Edinburgh Tours: Top 5 Sightseeing & Cruise Experiences

Visiting Edinburgh, so it’s almost like stepping into a storybook, that with its cobblestone streets and that ancient castle watching over everything. You get those classic postcards, yet, to feel Edinburgh, like, properly? That takes more than just a quick look. That takes diving into the experiences, getting lost in its history, and seeing it from different spots.

This guide is here to show you some great ways to really get to know the city. I will share with you the top five Edinburgh tours and cruises. Every option gives a really cool and unique way to experience Scotland’s capital, really.

1. The Edinburgh City Sightseeing Tour

So, there is this classic way to get started seeing Edinburgh, like, it’s the City Sightseeing Tour. I remember on my first trip that I hopped on one of these, and, seriously, it helped get my bearings. These open-top bus tours are really good for seeing main attractions without really tiring yourself out. Like, they cover loads of ground and all from a comfortable seat.

You know, they take you to places, like, Edinburgh Castle, that soars over the city, the Royal Mile, so it’s almost got these old stories to tell, and Holyrood Palace, like, where royalty chill sometimes. And, here’s the bit I liked, so it’s almost that the running commentary gives a lot of historical context and a bit of local trivia. With several stops along the way, you can very, very easily hop off to explore spots that really get your attention, too. It is great if you are seeing Edinburgh for the first time and it also can be very handy for families or people who fancy an easy-going introduction to the city.

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2. Edinburgh Ghost Tours

If you fancy something, like, very different from the everyday and if you have even a little liking for the spooky, so Edinburgh’s ghost tours are genuinely hard to beat. Like, seriously, the city is full of mysteries and scary stories. This sort of tour goes right to the dark side of Edinburgh’s history.

Guides tell you all these stories of murders, and, yes, torture, and maybe even some hauntings as you stroll around spooky spots, so that includes the underground vaults or closes that have seen far too much stuff. I took a ghost tour once, you know, and I was, yes, a little bit freaked out, to be honest. Hearing all those unexplained stories is something, isn’t it? It gives you the creeps and you start thinking about things. These tours really bring Edinburgh’s darker times back to life.

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3. Royal Yacht Britannia Tour

Now, that is something a little bit majestic and yes, really unique. Touring the Royal Yacht Britannia is very, very similar to walking straight into history and a royal household. The yacht once belonged to the British Royal Family for more than 40 years. Like, it traveled all over with the royals and it even racked up over a million nautical miles. Moored in Edinburgh’s Leith area, seeing the Britannia gives a rare insight into the lives of the royals on the sea.

You get to see the staterooms. Those formal areas and then some of the crew quarters too. You will get to hear a lot of stories about life on the yacht. And I thought the audio tour was well presented, filled with all sorts of facts and personal stories that actually bring the ship back to its sailing days. Like, it doesn’t matter if you’re really into history or even just after getting a little peek into how the other half lives, visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia is interesting and worth your time. Really.

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4. Loch Ness and the Highlands Tour from Edinburgh

For people wanting a taste of the truly wild Scotland, like, going to Loch Ness and the Highlands from Edinburgh could be an amazing experience. Even though it is not technically just in Edinburgh. It gives a chance to escape to some incredible landscapes. On my trip, driving up into the Highlands felt very similar to driving into a different dimension with its tall mountains and wide open glens. The still waters of Loch Ness themselves are quite atmospheric. Loads of mysteries surround the infamous monster.

The tour usually also features stops at places. Here are some examples, Glencoe, that soaks up all the historical importance from the Massacre of Glencoe, plus Fort William, which sits right at the foot of Ben Nevis which actually is Britain’s tallest mountain. This trip has stunning natural beauty alongside Scotland’s storied past. It offers some experience. Anyway it gets you right out of the urban buzz and face to face with the powerful calm that is unique to the Scottish Highlands.

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5. Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

If that idea is, like, actually cool to you, the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour offers you something unusual. Like, it mixes the love of books, along with a bit of pub culture. Did you know that Edinburgh used to be home to loads of famous writers? And it is that walking tour takes you to spots which shaped, and that also inspired, some of Scotland’s top literary talent.

Like, it isn’t just about drinking; it also provides theatrical performances from guides playing characters. They may also recite works by famous writers from Edinburgh. You are mixing a casual stroll with the engaging theatre. Every venue along the way just adds to that experience and you may also discuss literature and down a drink or two in honor of writers past. I’d say if you find value in seeing the cultured way, then this tour is going to feel worth your time, definitely.

Read our full review: Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour)