Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour
Our top-rated walking tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle includes skip-the-line entrance
Tours & activities in Edinburgh
Free Tour of Edinburgh
The original gratuity-based FREE walking tour of Edinburgh's most visited attractions with a local guide
ABOUT THE Free Tour of Edinburgh
This 2.5-hour gratuity-based FREE Edinburgh walking tour will show you all the top attractions in the city. Local experts will take you to must-see spots such as the iconic Royal Mile, the famous Greyfriar's Kirkyard (home of Greyfriar's Bobby), and the charming Grassmarket. Explore the historic Edinburgh streets with the help of an expert local guide.
Your gratuity-based FREE city tour of Edinburgh meets daily outside Frankie and Benny's restaurant at 130 High Street. Join us on this introduction to Edinburgh, a great way to orientate yourself in the city and at a price to suit everybody’s budget.
A city of madmen...
The stories of Edinburgh are almost too amazing to be true, but as you join this entertaining walking tour with an expert local guide, you will discover tales that you simply couldn't make up. Hear the stories of the English kings and how the Edinburgh locals showed what they thought of them, discover the real-life Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde, and learn why leaving the pub at closing time in old Edinburgh was a particularly dangerous undertaking. These local tour guides bring Edinburgh's history to life as they take you to major landmarks in Edinburgh's Old Town like St Gile's Cathedral, the Scottish Writer's Museum, and the Grassmarket, where public executions didn't always go according to plan.
...and a city of geniuses
Of course though, Edinburgh's fascinating history is not just made up of madmen. Discover heroic men and women like William Wallace and the Stone of Destiny, learn about Scottish literary greats at the Scottish Writers Museum (we promise you can name more of them than you think!), and even discover a sweet local dog who redefined the word loyalty at Greyfriar's Kirkyard.
Gratuity-based FREE Tour concept
The gratuities-based model of the gratuity-based FREE Tour allows guests to support and reward only the highest quality tours, and to ensure that the tour fits within their expectations, and within their budget.
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
10:00 AM11:00 AM12:00 PM1:00 PM2:00 PM4:00 PM
10:00 AM11:00 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM4:00 PM
11:00 AM
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
- Local English-speaking guide
- A break partway through the tour at a local charity cafe
What’s not included
- Gratuities for the guide (optional)
- Food and drink at the break
Additional Information
- The independent guides who employ us to market their tours have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 2.5 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group
- Depending on the route, the tour may finish by the National Museum of Scotland, by Greyfriars Kirkyard or by the Writers Museum
- Due to the old streets and uneven terrain, accessing parts of Edinburgh by wheelchair can sometimes be challenging. The Free Tour is wheelchair accessible when accompanied by a non-disabled participant
Meeting point 
Your gratuity-based Free Tour of Edinburgh starts in front of Frankie & Benny's on 130 High Street by Tron Kirk
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Stroll up the Royal Mile, visiting St Gile’s Cathedral and other major landmarks
- Meet Scottish greats like William Wallace
- Visit the pub (and history!) filled Grassmarket
- Help to contribute to the local community at your coffee break at the Grassmarket Project
- See the National Museum
Tour starts here
Tour usually ends hereTour usually covers
Customer reviews
I had already done the Free Tour of Edinburgh some years ago and was really happy with the service, so when I decided to do it again with a friend who didn't know the city yet, I knew I could expect good quality. We were on Adam's tour last Thursday, and frankly, I was blown away by how good it was and by how much better it was than the tour I had already done and that I had actually really liked. Even my friend, who hadn't been particularly keen on doing a guided tour, absolutely loved it and said that the 2.5 hours had passed much too quickly. Adam was fun, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. He was more than happy to answer all questions, tried to connect to all members of the group individually and helped us out with great pub and restaurant recommendations. It was hands down the best tour I've ever been on! Highly recommend! If you get the chance, try to get Adam as your guide.
See more reviews
Wonderful tour
I went last week to Edinburgh and I wanted to do a free tour, I have done few in different European cities but this one with Ryan was amazing! I really enjoyed the tour and the history and stories that he shared with us were mind blowing! Highly recommended :)
See more reviewsExcellent Free Tour
Excellent option to learn a lot about Edinburgh. Stuart was a very informative and approachable guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and had many stories to share! I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the city.
See more reviewsFree Tour in the Old Town with Greg
It was a very interesting tour thanks to Greg, who make it really amusing. We learnt a lot about the old town, time passed super quick. We strongly recommend it!
See more reviewsGreat introduction to the city
We went on this tour after reading the reviews. Did not disappoint at all. Lachlan was amazing and knowledgeable about the local history here. A remarkable storyteller, he brought a lot of energy into the tour. Thanks a lot. Brilliant thing to do on your first day in Edinburgh.
See more reviewsAmazing tour, very informative and so many cool places to see! Our guide Alisdair was such a legend. Super funny and friendly, he had me laughing the whole time. He was very interactive with the group and clearly very passionate about the city. He made me fall in love with Edinburgh, the history and made me realize how much more there is to see. I had such a good time! Thank you Alisdair for the best afternoon.
See more reviewsThe original gratuity-based Free Tour of Edinburgh, every day of the year
Rain or shine, all of our tours run as scheduled. Book your place online to guarantee your spot!
We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Edinburgh's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style.
The independent guides who employ us to market their tours conduct the gratuity-based FREE Tour on a tips-only basis, thereby guaranteeing that you receive a tour of the highest quality. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveller.
Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?
- Many major landmarks covered
- Central meeting points
- Guaranteed to fit within your budget
- High quality guides, incentivized to perform every time!
- Gratuity-based tours running every day
WALKING TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN EDINBURGH
Select Tour
Info & Booking £ 32
Info & Booking £ 12
Select Tour
Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour
Discover the magical world of Harry Potter with a walking tour in the city where J.K. Rowling wrote ...
Info & Booking £ 12
Select Tour
Edinburgh New Town Tour
Travel back in time and discover the history and the people of Edinburgh's New Town
Info & Booking £ 12
Info & Booking £ 12
Select Tour
Edinburgh Castle Walking Tour
Our top-rated walking tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle includes skip-the-line entrance
Info & Booking £ 32
Info & Booking £ 12
Select Tour
Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour
Discover the magical world of Harry Potter with a walking tour in the city where J.K. Rowling wrote ...
Info & Booking £ 12
Select Tour
Edinburgh New Town Tour
Travel back in time and discover the history and the people of Edinburgh's New Town
Info & Booking £ 12
Info & Booking £ 12
Private Tour
Edinburgh Appetiser Private Tour
Visit Edinburgh's Old Town on this 2-hour private walking tour
Info & Booking £ 134.24
Private Tour
Edinburgh General Private Tour
Explore Edinburgh in depth on this 3-hour private walking tour
Info & Booking £ 164.15
Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Free Tour?
The FREE TOUR is the best introduction to the city! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the FREE TOUR is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, tour content and duration of the tour can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.
The FREE TOUR is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups.
You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day.
There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!
Walking Tours & Activities in Dublin - Ireland
Dublin
Discover
Walking Tours & Activities in London - England