What a fabulous experience. Niamh did an incredible job of bringing Edinburgh stories to life. Highly recommend her and this tour.





Embark on a journey through the heart of Edinburgh with our captivating Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour. Your adventure begins on the iconic Royal Mile at 130 High Street, where the past meets the present. Traverse the enchanting cobblestone streets as we guide you to Edinburgh's crown jewels, including the renowned Greyfriars Kirkyard, home to the legendary Greyfriars Bobby, and the vibrant Grassmarket. This isn't just a tour; it's a narrative woven with threads of madness and genius. Delve into Edinburgh's colorful past as our expert guides regale you with stories that defy belief. Immerse yourself in the literary legacy of Scottish greats at the Scottish Writers' Museum and, don't miss the heartwarming story of a loyal local dog who etched its name into the annals of Greyfriars Kirkyard. Your Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour promises not just sightseeing, but a journey through the soul of Edinburgh. Are you ready to walk the path of legends?
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Begin your journey at 130 High Street on the Royal Mile, a historic and vibrant thoroughfare. As you stroll, immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of street performers, charming shops, and historical landmarks that line this iconic street. Take in the architecture and learn about the Royal Mile's central role in Edinburgh's history.
Explore the majestic St Giles' Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Inside, witness the intricate stained glass windows and learn about the cathedral's historical and cultural significance. Your expert guide will provide insights into the stories and events associated with this iconic landmark.
Hear tales of Scottish heroism as you encounter the stories of legendary figures like William Wallace. Learn about the life and legacy of this national hero who played a pivotal role in Scotland's fight for independence. Your guide will share anecdotes and historical context to bring these figures to life
Descend into the history-filled Grassmarket, a dynamic square surrounded by pubs, shops, and historical buildings. Discover stories of the area's past, including its role as a public execution site.
Visit Greyfriars Kirkyard and hear the unforgettable true story of Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh’s most loyal resident.
Depending on the route, the tour may finish by the National Museum of Scotland or by The Writers' Museum.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour in Edinburgh lasts about 2h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
Prices start at $5 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Children aged 0–13 pay nothing, adults from $5.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is The Edinburgh Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour starts on 130 High Street (The Royal Mile), on the corner with Stevenlaw's Close. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN, ES.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 25 participants.
Specialized infant seats are available
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 161 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Sandemans Tours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
What a fabulous experience. Niamh did an incredible job of bringing Edinburgh stories to life. Highly recommend her and this tour.
Naimb was a wonderful tour guide - full of lots of information on a wide range of Scotish topics. She had a fun way of sharing information and telling stories. It was a fun and entertaining tour, though maybe we could have seen a few more places of interest but we did hit most of the highlights. I would highly recommend, especially since the basic cost is so low and you tip based on your satisfaction!
Dear Linda_W, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a fun and entertaining time exploring Edinburgh with Niamh. It’s wonderful to know that her storytelling made the tour enjoyable while giving you such a broad range of information about Scottish history and culture. We’re also glad that you were able to see most of the Old Town highlights and appreciate your suggestion about including a few more places of interest. We’ll be very happy to share your kind words and feedback with Niamh. Thank you as well for highlighting the value of our free tour model — we’re always pleased when guests feel they can enjoy a great introduction to the city and then tip their guide according to how much they enjoyed the experience. Thank you again for choosing SANDEMANs and for recommending the tour. We hope to welcome you back to Edinburgh again soon! Kind regards, Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
Tour guide James was very charismatic and well informed. Explored all over Old Town and covered a lot of Edinburgh history and culture so there's something for everyone and will give you ideas of things to see in Edinburgh.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such an interesting and enjoyable time exploring Edinburgh’s Old Town with James. It’s wonderful to know that his charismatic style and knowledge made the tour so engaging, while giving you a great overview of Edinburgh’s history and culture. We’re especially glad that the tour also gave you ideas for other places to discover during the rest of your stay — that’s exactly what we hope a good introduction to a city can do. We’ll be very happy to share your kind words with James. Thank you again for choosing SANDEMANs and for taking the time to recommend the experience! Kind regards, Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
It was fun and informative. Niamh was a great story teller and added substance to the tour. The walking was easy too.
