ghost tours edinburgh free

Free Ghost Tour

Discover the dark side of Old Edinburgh

Secure your space now.

The original Edinburgh Free Ghost Tour

• Every night
• 154 High Street (Royal Mile)

No card info required

Free Ghost Tour of Edinburgh

Edinburgh's dark side included body snatching, public executions, gruesome jails and tortures. Come to the FREE Ghost Tour and hear ghostly tales and sinister stories that will transport you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh as we walk spooky shadows and haunted alleyways.

Ghost, Murder and Tortures' Tour!

"Funny, Engaging, Educational, Interactive, Welcoming HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Roisin had so much energy and did the job above what might have been expected."

TripAdvisor (Apr. 23)

Spooky and faszinating!

"You don't believe in ghosts? Nevertheless, you won't dare to deny their existence after this tour! Interesting, horrible, and faszinating stories all over Edinburgh's Old Town!"

TripAdvisor (Dec. 22)

Superb Ghost Tour

"An engaging story-teller with plenty of tales of the macabre from this wonderful city. You will learn about the history of the city as well as its darker side. The tour concluded in the cemetery at Greyfriars Kirkyard. An atmospheric and chilling way to end the evening."

TripAdvisor (Oct. 22)

"What a brilliant night it was, my wife jumped out of her skin when something creepy touched on the arm in Greyfriars cemetery near the covenanters prison. Full recommend this tour."

Norfolkmick

TripAdvisor (Sep. 22)

Tour Description

Edinburgh is known as one of the most haunted cities in Europe, with a past of murders, witchcraft and plague. Its wynds and closes have witnessed the two sides of the city: beauty and horror .

Edinburgh's dark side also included body snatching, public executions, gruesome jails and tortures .

Come to the FREE 1.5 hour Ghost Tour and hear ghostly tales and sinister stories that will transport you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh as we walk spooky shadows and haunted alleyways.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of more than 14 people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Free Ghost Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Ghost Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Edinburgh Free Tour

Every day @ 10am, 11am & 1 pm

Duration: 2 hours

Get to see the most interesting and intriguing spots of the old city of Edinburgh guided by an engaging local.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

Edinburgh Travel Guide

Useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

Where to stay

Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

Address 154 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1QS

Email [email protected]

Phone +44 (0) 7858 992030

Leave us a message

We will get in touch with you within 24 hours (most messages are answered within 2 hours during normal business times).

Free Ghost Tour Edinburgh

• Explore the spooky Canongate Kirk and hear shocking stories about how its deceased residents met their end.
• Walk over the Blair Street Vaults and discover how they hid all kinds of dastardly deeds.
• Feel the chills up your spine as you hear tales of infamous grave robbers and murderers Burke and Hare in Greyfriars Kirkyard .

Tour Calendar

Latest reviews, guides leading this tour, see all tours in edinburgh.

Free Tours in Your Language

Free Tour - Free Tour Edinburgh › Free Ghost Tour Edinburgh

Other Tours in Edinburgh

The 13 Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh (Updated 2024)

Is it a trip to Edinburgh if you don’t do something spooky? I recommend taking one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh to complete your spooky Scottish itinerary.

The Scottish city of Edinburgh is known for its disturbing dark past, and ghosts linger in every corner of the city.

With nearly 900 years of history, Edinburgh survived plagues, witchcraft, grave robbers, and so much more dark history. Want to learn more and find out more about the ghosts that haunt Edinburgh? Check out one of the ghost tours down below.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please see my  Privacy Policy  for more information.

The 13 Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland

1. auld reekie tours.

Head down to Edinburgh’s haunted vaults by taking the Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour . This is one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh and offers a unique experience as you head into the vaults. 

The Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour begins with a walk around Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, where you will hear tales of the terrifying Tolbooth Prison that once sat outside St. Giles Cathedral.

Before heading down to the haunted vaults, you will pass through a small museum that features an array of medieval instruments once used on real people in the past. Finally, you can find out what a scold’s bridle was used for!

The tour takes you down to the South Bridge vaults, where you will see the infamous stone circle vault . The stone circle is said to hold an evil presence. If you step inside the circle, you may regret it! (I stepped inside, and I am fine if that makes you feel better, or am I?!)

And, to top it off, the vaults are home to a former witch’s coven, so if you are interested in witchcraft history in Scotland , this is the tour to take.

Book here: Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Tour

2. Mercat Tours

If you want to find things for adults to do in Edinburgh , check out the Edinburgh Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky .

The tour takes you through Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, where you will hear all about the gruesome and ghastly tales that occurred on Edinburgh’s historic cobbled streets.

Once you are properly spooked by the terrifying tales that occurred above ground, you will be taken down to the atmospheric Blair Street Vaults.

The vaults are home to various ghosts, including the friendly cobbler and the very scary Mr. Boots! Be sure to take the tour to hear all about their history!

What makes this tour even better? While listening to more ghost stories, you will drink some delectable Scotch Whisky in a candlelit vault.

