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Loch LomondAttraction in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scotland

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Ask an expert: Edinburgh travel tips from Laurence Norah

Edinburgh: a 72-hour itinerary

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Edinburgh travel guide

Edinburgh: Dark Secrets of the Old Town Ghost Walking Tour

Top rated
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
1103 reviews
Activity provider:
Scotland City Tours - Somos Escocia
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Edinburgh: Dark Secrets of the Old Town Ghost Walking Tour
Likely to sell out
Top rated
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
1103 reviews

Explore Edinburgh's dark past as you visit Canongate Kirkyard, learn about the Black Death, and visit the sites of 19th-century serial killers on this chilling guided walking tour.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 2 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English, German

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

5
5 out of 5 stars
D
Denise – United Kingdom

Melanie was our tour guide. Lovely lady who brought past characters back to life. Very knowledgeable and passionate about the city and the stories she told. Great SOH made the tour even more enjoyable. Highly recommend. Thankyou

5
5 out of 5 stars
R
Rubina – Germany

Sonja is incredible! We loved her humor and how she did the tour! Super fun and informative! We walked for nearly 2 hours but in a super chill pace and with enough pauses during her talks. Her english is super understandable even if you are not native to the english language.

Select participants and date

Participants

Highlights

  • Stroll down winding alleyways in the center of Edinburgh
  • Learn about Burke and Hare, known as the Westport Murderers
  • Discover the witch and warlock trials that took place in Scotland
  • Visit Scotland's most haunted graveyard, Old Calton Cemetery
  • Hear stories, myths and funny anecdotes from your local guide

Full description

Discover Scotland’s mythical sites and Scottish faeries as you walk around the city of Edinburgh. Pass by graveyards, aged houses, and the sites where witches and warlocks were burnt on this sinister yet insightful walking tour.


Learn about the black market for corpses in the 19th century and the serial killers William Burke and William Hare. Hear how they sold corpses for dissection at anatomy lectures. Visit the Old Calton Cemetery and Canongate Kirkyard.

Enjoy pleasant views across Edinburgh whilst your guide talks about a particularly dark chapter in the city’s history, the burning of witches and warlocks. Be astounded by the number of people burned for witchcraft and what spells and beliefs caused this.


Unearth the past as your guide explains about the doctors who cured those with the Black Death, a bubonic plague pandemic in the 1300s. Walk past houses where people lived in the 17th-century and explore the mystery and mysticism that surrounds Edinburgh.

Includes

  • Tour guide
  • Walking tour

Not suitable for

  • Wheelchair users

Meeting point

Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Likely to sell out

From $25 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5
4.7 out of 5 stars

based on 1103 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    5/5
  • Value for money
    4.6/5

Customer photos

+81
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5
5 out of 5 stars
D
Denise – United KingdomJuly 4, 2025 – Verified booking
Melanie was our tour guide. Lovely lady who brought past characters back to life. Very knowledgeable and passionate about the city and the stories she told. Great SOH made the tour even more enjoyable. Highly recommend. Thankyou
5
5 out of 5 stars
R
Rubina – GermanyJuly 3, 2025 – Verified booking
Sonja is incredible! We loved her humor and how she did the tour! Super fun and informative! We walked for nearly 2 hours but in a super chill pace and with enough pauses during her talks. Her english is super understandable even if you are not native to the english language.
5
5 out of 5 stars
N
Nigel – United KingdomJuly 2, 2025 – Verified booking
Jen was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Informative and entertaining throughout. Could not have wished for a better guide.

Product ID: 413318

Activity provider:
Scotland City Tours - Somos Escocia
  • United Kingdom
  • Things to do in Edinburgh
  • Tours in Edinburgh
  • Old Calton Burial Ground

Top Attractions in Edinburgh

  • 1Edinburgh Castle
  • 2Edinburgh Airport
  • 3Edinburgh Vaults
  • 4Real Mary King's Close
  • 5Johnnie Walker Princes Street
  • 6The Scotch Whisky Experience
  • 7Royal Yacht Britannia
  • 8The Edinburgh Dungeon
  • 9Holyrood Palace
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  • 12Midhope Castle
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Tours in Scotland

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  • 1Things to do in Glasgow
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