Private Tour
Edinburgh Private Tour with a Local Guide, Highlights & Hidden Gems
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Settled in the rocky hills, Edinburgh offers everything from beautiful architecture to stunning landscapes, and everything in between. You’ll join one of our hosts, and from here it’s up to you if you’d like to strut your stuff down the Royal Mile, or pay homage at the Scott Monument? Are you a landmark beeliner, or a leisurely wanderer? Just tell us your pace and we’ll stick to it.
Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Itineraries are fully personalized so any additional requirements like tickets, transportation and food & drinks can be arranged for an additional cost
Private groups are normally no larger than 6 people (if your group is larger, please make this known so that arrangements can be made)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
2, 4 or 6 hours walking tour, exploring highlights and hidden gems
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)
Private and personalized walking tour with a passionate local
Food and drinks
Transportation (primarily a walking experience however public transport may be used)
Tickets to any attractions
Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Edinburgh Castle
Spend half a day with your host and enjoy the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of historic Edinburgh - visit iconic sights like the Edinburgh Castle and pay homage at the Scott Monument IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Royal Mile
Take a walk down the Royal Mile, passing historical monuments and quaint shops as you go IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Options
Edinburgh 6 hours
Duration: 6 hours
Edinburgh 3 hours
Duration: 3 hours
Pickup included
Edinburgh 4 hours
Duration: 4 hours
Edinburgh 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Reviews
70 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
3 Hour - Accessible Friendly Tour
Jeffrey R,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Doug was amazing, kind and very knowledgeable about Edinburgh. He was kind enough to meet us at our hotel and friendly enough to help my sister along who is handicapped and requires the use of a mobility scooter for long and/or uneven distances. We got to see the highlights in a 3 hour tour, but we should’ve booked a 4 hour tour. I can’t say enough good things about Doug and the whole experience.
Our tour guide Lilia was...
Joseph B,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Lilia was amazing. She was very knowledgeable and had a lot of stories to share. We really appreciated her time!
Perfect Impromptu Tour!
AnneMarie E,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Doug was very prompt and met us at our hotel. He asked what we had seen so far and worked around that. We took a 3 hour walking tour of Edinburgh that was wonderful- cobbled streets, picturesque scenery and just the right amount of history. Doug is a true Scottish character & we would highly recommend him.
Best Way to Experience Edinburgh — Like Seeing the City Through a Friend’s Eyes
Rebekah T,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00When they say this tour is customizable, they really mean it! After booking, I received a detailed survey asking about our interests, and I shared that we wanted time to shop for local souvenirs and artisan crafts. Our guide, James, went above and beyond — taking us to charming local shops and recommending beautiful spots for handcrafted jewelry. We also mentioned our love for cozy cafés, and he made sure we had time to enjoy one during our walk. Throughout the tour, we learned so much about how Edinburgh was built and the fascinating bits of history hidden in plain sight — things we never would have noticed without a local guide! (For example, the subtle markings that show where the old city walls once stood — we’d walked past them several times before without realizing what they were!) Our must-see list included Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Scott Monument, and Edinburgh Old Town. Even though our castle visit was only from the exterior, the 4-hour walking tour was packed with insight and charm. By the end, James felt like family — my 12-year-old even joked that she wanted to adopt him as her new granddad! Honestly, this was the best thing we did during our trip to Scotland. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants a meaningful, personalized, and truly local experience of Edinburgh.
Tour of Edinburgh
Elaina A,
Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a great historical tour of all the sites in Edinburgh. Edgar was very knowledgeable of all the history. He even to met us at our guesthouse so we wouldn’t get lost on the bus to the center of town.
Edinburgh Highlights
Michael M,
Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Michael showed us an interesting and unexpected side of Edinburgh. The 4 hour tour seemed to fly by. We learned so much about this beautiful and exciting city.
Great way to start off...
Juan G,
Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great way to start off your trip in Edinburgh! Alice was a wonderful/witty guide….definitely recommend!
Excellent tour of Edinburgh
Jane C,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent guide. Lilia was extremely informative about history and intriguing facts. Would recommend this tour highly.
Great day
gregory s,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very good experience. Doug was excellent. City the historical sites castles were all interesting. Doug was very enthusiastic about his cuty
Great personalized tour!
KimL K,
Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Gwen did an outstanding job of personalizing the tour and was very accommodating. She did a great job, accommodating my pace and was very knowledgeable.. I would highly recommend the tour!
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