One thing that makes this one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh is they provide headphones to listen to the tour guide so that you won’t miss out on any of the spooky stories.

Looking for spooky things to do in Edinburgh? Going on a ghost tour is the perfect way to spend Halloween in Edinburgh .

Book here: Edinburgh: Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky

3. City of Edinburgh Tours

On The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour , follow an expert guide dressed in a period costume deep down into Edinburgh’s haunted vaults.

Fully immerse yourself in Edinburgh’s spooky past while walking through Greyfriars Kirkyard before heading deep into the underground vaults.

What helps make this one of Edinburgh’s best ghost tours? All of the guides are dressed up as real people from Edinburgh’s sinister past. Will you walk through Old Town Edinburgh with Dr. Robert Knox, Deacon Brodie or Maggie Dickson? (to name a few). 

This is a family-friendly tour, so feel free to bring the kids along to experience a fright!

Book here: The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

4. Sandemans New Europe – Britain

Edinburgh’s Dark Side Walking Tour is one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh, as it takes you to the site where witches were burned during the Great Scottish Witch Hunt on Calton Hill. 

If you want to learn more about Edinburgh’s historic graveyards and who is buried within them – the tour also stops at either the Old Calton Burial Ground or Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh’s most haunted graveyard .

This tour covers a lot of ground, so be prepared to do quite a bit of walking, including hills – but the views and stories along the way are worth it!

Book here: Edinburgh’s Dark Side Walking Tour

5. Auld Reekie

Head down to Edinburgh’s spooky Niddry Street vaults and visit Edinburgh’s most haunted graveyard with the Edinburgh: Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour .

Follow an expert guide through Edinburgh’s dark streets as they regale you with tales of Edinburgh’s dark past. The tour takes you to places where criminals like Burke and Hare would roam the city streets.

Wander through the haunted Greyfriars Kirkyard, where you will hear the terrifying tales of the poltergeist who scratches people who visit the graveyard.

Finally, the tour ends in the haunted Niddry Street Vaults, home to a cursed stone circle and former witches coven.

Book here: Edinburgh: Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour

6. The Ghost Bus Tours

If you love ghost stories but would instead enjoy them in a warm vehicle? Look no further than the Ghost Bus Tours ! Why walk around in the cold weather like a sucker when you can ride through town in a vintage black double-decker bus?

The ghost tour is full of theatrics and comedy over super scary stories. So, if you want an evening of fun rather than stories so frightening you won’t be able to sleep – you must take this tour.

One of the best things about this ghost tour is it allows you to cover so much more ground than a walking tour! You can see sights that most tours won’t visit in one night!

Book here: The Ghost Bus Tours

7. Mercat Tours

If you want to go on a ghost tour in Edinburgh but hate large crowds, I recommend going on Mercat Tours Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour .

The tour starts with listening to gruesome stories while wandering around Edinburgh’s Old Town before you descend into the dark and spooky Blair Street Vaults. Spend time listening to the horrifying tales of Edinburgh’s dark past, including stories of body snatching with flickering candles as the only light source.

The Blair Street Vaults are home to their own ghosts whose spirits linger in various spots within the vaults. Listen to the spooky tales of ghosts, including the cobbler and the terrifying Mr. Boots.

So, if you want to take one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh but want to avoid the big groups, I highly recommend the Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour.

Book here: Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

8. Auld Reekie

Why not make a ghost tour even more terrifying by taking it late at night? They do say that ghosts become more active at night!

Auld Reekie’s Late-Night Underground Vaults Terror Tour takes you deep below Edinburgh South Bridge into the dark South Bridge Vaults, home to the super scary ghost known as The Watcher. 

If you feel a tingle on your neck or shivers run up your spine, the Watcher may be following you as you tour through the haunted vaults. You will hear stories about the former criminals who used to roam through the vaults, causing a reign of terror.

The tour also features a cursed stone circle vault and a museum of medieval devices that punish people who committed simple crimes. 

Book here: Edinburgh: Late-Night Underground Vaults Terror Tour

9. City of the Dead Tours

Visit the incredibly haunted Covenators Prison with the City of the Dead’s Double Dead Tour . This is the only tour that takes you to the locked-up area of Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard. Why is the prison locked up? The ghosts that haunt the area are brutal, and tour guests often leave with scratches, bruises or feeling unwell.

Then, head down to the South Bridge Vaults, where you may meet the evil presence known as the South Bridge Entity. The vaults are terrifying and give off a creepy vibe. This gives the South Bridge Vaults the perfect spooky atmosphere for people who love to be scared.

Book here: City of the Dead’s Double Dead Tour

10. City of the Dead Tours

The Underground City of the Dead Vault Tour takes you to vaults known as Damnation Alley. The vaults were recently unsealed, and a dark poltergeist was discovered to haunt them. 

You will stand within the ominous vaults, and the City of the Dead tour guides will regale you with Edinburgh’s macabre history as you stand in dark, quiet vaults where this history once occurred.

