5.0
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Edinburgh
- 3 hours
- City Highlight Tours
- Edinburgh
Choose one of 12 locals available
Experience hosted by Joe, Russell & other locals
- Private Tour
- Carbon Neutral
- Destination
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Category
- City Highlight Tours
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Transport mode
- Walking tour
- Available languages
- English, Dansk, Svenska, Español
- Included
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- Private Guide
- 1 Local Drink or Snack
- All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
- Excluded
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- Entrance to attractions (The inside of the Edinburgh Castle is not visited on this tour)
6 reasons to book this tour
- Explore the best of the city in only 3 hours
- Spot classics like Grassmarket & Edinburgh Castle
- Discover hidden gems away from the tourist paths
- Experience the city from a local’s perspective
- Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
- Privately guided by a local expert
What you can expect
Edinburgh, is a magical place! And with the local host of your choice, you are going to experience it all. So get ready; culture, history, and local lifestyle await!
Dive into the origin of Edinburgh as you see the city’s main landmarks like Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle (from the outside) and Greyfriars Kirkyard. And how about the hidden gems? Oh, you’re in for a surprise! Every host has its own story to tell, so pick your favorite, and you’ll discover the city through their eyes. Experience their Edinburgh to the max based on their passions and expertise. They’ll make sure you have fun enjoying a unique and local perspective of Edinburgh.
Want to take a break? Leave it up to your host! This is the perfect opportunity to visit that special eatery where only the locals come and your chance to enjoy a local treat hand-picked by your host. Feel free to ask your host more about their life in their city or get recommendations about the top things to do in Edinburgh. Remember, the locals know best.
The best part of any city tour is definitely the unique stories. Everybody has a story to tell, especially your host. Each one of the local hosts has a different background ranging from arts to history. They can’t wait to share their knowledge with you and exchange ideas and perspectives! Feel like changing the route a bit? No problem, the hosts will be happy to personalize the tour to your wishes and make their Edinburgh, your Edinburgh!
Choose your local
Get to know these 12 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
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Joe
The Friendly Local Lad
5.014 reviewsEnglish -
Russell
The Passionate Patriot
5.019 reviewsEnglish -
Chris
Entwined in the fabric of Edinburgh, history and present.
5.023 reviewsEnglish -
Laura
The Community Lover
4.988 reviewsEnglish -
Alec
The Talk o’ the Toon
4.988 reviewsEnglish -
Gains
Your Local Historian
4.88 reviewsEnglish -
Monica
The Scottish Celebrant
5.0110 reviewsEnglish -
Alice
The Friendly Storyteller
5.0202 reviewsEnglish -
Svend-Erik
The Lively Storyteller
4.963 reviewsEnglish・Dansk・Svenska -
Xavier
The Singing Storyteller
5.028 reviewsEnglish・Español -
GJ
The Enthusiastic, Entertaining Local
4.911 reviewsEnglish -
Neil
Let me share my passion for Edinburgh with you!
4.921 reviewsEnglish
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
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Meeting point
Meet at In front of Cafe Edinburgh - Edinburgh to start your journey
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Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
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City Highlights
See from Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriars Kirkyard and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Edinburgh so unique -
Hidden Gems
Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience -
Magical Storytelling
Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know! -
Special Treat
Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions -
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
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Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
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Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
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Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Stefanie
(About local )
11 September 2025
We learned a lot about Edinburgh through very interesting, funny, and thrilling stories. We enjoyed our tour with Alice very much and recommend her as a tourguide! It was easy to understand her (we are from Germany), because she speaks very clearly. Thank you so much Alice for a wonderful day and birthday!Book Alice, you won't regret it!
Aude🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
10 September 2025
We had a three hour tour of the city with Laura, who was extremely knowledgeable about her city. We could ask all the questions we wanted and moved at good speed to cover a lot of ground (historically.) Laura was punctual and very pleasant to spend the morning with. The best thing we did in Edinburgh. Highly recommended.A wonderful, patient and charismatic guide
Retta🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 September 2025
Svend’s love of Scotland’s history and culture really shines through on his walking tour. He is a wonderful storyteller and has a great sense of humor! We could’ve have walked and talked all day but we really did cover a lot of ground (historically and by foot) on our 3 hour tour. Wonderful walking tour!
Donald🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 September 2025
We had a great tour with Neil. He had lots of little tidbits of knowledge and suggestions for the rest of our stay. Highly recommend. Very knowledge and friendly
James🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
5 September 2025
Chris was an excellent guide. He adjusted his schedule to meet ours with some unexpected travel issues. He was very kind. He tailored the tour to our expectations and desires. He was well-versed and made the history of Edinburgh and Scotland interesting. I have been blessed to travel quite a bit. Chris rates equal to the best I’ve had. Book him and you will enjoy the day. What a wonderful tour and guide.
