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Tours/Edinburgh/Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour

Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour

4.8(1,919)Edinburgh2h 15min
VIATOR4.7(684)TRIPADVISOR4.9(1,235)
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
+4 photos
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour
Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour

At a glance

Duration
2h 15min
Price from
$70 / person
Location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 1,919 reviews
Languages
EN, EN
Group
Small group, up to 18
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Mercat Tours
Meeting point
Mercat Cross, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RF. Look for the 8 sided monument with white Unicorn on top. You will find a member of our visitor services team waiting here to check you in. They will be dressed in black, holding an iPad, wearing an orange lanyard & holding a black & orange umbrella.

Description

Edinburgh’s Master Storytellers, Mercat Tours, are redefining the walking tour, promising to enrich and deepen your connection with Edinburgh’s people and its past far beyond your visit. Take the Story Home: evoke the memories: - Listen to the tour playlist The castle towers over Edinburgh from up high on its ancient volcanic rock – a literal fortress, looking out over the city’s stunning landscapes. Battles and sieges were fought over it, royalty lived and died within its walls, and countless generations have been inspired by it. Step into Edinburgh Castle alongside your Master Storyteller, with all entry arrangements handled so you can stay immersed in the story. As a certified B Corporation, we're dedicated to responsible tourism practices that benefit our community and environment. Join an unrivalled journey into Edinburgh's past, engaging all the senses to create a truly memorable experience that lasts long after your visit.

Schedule & prices

Runs
Every day
Start times
9:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM
Next available
Tue, Oct 13
Adult (ages 16–64)
$70
Senior (ages 65+)
$62
Child (ages 5–15)
$51

Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.

From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.

Tour Options

Royal Mile and Castle

Castle entry fee included Maximum group size of 18 Walking tour including castle

Itinerary

St Giles' Cathedral
5 min

View the exterior and hear the history.

Parliament House
5 min

View the exterior

Edinburgh Old Town
30 min

Explore on foot. Hear the history from your guide

Royal Mile
30 min

Explore on foot with your storytelling guide.

John Knox House Museum
5 min

View the exterior and discover the history with your guide

St. Margaret's Chapel
Admission included5 min

Included with castle entry ticket.

Castlehill
10 min

Enjoy the views over Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle
Admission included45 min

If the "castle included" option is selected you will enjoy a 45 minute introductory tour of Edinburgh Castle with your guide and then have as much free time as you like to explore the Castle afterwards

What's included

Included
Exclusive multi-sensory experience; with master Storyteller guides
Enhanced, hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh, delivered through TourTalk audio devices
Small group experience
Tickets to Edinburgh Castle with your Storyteller
Exclusive Sounds of Edinburgh Playlist
Not included
Transportation to/from meeting point
Gratuities (if not already included)
Personal expenses
Bags larger than 25 liters (not permitted inside Edinburgh Castle)

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

4.8
1,919 reviews
5
1,700
4
145
3
39
2
9
1
26

How it compares in Edinburgh

  • No. 28 by number of reviews among 1,238 tours in Edinburgh
  • Starting price $70 is close to the typical $64 for tours of similar length in Edinburgh

Excurgo comparison of 1,238 Viator tours, recalculated daily.

Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Tours are guaranteed all year round, so please dress for the weather, with comfortable shoes.
  • Please note: Edinburgh Castle will not admit visitors with bags larger than a 25litre capacity
  • Please note that we cannot accept babies or children under the age of 5 on this tour.

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour take?

Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour lasts about 2h 15min. The itinerary has 8 stops.

How much does Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour cost?

Prices start at $70 per person for this Edinburgh experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

What days does Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour run?

According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM.

How much does Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour cost for children?

Children aged 5–15 pay from $51, adults from $70.

Can I cancel Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour for free?

Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Mercat Cross, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RF. Look for the 8 sided monument with white Unicorn on top. You will find a member of our visitor services team waiting here to check you in. They will be dressed in black, holding an iPad, wearing an orange lanyard & holding a black & orange umbrella. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle - Small Group Walking Tour offered in?

The experience is available in EN, EN.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 18 participants.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Please note that we cannot accept babies or children under the age of 5 on this tour.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair accessible

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Reviews(1,919)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

M
michellecG6370QJ
October 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome Adventure

Great tour. Very funny and knowledgeable guide.

G
grace_z
October 8, 2026 · via Viator
Relaxed excursion

We had a wonderful day on this excursion! We got lucky with gorgeous sunny weather, which made the experience even better. Our tour guide, David, was fantastic—extremely helpful and always happy to answer any questions we had. We really appreciated the relaxed pace of the trip and having time to explore on our own. Just a heads-up for future travelers: there is a decent amount of walking involved, so it might not be the best fit if you have mobility or walking difficulties. Overall, highly recommend!

K
Katy_D
October 8, 2026 · via Viator
City tour and castle with Charles

Charles was an amazing tour guide. So knowledgeable and really informative. We loved it so much, great to have headsets so you could hear clearly on the busy streets xx

M
MotherSupreme
October 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful

Linda was awesome. Welcoming, warm, and hilarious. Her knowledge of the history, as well as, current events was amazing! Fair amount of walking, but frequent short breaks.

E
Elin_W
October 7, 2026 · via Viator
Castle walking tour

We enjoyed our walking tour with Marina!! The headsets made it so easy to walk, listen and take in the city and castle. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Edinburgh!

A
A1990CNchriss
October 7, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Edinburgh and Scottish history 101

Great experience. Lisa was fun and knowledgeable

S
soutargirl8
October 7, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fascinating and fun

Nicola was a great guide. Knowledgable and she made it a fun experience. I’m Scottish and learnt a lot about my own country. I think I’ll try another tour next time I’m in Edinburgh! !

B
billyrR7296NE
October 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Outstanding

We found the tour outstanding. Marina was unbelievable with her knowledge, articulation and delivery in the stories she told. The head sets also made for an engaging experience ,easy to concentrate, without missing anything from outside noise. Highly recommend.

9
906aldenc
October 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
**Fantastic Royal Mile and Castle tour, and Linda was incredible!**

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and Castle. It was well structured, with a logical flow from one stop to the next, and it was very informative without ever feeling overwhelming. We saw a great number of sites, and the pace was just right, so we never felt rushed and never felt like we were waiting around. What really made the experience was our guide, Linda. She was extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of the tour and happily answered every question thrown her way. She was also genuinely funny, and she brought history to life by including individuals from the group in some of the scenarios she played out, which was a lot of fun. She even connected Scotland and Canada in a number of different ways as she explained the history, which was super relevant for those of us in the group who are Canadian. On top of all that, she was super friendly to everyone and made us all feel welcome. If we ever return to Edinburgh, we would love to do another tour with Linda. Highly recommended!

Y
Y7491AXdavem
October 5, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
First time in Edinburgh

Linda was a great guide. We had a nice time exploring the Royal Mile and seeing the castle. She did a great job incorporating the guest of the tour into her stories and it was a tour. We will all remember!

$70/ person
4.8(1,919)
Duration2h 15min
LanguagesEN, EN
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

No booking fees from Excurgo
Payment and confirmation are handled by Viator
Excurgo support

Excurgo earns a commission from Viator when you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.

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