Edinburgh City Tour - 1 day tour
Edinburgh City Tour
One day tour
Enjoy unobstructed views for the best photo opportunities while listening to an informative and entertaining commentary. There are 14 conveniently located stops, so you can easily explore the many attractions that Edinburgh offers.
Hop-on, Hop-off - your ticket is valid for 24 hours
Grassmarket - hear grizzly tales of grave robbers and public executions
Edinburgh Castle - see the Scottish Crown Jewels and admire the views from the ramparts
Palace of Holyroodhouse - visit HM The King’s official residence in Scotland
Royal Mile - discover the historic heart of Edinburgh
New Town - explore the grand squares and sweeping crescents of the Georgian new town
Movie locations - Trainspotting, Burke and Hare and Greyfriars Bobby
Full Tour Itinerary
Edinburgh, the Royal and ancient capital of Scotland, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
This award-winning Edinburgh Bus Tour tour is fully accessible and offers a unique perspective on Edinburgh. The Edinburgh City Tour runs all year round with buses operating every 15/20 minutes. Tickets are valid for 24 hours from the time of issue.
The ancient Royal Mile, with its cobbled streets, forms the backbone of the Medieval Old Town. This famous thoroughfare is where much of Scotland’s history was written.
It leads from the Palace of Holyroodhouse (HM The King’s official residence in Scotland) to Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the historic Stone of Destiny.
Along the way, you’ll see the iconic Scottish Parliament building, John Knox House, St Giles Cathedral, Greyfriars Bobby and much, much more!
Discover the sinister Grassmarket where the infamous murderers, Burke and Hare, had their lair. This was also the location of the city’s gallows, and many public executions took place here.
From the Grassmarket, take a wander up colourful Victoria Street, home to many independent traders. The eccentricity of its design is said to have inspired JK Rowling to create Diagon Alley in her Harry Potter books.
Nearby discover the story behind Scotland’s national drink with a visit to the fascinating Scotch Whisky Experience.
In contrast to the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town, the 18th Century New Town boasts gracious Georgian terraces, crescents and grand squares. Together they have earned Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage status.
Many eminent scientists, authors and inventors lived in the New Town. Discover their stories as you visit this elegant part of Edinburgh.
Shop until you drop in the designer shops of George Street or take a walk along Princes Street with its magnificent gardens, an outstanding feature making this one of the most spectacular shopping thoroughfares in the World.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this City Tour?
Without doubt the best way to discover Scotland’s great cities is to enjoy one of our hop-on, hop-off bus tours. Take the full tour to orient yourself then use your ticket as the most convenient way of getting between the key sights and attractions.
All our City Tours are operated by modern double-deck buses whose open-top design provides the best vantage point for sightseeing.
There are frequent departures (up to every 15 minutes) and tickets are valid for 24 hours.
All tours provide a full commentary in English and on the Edinburgh and Glasgow tours in other major languages too.
If you’re travelling with children these tours are a fun and entertaining way to discover your new surroundings - look out for the special kid’s commentary tracks.
Are admission fees included in the price of the ticket?
The cost of the tour is for transport only and admission fees to attractions are not included.
What happens if it rains?
This tour operates rain or shine all year round. The buses that are used on the tour have been specially designed with a covered area at the front of the upper deck offering protection from the elements.
How long does the tour last?
The full tour lasts for around 70 minutes if you were to travel the entire route without alighting. Many of our customers choose to do this as it’s a great way to orient yourself to the history and scenery of Edinburgh.
Is this tour wheelchair friendly?
Yes, all the buses used on the city tour can accommodate passengers in wheelchairs.
Inclusions
- Transport by open-top bus
- Personal recorded commentary in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish Dutch, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Russian plus 'Horrible Histories' Kid's Commentary.
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From Bus Stop ZG
27 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh EH1 3BG
Check-in: 08:45 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:00 hrs
Tour Returns: 19:00 hrs
Child details
Concession discount applies to children aged 5 to 15 years inclusive.
Children aged under 5 years travel free of charge.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Tour duration/Tickets Valid/Departures
60 minutes/24 hours/every 15-30 minutes
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility, admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
CS 00176
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 05 Apr 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our Highland tour. I wish we had time for the 2 day Outlander tour. Steven B. was a great guide and driver. He knows his stuff (or appears to)!
Karen from Weatherford, US
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Rating: (5 /5) 05 Nov 2022
Very good tour to fill a day. Lots of interesting information and also a very convenient way to get around the city while learning about all of the places.
Craig from Bristol, GB
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Rating: (5 /5) 19 Sep 2021
A great way to explore Edinburgh. It’s a hop-on, hop-off tour, but we just went round once to see the main sights. Had seats upstairs and got amazing pics.
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