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Ready to see what goes on in Edinburgh as the sun starts to set?
You’ve come to the right place, as we’re going to explore the best 13 evening and night tours of Edinburgh – all led by expert guides who want to share the beauty of this part of England and help you skip the tourist traps.
If you’re like, just cut to the chase already, then don’t worry.
The best evening and night tour of Edinburgh is this World Famous Underground Ghost Tour.
It has about 3500 amazing reviews, so there’s no going wrong.
Edinburgh is famous for its dark and disturbing past.
With almost 900 years of history, the city has survived a lot of scary things, including cannibals, grave robbers, witchcraft, and plagues.
⏳ Don’t have time to read the whole list?
The best nighttime tour in Edinburgh is this World Famous Underground Ghost Tour.
If you want to see what your other options are, here are 12 more tours that are definitely worth your time, including Edinburgh night walking tours, a night bus tour in Edinburgh, and general Edinburgh night time tours.
So let’s get into the list of the best evening and night tours of Edinburgh, so you can book it already!
PS – booking in advance is highly, highly recommended, so you don’t miss out.
Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group, where I can answer more of your questions!
Easy Guide: Best Night Tours in Edinburgh
| #1 PICK 🏆 | World Famous Underground Ghost Tour | 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 3,400+ reviews | ▶ Book Here! |
| #2 PICK | Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour | 5 out of 5 stars, 2,800+ reviews | ▶ Book Here! |
| #3 PICK | Fright Night Tour | 4.5 out of 5 stars, 590+ reviews | ▶ Book Here! |
1. World Famous Underground Ghost Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 3,400+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour 15 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Terrifying stories of murders, cannibalism, hauntings, and executions
- 75-minute tour of the Old Town & South Bridge vaults
- Guide dressed as an infamous individual from Scotland’s history
- World-famous Greyfriars Kirkyard
Edinburgh is famous for its sinister past, and this evening walking tour is a great way to see the historically spooky and sinister side of the city.
On this tour, you’ll discover hidden closes and alleys (commonly known as wynds) of the Old Town and learn their horrors and mysteries.
You’ll also get to visit the infamously ghost-ridden Greyfriars Kirkyard graveyard (considered the most haunted graveyard in the world) and explore Edinburgh’s underground vaults to uncover their 400-year-old history, secrets, and spirits.
Your guide further adds to the whole experience by dressing up as an infamous historical character and telling you tales of torture, ghosts, murders, and unexplained events.
Your tour will start from the Royal Mile.
You’ll meet your guide in the early evening and set out to explore closes and wynds.
You’ll walk through shadowy courtyards and lanes and hear your guide narrate the dark history of the city.
Once you get to the most haunted cemetery, you’ll get to walk around the plethora of tombstones, learn about the graveyard’s loyal dog, and hear stories of missing bodies and poltergeists.
2. Edinburgh Darkside Walking Tour: Mysteries, Murder, and Legends: Edinburgh night tour
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 2,800+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Professional and knowledgeable guide
- Eerie streets of the Old Town
- Panoramic views of the city
- Gripping stories about vampires and body snatchers
Here’s another tour for all fans of horror – a haunted walking tour that takes you through the grisliest tales of the city.
With this tour, you’ll get to experience ghastly stories of murder, madness, and monsters that are rampant around the city and discover sites and stories of local monsters, executions, pagan rituals, and witch trials.
On this tour, you’ll get to visit the Canongate Kirkyard cemetery or the Old Calton Burial Ground and hear stories of body snatching, vampires, and some of the most famous interred.
You’ll be led by a knowledgeable guide and will get to explore the cobblestone streets of the Old Town.
You’ll also get to climb Calton Hill, where pagan rituals and witch trials used to take place, and see panoramic views of Edinburgh.
All the while, you’ll be accompanied by gripping commentary from your guide.
The tour will start from Royal Mile in the Old Town, where you’ll meet your guide before embarking on a walk through the recesses of the city’s haunted history.
If you’re lucky (or rather, unlucky), you might even come across a spooky character at one of the stops!
3. Fright Night Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 590+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour 15 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Guide in a period costume portraying a real character
- Stories based on actual events and individuals
- History of the famous Old Town
- Greyfriars Kirkyard and South Bridge vaults
The streets of Edinburgh hide a sinister and mysterious past, which is rooted in the 18th-century vaults, wynds, closes, and slums.
