From happy customers

Loved by 47 million+
Trustpilot rating: 4.5 out of 5
Tiffany Graham

Tiffany

Sep 2025

review-image

review-image

review-image

+2 more

Our tour guide, Linda was amazing! She involved the group in ways that made even this very antisocial person comfortable and included without feeling overwhelmed. Linda's knowledge and presentation of the history we walked in were outstanding and kept us all waiting for the next story! If we ever make it back, we will be using Mercat Tours again!
EMMA-JANE WOOD
AU

Emma-jane

Australia
Jan 2026
Well organised and incredibly interesting. Our guide Jude was an incredible story teller. She was funny, interactive and incredibly knowledgeable! I went to the tour alone and felt completely safe and looked after :)
Sharon Arnold
NZ

Sharon

New Zealand
Jan 2026
Lots of stories, our tour guide Veni was an awesome storyteller! The underground vaults and their history are so interesting. Finished with a drink in a little cellar. Highly recommend!
Abigail Morrison

Abigail

Oct 2025
Our guide was David RIzzio - foul-mouthed, irreverent, camp and a very fast walker. Amongst grisly ghost stories and macarbre murder tales, he also found time to heap abuse on Americans, the English, J.K. Rowling, people who walk slowly, people who don't know how to turn their phones into flashlights, other ghost tour operators, his colleagues, his ex, people in general... A hugely entertaining evening.


Why take a guided tour?

Group on guided tour under archway in Edinburgh Old Town.
  • Learn from an expert: Hear spine-chilling tales of Edinburgh’s past from storytellers who know the city’s haunted corners better than anyone.
  • Discover hidden locations: Explore underground vaults, eerie closes, and secret passageways you might otherwise walk past without noticing.
  • Become a part of the historical story: Go beyond surface-level stories with insights into real historical figures, unsolved mysteries, and infamous events.
  • Safety in numbers: Brave the darker streets and underground chambers with the reassurance of a knowledgeable guide and fellow tour-goers.
  • Make it interactive: Enjoy atmospheric storytelling, folklore, and dramatic performances that bring Edinburgh’s haunted history to life.

Guided tours vs non-guided tours

Guided tours

  • Expert insight: Guides bring Edinburgh’s history and legends to life with dramatic storytelling, ensuring the tales feel authentic and unforgettable.
  • Hidden access: Some guided tours unlock restricted vaults and eerie passageways not accessible alone, offering rare behind-the-scenes experiences.
  • Safe navigation: Twisting alleys and underground vaults can be tricky at night, but guides ensure you explore safely while enjoying the atmosphere.
  • Engaging atmosphere: Group energy makes spooky stories more thrilling, with shared gasps and laughs adding to the overall fun.

Self-paced tours

  • Complete flexibility: Set your own pace, pause at intriguing spots, or spend longer in areas that capture your imagination.
  • Personal adventure: Roam freely through Old Town and the Royal Mile, creating your own ghostly path and unique story.
  • Quiet reflection: Exploring without a guide lets you soak up the eerie atmosphere in silence, heightening the sense of mystery.
  • Budget friendly: Self-guided options can often cost less, making them appealing for travellers who want spooky experiences without the extra expense.

Highlights covered on your guided tour

Visitors react in fear during the Edinburgh Dungeon Cannibal Clan experience.
Tour guide leading a group on an Extreme Paranormal Activity Tour in a dimly lit alley.
Cobblestone street on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, with historic buildings and red phone booths.
St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh with a statue in the foreground and people walking nearby.
Actors portraying cannibals in the Cannibal Cave at Edinburgh Dungeon.
Tour guide explaining Edinburgh Castle history to a group on the Royal Mile walking tour.
Guests enjoying whisky tasting at an underground tour in Edinburgh.
Calton Hill view of Edinburgh skyline with Dugald Stewart Monument, Scotland.
Canongate Kirk and cemetery with Arthur's Seat in the background, Edinburgh.
1/9

Mercat Cross

At the heart of the Royal Mile, this medieval gathering point hides a dark past. Once the stage for markets, public punishments, and chilling announcements, guides weave gripping tales of power, fear, and community around its weathered stone.

The Underground Vaults

Beneath Edinburgh’s bustling streets lies a labyrinth of damp chambers. Once home to the city’s poorest residents, the vaults echo with stories of crime, hauntings, and hardship, creating one of the capital’s eeriest and most atmospheric experiences.

The Royal Mile

Stretching from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, this cobbled thoroughfare brims with haunted closes and shadowy corners. Storytellers bring its history alive with accounts of witch trials, ghostly figures, and centuries-old secrets hidden behind narrow doorways.

St Giles’ Cathedral Surroundings

Though famed for beauty, the area around this Gothic cathedral has a darker legacy. Witch trials, executions, and tales of religious fear shaped its history, leaving behind haunting echoes that guides vividly recount on evening tours.

The Edinburgh Dungeon

Blurring theatre with history, this attraction plunges visitors into Edinburgh’s darkest chapters. Costumed actors, special effects, and immersive sets recreate gruesome trials, ghostly legends, and notorious criminals, giving guests a thrillingly macabre insight into the city’s shadowed past.

Edinburgh Castle

Perched dramatically on Castle Rock, this fortress dominates the skyline. Beyond sweeping views, it offers tales of royal intrigue, bloody sieges, and ghostly encounters, making it a spellbinding stop steeped in centuries of Scottish history.

Whisky tasting sessions

Held in atmospheric settings like vaulted cellars, these guided tastings mix heritage with sensory experience. Experts unravel the craft of whisky-making, pairing storytelling with aromas and flavors, creating a rich journey through Scotland’s cultural traditions.

Edinburgh’s Old Town

A maze of medieval streets, hidden wynds, and towering tenements where history lingers in every stone. Guided tours bring alive tales of merchants, monarchs, and mysteries that shaped the very heart of Scotland’s capital.

Greyfriars Kirkyard

This historic graveyard is famed for haunted legends, restless spirits, and tragic stories of Edinburgh’s past. Guides recount the tale of Greyfriars Bobby and introduce chilling lore tied to the infamous Mackenzie Poltergeist.

Frequently Asked Questions about Edinburgh guided ghost tours

You can choose from underground vault tours, Royal Mile walking tours, after-dark experiences, or themed tours with whisky tastings.

More reads

Royal Mile Edinburgh

Blair Street Vaults

Underground whisky tours