I spent the night inside these terrifying vaults and experienced a lot of paranormal activity, including a dog barking through an EVP recorder. It was a cool experience, and I recommend taking the  Underground City of the Dead Tour if you enjoy being scared.

Book here: Underground City of the Dead Tour

11. The Cadies & Witchery Tours

Want a light-hearted tour filled with laughter but still want to be scared? Then, check out the Ghosts and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh .

Your guide for the evening is Alexander Clapperton, a deceased cemetery director who ruled over the cemeteries of Edinburgh in the 1840s.

You will learn all about the horrors of witchcraft history in Edinburgh and all of the dark histories that lurk within the shadows of the city’s ancient closes.

What makes this one of the best ghost tours in Edinburgh? The tour includes a free book, “Witchery Tales” by Adam Lyal. 

They also do a great tour for those who want to tour Greyfriars Kirkyard. Check out their Edinburgh: Greyfriars Kirkyard Tour if you are interested.

Book here: Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh

12. Historic Edinburgh Tours

If you want to tour the dark history of Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard, you should take the Historic Edinburgh Tour of Greyfriars.

This private tour, called Greyfriars Kirkyard Tour in Edinburgh , takes you around the graveyard, telling you about the macabre history that sits right beneath your feet.

This tour is not paranormal, but it discusses the history of body snatchers, Covenanters Prison, and all of the gruesome histories in between.

Your tour guide, Robert, is an incredible storyteller. He will keep you captivated from start to finish!

Book here: Greyfriars Kirkyard Tour in Edinburgh – Private tour

13. Thistle Knights Tours

One thing Scotland has a lot of is Witch History. The Great Scottish Witch Hunt consumed Scotland, and much witch-related torture occurred between 1590 and 1690 in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh: The Witches Tour takes you around Edinburgh and details why someone may have been accused of being a witch. Why witchcraft existed in Edinburgh and shows you actual human remains that were once used for witchcraft rituals.

What makes this one of the witch tours in Edinburgh? You get a chakra reading and balance work done on the tour. This is done for an extra cost if the Witches shop is open.

If you would like to learn more about witches in Scotland , check out the podcast episode on YouTube . 

Book here: Edinburgh: The Witches Tour

More Spooky and Haunted Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

• Spooky Things to Do in Edinburgh
• Unusual Things to Do in Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Castle Ghosts – Is Edinburgh Castle Haunted?
• The 10 Best Cemetery Tours in Edinburgh
• Haunted Hotels in Scotland
• The Dark History of Half Hangit Maggie
• The 17 Best Edinburgh Vaults Tours

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Discover Edinburgh with the best Tour Guides

Best-rated Tours in Edinburgh

Choose the leading free walking tour company in scotland.

Edinburgh Free Tour

Every day @ 10am, 11am & 1pm

Duration: 2 hours

Explore the most fascinating spots of the amusing old city of Edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Come to the FREE 1.5 hour Ghost Tour to discover the dark side of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Discover the relationship between Edinburgh and JK Rowling.

Free New Town Tour

Learn about the greatest transformation of Edinburgh.

Castle Tour

Every day @10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 5 hours

6 bars & clubs, 6 shots, free club entry. Edinburgh nightlife at its best!

Edinburgh Bike Tour

Every day @ 11am

Duration: 3 hours

Your guide will take you through some of the most iconic spots of Edinburgh.

1-day Loch Ness Tour

Every day @ 8am

Duration: 12.5 hours

Loch Ness, Glencoe, Inverness and the Highlands departing from Edinburgh.

1-day Stirling Tour

Wed, Sat & Sun @ 9am

Duration: 9.75 hours

Stirling, Loch Lomond and a distillery departing from Edinburgh.

Scotland Tours

1-3 Day Tours of Scotland to the Highlands departing from Edinburgh.

Private Tours

Enjoy a unique experience with a personal tour guide all around the city of Edinburgh.

Food & Drink Tours

Explore the best Food and Drink Tasting Tours in Edinburgh.

Meeting Point

All our FREE Tours start on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Edinburgh travel guide, useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

Where to stay

Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

Address 154 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1QS

Email [email protected]

Phone +44 (0) 7858 992030

Leave us a message

We will get in touch with you within 24 hours (most messages are answered within 2 hours during normal business times).

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One of the graveyards we visit on the Tour

Free Ghost Tour

On our Free Ghost Tour, join us for a walk through the most unsettling side of town. Discover tales of paranormal activity, bodysnatchers, witchcraft, cursed locations, and the most aggressive and active poltergeists in the world on this adventure!

Edinburgh had one of the highest population densities in the world in Medieval times, and suffered terribly during one of humanity’s worst epidemics: the plague. This disease, along with inhumane living conditions, public executions, physical punishments, witch trials, and murders, were just part of daily life in Medieval Edinburgh.

All of this created the perfect breeding ground for many kinds of fascinating legends and stories to emerge, which have been told by generation after generation, and are still an important part of the city’s culture today.

Dare to discover them with us!

