The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of Edinburgh

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There’s no denying the charm of Edinburgh. It’s one of those cities that seems to be on everyone’s bucket list and there’s a lot to see in the Scottish Capital. I’ve visited Edinburgh twice now. Once, I explored by myself, and the second time I took a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh.

If I’d decided to take this tour the first time I visited, I’d not only have had an easier time exploring Edinburgh, but I’d also have learnt a whole lot more about the city. 

Quite often, my desire to learn about the history of a destination is the reason I travel there. I love exploring the past, learning quirky facts, and finding hidden gems that I wouldn’t have otherwise known about. And taking this kind of tour is the perfect way to do just that.

Let me explain…

Why should you take a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh?

I think one of the best ways to get acquainted with a new city is to go on a walking tour. There are lots of guided tours that you can take in popular cities all over the world. They’re a great way to get your bearings, learn a little, and see sights that you may not have otherwise seen. 

I recently took a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh and loved it. I learned so much about the city that I didn’t discover the first time and found a few little stops that I would’ve walked straight past if it weren’t for the tour.

My self guided walking tour of Edinburgh – The Dark Side of Edinburgh

The second time in a city is perfect for diving a little deeper so, I decided to pick a tour that was a little different than the typical tourist spots. I chose the ‘Dark Side of Edinburgh’ tour. I had previously learned a little bit about Edinburgh’s darker history at Edinburgh Castle, so I was interested to learn a little bit more. 

The tour lasted around 70 minutes and some of the stops included were:

• Calton Hill
• Tolbooth Tavern (which I’d never heard of before this tour)
• Real Mary King Close
• Greyfriars, and
• Edinburgh Castle

The guides are local tour guides who work in that particular area. This meant that they had a real personal experience with the destination and you could tell that by the way our guide, Dori, was speaking about the city. 

I learned loads. She told us chilling stories of grave robbings, the black death, haunted graveyards, creepy tales of ghosts in the castle and much more.

We stopped at two taverns that I’d walked straight past during my first trip to Edinburgh. It was super interesting to learn more about them, and it turns out that one of them used to serve as a prison and is now one of the most haunted taverns in Scotland!

I also loved how the tour took us along some of the most popular places to visit in Edinburgh on the way to each destination. We walked along the Royal Mile, past St Giles Cathedral, and also along Victoria Street.

Even though the tour wasn’t focused on these attractions, we passed a few of them anyway. So, it would be suitable for a first or second-time visit.

How does a self-guided walking tour work?

As this was my first self-guided tour, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But, the process was simple to set up and the tour was informative and easy to follow.

Once I’d signed up for the tour (which took about 2 seconds as I authenticated via Google), I simply had to select the city I wanted and unlock the tour. 

Then, you load the tour you want and hit the ‘Start Tour’ button. Since the tour is based on your location, you need to make sure the location settings on your phone are turned on. Once you are at the first stop, a play button will appear, and you can start the audio. 

Then, you can follow your little dot on the map on the screen as you move from one stop to another. Directions are easy as you don’t need to follow Google Maps in the background. Once you are close to your next stop, you can play the next audio. 

You can also pause the audio and replay it if you missed something or want to hear it again. Plus, you don’t have to download an app either, you can experience the whole thing in your browser.

Is a self-guided walking tour better than a guided tour?

I think there are pros and cons to each. But, just as I prefer to hire a car than to take public transport, I really loved the freedom of taking a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh. 

The main pro for me of a guided tour over a self-guided tour is that you can ask questions. If there’s anything else you want to know, the guide will usually be able to tell you. Otherwise, it’s a very tough call between the two. 

Here are a few reasons you should consider doing a self-guided tour over a guided one.

You can spend as much time as you like at the stops

The one thing I often dislike about guided tours is that you have a time limit. I’ve taken several historical tours around the world and typically, the guide will explain a bit about the site, tell you some great facts about the history, and then give you 30 minutes to explore. 

An entire historical site in 30 minutes? It always seems impossible and I never have enough time to see everything. 

A self-guided tour eliminates this completely. You set the pace that you want to explore. 

If you want to only spend 30 minutes at a stop, you can. But if you want to dig deeper into the destination, and spend well over an hour there learning more about the history, you can do that too.

If you want to pause the tour completely for 40 minutes to grab a cup of coffee from a cute cafe you find nearby, you can, and nobody can tell you that your time is up.

If you’re an introvert, you don’t have to deal with other people

Much as I like meeting new people when I travel, sometimes, I just don’t feel like making small talk. With Around Tours, you get the luxury of a private tour without the hassle (or expense) of organising one.

Plus, you’re not bundled in a large group and you can hear everything the guide says without having to push your way to the front – you just have to turn up your headphones!

You can use one platform for multiple cities

The convenience of having everything in one place is incredibly useful on its own. You can just use the same website for all your tours all over the world. 

So, although you’ve bought a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh, you might also be going to Italy the following month. Then, you can just purchase your tours for Rome or Milan and simply load up the app and start the tour when you get there!

Final Thoughts on Taking a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Edinburgh

Overall, I think taking an Edinburgh walking tour is a fantastic way to see this historic city.

There are several different tour options available and you can purchase multiple depending on your preference.

Plus, since it’s self-guided, you can do it entirely at a pace that suits you. You’ll learn a little more, discover hidden gems, and perhaps even see a side of the city that you never knew existed.

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