• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Did you know that the Edinburgh tour of your dreams exists? Yes, and it’s 100% personalized and created by your local host around your interests. Customize and see only the places that spark your interest. From classic landmarks to neighborhood walks - your wishes are our command!

Destination

Edinburgh, Scotland

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Dansk, Svenska

Included

• Private guide
• All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

Excluded

• Entrance tickets
• Tastings
• Transport
• All of the above can be arranged with your local host through a personalized offer

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 13 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

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.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at In front of Paolozzi Restaurant & Bar - Edinburgh to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. 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.

3. This Experience is YOURS!

   See the landmarks and places in Edinburgh that you pick on a 100% personalized tour. Make this a one-of-a-kind experience that will satisfy your curiosity with the help of a local. All you have to do is tell them your preferences and interests

4. See THE Main Attractions

   What’s on your bucket list? Hop from landmark to landmark admiring them from the outside, and get recommendations from your local host on what’s the best way to enjoy them to the fullest

5. Off the Beaten Path

   What if there’s a way to see the city’s main attraction from a different angle? All of this while avoiding the touristy crowds? It’s possible with a local by your side!

6. Neighborhood Exploring

   Spend some time deep-diving into the neighborhoods of Edinburgh; there’s plenty of treasures to discover! From history, architecture, and local hangout spots, what area would you like to visit?

7. Amazing City Views

   Find the best lookout places in the city where you can spot your favorite landmarks as well as enjoy breathtaking views of the city - a picture-perfect personalized tour

8. All of Edinburgh

   Go on a full-day tour to see the highlights of the city. Pick the places, duration and let a local take you on a journey where you’ll cross the must-sees from Edinburgh off your list

9. 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

• 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.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

14 July 2025

Out of our 14 day UK adventure our tour day with Alice was truly a highlight of the trip. She was fun, calm, not in a rush (critical with 2 young children), and super knowledgeable about the area. She is a captivating story teller and we felt as though we saw parts of Edinburgh that we would never have happened upon on our own. She was so patient with our group and very personable. Can't recommend her enough! Alice is THE BEST

Dennis🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oluf)

9 July 2025

Oluf was very personable and knowledgeable and made our tour around Edinburgh relaxed and easy. We had a great time and would recommend him to any group wanting an authentic Scottish guideGreat Day!

Kateryna🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Alice)

29 June 2025

This was our first trip to Edinburgh, and we absolutely loved the tour with Alice! She shared so many fun and shocking stories — it was both entertaining and unforgettable. Highly recommended from the bottom of our hearts!• It Was Absolutely Fantastic!

Michelle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oluf)

26 June 2025

We are so happy we were able to book our tour with Oluf. He was very knowledgeable about Edinburgh and showed us things we would not have seen on any other tour! We appreciated his fascinating story telling which will make this trip an unforgettable experience. If you are thinking of booking a tour be sure to choose Oluf! Wonderful Afternoon!

Ryan

(About local Alice)

9 June 2025

Alice did a wonderful job tailoring our tour of Edinburgh to our family of five (children ages 15, 13, and 8). All of us were engaged throughout the tour, and Alice was able to answer our questions. She is a fantastic storyteller and made the city's history come to life. We travel frequently, and this is one of the best tours we've ever had.Fantastic Tour!

Christiane

(About local Alice)

2 June 2025

We had a wonderful afternoon with Alice, learning and walking around the city. We included the castle as well! We had flown in very early that morning and Alice more than kept us awake and entertained. Would certainly love to tour with Alice again. A wonderful afternoon in Edinburgh

Unknown

(About local Alice)

2 June 2025

This experience was exactly what we needed to introduce us to Edinburgh. So much interesting history and perfectly tailored to our taste. All Alice’s restaurant/ shop recommendations were also on point. Couldn’t recommend Alice more.Perfect!

Marianne🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Neil)

28 May 2025

If you’re going to walk around Edinburgh with Neil, you’re in for an absolute treat!! Being born and raised in Edinburgh, he knows every single nook and cranny (and close) there is! I asked Neil to pack in as much information about Edinburgh and Scotland as he could since it was my first time in this beautiful country and the start of my trip. And booooy did he deliver! The 3 hours just flew by as we walked up (up!!!!) and down the city, passing all the important spots and little hidden gems while listening to the stories (historical and personal) behind it. He is undeniably a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson, and after the tour, you surely become one too… With Neil by your side, you could walk to the world’s end and beyond ;-) And the care before and after the tour, making sure you are finding your way around the city and sending you the links and photographs of the “storytime”-Spots is just the nicest and sweetest touch! There isn’t a second chance for a first impression. And because of Neil, my first impression of Scotland couldn’t have been better!! Thank you so much Neil! You were a delight to tour with!☺️🤩🥰Fantastic Tour and beyound!!!