From £0 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

• +44 () 7873871360
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Large Group (31+)
• Medium Group (17-30)
• Small Group (1-16)
• Ghosts and Supernatural
• Outdoor Activities

Tour prices

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Orange tours edinburgh.

Orange Tours Edinburgh is a fresh tour operator based in the Scottish capital which organises walking tours around the city centre of Edinburgh. Explore Edinburgh on one of our walking tours! The Free Edinburgh Tour, Free Ghost Tour, Free Harry Potter Tour, and Edinburgh Castle Tour, all available in English and Spanish! And join us to explore Edinburgh's nightlife on The Orange Pub Crawl, every night from Biddy Mulligans Pub in Grassmarket!

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Visit Orange Tours Edinburgh

Opening times

Free Edinburgh Tour 11am-1pm Food Tour 12.30pm-4pm Castle Tour 12.30pm-2pm (Sat & Sun only) Free Harry Potter Tour 1.30pm-3pm Free Ghost Tour 6pm-7.30pm Pub Crawl 8pm-12.30am

Other tours from this company

Free Edinburgh Tour

Departs: Edinburgh

Can you imagine a tour that spans the past and present? A tour to help you to di...

Price from:

Free Harry Potter Tour

Edinburgh is the birthplace of Harry Potter and its magical world. Or is it so m...

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s most popular paid visitor attraction, and a world...

£29pp

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£12pp

The content of many of our web listings is provided by third party operators and not VisitScotland. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for (1) any error or misrepresentation contained in third party listings, and (2) the contents of any external links within web listings ((1) and (2) together hereinafter referred to as the "Content"). VisitScotland excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the Content. The Content is provided for your information only and is not endorsed by VisitScotland.

Free Ghost Tour

• Sightseeing 2575
• Ghost Walks 16

Our Free Ghost Tour starts every night at 7 PM & 9 PM on The Royal Mile. Hear ghostly tales and sinister stories that will transport you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh as we walk spooky shadows and haunted alleyways.

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Free Ghost Tour

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Free Ghost Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Free Tours Edinburgh

Free Ghost Tour Edinburgh

• Back to Free Tours Edinburgh
• Duration : 1.5 hours

Edinburgh is a magical place but at the same time tragically mysterious and filled with countless stories of murder , persecution, body snatching and torture .

If you dare enough to witness the best and worst of Scotland’s capital, join the Free Ghost Tour of Edinburgh and hear all about the atrocious tales of an old town while you walk through a haunted graveyard . You will surely test your courage!

• Understand how crime and punishment have been part of Edinburgh’s culture for centuries.
• Learn about Burke and Hare , graveyard body snatchers and serial killers who delivered their victims’ corpses to Edinburgh University!
• Unravel the truth behind Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’s psychological bifurcation, which may explain the city’s paranormal feel of the 19th century.

Is it really Free

Yes, you can book your spot and join the tour for free. Guides make a living from tips that tour guests voluntarily provide based on their budget and how much they enjoyed the experience.

マドリード旧市街の無料ウォーキングツアーは、月曜から日曜の11:00にプレタデルソルから出発します-カルロスの病気で馬の像に乗っています。 25/12と04/10にはツアーはありません。

The Free Walking Tour Madrid Old City runs Monday to Sunday at 11.00 from Pureta del Sol – By Carlos ill on his horse statue. No tours on the 25/12 and 04/10.

9 Best Edinburgh Ghost Tours

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: April 5, 2023

Don’t miss adding an Edinburgh ghost tour to your itinerary! Discover the spookiest and most fun Edinburgh ghost tours with our complete guide.

Recognised as one of the most haunted cities in the world if taking a ghost tour of Edinburgh is a must-have inclusion during your visit to the Scottish capital (it was for my husband who enjoyed a Vaults Tour while I explored the Old City above ground) you will find our comparison guide to the best tours invaluable for choosing the best one for you.

We have included the best ghost walks in Edinburgh, ghost tours of Edinburgh vaults, a spooky tour suitable for kids and even an Edinburgh ghost tour bus option!

👻 Best Edinburgh Ghost Tours – Quick Picks

Edinburgh vaults: ghost tour, edinburgh ghosts & gore walking tour, terror walking tour in edinburgh, comedy horror edinburgh ghost bus tour, dark secrets of the old town ghost walking tour.

• Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drinks in Megget's Cellar

Underground Vaults & Graveyard Evening Tour

Treasures of edinburgh: ghosts, myths & legends private tour.

• Old Edinburgh's Gory Stories: Kids Underground Tour

👻 Which Edinburgh ghost tour do you dare to take?

👻 best spooky tours & ghost walks in edinburgh.

• Access to Edinburgh Vaults
• Live tour guide

Enter the famous underground vaults (reputedly one of the most haunted places on earth) during this one-hour tour. Listen to tales of gruesome goings-on including witches, murders and even hangings in the oldest part of the city.

Learn about the history of the vaults and the ghosts that haunt it!

CLICK TO BOOK THIS TOUR

• Qualified Ghostly Guide
• Copy of the best-selling “Witchery Tales” book by Adam Lyal (deceased).