Matt🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 September 2025
We had a wonderful tour with Alice! She told us some amazing stories of Scotland which kept us entertained as we walked thru the old town seeing the sights. If you like a guide that keeps things interesting instead of sounding like a history book, pick Alice - you will have a great time!Wonderful Tour!
Melanda
(About local )
30 August 2025
It was a great tour. Especially the storytelling part made the city come alive! Alice, you gave us a tour beyond expectation. Perfect tour!
Inga🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
29 August 2025
Alice did a fantastic job in showing us around, telling some stories and insiders and giving us a feeling of Edinburgh! We can fully recommend this tour and Alice as a tour guide created very enjoyable 4 hours Thank you!Fantastic insightful tour
Suzanne🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 August 2025
Wonderful Edinburgh city tour with Alice. She is extremely knowledgeable and funny and told some stories with great drama and enthusiasm. Totally recommend. Thank you so much, Alice.Excellent
Steven
(About local )
23 August 2025
Our first day in Edinburgh was with Russell . He was fountain of knowledge that made our next week here much more enjoyable. He was full of interesting stories and antidotes as we moved through the old town. Highly recommend a tour with Russell.Great introduction to Edinburgh
Judith🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
19 August 2025
Neil was a wonderful guide. Informative, knowledgeable, and overall great guide. Highly recommend!! Wonderful tour
clouser
(About local )
14 August 2025
Russell was the perfect local. His knowledge of his hometown and Country was amazing.
His way of explaining and allowing us to pick his mind for answers to many of our naive questions was exceptional.
We can unconditionally recommend Russell. Wonderful time with a true Scottish local
Brian🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 August 2025
My wife and I had a fantastic time exploring Edinburgh with Alice. It was our first time visiting and Alice was filled with many stories about the town and its historical figures. It was very crowded but Alice kept us moving down side alleys and into buildings to help us avoid the crowds.
The three hours flew by and we left Alice with a smile on our face and great memories.Delightful Day in Edinburgh
Sarah🇫🇷 France
(About local )
5 August 2025
Nous avons effectué une remarquable visite d'Edimbourg sous la conduite de notre guide, Neil qui est un natif de la ville, à présent à la retraite. Il a su nous faire partager sa passion et nous plonger dans l'histoire particulièrement riche de la ville et plus globalement de l'Ecosse. Neil est un guide qui s'exprime de manière extrêmement claire en anglais. Il est facilement compréhensible pour des touristes francophones et très à l'écoute. Ce fut un réel plaisir que d'effectuer cette visite avec un tel guide. Les trois heures en sa compagnie sont passées très vite et nous avons eu un très grand plaisir à prolonger cette rencontre par une bière au pub sur la Royal mile street. Tres belle visite guidée d'Edimbourg
Michael
(About local )
2 August 2025
Russel was very knowledgable and affable. He adapted the tour to account for activities we had already already booked. He showed up unique parts of Edinburgh and helped us understand the uniqueness of the city.
Gabby & Peter🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
31 July 2025
History is obviously one of Chris’s specialties. Chris engaged early and read his clients well. As we like to walk and explore, our 3 hour walking tour took us to a larger area than expected which was superb. Would recommend being introduced to Edinburgh by ChrisFriendly, engaging and very informative
Heike🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
26 July 2025
Very interesting tour and Chriswas very flexible. Ask him a question and you will get the answers. We had a great tour with Chris!
Angel🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 July 2025
Booked Joe the evening before! He was flexible with us on timing as we ran a little late getting out of the hotel. Joe offered an entertaining and educational walk all over Edinburgh. We were very impressed and so glad we hired him!! Don’t be deterred by his limited reviews. We were lucky to find him. Thanks Joe, we took all the history and fun facts with us across Scotland!Delighful and Insighful
Arne
(About local )
20 July 2025
Wir hatten zu viert eine private Tour mit Monika. Das war super, sehr informativ , sie geht auf alle Fragen ein.
Fragt zu Beginn nach unseren Interessen.