On this 75-minute tour, you’ll explore underground vaults, a haunted cemetery shrouded with mystery and steeped in folklore, and the dark cobbled lanes of the Old Town, and learn more about their history.
You’ll be led by a costumed guide (dressed as a long-dead Edinburgh citizen) who’ll share captivating stories of the city’s history along with tales of crimes, murders, and ghosts.
As you go along the tour, you’ll discover who your guide is dressed as and hear fascinating stories.
Your tour will start from the Royal Mile.
From here, you’ll get to explore the wynds and lanes that used to be the heart of the city’s slums.
As you walk the cramped closes and passageways, you’ll hear true stories about their occupants and history.
From here, you’ll stop at a haunted graveyard and explore a network of old, 18th-century chambers.
4. Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour in Edinburgh : Edinburgh evening tours
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 540+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour 20 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Late night start time for a spooky atmosphere
- Well-trained costumed guide
- 80-minute tour of the South Bridge vaults, Greyfriars Kirkyard, and Old Town
- Blood-curdling accounts from the city’s history
If you love ghosts and paranormal activities, you have to take this 1.5-hour ghost tour that is sure to give you some spine-chilling paranormal frights!
Edinburgh has a bloody and brutal past, which has resulted in the city having a heavily haunted present.
With this tour, you’ll get a chance to see some of the most haunted locations in the city.
Once the sun goes down, you’ll head over to a graveyard and explore underground vaults spread underneath the city.
Along the tour, you’ll hear tales of body snatching, murder, and torture.
Plus, since this tour is limited to just 15 people, you’ll have a more heightened and spooky atmosphere.
You’ll be accompanied by a guide, who’ll be dressed in a period costume and will keep you entertained with spine-tingling tales of the city’s dark past.
If you love everything supernatural and are always looking for your next scare, this is the tour you should book!
5. Ghost and Gore Walking Tour of Edinburgh
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 400+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour 20 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- A copy of Adam Lyal’s best-selling book, ‘The Witchery Tales’
- Long-dead guide Mr. Alexander Clapperton
- Spooky tales of plague, invasions, witchcraft, and torture
- An array of ghoulish characters on this Edinburgh night walk
Here’s another tour to see the ghoulish side of Edinburgh.
This 80-minute evening walking tour will take you to some of the eeriest sites in the city.
As the sun goes down, you will start to make your way down the Royal Mile, while your ghostly guide – a deceased Alexander Clapperton who’s a former cemetery director – will tell you tales of mayhem, plague, torture, and witchcraft.
On this tour, you’ll meet popular apparitions like the bloody and wild Highlander Rhuari McLeod, the bad-tempered witch Agnes Fynnie, and the Mad Monk of Cowgate, who was an energetic grave digger.
This fiendishly funny tour will take you through dimly lit courtyards and cobbled streets of the Old Town, and you’ll get a chance to take in the nocturnal nature of the city.
At the end of the tour, you’ll get a copy of ‘Witchery Tales,’ a bestseller by Adam Lyal as a way to remember this unique experience.
6. Small Group Edinburgh Night Walking tour including Underground Vaults
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 300+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Exclusive access to the Blair Street underground vaults
- TourTalk radio receiver so that you have a more immersive storytelling experience
- Award-winning storytellers on this Edinburgh evening walking tour
- Small group experience
If you’re a little daring, you should take this late-night ghost walking tour and explore a more sinister side of the city, which also includes the famous Blair Street vaults present under the South Bridge.
Once you start this tour, you’ll make your way through mysterious alleyways as you listen to ghastly and grim tales of torture and treason.
From there, you’ll go underground and take a candlelight tour of the 18th-century Blair Street Underground Vaults (where poltergeists used to bide their time) and listen to haunting stories of supernatural forces present in the darkest corners of the city.
You’ll also get to visit different sites of documented spirits, ghosts, hauntings, and hangings, see where disreputable characters of the city committed grave crimes, and get to know some legendary stories, such as of a wizard burned at the stake before you come back above ground to end your tour.
7. Whisky and Folklore in Edinburgh Including Four Single Malt Scotch Whiskies
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 360+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Alcoholic beverages (and alternatives for those who don’t drink whisky)
- Expert guide who’s also a great storyteller and a whiskey enthusiast
- Whisky tasting tour
- Authentic Scottish experience
If you’re looking for something other than a paranormal or ghostly tour, check out this whisky and folklore tour that will take you to the Waverley Pub, one of the most famous drinking establishments in the city that also stocks up on a wide variety of Scotch whisky.
