Edinburgh in a Day Tour, with Context

Your full day sightseeing tour of Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town

Tour Details

About the Tour

Category: Orientation
Duration: 8 hours
Location: Edinburgh

Photos & Highlights

Get our most comprehensive view of Edinburgh in a full-day journey through its Old and New Town sites
Led by a local expert specializing in history or art
Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, High Kirk of St Giles, and Scottish National Gallery

Tour Description

This full-day tour will provide an in-depth overview of Edinburgh’s fascinating history, UNESCO-protected architecture, and charming culture. Led by a local expert, you’ll see the city’s most quintessential sites, from grand castles to medieval streets to local bars. We offer this tour as either a walking tour or with an optional chauffeured-car service — both promise to give you a comprehensive view of this enchanting city.

NOTE: If you add the optional car service please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart.

Sites Visited

Edinburgh Castle (exterior)
Old Town
Holyrood Castle
High Kirk of St Giles
National Museum of Scotland
New Town

Included

8-hour private tour with a Ph.D. or MA-level historian
Morning coffee

Your day begins appropriately where Edinburgh itself began: on the site of Edinburgh Castle. Here, walking in the footsteps of kings and queens, you’ll learn about the castle's rich history as a royal residence, military outpost, prison, and fortress.

Next, you will make your way to the charming Old Town, discussing the development of the city. Walking down the Royal Mile, your expert will share the historical significance of this area, interwoven with legends, folklore, and even ghost stories. You will continue down Victoria Street—renowned for its fairytale charm—on your way to Greyfriars Kirkyard, a graveyard from the 16th century where you will hear stories about some of its more famous inhabitants.

You’ll then visit the National Museum of Scotland, home to a broad array of collections on topics ranging from the natural world to global art and design, to modern science and technology, and, of course, Scottish history. After absorbing the highlights of the museum, you’ll head on to the Grassmarket, once the city’s main marketplace and execution site. Spending some time in this historically rich area, your expert will also highlight the events and scenery that served as inspiration for famous literature (including Harry Potter).

Your guide will lead you next to view the exterior of Holyroodhouse Palace, the official residence of HRM the Queen in Edinburgh. And you also may venture up to Calton Hill for exquisite views of the city. Your historical morning of adventure will be topped off with a delicious lunch at a local restaurant or cafe (at your own expense)—the perfect opportunity to talk to your guide about everything from what you’ve seen during your morning to modern Scottish life. After your lunch, you’ll spend the afternoon in New Town, visiting its main streets, squares, and buildings, and seeing the contrast from the sights of earlier in the day. Wrapping up, you will finish your day, appropriately, with a wee dram in one of the city’s famed whisky bars.

If you choose to add the optional car service, you will follow largely the same itinerary as the walking tour. We will pick you up from your hotel and you’ll kick off your tour in Old Town. However, the car will enable you to visit Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano and the main peak of hills in the city just before lunch. After lunch, you will continue to explore Edinburgh's New Town. At the end of the tour, you have the option to be dropped off at the hotel, or you can ask your guide to recommend a restaurant or pub to continue your Edinburgh exploration.

Interested in exploring more of this beautiful and fascinating city? Try our Edinburgh Whisky Tour and our Creating the Scottish Identity: Literature, Art and Politics Tour.

FAQ

For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

Where do we meet? Where does the tour end?

If you opt for Itinerary A, you’ll meet your expert guide near the Castle and it will end in the New Town. If you opt for the car service we will pick you up from your hotel and drop you back there after. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

Can you arrange a car service for the day?

Yes, car services can be arranged if needed. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.

We are a bigger group and it won't let us book a larger vehicle at checkout, can we still book?
If your group needs a larger vehicle than what is displayed as the options at checkout please reach out to our team in order to verify availability and pricing with our car provider. Thank you!

Is this a good tour for children and families?

It’s a walking intensive tour, so may not be suitable for younger kids. We recommend checking out our Edinburgh Time Travel Tour for Kids.

What costs will I need to cover on the day?

The tour includes your time with the expert guide and a coffee at the beginning of the day. If you opt for the car service, this will be included in the price as well. Clients are expected to cover the cost of their own lunch.

Do we go to Arthur's Seat?

If you select the walking tour, you will not go to Arthur's Seat. If you select the option with car service, we will do a scenic drive to view Arthur's Seat and, if the weather allows, go for a short hike there.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Irene

Born and raised in Milan, Irene moved to Scotland in 2009. She achieved a PhD in Art History at the University of Edinburgh in 2015. Her doctoral thesis looked at the artistic patronage of the Vespucci family in fifteenth-century Florence. Irene currently works at the University of Edinburgh. She loves art, coffee, yoga, and the sun – not necessarily in this order. Despite her reluctance to sit on planes, she is a travel addict and she hopes to tour the world one day. Edinburgh stole her heart and it is now her home.

Jenny

Born and raised in the Scottish Borders, Jenny moved to Edinburgh in the late 1980s to study History and English Literature. She later completed a PhD on the Scottish context of Canadian author L.M. Montgomery at the University of Edinburgh, where she also taught American History. Jenny worked in adult education research and policy at the Institute of Education, London for over a decade, living in Edinburgh and travelling regularly to Europe. Her main interests lie in Scottish literature, culture and folklore and in children’s books. She has two daughters.

Anne

Anne has lived in Edinburgh for over 30 years, originally coming from Speyside in North East Scotland. Anne came to Edinburgh to complete a degree in modern languages at Edinburgh University and has stayed in this beautiful city ever since. Her career has always been in tourism and she loves to share her enthusiasm for her home city and native country with visitors, whether on a walking tour of Edinburgh’s hidden gems or further afield out into the stunning Scottish countryside.

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8 Reviews – (5.0)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Anne and Gary were wonderful. Anne hosted a brilliant tour and arranged for us to have a very special lunch and unexpected Scottish treats by the statue of Adam Smith. It was a fantastic tour that we shall fondly remember.

Mary

Oct. 7, 2022

Have used Context several times. Anne was excellent.

Kevin

Aug. 24, 2022

1. Consider an easier meeting point. For this tour perhaps the Balmoral Hotel. 2. Consider 6 hour tour including lunch. All day tour just a bit too much. 3. Appreciated Irene carrying an iPad with pertinent photos and diagrams. 4. Irene was outstanding in all respects, professional and personal.

Jeff

Jul. 29, 2022

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