Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh
About our free walking tour of Edinburgh
Every day from the Royal Mile: two hours around the Old Town with a local guide, discovering the stories, places and monuments you need to know to make the most of Edinburgh. At the end, you pay what you think the tour was worth.
Join the best-rated free walking tour of Edinburgh and see the city’s top sights with expert local guides. This 2-hour Edinburgh walking tour is the perfect introduction to the city and the easiest way to explore the Old Town on foot.
Our Edinburgh free walking tour starts every day on the Royal Mile, right in front of a bar called The Copper Still (154 High Street).
We believe everyone, whatever their budget, should be able to experience and enjoy everything Edinburgh has to offer. That’s why this is a pay-what-you-like tour: the price is up to you, depending on your budget and how much you enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for a free tour in Edinburgh that is both informative and fun, this is it: there’s something for everyone, from history lovers to families and first-time visitors.
Duration: 2 hours
Daily departures. Check exact times in the calendar. Book to secure your place.
Language: English
Prefer Spanish? See the Free Tour de Edimburgo.
Meeting point: 154 High Street
In front of The Copper Still on the Royal Mile. Open in Google Maps.
Pay what you like
Booking is free. At the end, you decide how much to give your guide, in cash or by card.
Look for the yellow umbrellas!
What you’ll see on the Old Town walking tour
The Royal Mile
The Old Town’s main street, running from the Castle down to Holyrood.
Mercat Cross
Where royal proclamations were read out, and still are today.
St Giles' Cathedral
The cathedral with the stone crown, where John Knox preached.
Victoria Street
The colourful, curving street many say inspired Diagon Alley.
Old Parliament Square
Home of the Scottish Parliament until the Union of 1707.
Edinburgh City Chambers
The city council’s headquarters, built on top of Mary King’s Close.
Lawnmarket
The top stretch of the Royal Mile, once the city’s linen market.
Makars’ Court
Lines by Burns, Scott and Stevenson carved into the paving, right outside the Writers’ Museum.
Edinburgh Castle
The fortress on its volcanic rock, seen from outside.
Grassmarket
Once a market square and the site of the gallows, now lined with pubs.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Resting place of Greyfriars Bobby, and of names that turn up in Harry Potter.
The route may vary slightly from day to day.
How does a free walking tour in Edinburgh work?
- Free booking, no commitment: you can move or cancel your booking if your plans change.
- You decide freely at the end of the tour how much to give.
- Guaranteed quality, backed by thousands of happy travellers.
- Local guides who know Edinburgh inside out.
How much should you tip on a free walking tour?
There is no fixed amount. As a guide, most travellers give between £10 and £50, depending on how much they enjoyed the tour. You can pay in cash or by card.
Free tour Edinburgh: good to know
Booking confirmation
Your confirmation email or a screenshot on your phone is all you need.
Card payments
You can tip your guide in cash or by card. Our guides carry their own card reader.
Groups
Groups of up to 12 people can join our free tours. If you are more, please book a Private Edinburgh Tour.
School groups
School groups of any size should book a private tour.
Reduced mobility
Let us know in advance and we will adapt the route so it is accessible, without changing the essence of the tour.
Pushchairs
There are a few steps and some uneven paving, but the tour can be done with a pushchair.
Minimum group size
Tours need a minimum of 6 people, children included, to go ahead.
Weather
Tours run come rain, snow or shine. Please dress for the weather.
Children
Children are very welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead.
What our guests say about the Edinburgh Free Tour
City Explorers has a 5.0 rating on Google from 27,002 reviews. Here is a selection of real reviews, updated every week. Tap any review to read it in full.
-
We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour today. Just the right amount of information and humour from Graham our guide. Edinburgh has so much history and Architecture and we would have missed a lot of the places without the tour. One of our group was in her 80’s and she managed the walk which ended back near the start
Read more -
Had a 2 hour walking tour with Graham as part of my birthday weekend in Edinburgh, he was warm, friendly and very knowledgeable, we enjoyed every minute. Thanks Graham
Read more -
Had so much fun walking around the Old Town of Edinburgh with Cobin. He had some very interesting stories to tell and made them hilarious. 10/10 would recommend
Read more -
We had a great time exploring the alleys and the graveyard with the tour guide Rory, who told us passionately all about the history of the old town witches and the dark side of the city. Huge thanks to Rory for such a memorable experience. Mila & Sam
Read more -
Kenny was a wealth of knowledge on my walk tours around old town in Edinburgh. He really knows his history (walking encyclopedia in my opinion) and shares it liberally. He throws in some humour to add color so that makes for a fun, interesting and informative walk. Highly recommend him.
Read more -
We had a fantastic time on the Free Ghost Walking Tour in Edinburgh! 👻 The tour was really interesting, entertaining and full of spooky stories. Cobin was a great guide. Friendly, funny and very engaging. Definitely recommend it if you want to experience Edinburgh from a different side! 😊
Read more -
This was my first trip to Edinburgh and we thought a walking tour on our first day would help to give us a good lay of the land. Dan was an extremely engaging, entertaining and informative guide. We learned so much about the history, culture, architecture and geology of Edinburgh and Scotland. We appreciated all of his suggestions for what to include in our itinerary. The tour was an excellent introduction to Edinburgh and we would highly recommend this tour to others.
Read more -
We thoroughly enjoyed our city of Edinburgh walking tour with Kenny on 05/10/2026. He was most informative and pleasant, and used humor to add to the fun. Thank you, Kenny.
