5 of the best walking tours to take in Edinburgh (2026)
Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and attracts millions of visitors from across the world every year. There is so much to see in the city, but one of the great things about Edinburgh is that as far cities go, it isn't too big. This means that you can easily walk around Edinburgh (as long as you don't mind a few hills).
Because Edinburgh is so great for walking, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of walking tours that you can follow throughout the city. Some of these walking tours are focused on serious and quite scary history, natural beauty and heritage - others are some are more focused on the fun side of Edinburgh. One thing they all have in common is that they're enjoyable.
We wanted to round up the best walking tours that you can follow in Edinburgh for 2026, let's get into it:
Edinburgh FREE Walking tour
As the name suggests, this is a totally free walking tour that you can follow throughout Edinburgh, but just because it's free doesn't mean that it's rubbish. For starters, it's 2 hours long and takes in everything that you'd want to see in the city, from the castle to The Grassmarket to the birthplace of Harry Potter. It's also taken by an expert guide who knows the city inside and out. This walking tour meets on the Royal Mile 3 times per day, you'll recognise the tour guide as they'll be holding a yellow umbrella. Learn more and book it here (you can also just turn up on the day if you prefer) - edinburghfreetour.com
Edinburgh Guided Tour
If you're looking for a walking tour that takes a deep dive into the history and architecture of Edinburgh, then the Edinburgh Guided Tour is a great option. Starting from the Usher Hall on Lothian Road, you'll walk around the Old Town area of Edinburgh and learn about the history of the castle. You'll also see St. Giles Cathedral and learn about the Edinburgh character who inspired the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The tours only take a maximum of 12 people, so it's never too busy and you'll get plenty of chances to ask questions. There is also a stop halfway for refreshments. Prices start at £35 per adult, learn more and book it here - edinburghguidedtour.com
Mercat Tours Ghost walking tour
It's no secret that Edinburgh has some grisly history attached to it - from graverobbers to murderers, the city is rich with scary stories. One of the best ways to explore those stories is on a ghost tour, and Mercat Tours has a few ghost walking tours that are well worth your time. The 'Doomed, Dead & Buried' tour from the operator is our pick of the bunch though - taking place in the evening, this walking tour takes you through the Blair Street Underground Vaults and the Canongate graveyard. It's adults only, and it's genuinely quite scary. It takes just under 2 hours and you'll do about 1700 steps. It costs £26 per person, learn more and book it here - mercattours.com
Wee Walking Tours
For starters, the thing we really love about Wee Walking Tours is that Sammi the guide brings his dog with him on almost every tour. There are 3 different walking tours you can follow through this operator, all of which start from the top of the Royal Mile. You can do a tour for an hour and half which takes you from the castle to the famous Greyfriars Bobby statue, or a longer 3 hour tour which goes from the castle all the way down to the Palace of Holyrood. Learn more and book a tour here - weewalkingtours.com
Hetty's History Walks
Hetty is a history buff who has lived in Edinburgh for more than 20 years, and she has an extensive knowledge of the city's fascinating history. Her walking tours all take a deep dive into the history of Edinburgh, and take you to the most historically important areas of the city.
All walks last between 2-3 hours long and cover about 3km on foot. Learn more and book a tour with her here - hettyshistorywalks.co.uk
So as you can see, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to walking tours that you can follow in Edinburgh. Let us know if you've tried any of these!
Finn H
Finn is the editor of You Well and has been writing about travel, health, and more for over 10 years.