Walking tours in Edinburgh
A walking tour gives you Edinburgh at street level, with someone to explain it. The most comfortable months are May to September, with highs around 64°F (18°C) and about 10 rainy days a month.
Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0
Top walking tours in Edinburgh
Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old TownFrom $33View 
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry TicketFrom $56View 
Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile Walking Tour - Ticket IncludedFrom $72View 
Edinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour - Entry Tickets IncludedFrom $53View 
Old Town Walking Tour History and Tales in EdinburghFrom $24View 
Original Harry Potter Locations: Guided Walking Tour in EdinburghFrom $21View
Tours from Viator. Good Outing may earn a commission when you book, at no cost to you.
Edinburgh neighbourhoods
The city's main districts, a good way to choose a route or a theme:
- Old Town
- The Royal Mile, from the castle to Holyrood Palace.
- New Town
- Georgian streets, Princes Street and its gardens.
- Stockbridge and Canonmills
- A village-like area with a Sunday market and the botanic garden.
- Leith
- Edinburgh's port, with seafood restaurants and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
How to pick a good walking tour
- Free tours are paid in tips at the end. Paid tours cap the group size and usually go deeper into one theme.
- Wear shoes you can walk in for two to three hours, often on cobbles or hills.
- Book an early start in hot months. Guides keep to the shade, but midday streets still bake.
- Pick one theme (old town, food, history, street art) rather than a tour that tries to cover the whole city.
Edinburgh month by month
Averages for Edinburgh, 1991–2020.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 45 (7) | 46 (8) | 49 (10) | 54 (12) | 59 (15) | 63 (17) | 67 (19) | 66 (19) | 62 (17) | 56 (13) | 50 (10) | 45 (7) |
| Low °F (°C) | 35 (2) | 35 (2) | 37 (3) | 40 (5) | 45 (7) | 50 (10) | 53 (12) | 53 (12) | 49 (10) | 44 (7) | 39 (4) | 35 (2) |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Sunset (15th) | 4:10 pm | 5:16 pm | 6:15 pm | 8:18 pm | 9:18 pm | 10:00 pm | 9:49 pm | 8:51 pm | 7:32 pm | 6:13 pm | 4:06 pm | 3:38 pm |
Questions
When is the best time for walking tours in Edinburgh?
May to September. Expect highs around 64°F (18°C) and about 10 rainy days a month. The least comfortable months are January and December.
Where can I book walking tours in Edinburgh?
The tours above book on Viator. Compare group size, duration, what is included and the cancellation terms before you pick one.