Terri

(About local Alice)

26 May 2025

Loved having a personalized tour with Alice on our first day in Edinburgh. We covered alot of ground and she shared stories, recommendations and tons of the history that Scotland is famous for. Perfectly pleasant in every way

kammerinke

(About local Svend-Erik)

24 May 2025

Perfect. Funny. Lots of Humor. Lots of knockledge. Thanks a lot, Erik!Perfect.

Monte🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

10 May 2025

Neil knows the best views, restaurants and neat places to pop in for more info about Robert Louis Stevenson. He was very patient with ALL our questions picture taking and encouraged us to try haggis. We actually liked it! The hours flew by because we were having such a good time. He recommended other things for us to do in our own as well. HIGHLY recommend!The best custom tour of Edinburgh

Mike🇺🇸 United States

(About local Joe)

2 April 2025

Our Edinburgh tour with Joe was a top highlight of our group’s entire UK trip. He was super accommodating and personalized the tour to our various interests. Joe was very cool and personable, with no shortage of stories, history, and humorous anecdotes anywhere we went. He had a plethora of recommendations for after our tour as well. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Joe, highly recommend booking a tour with him!!Unforgettable tour with Joe!!

James

(About local Gains)

16 March 2025

We had a tremendous experience with Gains. He was so knowledgeable and accommodating. It was a tremendous experience. We highly recommend booking him for a tour. He’s a true professional!Old Town Edinburgh w/Gains

Angel🇺🇸 United States

(About local Joe)

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

Valerie

(About local Alice)

20 July 2025

Alice was great - we had a group of 9 - it was classic Scotland weather - a bit of drizzle off and on - and Alice rolled with it - a few minutes at the Story Telling Centre and then off we went. Lots of history and you can tell that she has a special love for her city. Thank you Alice for a great tour! Great way to tour Ednburgh!

Arne

(About local Monica)

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 Svend-Erik)

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

Heather🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local GJ)

18 July 2025

G was fantastic! We could have spent the whole day listening to his stories and the history of Edinburgh. He had us all laughing and on the edge of our seats. If he is available to book- do not hesitate. Also sent us on our way with wonderful recommendations. Thank you G!

Inka

(About local Alice)

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

Asiya

(About local Alice)

17 July 2025

She is a wonderful guide, storyteller and person. She entertained and educated our student group flawlessly. Perfect!

5gmgnvz6sj

(About local GJ)

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!

Brecken🇺🇸 United States

(About local Neil)

16 July 2025

We had a fantastic afternoon exploring Edinburgh with Neil! His deep knowledge of the city's history, hidden gems, and fun facts kept us all engaged—and he even managed to keep our 9-year-old twins entertained the entire time. His warm personality and thoughtful recommendations made the experience feel like a day out with an old friend. He tailored the tour to our interests, added plenty of humor and charm, and shared insights we would’ve completely missed on our own. We ended the evening with a delicious dinner at a local spot Neil suggested—it was the perfect way to wrap up a truly memorable day. Highly recommend!A Perfect Day in Edinburgh with Neil!

Pam🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

16 July 2025

Chris was fantastic! He was very knowledgeable in the history and the food was great. The tour was wonderful and we had a lot of fun.Great tour

Katie

(About local Chris)

15 July 2025

We loved our tour with Chris. He was incredibly knowledgeable of the city and took us to some really unique places. I don’t think we ever would have discovered or walked around the places he took us so it was all very fun to do. He even got my aunt to try haggis and she was adamant about not wanting to during our time here. This tour is a major highlight of our trip. Thanks again, Chris! Such a fun time!

Sona

(About local Alice)

15 July 2025

This was an excellent tour of the royal mile and Edinburgh castle. My family and I really enjoyed Alice’s stories on the history of the area. Thankyou Alice. Excellent tour for families

Emily🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Gains)

15 July 2025

Gains is extreamly knowledgable about scottish history. He helped us to orient ourselves in the city especially around the royal mile. Wether it was identifying the inspiration for Hogwarts and the validity as such, to the square by the writers museum which holds quotes of Scottish authors, he showed us hidden areas that would be easily missed by the casual visitor. If you have a love of history and want to engage with a likeminded individual Gains is your ideal tour guide.Great tour!

Christoph🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Alice)

14 July 2025

Alice was a great and very entertaining tourguide. The stories she told were definitely spooky and thats what we expected on the tour. You should really go for it and book it. But be aware: its not for the faint hearted:)Absolutely amazing

Andrew🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alec)

13 July 2025

Alec gave a really enjoyable tour with lots of tips and information we likely wouldn't have found on our own. We especially enjoyed the bit about the Heart of Midlothian and watching to see who stepped on it and who did not.