Thanks a lotSuper
Kathleen🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 July 2025
We totally enjoyed our walking tour the only bad part is it seemed to go to fast. Beautiful day to walk the town and Svend is truly a story teller. Kept us totally engaged would definitely book him again.Great Day in Edinburgh
Inka
(About local )
17 July 2025
For our first time visit in Edinburgh as a family with grown up kids, we booked a three hour tour with Alice: she is a great story-teller, we loved to learn about the secrets of Edinburgh. We had a very interesting and fun afternoon, Alice was warm and cheerful, we enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended Great experience
5gmgnvz6sj
(About local )
17 July 2025
G knew exactly what we were looking for and tailored the tour accordingly. He took the time to get to know us and that resulted in a personalized tour. He went the extra mile. He’s a Mind Reader!
Nick🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 July 2025
Laura was a great communicator, a sweet lady and truly knows Edinburgh. We did a Gems tour on day 1 and Castle tour on day 2. Everything went according to plan and exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend her!Fantastic Experience with Laura
Andrew🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 July 2025
Alice was a charming and knowledgeable guide and an absolutely brilliant storyteller. She really did a great job of noticing what interested us the most and focusing on those things more, but also introducing us to things we wouldn't have known about otherwise. Thanks again Alice!
Ivana
(About local )
1 July 2025
An afternoon spent with Russell gave us more insight and experience than two full days exploring the city on our own. His personal stories and childhood memories truly brought the places to life, adding a whole new layer of meaning to the streets of Edinburgh.
We discovered charming hidden alleys and iconic landmarks we would have completely missed if Russell hadn’t pointed them out. I really appreciated that he reached out to us beforehand and tailored the tour to match our interests — everything was thoughtfully planned. His deep knowledge of Edinburgh’s history added incredible context and made every stop along the way even more engaging.
He was well-prepared, kind, and an absolutely delightful person to explore the city with. It felt like walking around with a local friend who knows all the secrets.
Couldn’t recommend this tour more — a must-do in Edinburgh! :)An Unforgettable Afternoon with Russell!
Caroline
(About local )
30 June 2025
We had an amazing tour with Neil! This is what we expected to have with a local. All the little interesting stories besides what you read in common travel literature. We had so much fun and would definitely recommend Neill ! He even sent us some information and links about our tour and provided us with tips for our onward journey! Couldnt have been better ! Best edinburgh stories with neil
Maaike🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
29 June 2025
Alice is a very good storyteller and knows a lot about Edinburgh ! She takes you back to old Edinburgh. When she tells the stories they come to life. She asks about your specific wishes so that the tour is tailor-made for you.Alice takes you back to the old Edinburgh
Christiane
(About local )
29 June 2025
We had a fantastic stroll through Edinburgh with Xavier. He is nice, funny and knows how to bring the history and stories of this city alive. In addition he provided us with helpful advice, where to go/ what to see after our tour.
Great fun!Insights of a wonderful city
rbxtnkxg4n
(About local )
25 June 2025
Alice is a gifted communicator and story teller. Her tour was relaxed and informative. She brought history to life for us visitors. She answered questions knowledgeably. We gained a great understanding of the history of the city of Edinburgh in 3 hours that we never could have on our own. We highly recommend Alice and Withlocals Hidden Gems of Edinburgh Tour. Gifted Tour Guide
Unknown
(About local )
15 June 2025
Neil was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs and catered the tour our ability!
I highly recommend Neil!Fantastic tour guide!
Jaynine🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
14 June 2025
I had a lovely time with Laura. I landed at 7:00 a.m. in Scotland and our tour began at 10:30. A.m. As this was the last minute trip, I had not done much research on any particular sites or interest they had. I did tell her I enjoyed learning about the local history, culture, and HP as I knew this was a Harry Potter inspiration site and I had grown up on the books of Harry Potter, the original generation I might add. She volunteers at Greyfriars Kirk as well as a lover of History so she is a vast wealth of knowledge and provided the finer details of some of the sites that I would have otherwise missed. She gave some great recommendations along the way as well. And in general just gave me a good orientation to Edinburgh and enriched it with local history. I would highly recommend choosing Laura.
Jessica🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 June 2025
We booked a private walking tour for 2 people with Joe during our time in Edinburgh, Scotland. We have taken many similar tours all around the world, and Joe was by far the best we've ever had! He was super friendly, incredibly knowledgable, and totally willing to answer any and all of our questions- even when we got him way off track. He customized the perfect itinerary for us, and we loved every moment. It was our favorite activity of our whole trip! Thanks, Joe. We hope to have a pint with you again next time in Edinburgh. :)The best Edinburgh tour guide!
Tom🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 June 2025
Beth🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 June 2025
Chris was such a great guide around Edinburgh! He is very knowledgeable and led us to places we would have never found. We learned a lot and had laughs along the way. I wouldn't hesitate booking with him again!Chris was a fantastic tour guide!
