Recently Viewed
Edinburgh Full Day Walking Tour With Castle Included
5.0
49 Ratings
Edinburgh
5 tours in 1! Old Town, New Town, Dean Village, Edinburgh Castle, the Georgian House. Small groups activity. You’ll learn about the history, culture and heritage of the Scottish capital, and there will be one hour break for lunch.
Duration:
6 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Dean Village - Our first stop will be the Dean Village, a small oasis of peace just a few steps away from Princes Street and the meeting point. Dating back to the medieval time, the village used to be a bakers’ hub. Today, it still retains some mill stones and stone plaques decorated with baked bread and pies.
- Charlotte Square - Leaving the Dean Village, we will continue towards the New Town, a UNESCO site. After a short walk we will reach Charlotte Square. Here we will admire elegant examples of neoclassical architecture, and understand why Edinburgh is known as the ‘Athens of the North’.
- Georgian House - In Charlotte Square we will enter the most iconic mansion of the New Town: the Georgian House. The beautifully decorated interiors and the lavish furniture will offer an insight into what high society life was like in 18th and 19th century Edinburgh. Are you ready to live the perfect Bridgerton-like experience?
- Princes Street Gardens - Princes Street Gardens is one the main parks of Edinburgh, and we’ll cross it from the east to west. We’ll stop to admire the Ross Fountain and other examples of public art. You will also enjoy a great view of the castle and the castle rock from the gardens.
- National Galleries of Scotland: National - In the Scottish National Gallery we will discover the artworks of some of Scotland’s most famous artists including Sir Henry Raeburn, Alexander Nasmyth, the Glasgow Boys, and internationally renowned works such as Velázquez’s An Old Woman Cooking Eggs.
- High Street - We will walk towards the Royal Mile where we will stop for lunch. This area is renowned for its pubs and restaurants and you will have the opportunity to try some delicious Scottish food.
- Mercat Cross - After lunch we will walk along the Royal Mile where we’ll see the Mercat Cross. This was once used for public announcements and public punishments. We will also explain why the unicorn appears at the top of this structure.
- St Giles’ Cathedral - In front of the Mercat Cross we will see St. Giles Cathedral. We’ll talk about the architecture of the most important church in Scotland, and discover the history of the Presbyterian religion and the union of the British crown.
- Heart of Midlothian - Next to St. Giles we will see the Heart of Midlothian, a landmark that marks the spot where the Old Tolbooth once stood.
- Royal Mile - Leaving St. Giles behind us, we will stroll along the Royal Mile. Here’s we’ll learn what its medieval cobbled lanes, called closes, were and how they were used. There will also be the opportunity to talk about the city’s cultural scene, including its festivals.
- Greyfriars Bobby - We will walk along George IV bridge. It is time to meet Edinburgh’s most famous and loyal dog, Bobby! We’ll also see the dog statue located just outside of the graveyard.
- 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.
- Grassmarket - After the graveyard we will find the Grassmarket, famous for its pubs and its dark past.
- Writers’ Museum - Back on the Royal Mile, we’ll find the Makars’ Court. Here, with the Writer’s Museum as a backdrop, we will talk about Scotland’s most important writers, including Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
- Edinburgh Castle Esplanade - After leaving Makars’ Court, we’ll walk for a few minutes along the top part of the Royal Mile until we reach the Castle Esplanade. Before entering the castle, we will enjoy stunning views of the city and see where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place.
- Edinburgh Castle - It is finally time to enter Edinburgh Castle. Once inside, we’ll delve into the history and secrets of this building, and recall the fascinating stories of kings, queens, battles and sieges. After the guided tour you will have the opportunity to explore the indoor areas of the castle at your own pace.
- Victoria street - From the graveyard, we will walk to the Grassmarket an area famous for its pubs and its dark past. From the Grassmarket we will walk up Victoria Street, the most picturesque and colorful street of Edinburgh.
What's Included
- Edinburgh Castle entrance ticket and guided tour
- Local Tour Guide
- Scottish National Gallery guided tour (highlights)
- The Georgian House entrance ticket and guided tour
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Location
2-4 Hope St
Hope Street
You will meet your guide on the corner of Princes Street, outside of Johnnie Walker and near the Binns Clock. The guide will hold a blue umbrella. The tour starts at 10am, please arrive by 09:50am.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(49 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Carolinadv6769kd
Jun 5, 2024
The best experience we could have in Edinburgh! - It was fabulous! Adam was our guide and he really made us have an unforgettable day! Super warm! Pascual was always attentive and even though it was just us, we did the tour anyway! I recommend it 1000% I would always go back to them!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C13_91
Jun 5, 2024
A fantastic tour of Edinburgh with Irene - I recently had the pleasure of taking this very complete walking tour of Edinburgh with Irene as my guide, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Irene was an absolute delight - she was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about her city. She brought the history of Edinburgh to life with her engaging storytelling, and she was always happy to answer any questions we had.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robyn_s
Jun 4, 2024
Perfect day getting to know Edinburgh - Adam was a fantastic tour guide. We had a full day with just three of us and Adam. He taught us so much Scottish history that by the end of the tour which was the beautiful castle that we could remember a FEW kings in their correct order. 😎😎😎
Review provided by Viator
Voyager60286306044
Jun 4, 2024
Wonderful tour for two. - We did the entire tour of Edinburgh with Adam, it was a private tour for my friend and I and that was wonderful. We toured the old and new town, apart from the castle and the Georgian House. Adam didn't tell the story with much enthusiasm, you can tell he loves his job. She was very patient with us, as we asked her many questions and asked for many photos. Without a doubt, this tour is a gift.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
George_h
Jun 3, 2024
Fantastic, comprehensive tour - Excellent well-paced tour. Adam was very knowledgeable and eager to please. We appreciated every minute of it.
Review provided by Viator
Stephen_d
May 31, 2024
Edinburgh city tour - Informative and entertaining. Adam was very knowledgeable. Would recommend. Hit all the main points of interest.
Review provided by Viator
Cindy_p
May 31, 2024
Great overview of the city and all its vast history! - Adam is a friendly American guide who has spent the past 4 years in Edinburgh as a history major. He gave us a good description of what we could expect for the day and kept us on pace while also answering any questions along the way!
Review provided by Viator
Jen_s
May 29, 2024
A wealth of knowledge learned on this excursion. - Our tour guide Mark was very knowledgeable about everything and helpful regarding recommendations. Perhaps less stops would work well since timeframe was a constant concern.
Review provided by Viator
Sai_g
May 28, 2024
Worth the money 💰 - Mike was our guide for the day ... in short a excellent day with detailed explanation over a full day tour ..... part time PhD. Student and passionate guide is how he introduced himself .... fully lived up to the description ... Wishing him the best of luck for his studies
Review provided by Viator
Duende060
May 24, 2024
Pascual, the man to visit Edinburgh with. - Pascual it's a wealth of knowledge of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Edinburgh is impressive but with Pascual becomes even more magical. I joined a tour with other families although I went solo, the experience was enjoyable, informative and lots of fun. If you ever want to visit the wonderful Edinburgh, do it alongside Pascual, guarantee yourself a great day out in this amazing city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor