The best Edinburgh walking tours

Edinburgh's Old Town is compact, steep and packed with closes, wynds and stairways, so walking is the natural way to see it. Most tours start on or near the Royal Mile, the street that runs downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The range here is wide: Old Town history walks, guided castle tours with entry included, Harry Potter walks around Greyfriars Kirkyard and Victoria Street, ghost tours of the underground vaults, and even a comedy walk.

Walks usually last one to three hours. At the time of checking, group walks on this page were listed from about £15 to £35, and walks that include castle entry from about £39 to £53. Edinburgh also has tip-based walking tours, where you pay what you think the tour was worth at the end.

Walking Edinburgh well

The Old Town is hilly and many streets are cobbled, so wear shoes with good grip, especially when it is wet. In August, during the festivals, the Royal Mile is very crowded and tours book out early. Winter walks are quieter, but daylight is short, with sunset before 4pm in December. Morning tours give the best light for photos of the castle.