The 8 Most Popular Ghost Walking Tours in Edinburgh

1.Haunted Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,183 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33Our pick

Follow a guide from 300 Lawnmarket down the Royal Mile to Edinburgh’s underground vaults. Expect a short city walk, a torture exhibition, steep stairs, dark rooms, and stories of poverty, crime, death, and paranormal activity. Guides such as James, Dom, Louisa, and Aimee bring the hour to life, but the pace and Scottish accents may not suit everyone.

“Absolutely amazing experiance. Chris give us a tour reach in history, haunted stories and fun. Definately recommended if you like a bit of thrill, we run off in the end:);)”

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2.Haunted Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,702 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Walk Edinburgh after dark with guides such as James, Diva, Darren, Jordan, and Brendan. You’ll visit Greyfriars Graveyard, hear about its famous dead, then descend into the South Bridge Vaults for tales of crime, death, and reported paranormal events. Expect a lively history tour with spooky moments, not a theatrical show or jump-scare attraction.

“Jordan was our tour guide. It was a great experience. It was very interesting hearing all of the stories and entertaining! If you love a good scare, my wife had to leave because she got too scared in the underground vaults! I finished the our and loved it. Recommend to everyone!”

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3.Dark Secrets of the Old Town Ghost Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,671 reviews · 2 hours · from $24

Follow a local English, German, or French-speaking guide through Edinburgh’s old lanes, Canongate Kirkyard, and Old Calton Cemetery. Hear the grim story of Burke and Hare, learn how witch trials shaped Scotland, and pick up myths, plague tales, and local jokes along the way. Guides such as Jen, Sonia, Gavin, Tommy, and Niamh bring plenty of personality.

“it was amazing, really interesting our tour guide was called Ignas, he was brilliant, full of some amazing history and facts, and was very funny too! Overall a brilliant experience”

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4.Witches & Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,290 reviews · 1h 15m · from $24

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town for 75 minutes with a costumed guide such as Hazel, Juniper, or Angelica. Hear carefully told stories about Scotland’s witch trials, visit atmospheric closes and wynds, pass Castlehill and Victoria Street, and finish at Grassmarket, a former execution site.

“We had an amazing tour with juniper! It was very informative and fun, and our tour guide was the best coven leader!!”

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5.Witches & Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 632 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Walk from Parliament Square to Grassmarket with a costumed or theatrically presented guide such as Juniper, Hazel, or Angelica. Hear stories of Scottish witch trials, Mary Queen of Scots, North Berwick witches, accused women, warlocks, and Half-Hangit Maggie while crossing the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, and Edinburgh’s steep cobbled lanes.

“Excellent tour to take of Edinburgh Witch history. Juniper was a wonderful tour guide. She was friendly, funny and all about witches. Definitely would recommend tour. Cheers!”

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6.Multi-Sensory Night Walking Tour with Haunted Vaults in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 596 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $37

Walk from Mercat Cross through Edinburgh’s old streets, then follow a guide such as Nicola, Emily, Ross, or Stephanie into the candlelit Blair Street Underground Vaults. Expect roughly 40 minutes above ground and 20 minutes below, with stories of murders, hangings, bodysnatchers, ghosts, and the city’s darker legends.

“Excellent tour well worth it. Especially at night when the atmosphere and darkness really makes it feel so spooky”

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7.Guided Ghost Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 289 reviews · 1h 15m · from $26

Follow a costumed Spanish-speaking guide from the Royal Mile's police box to Greyfriars Graveyard and Niddry's Wynd vaults. Expect grim city stories, paranormal tales, and an atmospheric look below South Bridge. Guides Lafayette and Rosa Mari have been praised for humor, suspense, and clear storytelling.

“Me ha gustado mucho, hemos recorrido diferentes puntos de la ciudad”

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8.Dark History Royal Mile Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 271 reviews · 2 hours · from $20Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide under the white All-Star Guides umbrella by St. Giles Cathedral. Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town and Canongate for two hours, hearing factual stories of murder, witch trials, plague, executions, cannibalism, and the city’s notorious characters. Guides including James, Robert, Lydia, Joe, and Kieran bring the past alive without costumes or cheap ghost-tour theatrics.

“Learnt lots on tour and were made aware of things that you would otherwise walk past and take for granted . Great factual content delivered in a way that kept us engaged.”

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