A popular ghost tour taken by award-winning Cadies & Witchery Tours the Edinburgh Ghosts and Gore Walking Tour receives rave reviews for their fun family-friendly tour.

• Professional guide
• 90 minute tour

Enjoy a 90 minute terror walking tour of Edinburgh’s ancient Old Town with a guide. Visit hidden underground vaults under cover of darkness and learn of famous landmarks from past and present such as Tolbooth Prison and St Giles’ Cathedral.

• Admission fees

If you fancy a laugh whilst ghost hunting this is the tour for you! Enjoy a one-hour bus tour of the Old and New City of Edinburgh and be entertained as you explore some of the spookiest destinations (including a chilling walk through one of Edinburgh’s spookiest graveyards)

• Walking tour

Discover Scotland’s mythical sites. Walk around the city of Edinburgh passing graveyards, aged houses, and the sites where witches and warlocks were burnt on this sinister yet insightful walking tour.

Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drinks in Megget’s Cellar

• Award-winning local storytellers
• Small group experience
• Exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults
• TourTalk radio receiver to enjoy immersive storytelling
• Alcoholic Beverage

During this evening tour visit the eerie Blair Street Underground Vaults, follow in the footsteps of the infamous Edinburgh Mob, and then settle your nerves with a dram of Scotch whisky in Megget’s Cellar!

• Radio receiver (to hear the guide)
• Entry to Blair Street Underground Vaults

Descend the underground vaults under cover of darkness before following your guide through the narrow streets to Canongate graveyard where many famous Edinburgh residents are interred.

• Local Guide
• Private Tour

Learn about Edinburgh’s ghosts, myths and legends and why they are such a unique part of the city’s character on this exclusive private tour.

Old Edinburgh’s Gory Stories: Kids Underground Tour

• TourTalk radio receiver to enjoy live storytelling

This personal small group family-friendly tour is perfect for kids aged 5 and over. Learn about life for children in 19th century Edinburgh and explore some of the city’s spookiest haunts

Enjoy your ghost tour of Edinburgh – hope it is not too scary!

You can read more about planning your perfect trip to Edinburgh in the following posts:

• Things to do in Edinburgh (+ Itinerary Guide)
• Top tips for first time visitors to Edinburgh
• Where to stay in Edinburgh
• Best day trips from edimburgh
• How to get from London to Edinburgh (and vice versa!)

Free Ghost Tour

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Free Ghost Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

THE 10 BEST Edinburgh Ghost Tours

Ghost & vampire tours in edinburgh.

• Cultural Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out

• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

2. Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends

3. Haunted Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

4. Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh

5. Haunted Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour in Edinburgh

6. Small Group Ghostly Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

7. Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

8. Small Group Edinburgh Night Walking Tour with Underground Vaults

9. Tour of Terror

10. Edinburgh’s Ghostly Trail Private Tour

11. Small Group Edinburgh Underground Vaults & Graveyard Ghost Tour

12. Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drink in Megget's Cellar

13. Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh

14. Terror Walking Tour in Edinburgh

15. Underground City of the Dead Tour

16. Edinburgh’s Loathsome Lawbreakers: A True Crime Walking Tour

17. 2 Hours Ghost Tour - English Tour Guide

18. Edinburgh Ghost Tour: Mysteries, Legends and Murders

19. City of the Dead Underground Vaults (Day)

20. City of the Dead's Double Dead Tour

21. City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour

22. Treasures of Edinburgh: Ghosts, Myths & Legends Private Tour

23. Gory Stories: The Kids Tour

24. Small-Group Sinister Old Town Walking Tour of Edinburgh

25. Private Edinburgh Dark History Tour - Auld Reekie After Hours

26. Guided Walking Tour of Edinburgh Old Town

27. Edinburgh Ghost Tour: Uncover Haunting Tales and Dark Stories

28. Unmissable Edinburgh Private Sightseeing Tour

29. Edinburg : Private Haunted Graveyard Walking Tour

30. Edinburgh : The Royal Mile Old Town Walking Tour

What travellers are saying.

• Underground Walking Tour in Edinburgh
• The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour
• Haunted Vaults walking tour in Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder and Legends
• Ghost Bus Tour of Edinburgh
• See Your City
• Cadies & Witchery Tours
• All-Star Guides
• Mercat Tours
• Auld Reekie Tours
• Hi Amy Edimbourg
• City of Edinburgh Tours
• Free Ghost Tour
• The Ghost Bus Tours

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Edinburgh Walking Tours

Featured Tours

Old Town + The Royal Mile Free Tour

Old town + the royal mile free tour highlights.

• Historical introduction to Edinburgh
• Victoria Street
• Grassmarket
• Greyfriars Cemetery
• Mysteries about Harry Potter
• Mackenzie and paranormal activity
• National Museum of Scotland
• Writers Museum
• St. Giles Cathedral
• Presbyterianism
• Public executions
• Maggie Dickson
• Heart of Midlothian
• Mercat Cross
• Fringe Festival

Edinburgh is one of the most historic cities in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom and should be on your bucket list.