Avtar🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Russell)

12 July 2025

Booked this for my parents. They had a great time and a good chat with Russell. Definitely would recommend him for others. This tour was the perfect time length too. Russell was lovely

Nick🇺🇸 United States

(About local Laura)

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 Alice)

9 July 2025

Alice gave us quite a performance of many a spooky story. Added much history to visit to Edinburgh. Loved it all. Booo

Andrew🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

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!

Shanna

(About local Alice)

8 July 2025

Alice was an engaging storyteller. We could have listened to her voice all day!Aloce was fantastic!

Odette Maria🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alice)

7 July 2025

We enjoyed each and every minute with Alice. Her storytelling skills and ability to captivate both the adults and the little ones on our guided tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and brought the ancient structures we had been walking through to life. Thank you Alice!Exceptional

Mitch

(About local Alice)

5 July 2025

justine.carbonell0228

(About local Alice)

3 July 2025

Alice was our personal tour guide for Edinburgh Castle. It was a great experience to learn about the history of the Castle in such an interesting way! Alice had a great way of telling the stories behind the beginning of the castle and the different structures within the Castle. I would highly recommend her!Excellent Edinburgh Castle Tour

Rex🇺🇸 United States

(About local Oluf)

3 July 2025

I had a really nice day with Oluf. I asked him to show me different parts of the city that aren’t super touristy and he took me around some beautiful neighborhoods, a walk down along the river, cool pubs, and of course some really interesting historical sites. He is a historian and has a wealth of information and could answer pretty much any question you have regarding the history of this city and the surrounding areas. Also had interesting conversations outside of history, just an all around really cool guy and am really glad I got to experience Edinburgh through his lens. I’d highly recommend Oluf if you’re in the city, especially if you have specific things you’d like to see or check out, as he is very flexible and will cater to what you feel like doing. Great tour with Oluf!

Pedro Mariano🇧🇷 Brazil

(About local Alice)

2 July 2025

Alice was a wonderful guide and a true storyteller. It was a walk full of stories. Thank you for showing us so many precious details that we would never have known.an amazing walk in edinburgh

Alesia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gains)

2 July 2025

Edinburgh is a wonderful city to visit-rich with history. People were very friendly and it was very convenient to get around the city by tram or bus. We did a walking tour with Gains because we love history. Gains was fabulous-very intelligent and knowledgeable about the history of Edinburgh and Scotland. He fixed the tour around our interests and was very amenable to any changes. We learned so much from him and had a very memorable tour!Edinburgh

Rex🇺🇸 United States

(About local Chris)

1 July 2025

We had a really great time with Chris. He’s a very pleasant person and shared interesting stories about the city he grew up in. It was a perfect introduction on the first day we arrived. Highly recommend doing a tour with him!Great tour with Chris!

Ivana

(About local Russell)

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!

Terrina🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Neil)

1 July 2025

I can't recommend Neil enough! Neil is a local to Edinburgh with a passion for sharing his knowledge of his home town with tourists! Our tour was at just the right pace - not too fast or too slow. Neil shared Edinburgh's history and hidden secrets- with a delightful touch of his own personal tales. Thank you Neil!!!Best With Locals Guide Ever!!!

Caroline

(About local Neil)

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

1alice.griffin🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Alice)

29 June 2025

Alice’s storytelling introduced us to the people & happenings of Edinburghs history through vivid accounts as if you were there! If you want to learn and experience the past don’t hesitate to book Alice you won’t regret it! Informative storytelling at its finest!

Maaike🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Alice)

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

Rob🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Alec)

27 June 2025

Alex was a wonderful host who had some incredibly interesting stories and insights about Edinburgh. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys a bit of of history interlaced with a glass of whiskey along the way!A fascinating insight into Edinburgh!

Julie🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Chris)

25 June 2025

Chris was an excellent guide for our food and walking tour. He customized the tour for our family of four, which included a 13 and 10 year old. He provided some great history of the city and the food while guiding us to several great local places. Great tour!Great food tour!

Mary

(About local Chris)

25 June 2025

Chris was such a nice guy and a wealth of knowledge about Edinburgh and Scotland. He was very personable and wanted to tailor the experience to our needs/wishes. I'm not sure that we tasted 10 items but it was close and the food was appropriately Scottish. The tour was good but I would not say good value for the money spent. It was expensive and the tastings were always one item shared between the 3 of us, which included the guide, and out of the same bowl/plate. So 3 people eating one soup or sipping one whisky. Take that as you will. If the food portion of the tour was improved upon it would be a top notch tour. A fun experience

rbxtnkxg4n

(About local Alice)

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

Jeffrey

(About local Alice)

23 June 2025

Alice was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and great story telling!Fantastic tour