Since this is a tasting tour, you’ll get to sample 4 different kinds of single malt whiskies from whisky-producing regions of the country and understand how to differentiate between a lowland and a highland whisky (spoiler alert: the former has a subtle and delicate flavor while the latter has a robust and bold taste).
In addition to that, you’ll learn all the secrets of Scotch whisky-making and enjoy the infamous Scottish tradition of storytelling.
What makes things even more interesting is that the same family has been running the bar for more than 8 decades and is known for a history of storytelling, music, and people.
Plus, the bar’s entire upper floor is reserved for the tour, so you get privacy on this story-oriented evening.
8. Small Group Ghost Tour Incl. Underground Vaults & free drink in Megget’s Cellar
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 350+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Exclusive access to the Blair Street underground vaults
- Award-winning storytellers
- Small group experience
- TourTalk radio receiver to enjoy a more immersive storytelling experience
Edinburgh is one of the ideal places for ghost hunters, and rightfully so.
After all, it is one of the most haunted cities in the UK.
And if you’re daring enough, you should take this evening tour and get a chance to see the dark side of the city.
On this tour, you’ll go to the Blair Street Underground vaults.
You’ll then follow in the footsteps of the Edinburgh Mob before heading over to Megget’s Cellar for a Scotch whisky.
All the while, you’ll be accompanied by a storyteller guide who’ll keep you entertained throughout the tour.
Your tour will start from the High Street, where you’ll meet your guide and set off to discover the wynds and closes of the Old Town.
While you explore the dimly lit streets, you’ll hear stories of witchcraft, murder, and torture, along with legends of ghouls and ghosts.
Your tour will end at Megget’s Cellar, where you’ll get to enjoy a drink before you head back to the hotel.
9. Edinburgh: Underground Vaults & Graveyard Evening Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 300+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 105 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Radio receiver so you can hear the guide
- Tour guide
- Blair Street underground vaults
- Stories about cursed souls and infamous murderers
This is another haunting walking tour that will take you through the eerie underground vaults and the haunting graveyard.
As the sun starts to set, you’ll make your way through the ancient city to reach the Blair Street underground vaults while hearing about the history and tales of murder and torture that lurk within.
After that, you’ll follow the guide down narrow, dimly-lit streets to reach Canongate Graveyard, the final resting place of many famous figures of the city, such as infamous cannibal of the Canongate, James Douglas (the third Marquess of Queensberry), David Rizzio (Mary Queen of Scots’ lover), and Adam Smith (father of economics).
With a radio receiver in your hand, you’ll get to hear about their lives and the way they shaped the history of the city.
Along with that, you’ll learn about (and maybe even encounter) ghosts that still haunt Edinburgh.
10. Terror Walking Tour in Edinburgh: night tours Edinburgh
⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars, 190+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour 15 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Professional guide
- Access to hidden underground vaults
- Famous landmarks from the past like St Giles’ Cathedral
- A stop at the terror museum
This 75-minute adult-only walking tour isn’t for the faint of heart.
Follow your guide on this tour filled with supernatural chills and spine-tingling thrills.
You’ll start by exploring the cobbled streets of the historic Old Town, which will give you a glimpse of the city’s dark past.
Then, once it gets dark, you’ll make your way down to the hidden underground vaults that were once used for holding criminals.
In fact, the South Bridge Vaults have higher-than-normal levels of paranormal activity, especially late at night as the witching hour approaches, making this tour the best time to explore all these eerie places yourself.
You’ll also get to see the top landmarks in the city, including St Giles’ Cathedral, and hear about the notorious Tolbooth Prison that held troubled souls.
You’ll also get to enter the infamously terrifying torture museum.
You can also ask your guide for their experiences with the paranormal and hear just some of the reports received from paranormal investigators and mediums.
Given the terrifying nature of this tour, it’s only suitable for those over 18.
11. Private Edinburgh Photography Tours
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 9+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Photography tuition and review
- Local guide
- Professional photographer guide
- Custom-tailored so there’s something special each time
If you want to do something other than hunting down the paranormal, check out this private 3-hour photography tour that’ll help you explore the beauty of the city.
You won’t just be able to get some creative vision; you’ll also get some insights into photography from an expert photographer who’ll guide you from the Royal Mile and take you to unique shooting opportunities throughout the city.
There’s a lot that’ll happen on this tour.