Read more -
Kenny's was a wonderful guide. His tour of Edinburgh's Old Town was a highlight of my day. He knows the history inside and out, and he's charming and funny, so the whole morning flew by. Highly recommend!
Read more -
We took the free 2-hour walking tour and had an absolute blast. Dan was an incredible guide—effortlessly funny, super engaging, and packed with fascinating history and stories about the city. Time completely flew by! It’s easily one of the best ways to get your bearings in Edinburgh. High recommended, and don’t forget to tip Dan well at the end!
Read more -
We loved our old town tour with Dan. Interesting and engaging. We learnt lots and had fun. I highly recommend him as a guide and city explorers as a free walking company. But please don’t forget to tip your guide 😀
Read more -
My husband and I very much enjoyed the morning tour with Graem. He had a lively sense of humor and an impressive knowledge of the history on and around the Royal Mile and Edinburgh. The two hour walk did include some hills and stairs, but still very doable for us (late 50s/early 60s). Would definitely do again! In fact, we opted to take the afternoon Harry Potter tour with professor JS. She was hilarious and our group was small. Mg husband was the “Harry Potter hostage” as the non-fan person on the tour. He was picked on by everyone which only made the experience more fun. The HP trivia ranged from simple to obscure. We saw many inspiration points for the books, all an easy walk around the Royal Mile. Fans, do this!! Take a hostage, like I did, lol.
Read more -
Rory's tour doesn't just tell you about the city. It leaves a lasting imprint on what Scotland and Edinburgh really are. Best walking tour I've joined.
Read more -
We had such a great experience on the free Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh! Our guide, Theis, was friendly, entertaining and incredibly knowledgeable. She made the tour fun and engaging while showing us the hidden Harry Potter connections around the city. Perfect for Harry Potter fans and anyone wanting to explore Edinburgh. Highly recommended! ⚡🪄
Read more -
Emma was an absolute delight to have a walking tour with. She was so informative and really gives you a taste of Edinburgh in the best possible way. Highly recommended
Read more -
We’ve done many free walking tours in many cities. Cobin was the best tour guide we’ve ever had. Informative while funny- we got a great, yet humorous sense of the history of Scotland!
Read more -
Kenny was our guide on the free tour in Edinburgh. He passes on the history of the city in a very clear way sprankled with humor. We had a really good tour and highly recommend it.
Read more -
We just finished the medieval Edinburgh walking tour with City Explorers, and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip! Our guide, Kenny, was phenomenal. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the city's history, bringing the medieval Old Town to life with fascinating insights.What really made the tour special was Kenny's delivery. He was completely engaging from start to finish, striking the perfect balance between serious historical facts and brilliant humour. It kept everyone entertained and eager to hear what came next. If you are visiting Edinburgh, do yourself a favour and book a tour with Kenny—you won't regret it!
Read more -
Fantastic tour of Edinburgh Old Town. Cobin was such a great guide - full of information that he told in a really fun way. Love this tour - highly recommend!!
Read more -
I've been to many free walking tours around the world and Cobbin was just excellent, very knowledgeable and the best: is sense of humor! I recommend!
Read more -
I had a lovely group walking tour while I was solo travelling through Edinburgh. Our guide SJ was extremely informative, very friendly with a great sense of humour! She showed us all the spooky bits and told ghosts stories! Right up my street and I enjoyed every last bit, thanks so much
Read more -
I really enjoyed the Edinburgh Free Tour with Stuart. He was very knowledgeable and knew lots of interesting facts about the city’s history. I would definitely recommend taking a tour with him.
Read more -
Highly highly recommend this tour. We have done quite a few walking tours in different cities and this was by far one of the best we have done. Cobin was an outstanding tour guide, funny, engaging and informative, he showed us the real Edinburgh in a way we never would have known otherwise. A highlight of our trip 😊
Read more -
Cobin was a fantastic guide for our Old Town Edinburgh free tour. He was easy to listen to, entertaining, and shared the history in a way that made it interesting and memorable. The walking pace was just right, and he chose great places to stop where everyone could gather and hear him clearly. A fun and informative way to explore Edinburgh!
Read more -
I had an absolutely fantastic time touring Edinburgh with Graeme! He was knowledgeable, engaging, and had the perfect mix of history, humour, and local insight. From the winding closes of the Old Town to the sweeping views of the Castle, Graeme brought every corner of the city to life with fascinating stories and fun facts. You can really tell he loves what he does—and it made my experience all the more special. This was very special to me coming from Australia to honour my Scottish father. If you’re visiting Edinburgh, do yourself a favour and book a tour with Graeme. Highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read more -
Walking tour was great, Kenny our tour guide really made the experience what it was. He has great knowledge and stories of the city and recommendations!
Read more -
Our walking tour of Edinburgh with Dr. Rory was absolutely amazing and easily one of the highlights of our trip! He was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the city’s history. He brought Edinburgh’s fascinating past to life with brilliant stories, interesting details, and plenty of humour along the way.
Read more -
We did the ghost tour and we were lucky enough to get Sjoukje as our guide. Funny and educational (and quite creepy), which is all I want in a walking tour. 10/10 would recommend.
Read more -
A great tour. Cobin was humorous and informative about some of the quirky aspects of Old Town Edinburgh. I would definitely recommend these tours to anyone.
Read more -
Rory gave us a good balance of entertainment and history. His stories of events in different locations around the Royal Mile are memorable. A great guide with a mine of local knowledge!
Read more
Selected real reviews from Google · Updated 20 October 2026