The city's rich past, royal legacy, and elegant medieval streets will make you wish you never had to leave.

The well-known spots are also close together, which makes it a perfect walkable city.

There are 4 types of free walking tours available in Edinburgh, Scotland:

• Harry Potter-themed Tours
• Ghost Tours

We are a group of local walking tour guides who lead daily walking tours in Edinburgh. We have also written several self-guided walks and recorded two city audio tours.

And, in the video below, Margaret, one of our local guides, takes you on a virtual walk of Edinburgh's Old Town.

We let you know about your options, provide schedules, and explain what you will see on each tour.

Hope to see you on one of our tours!

TOUR CALENDAR

Below is a calendar of some of the great walking tours available in Edinburgh, all from local guides.

Searching Availability...

More Tour Options?  More tours are available in the individual tour sections below.

• Harry Potter Sights

This schedule above is for tours in English. Click here for  tours in other languages , such as Spanish, German, or Italian.

This model of "free" tours is tours that are free to take. There's no need to pay at the end, but you can if you want. Engaging locals adds to the experience by offering understanding and insights. You can pay what you think the walk was worth at the tour's end, even nothing.

According to reviews on TripAdvisor, most people give €5 to €20 per adult to the tour guide when they like the tour.

These free tours are usually well-reviewed, and as good as any other walking tour in Edinburgh.

OLD CITY AND ROYAL MILE TOUR

This section provides information about each of the pay-what-you-like Edinburgh tours which cover the older parts of the city, including historical details to show how Edinburgh became such a notable location.

You can expect to see the following sites during these tours:

• Edinburgh Castle
• Canongate Church
• Scottish Parliament
• Queen’s Palace

If you want to learn more about these locations, please consider taking our GPS-led audio tour one of the pay-what-you-wish walking tours listed below.

We offer a 2-hour guided walk daily at 10:00 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. In summer months, you'll find afternoon tours as well. Book this tour here .

GPS-Enabled Audio Tour

We also offer an audio tour of historic Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides, that you could take whenever you wish.

Here’s a sample.

• Purchase an audio tour (£2.30)
• Get a confirmation email with .mp3, pdf, and embeddable Google Map
• Enjoy the tour(s).

NEW CITY TOUR

As the name implies, this section will cover some of the more notable modern areas of the city, providing details about the recent history of Edinburgh.

If you’re looking for tips about the best places to eat or the most interesting newer attractions in the city, this is probably the best type of tour to take.

While on a New City tour, you can expect to see popular landmarks and sites such as these:

• Princes Street Gardens
• Scottish Prime Minister’s House
• Scottish National Gallery
• The main street for shops, pubs, restaurants
• Best views in the city
• Calton Hill

To see these sites and learn more about them, consider taking the following tours.

City Explorers

In addition to their Old City tour, this company also offers an outing that covers the newer, more modern areas of Edinburgh as well.

This New City tour is available in both English and Spanish every Sunday and Thursday at 14:00 (2 pm).

FREE HARRY POTTER EDINBURGH TOUR

Did you know that Edinburgh was actually one of the biggest influences on the Harry Potter franchise?

Many of the locations from the book are inspired by real-life places in this city.

To learn a bit more about these sights, or to visit on your own, take a look at our self-guided tour of Potter locations in Edinburgh.

And, in the video below, Margaret, our local Edinburgh Muggle, takes you on a virtual tour of Potter locations in the city.

Discover how Edinburgh became the birthplace of this young prodigy wizard who would eventually take the world by storm

There are at least two companies currently offering pay-what-you-wish walking tours which cover the many ties between Edinburgh and Harry Potter.

You can expect to see and learn about some of the following locations on this tour:

• The Original Diagon Alley
• The Inspiration for Hogwarts
• The Elephant House
• Where Lord Voldemort Was Buried
• Cafes and Hotels Which Inspired J.K. Rowling
• Discover the Origins of Quidditch

If these sites and subjects are of interest, consider taking one of the following free walking tours.

We also offer an audio tour of Harry Potter sights in Edinburgh, researched, written, and recorded by one of our own tour guides.

• Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map

FREE EDINBURGH GHOST TOUR

The history of this city is filled with legends and myths, but there’s also a darker side to Edinburgh’s past. 

Learn about some of the creepier and more disturbing aspects of Edinburgh’s past, including tales of witchery, body-snatching, assassinations, and even the plague.

You can expect to see or hear about some of the following subjects:

• Haunted Graveyards
• Burke and Hare Murders
• History of Public Executions
• The Real Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
• History of Witch Trials

Consider one of the following pay-what-you-wish ghost tours if you want to discover the haunted history of this city.

Ghosts and ghouls, vampires and cannibals - Edinburgh's dark history with Brian Pendreigh

This 2 hour name your own price ghost tour is highly reviewed but does not run daily.

Like most evening ghost tours in Edinburgh, it covers the witches and other darker side aspects of Edinburgh history, not just ghost stories.