For instance, you’ll get to see local landmarks and explore hidden gems at the golden hour, while learning tips on composition and the best settings and angles so that you capture captivating images.
All tours are custom-tailored, so you can expect something special and unique every time.
You’ll also get feedback about your pictures so that you can improve.
Whether you’re just starting with photography or if you’re a hobbyist or an expert, the team will find the best photographic opportunities based on your interests.
12. Edinburgh Night Tour with a Local Guide: Private & 100% Personalized
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Hotel meet-up (on request)
- 2 drinks of your choice
- Walking tour
- Private & personalized itinerary
The best way to see any city is with a local, and that’s exactly what this tour aims to do.
With this tour, you’ll get to see the city through the eyes of a local and enjoy an authentic glimpse into the capital’s nightlife.
Plus, you can get the itinerary tailored depending on what interests you the most, whether that’s whiskey specialists, live music, or speakeasy-style bars.
Regardless of what you choose, you’ll get undivided attention from your private guide.
Plus, by letting your guide take care of all the logistics, you’ll save hours of planning.
Typically, the tour starts at a hip bar or local pub where you start off with a Scotch whiskey or beer, before heading over to Sheep Heid Inn, known for having the best alcoholic drinks.
Then, you can decide where you want to go, whether that’s the Edinburgh Pub Crawl, the Dome on George Street, or the Royal Observatory.
Whatever you choose, you’ll have a great time!
13. A History of Witchcraft in Edinburgh: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes | ✔️ BOOK NOW
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
- Lifetime access to the tour (in English)
- Offline access to geodata, maps, and audio
- VoiceMap app for both Android and iOS devices
- Folklore and history of witchcraft
If you’re interested in witchcraft, you have to take this tour!
This is a self-guided walking tour that takes you through the most famous sites of the city while you learn the folklore and history of witchcraft.
On this tour, you’ll get to see the place where the Wizard of West Bow lived and even walk in the footsteps of those women who were sentenced to death for practicing witchcraft.
Your guide for this tour is Katrina Milne, who has led more than 2000 clients on tour.
Since this is a self-guided tour, it’s up to you whether you want to complete it all in 75 minutes or stop along the way – you have complete control over your start and end time, so it’s up to you to set the pace.
Plus, you’ll get unlimited use both before and even after the booking date! Not to mention, the app (VoiceMap) has automatic GPS and turn-by-turn directions, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.
Hey! Want to use our trusty guides to the best tours in other places across the UK? Check these out!
- 11 Best Tours of the Cotswolds from London in 2023
- 11 Best Tours of the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh in 2023
- 5 Best London Open Top Bus Tours
- 9 Best Scottish Outlander Tours
- 9 Best Ghost Tours in Oxford
- 5 Best Bath Ghost Tours
- 9 Best Bus Tours in Edinburgh
- 19 Most Unique London Tours
- 9 Best Day Trips to Oxford from London
- 7 Best Stonehenge Day Trips from London
- 7 Best Changing of the Guard Tours in London
- 11 Best Oxford Walking Tours
- 11 Best London Rock ‘n’ Roll Tours
- 11 Best London Museum Tours
- 3 Best Morse Tours in Oxford
- 11 Best London Beatles Tours
- 11 Best Walking Tours in Bath
- 13 Best Harry Potter Tours in Oxford
- 11 Best Jack the Ripper Tours in London
- 9 Best London Literary Tours
- 9 Best Street Art Tours in London
- 11 Best London Bike Tours
- 15 Best London Pub Crawl Tours
- 11 Best London Bus Tours for Families
- 17 Best Harry Potter Tours in London
- 17 Best London Foodie Tours
- 13 Best Ghost & Haunted Tours in Edinburgh
- 11 Best Edinburgh Walking Tours
- 11 Best Private Tours in London
- 11 Best Ghost Tours in London
- 11 Fun Tours of Royal London
- 13 Isle of Skye Tours for a Magical Time
- 13 Mysterious Tours of Loch Ness
- 7 Best James Bond Tours in London
- 7 Best Paris Tours from London
- 7 Best Stratford-upon Avon Tours from London
- 7 Best Tours of Bath from London
- 7 Best Black Cab Tours from London
- 11 Best Downton Abbey Tours in the UK
UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs
🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?
Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here, a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.
🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?
Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one, which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.
🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?
The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.
🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?
For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.
📳 Will my phone work in the UK?
Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.
🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?
Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink.
