, put this one on your list!
This tour combines:
Comedy
Horror storytelling
A vintage double-decker bus
It’s camp-fire-story-esque, entertaining, and less serious than walking tours (plus it might be more comfortable when it is cold and rainy out).
🔗 Recommended tour: Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour
Why it’s different: While still a ghost tour, it’s more theatrical and memorable, rather than just creepy
Perfect for: Groups, couples, repeat visitors
Helpful Hint: Book in advance, also its a great option if the weather is bad.
Ready for your Comedy Bus Experience? Book it here.
Best Day Trips from Edinburgh
One of Edinburgh’s biggest advantages is how easy it is to escape into Scotland’s landscapes and history on a day tour. Edinburgh is fairly centrally located and Scotland is relatively small enough to get to many of the major sights within a day tour. As much as we love Edinburgh, there is just something about getting out into the rugged highlands and the small towns that truly give you that Scottish experience. Here are some of our favorites:
Glenfinnan Viaduct & Highlands Tour
This tour was absolutely amazing. We took the Glenfinnan Viaduct tour about two year ago with Ash’s family and it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. The trip from Edinburgh takes you through the scenic highlands, around majestic foggy mountain scapes and beautiful waterfalls. The highlight though was seeing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in person, which really is unforgettable—especially for Harry Potter fans. The Viaduct is where the famous “Hogwarts Express Train” rounds the bend in the Harry Potter movies. Even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan seeing the viaduct is absolutely incredible. One of the other highlights is seeing beautiful Glencoe and its stunning mountains, where several movies were filmed including Harry Potter and James Bond.
This tour typically includes:
Scottish Highlands scenery
Lochs and glens
Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoints
Why we recommend it: Iconic Scottish landscapes
Perfect for: First-time Scotland visitors, returning Scotland visitors, and Harry Potter fans
Helpful Hint: Check train timing if you want to see the Jacobite steam train (AKA the Hogwarts Express Train)
Ready to book your trip to Glenfinnan and Glencoe? Book the tour here.
This was Ash’s favorite tour. If you only do one day trip from Edinburgh—make it the Highlands. This is quintessential Scotland. Exactly what you picture if you are thinking about the movie Braveheart or scenes from the TV show Outlander. The Highlands show off Scotland’s dramatic mountains, foggy valleys, beautiful lochs, and of course the home to Nessie in Loch Ness and Hairy Highland Cows (Hairy Coos).
These tours offer:
Dramatic scenery
Storytelling from passionate guides
Stops at lochs, valleys, and small towns
Why it’s essential: You haven’t truly seen Scotland without the Highlands
Perfect for: Honestly everyone
Helpful Hint: Expect a long day and a ton of driving (riding in a van), but completely worth it. Be sure to grab a window seat!
Ready to book the iconic Highlands? Book it here.
Outlander Filming Locations Tour
Ash loved the Outlander show and taking a tour to see the locations was a major highlight, plus even non-fans can appreciate it. Whether you have seen the show or have no idea what Outlander is, this tour does a fantastic job of showing the historical castles and battlefields from the Jacobite rebellion, making this perfect for both history fans and fans of the show. Plus the castles you visit are amazing!
You’ll visit:
Historic castles
Quaint villages
Real locations used in the show
Why we loved it: Beautiful sites + storytelling (both about Outlander and Scotland history in general
Perfect for: Outlander fans (obviously!), but also history fans, and castles lovers
Helpful Hint: Tours sell out quickly—book early
Ready to book your Outlander tour? Book it here.
Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Britain
If you are interested in beautiful views and Roman history in Britain, this tour is definitely for you. Hadrian’s Wall is the iconic dividing line between Roman Britain and the northern barbarians. Come see the iconic Roman ruins and experience the history of Scotland.
This is a fantastic history-focused day trip that explores:
Roman ruins
Hadrian’s Wall
England–Scotland border history
Why it stands out: Unique perspective beyond medieval Scotland
Perfect for: History buffs
Helpful Hint: Bring layers—weather changes fast even in the Summer time
Ready to book your Roman Britain experience? Book it here.
Loch Lomond & Stirling Castle Tour
If you are looking for a little taster of Scotland, this Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle tour is perfect when you are short on time. Loch Lomond is beautiful and Stirling castle is classic Scotland. Stirling castle is one of the most important and historical castles in Scotland and is absolutely worth a visit.
This tour combines:
Scenic nature (Loch Lomond)
Historic power (Stirling Castle)
It’s a great balance of landscape and architecture.
Why we recommend it: Less time on the bus, still stunning
Perfect for: Short stays, History buffs, couples, and solo travelers
Helpful Hint: If you have some extra time, be sure to stop off at the Stirling distillery!
Ready to book you Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle excursion? Book it here.
St. Andrews & Fife Small-Group Tour
Whether you are an avid golfer, casual fan, or not quite sure what exactly a par is, you have probably heard of St. Andrews. This classic golf course is widely known as the birthplace of golf and is known for its stunning, rugged course and beautiful views. St. Andrews the town is charming, historic, and coastal—with medieval streets and of course, famous golf history. Whether you are a golf fan or not, this is still an amazing tour to visit a beautiful classic Scottish town.
Why it’s special: Coastal Scotland + university town charm + famous golf
Perfect for: Golf fans, Off-the-beaten path travelers, slower-paced travelers
Helpful Hint: Small-group tours allow more time to explore + be sure to check out the St. Andrews golf shop for souvenirs!
Ready to book your St. Andrews experience? Book it here.
Hogwarts Express (Jacobite Steam Train) Tour
This is a bucket-list experience for Harry Potter fans. Picture riding on the Hogwarts Express train through rolling Scottish terrain and beautiful scenery. If you are not a Harry Potter fan, rather picture yourself riding an iconic historic Jacobite Stream Train as you sight see through gorgeous Scotland. For many this is a bucket list travel experience and well worth the trip!
The tour includes:
Riding the Jacobite Steam Train
Highland scenery
Glenfinnan Viaduct crossing
Why it’s iconic: One of the most memorable train rides in the world
Perfect for: Potter fans, train enthusiasts, and photographers
Helpful Hint: Seats sell out far in advance—don’t wait
Ready to book your Hogwards Express Tour? Book it here.
Final Thoughts: Are Tours in Edinburgh Worth It?
Absolutely. While Edinburgh itself is an amazing city to explore on your own, we highly recommend (and have personally enjoyed) taking tours both within the city and taking day trips from the city. It gives you that more immersive experience and can really help with the logistics if you are short on time or just prefer to have a guide. Edinburgh is a city where history and stories come alive, and guided tours unlock the deeper meaning behind what you’re seeing. From castle walls to Highland roads, these experiences add richness, context, and unforgettable moments to your trip.
If you’re planning your visit, we recommend:
1–2 city tours
At least one Highlands or day trip, honestly or more if you have time.
That balance gives you the best of Edinburgh and Scotland beyond the city.
We hope you enjoy visiting Edinburgh as much as we did!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you book or purchase through our links. We only recommend things we’ve personally used and loved. Thanks for supporting our blog!
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