Where to Go After Dark: The 15 Best Underground Ghost Tours in Edinburgh

1.The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9,272 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26Our pick

Meet a costumed guide on the Royal Mile for a 75-minute walk through Edinburgh’s closes, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and South Bridge vaults. Guides such as David, Maggie Dickinson, Fred Knox, and Dr. Robert Knox mix grim history with jokes and audience participation. The 6:45pm departure suits families, but expect stairs, cold weather, and theatrical scares.

“Our tour guide Maggie Dickinson was wonderful. She was very fun and had us interact in the group, highly recommend!”

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2.Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6,607 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $32

Walk from Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket to Greyfriars Kirkyard, hear about Greyfriars Bobby, Burke and Hare, witches, and notorious burials, then enter the atmospheric South Bridge Vaults. English-speaking guides such as Jordan, James, Darren, and Louisa mix dark history with dry humor and a few well-timed scares. Expect uneven ground, stairs, and mature themes.

“Me and my Boyfriend had a private tour with James, he was really sweet towards us and guided us amazingly through the graveyard and vaults. Overall amazing experience, would 100% recommend this tour with James ☺️”

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3.Evening Underground Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,092 reviews · 1h 15m · from $26

Follow an English-speaking guide through Royal Mile wynds, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and Edinburgh’s underground vaults. Expect true tales of murder, witchcraft, Burke and Hare, theatrical storytelling, and a few strange sounds in the dark. Guides such as David Rizzio, Maggie Dickson, and Robbie Diggs bring different character and humor to the same compact evening route.

“I recently did an underground ghost tour in Edinburgh and it was brilliant from start to finish. The atmosphere in the vaults was creepy, dark, eerie and full of history, which made the whole experience feel really immersive. What really made the tour stand out, though, was our guide. He was dramatic and captivating when telling the stories, but also funny at just the right moments to keep the group engaged and entertained. The balance of scares, storytelling and humour was spot on. If you’re visiting Edinburgh and enjoy a good ghost story with a theatrical twist, I can’t recommend this tour highly enough. It was spooky, fascinating and great…”

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4.Multi-Sensory Haunted Underground Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,721 reviews · 1h 15m · from $29

Meet your English-speaking Mercat guide at Mercat Cross, walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, then descend into the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Expect 75 minutes of dramatic storytelling about murder, torture, hangings, and restless spirits, with audio devices, Vaults Museum access, and no jump scares.

“Our guide Shannon was an excellent storyteller + very entertaining.”

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5.Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,685 reviews · 2 hours · from $33

Meet at Mercat Cross for a 2-hour English-language tour through Edinburgh’s Old Town and Blair Street Underground Vaults. Storytellers such as Michael, Steph, Sophie, Jack, and Marina lead the way with grisly history, sound effects, and ghost tales, ending with a drink in candlelit Megget’s Cellar.

“Our guide Jack made the tour. His enthusiasm and stories were fabulous.”

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6.Haunted Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

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

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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7.Old Town and Underground Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,768 reviews · 1 hour · from $22Best value

Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a period-costumed guide, then descend into the South Bridge vaults for grim tales of ghosts, crime, and death. Guides such as James, Robbie Diggs, and Frederick Knox mix history with humor and jump scares. The tour costs $22, lasts one hour, and includes vault admission.

“James our guide was brilliant, very entertaining, engaged with everyone, funny and factual.”

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8.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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9.Multi-Sensory Haunted Underground Vaults Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,649 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Follow a cloaked Mercat Tours guide from Mercat Cross through Edinburgh’s Old Town, then descend into the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Expect murder tales, body-snatching stories, ghost lore, narrow stairs, and a small group capped at 18. Guides such as Shannon and Steph are known for strong storytelling, but the theatrical style may not suit everyone.

“It's a fun and slightly scary experience with cool historical background information of Edinburgh, and particularly the South Bridge, told by a very enthousiastic and good storyteller, Steph. We enjoyed this and we're captured by her performance.”

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10.Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,587 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $29

Meet a costumed storyteller at 124 High St at 9:15 pm for an 80-minute walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the South Bridge vaults. Expect dark tales, theatrical humor, narrow passages, and a late-night atmosphere. Guides such as David Rizzio, Lafayette, and Dr Knox bring different styles to the experience.

“The people who wrote bad reviews because they didn't actually experience something paranormal are silly. Yes, it is unlikely that you will experience something paranormal on this trip, but it is entertaining, insightful, and makes you think about how horrific history can be.”

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11.Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 850 reviews · 1h 15m · from $28

Walk Edinburgh’s steep Old Town streets, visit Greyfriars Cemetery, then descend spiral stairs into the Underground Vaults. Period-costumed guides such as Dr Knox, James Douglas, Agnes, and Captain Gray mix grim tales of murder, torture, witches, and cannibals with sharp humor. It is adults-only, English-language, and best for brave visitors.

“Absolutely fantastic!!! We were so excited for this experience and we were definitely not disappointed! Massive thank you to Dr O for the fun, spooky and educational experience. The perfect end to our last night in Edinburgh. Even the music from the nearby pubs couldn't distract us from the spooky tales by the absolute legend that is Dr O. You took us safely through the busy streets on our journey and we were enthralled! Thank you!!”

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12.Small Group Ghost Tour incl. Underground Vaults & free drink in Megget’s Cellar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 608 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Meet a cloaked storyteller at Mercat Cross for a two-hour evening walk through Edinburgh’s Old Town, then enter the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Hear tales of murder, witchcraft, and restless spirits before ending with Scotch whisky, beer, or a soft drink in candlelit Megget’s Cellar. Groups are limited to 18.

“Our tour guide was an amazing story teller, I could have listened to her all day! Definitely recommend this tour!”

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13.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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14.Small Group Edinburgh Underground Vaults & Graveyard Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $43

Descend beneath Edinburgh’s Blair Street to hear tales of body snatchers, cannibals, witches, and restless spirits, then walk to Canongate Kirkyard. Costumed guides such as Sarah, Shannon, Marina, and Michael bring the stories to life for groups of up to 18. Expect uneven ground, outdoor walking, and a history-led ghost tour rather than jump scares.

“The Graveyard part of the tour was very interesting. The team was very welcoming, accommodating and enthusiastic!”

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15.Multi-Sensory Adults Haunted Vaults Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 450 reviews · 1 hour · from $33

Follow Mercat Tours from Mercat Cross through Edinburgh’s Old Town before entering the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Your English-speaking Storyteller uses candlelight, TourTalk audio, sounds, and true tales of murder, torture, hangings, and haunted lives. The tour is strictly 18+, lasts 60 minutes, and costs $33 per person.

“Jade was amazing, and helped our group navigate the gruesome but very interesting spooky history of Edinburgh!”

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