Dear Susan_T, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Edinburgh Old Town walking tour and found it both fun and informative. It’s wonderful to know that Niamh’s storytelling added so much to the experience. Edinburgh’s Old Town is full of fascinating characters, history and little details that can easily be missed, so having a guide who can bring those stories to life really makes the walk special. We’re also glad to hear that you found the walking comfortable and easy. We’ll be very happy to pass your kind words on to Niamh — we’re sure she’ll appreciate knowing that her storytelling made such a difference. Thank you again for choosing SANDEMANs, and we hope to welcome you back to Edinburgh for another great tour in the future! Kind regards, Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
Fabulous introduction to the Old Town for my friends who were there for the first time and lots of new stuff for me, even though I had been before and done such tours. The coverage - from basics for those who didn't know much about Scotland or Edinburgh to niche stories and jokes ("human lasagna") were spot on. The family tartan trousers were a special touch as was the handling of the Harry Potter elements which could have been really commercial but ended up being gently teasing the fan mania. Despite there being a road race potentially disturbing the usual route, excellent impromptu changes to ensure that we didn't notice at all. And of course the taste of the Ghosts and Witches tour at the end was absolutely delicious!
Thank you so much for such a fantastic and detailed review! We’re delighted that the Old Town Highlights Walking Tour offered something for both first-time visitors and someone already familiar with Edinburgh. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the mix of Scottish history, niche stories, humour, and, of course, the Glaswegian accent! We’re especially glad the route changes worked seamlessly despite the road race, and that the family tartan trousers and playful Harry Potter stories added a little extra character to the experience. We love hearing that you also enjoyed the introduction to our Ghosts and Witches tour at the end! Thank you for exploring Edinburgh with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another SANDEMANs tour someday. Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Great tour guide the tour started in time from 130 Highstreet just a few doors up from Starbucks. The group was small so it was easy to connect with Niamh the tour guide. The tour was fun and informative, ending at Grey friars graveyard.
Dear Louise, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re really glad you enjoyed your walk around Edinburgh’s Old Town with Niamh. It’s great to hear that having a smaller group made the tour feel more personal and that you had the chance to connect with Niamh along the way. We’re also happy that you enjoyed the mix of history and fun, with Greyfriars Kirkyard being a memorable way to finish the tour! We’ll definitely pass your kind words on to Niamh. We’re lucky to have guides who can make Edinburgh’s history so enjoyable and easy to connect with. Thanks again for choosing SANDEMANs, Louise. We hope to see you again on another tour in Edinburgh! Kind regards, Karla S. | SANDEMANs Tours
Interesting, but would have loved a bit more substance.
Hello, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad you found the Old Town’s Highlights tour interesting, although we’re sorry you felt it was a little light on substance. We understand that when exploring somewhere as rich in history as Edinburgh, you may have been hoping to come away with a little more depth and detail. We really appreciate you pointing this out, as finding the right balance between keeping a tour engaging and giving guests enough interesting content is very important to us. Our aim is to offer some of the best walking tours with the best guides, and we hope we’ll have the chance to give you a more enriching experience if you visit Edinburgh again. Kind regards, Karla | SANDEMANs Tours
Our guide was very informative and humorous. We learned a lot at the start of our trip which helped us understand more of the history of the city as well as navigating it. Highly recommend. Remember to tip you guide!
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that your guide made the Old Town Highlights tour both informative and fun. It’s great to know the tour helped you get a better feel for Edinburgh’s history and find your way around at the start of your trip. We really appreciate the recommendation! Karla | SANDEMANs Team
Lovely tour, and wonderfully done by our guide James. Funny and informative. Definitely worth the time. Thanks, James 🧡
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with James and found the tour both funny and informative. We're glad his local knowledge and storytelling made the experience worthwhile, and we hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour in the future! Kind regards, Karla M SANDEMANs Team
Brian was a great tour guide! I learned a lot and had a great time.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Edinburgh with Brian and learned a lot along the way. It's great to know that his guidance made the experience both informative and enjoyable. We hope to welcome you on another SANDEMANs tour in the future! Kind regards, Karla M SANDEMANs Team
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour in Edinburgh | 2h 30min | 4.8 (161) | $5 | |
Private Walking Tour: Edinburgh Highlights, including entry to Edinburgh Castle | 4 hours | 4.8 (17) | $353 | View |
Edinburgh Old and New Towns Walking Tour with Whisky Tasting | 5 hours | 1.0 (1) | $133 | View |
Inverness City Highlights Walking Tour with Local Guide | 1h 30min | 4.8 (810) | $20 | View |
Multi-Sensory Small Group Historic Old Town Walking Tour | 1h 30min | 5.0 (23) | $40 | View |
Edinburgh Private Custom Walking Tour - Highlights & Hidden Gems | 3–8 hours | 4.8 (117) | $102 | View |
Old Town Historical and Underground Tour | 1h 30min | 4.8 (1,974) | $27 | View |