Book a free ghost tour here .

If you can't attend the free tour, check out our ticketed Ghost Tour which runs every night.

Free Tours with Tourist Passes

If you're planning to explore multiple attractions in Edinburgh, the Edinburgh City Pass may be your best value for the trip.

With this pass, visitors can access free walking tours at no additional cost, including:

• Edinburgh Castle Tour
• The Royal Yacht Britannia
• The Scotch Whisky Experience
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Edinburgh Bus Tours
• Auld Reekie Tours
• Edinburgh Zoo
• Museum of Edinburgh

By purchasing the Edinburgh City Pass, you not only gain access to these amazing spots of the old city of Edinburgh but also enjoy the best value of your visit without the need to queue.

Whether engaging with local history or uncovering sinister stories, this pass offers a more personalized experience for your Edinburgh exploration.

We have a g uide to the Edinburgh City Pass to help you decide if it is a good deal for your trip.

RELATED POSTS

• Top Things to Do in Edinburgh
• How to Get Discounts to Edinburgh Attractions
• Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours

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Underground Ghost Tours, History Tours, & Walking Tours in Edinburgh.

Experience the underground horror in edinburgh.

Our entertaining and professional ghost guides will lead you on a walking tour through Edinburgh’s hidden wynds and secret courtyards.

Come with us and explore the secrets of the underground beneath Edinburgh’s streets whilst hearing some of Scotland’s darkest stories, the curious, the uncanny and the terrifying.

Every City is full of secrets, Edinburgh is no exception.

Dare you descend?

• Most Popular
• Hour Glass 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
• Tags Ages 5+

World Famous Underground Ghost Tour @ 18:10; 18:45; 19:45

Edinburgh is undoubtedly the most haunted city in the world! are you ready to find out why? Let one of Edinburgh most infamous sons or daughters lead you round the dark side of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

• Tags Ages 18+

Extreme Paranormal Ghost Tour Edinburgh @ 21:15

For the hardened Ghost hunter, or the non-believer, this late night walking ghost tour is not for the faint-hearted! Explore the mysterious Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery and more at night.

Tour of Terror @ 20:45

Shiver at the weird noises… on this 75 minute guided ghost tour into Edinburgh’s extremely dark past, haunted streets, and winding wynds.

• Hour Glass 1 Hour

Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour @ 13:15; 15:15; 17:15

The Old Town & Underground Ghost Tour will then take you on a guided tour of Edinburgh’s underground vaults, for close encounters with the paranormal!

• Hour Glass 1 Hour and 30 Minutes

Old Town & Underground Historical Ghost Tour @ 11:00; 14:15

Join a local historian on our historical walking tour around Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. Learn about Edinburgh’s fascinating history, literature heroes, infamous criminals and battles that shaped our city.

• Hour Glass 1 Hora y 15 Minutos
• Tags Edades 5 +

EL TOUR DE FANTASMAS Y LAS BÓVEDAS SUBTERRÁNEAS @ 20:15

Serán conducidos por el pasado oscuro de Edimburgo y sus alrededores incluyendo el cementerio más encantado del mundo.

• Hour Glass 1 Hour and 45 Minutes

Original Whisky Tasting Experience @ 13:00; (17:00 in August)

The ultimate whisky tasting in the birthplace of Scotland’s national anthem. Enjoy 3 distinct whisky’s and learn the true history of Scottish whisky on this walking tour.

Charles Dickens Edinburgh Literary Tour

Delve into Edinburgh’s literary legacy with a tour tracing the paths of renowned writers like Dickens and Stevenson, including a visit to the alleged grave of a legendary fictional character.

Private Tours in English, Spanish, French & German

Daily ghost walk and historical tours are available for private booking with additional tours available on request only. Customize your groups walking tour of Edinburgh today!

AWARDS & REVIEWS

Tour was amazing and soldier jock didn't let them down. Lovely guy and done an amazing job. Had to deal with an unusual situation and he done it professionally

A perfect spooky treat for the family just before Halloween!! our tour guide was brilliant! she was very enthusiastic and got all the group joining in. Will definitely do it again!

Our guide was amazing. They went by the name James Barry. When we come back, we are definitely going to take the tour again and would love it if James could be our guide again. Lovely service. Amazing body language while telling stories. Well done.

Fantastically fun and spectacularly spooky evening walk full of historical stories and ghost tales with tour guide Soldier Jock who was very engaging, interesting yet friendly - ish! Would highly recommend

We was lucky enough to have Dr. Knox as our guide. He was fantastic. Made sure he spoke to everyone on the tour individually. Made fun of everyone. His storytelling and humour was just perfect. The tour was fascinating especially the underground bit at the end.

We went on the night tour with Soldier Jock, and what a brilliant time we had! Jock was informative and captivating with his stories, and there was a great blend of humour and horror on the tour. It was so interesting seeing a side of Edinburgh that's a lot darker than you first expect. Definitely recommended - thanks again, Soldier Jock!

