The Best Edinburgh Walking Tours,
2 Incredible Routes

You can't tick off Scotland without visiting Edinburgh, a capital brimming with rich culture and history.

CityDays Edinburgh walking tours will take you to secret spots most visitors miss, see where the locals go and learn about Edinburgh's Old Town and Royal Mile.

Our aim: for you to fall in love with Edinburgh too

See More, Do More, Learn More with CityDays

Welcome to Edinburgh, Scotland’s urban crown jewel and treasure trove of history!

The historic city of Edinburgh is a complex network of winding streets filled with landmarks, historical curios and curious corners.

Whether you were born and raised in Edinburgh or you’re lucky enough to be visiting this fascinating city, our Edinburgh walking tours are here to show you the hidden sights, famous landmarks and uncover fascinating facts!

Get The Most Out of Your Self Guided Walking Tours of Edinburgh

Our Edinburgh walking tours are designed to take you above and beyond your typical sightseeing experience. At CityDays, we’re dedicated to showing you everything you’d expect to see in Edinburgh while also slipping in loads of cool hidden stuff along the way.

The best part? It’s up to you to find them! 

CityDays’ walking tours of Edinburgh rely on you interacting with and learning about the city’s streets, landmarks, history and famous figures. The only way to navigate the route is by looking up, down, left and right, answering puzzles, riddles and spotting clues based on your surroundings! 

Our self-guided Edinburgh walking tours transform you into detectives, explorers and tour guides, giving you the freedom to discover the city your own way, in your own time, with people you know and love. 

From the moment you start until you finish the tour, you’re guaranteed to learn, have fun, make memories and get some fresh air and exercise. 

The Best Walking Tours in Edinburgh

No queues, no waiting around, no hassle.

That’s part of what makes CityDays’ Edinburgh walking tours the best in the city. 

We’ve created a model that allows you to take charge of your Edinburgh walking tour. This ensures that you can walk at your own pace, take breaks whenever it’s convenient for you, and tour with whoever you want! Here’s how it works. 

Instead of inviting ourselves along, we take the backseat. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, a fully charged phone, and a sense of adventure. 

We recognise that this is your day out - not ours. So it’s up to you how it plays out: compete for first place on our leaderboard or take your time and really soak up the sights. Either way, we’re only a text message away if you get stuck. 

Edinburgh History Walking Tours: Uncover Edinburgh’s Hidden History

To give you a sneak peek at what you can expect from our historical Edinburgh walking tours, we’ve put together a few historical facts about the city!

There are 60 Libraries Per 100,000 People in Edinburgh

It’s no wonder that the Scottish capital is known for its love of culture and iconic authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Sir Walter Scott. 

A 12-Year-Old Boy’s Words Are Enshrined on Paisley Close

If you’ve never taken the time to look up when passing Paisley Close on Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile - here’s your chance!

Above the entranceway, you’ll see a disembodied head and the words: “Heave awa’ chaps, I’m no’ dead yet”. The head, and the quote, belongs to 12-year-old Joseph McIvor, a survivor of one of the deadliest accidents in Edinburgh.

In 1861, Edinburgh’s Old Town was a jumble of 17th-century slum buildings around 14 storeys high and crammed with people. Joseph was a resident of one of these buildings when suddenly, the building collapsed, killing 35 people.

Luckily, Joseph survived. When emergency services arrived to salvage what and who they could from the wreckage, a small voice called out some now iconic words of encouragement: “Heave away chaps, I’m not dead yet!” These words, and Joseph’s head, were added to the refurbished building that replaced the slum buildings.

What happened to Joseph afterwards? Glad you asked! According to our research, Joseph, who was probably orphaned by the accident, moved in with the MccLuskys, an Irish-born couple who worked as shoemakers. After that, the leads go cold. There’s a slight possibility that he joined the military and was later charged with desertion, but we haven’t (yet!) been able to verify these sources…

There’s a Victorian Dog Cemetery at Edinburgh Castle

People are so enthralled by the beauty and history of Edinburgh Castle that, understandably, many visitors miss the finer details. 

Just off the main path leading to Edinburgh Castle is a tiny dog cemetery that dates back to 1837 - the year of Queen Victoria’s coronation. Around 20 dogs are buried here, many of them belonging to soldiers or nobles.

Available Trails and Edinburgh Walking Tours

Shadows of Old Town

Embark on a captivating puzzle-filled walking tour through the ancient alleyways and historic architecture of Edinburgh's Old Town. 

Rally your friends, family or colleagues and unravel clues to navigate a route that begins at Princes Street and meanders through famous closes and scenic parts of the city. 

On this Edinburgh walking tour, you’ll discover incredible sculptures, trace the central point from which all city distances are measured, explore an old printing house and the site of 14th-century toll collection. You’ll also wander the Royal Mile, encounter hidden surprises and solve engaging puzzles along the way.

Ideal for locals, visitors and all those with a curious mind to delve into the secrets that Edinburgh’s Old Town Conceals.

Myths and Monsters

Venture into Edinburgh's Old City with a twist on a traditional Edinburgh walking tour, where legendary monsters and beasts guide you through a labyrinth of puzzles and mysteries. 

Unearth the city's enthralling secrets and fables, from the owner of a cursed walking stick to the peculiarities of witchcraft practices and the quirky use of saliva for luck. 

This intriguing Edinburgh walking tour weaves through significant landmarks and concealed treasures, including the Royal Mile, St Giles Cathedral, East Prince St Gardens, and Tolbooth Kirk. Encounter an array of historic and peculiar statues, and traverse narrow alleyways that echo the whispers of the past. 

Complete with puzzles, challenges, and stops at excellent pubs and cafes, this tour offers a unique and immersive way to explore the ancient and endlessly captivating parts of Edinburgh. It's an ideal adventure for both first-time visitors and seasoned locals seeking a new perspective on their city.

Psst: These Edinburgh walking tours contain pub and cafe recommendations!