Kathleen🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
30 May 2025
Neil gave my husband and me a stellar tour of Edinburgh. He was interesting, informative and so very knowledgeable, particularly of the history and literature of Scotland. Neil is, as well, a funny, smart, engaging person and made our visit a memorable one. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. A perfect day with Neil
Susan
(About local )
24 May 2025
Alice is a masterful storyteller. She effortlessly communicated fascinating information on Edinburgh's places and people. Additionally. Alice was approachable and a joy to spend time with. Highly recommend!!Top notch tour.
Bill🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 May 2025
Lovely afternoon of local stories and knowledge. Alice was very personable and we enjoyed her company very much. Three hours flew by. Love Alice and love Edinburgh. Thank youLots of fun and stories too!
Jessica🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
22 May 2025
Great introduction to Edinburgh,
Lila🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
20 May 2025
Alice was prompt at the meeting point. Her tour is easy going, and her storytelling brings Edinburgh’s history alive.
We enjoyed and actually remember the stories. If you want a fun approach to learning about Edinburgh’s characters, this is a great tour.Fun tour and learning experience
Diana
(About local )
16 May 2025
Alec was an excellent guide who tailored his tour according to our interests. Personable , Knowledgeable, and well paced. As usual, WithLocals offers great private tours. Thank you, Alec Walking Edinburgh with Alec
Dot🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
15 May 2025
Had a fantastic afternoon with Russell. Took us to the main sights but lots of nooks and grannies too. Great knowledge of the city and those who have made it what it is today. Three hours flew by!Great Day
Christa🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
15 May 2025
Alice was an absolutely wonderful guide! She captivated us with the stories she shared. All four adults in our group talked about how great she was for days afterwards and how much we enjoyed her walking tour. I would highly recommend booking an experience with Alice! A wonderful experience in Edinburgh!
Laura🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
14 May 2025
Laura was a fun and delightful guide. She shared stories and insights, history and chuckles. A very fun and informative time together.Fun and fascinating!
Shantel🇨🇳 China
(About local )
13 May 2025
She is very patient with children, answers all questions seriously, and is enthusiastic throughout the journey, making it a very enjoyable trip.
She’s really nice and knowledgeable.
Pat🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 May 2025
It was such a pleasure being with Laura for our Edinburgh walking tour. Laura is a gem! We so enjoyed Laura’s insights, historical knowledge, and love of Edinburgh through lovely inspired stories and interesting facts. We all wholeheartedly recommend Laura for your guide and wish she was with us through our other journeys just as a fun friend.New Bestie
Judi & Jim🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
11 May 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our private tour with Monica. She regaled us with stories and made history come alive. She lead us to the main sights and took us off the beaten track. She was a quick study of our interests and personalized her presentation for us. Consequently, our Edinburgh visit will be memorable. An Enlightening and Enjoyable Day
Kari🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 May 2025
We had a fabulous tour of Edinburgh with Joe. He reached out before the tour to find out our interests and to ask if there was anything in particular we wanted to see. He told us about the history of Edinburgh and stories about some of its characters! He showed us some great places off the beaten path. Not to mention he shared some great recommendations. Highly recommend Joe! Thanks Joe!Great tour with Joe!
David and Karen🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
7 May 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our Edinburgh walking tour with Neil. Having grown up in the city, Neil was a wealth of information on the history of Edinburgh and Scotland in general. He showed us unique places in the city that the larger group tours were sure to overlook. Neil also provided extra information and insights that helped with our trip both before and after the walking tour. We highly recommend anyone that is looking for a great tour of Edinburgh to strongly consider booking with Neil and WithLocals!Great Tour with Neil
tish🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
5 May 2025
I always take the time to look at all of the tour guides available for the time of day and the day that I would like to go on a tour in the city I’m in. All of the tour guides seem to have good qualities so it’s a little tricky to pick the right one, but if you pick Alice, you won’t be sorry. I think Alice’s best quality was her storytelling ability. She’s very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. I enjoyed her company very much. She really knows a lot about Edinburgh. If you select her as your guide for the city, you will not be sorry. Thank you Alice for showing us your city! Select Alice for Edinburgh tour guide
Marcus🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
4 May 2025
Thank Alice for the great stories, history and Insider knowledge about Edinburgh. We learned a lot.
We can highly recomment the three hours tour.
We would do it everytime again. a lot with nice stories, everytime again
Withlocals experiencesare always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.
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