Free Ghost Tour

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FREE GHOST TOUR (Edinburgh) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

• Destinations

Free tours in Edinburgh

• Tours in Edinburgh

Edinburgh – natural beauty, warm welcomes & lively atmosphere on an extinct volc

Rambling along the bustling Royal mile, below the iconic Edinburgh Castle atop it's rugged hill, you can't help feel that the Scottish capital is a magical little city, full of character, ancient charm, Georgian elegance & striking modernity. These winding cobbled streets have witnessed centuries of fascinating history as well as haunting horror and you can discover Edinburgh's culture, history, tales & secrets with the excellent free walking tours recommended by freetour.com.

Join friendly local guides to explore Edinburgh castle complex, marvel at St. Giles' Cathedral, wander the traditional Grassmarket, learn about William Wallace - famously dramatized by Mel Gibson in Braveheart, and much, much more before hearing tales of witchcraft, torture, ghosts & ghouls, body-snatching, murder and plague.

And there's plenty more to enjoy about this compact city after your free tours; have a coffee in the cafe where J.K Rowling brought Harry Potter to life, embrace the vibrant Old Town, relax in Princes Street Gardens, venture down closes and up Victoria street on a shopping expedition, enjoy some Scotch Whisky in a folk pub or a delicious cocktail in the many trendy bars & nightclubs. Whatever you do while nestled between it's seven hills, Edinburgh is sure to make a long-lasting impression on you, one which will no doubt urge you to return again and again.

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Free Ghost Tour

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Free Ghost Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Explore Edinburgh with the best-rated Tour Guides

Edinburgh Free Tour

The best introduction to edinburgh, secure your space now.

The best-rated Edinburgh Free Walking Tour

• 10am, 11am & 1pm
• 154 High Street (Royal Mile)

No card info required

Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

No trip to Scotland is complete without visiting Edinburgh, its inspiring capital, a cosmopolitan town teeming with genius and culture. On this 2 hours FREE Tour your expert guide will show you the most attractive spots of this seductive city.

Wonderful walking tour

"What a wonderful walking tour with Graeme. A beautiful summer day and an extremely engaging guide. Would definitely book again next time I visit Edinburgh."

Tricia Butterfield

Google (July 23)

It was worth every second

"I did three walking tours with City Explorers and it was worth every second! Definitely recommended. Ashlyn, Emma and Dr Rory were super fun and highly informative."

Sanyukta Desai

Highly recommended!!

"We had a PHENOMENAL ghost tour with Emma! We also had a AMAZING day time walking tour with Glen. Both guides were funny, knowledgeable, and friendly. Could not recommend these tours enough!!!"

Katie Cummings

Free Walking Tour of the Old Town

"Wonderful intro giving us enough info about where to spend our time as well as some great restaurant recommendations. Kenny was amusing, knowledgeable and easy to listen to so I highly recommend this walk."

Annelise Giddings

Google (June 23)

Tour Description

The FREE Walking Tour starts every day at 10 am, 11 am and 1 pm on The Royal Mile , just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

We believe that everyone, no matter what is one's budget should be able to experience and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer and we also believe that the price of a tour should correlate with your budget and how much you enjoyed it.

Our Edinburgh FREE Walking Tours are both informative and fun and offer something for everyone.

To ensure the highest quality of our Free Tours, groups of 15 or more people should book a Private Tour .

If you are arranging a booking for a School Group , please book a Private Tour .

This will allow us to give you a more personalized experience. Thanks for your understanding!

Secure your space now for the Edinburgh Free Tour!

Showing up is fine in most cases. However, you will have priority with a booking if tours reach their capacity.

Meeting Point

The FREE Tour starts on The Royal Mile just in front of a bar called Copper Still (154 High Street).

Look for the yellow umbrellas!

Related tours in edinburgh.

Free Ghost Tour

Every night @ 7pm

Duration: 1.5 hours

Discover the ghostly tales and sinister stories that will get you back to the terrifying past of old Edinburgh.

Free Harry Potter Tour

Every day @ 2pm

Explore the real people and places that inspired JK Rowling to create the Universe of Harry Potter.

Free New Town Tour

Saturday @ 2pm

Duration: 2 hours

Discover the finest part of town and the role Edinburgh played as a center of the Enlightment in Europe.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Every day @ 10am, 12.15pm & 1.30pm

Get the best value of your visit to Edinburgh Castle and jump the queue with our skip-the-line tickets.

Fri & Sat @ 8pm

Duration: 4.5 hours

Meet amazing people from all over the world and enjoy Edinburgh nightlife at its best 7 nights a week.

Edinburgh Travel Guide

Useful information.

Travel tips you need to know before visiting Edinburgh.

Sightseeing

Discover the most unmissable attractions in Edinburgh.

Things to do

The ultimate guide to things to do in Edinburgh.

Food and drink

Edinburgh's best restaurants, bars and pubs.

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Find out the best places to stay in Edinburgh.

Discover how to travel around Edinburgh.

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