Edinburgh is known for its dark past, and this evening walking tour is the original one to showcase the city's historically sinister and spooky side. Discover the hidden ‘wynds’ (alleys) and closes of the Old Town as you learn their mysteries and horrors; visit the ghost-ridden Greyfriars Kirkyard; and explore the city’s underground vaults to uncover their spirits and secrets. Your tour is led by a creepily costumed guide.

Evening Edinburgh underground vaults walking tour
Explore the Old Town’s ‘wynds’ and hear about their history and mysteries
Visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, said to be the world’s most haunted graveyard
Descend into Edinburgh’s underground vaults and uncover their 400-year history
Hear tales of ghosts, murders and torture, and watch and listen for unexplained events
Guide dressed as one of Edinburgh’s most infamous characters
Early evening tour suitable for families

What's Included

75 Minute evening walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town and South Bridge vaults.
Guide plays a real, distinct and infamous character from Scotland’s history.
Walk through the Old Town’s distinctive closes, wynds and secluded squares.
Visit the world-famous, eerie, unforgettable Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Hear terrifying stories of hauntings, murders, executions and cannibalism.
6.45pm Evening tour is suitable for families.
Travel back in time and descend into our section of underground street.

None
No under 5s

Departure & Return

Departure Point

124 High St, 124 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK
Old Police Box by starbucks

Return Details

This activity will end right where it started.

What To Expect

Meet your guide on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in the early evening. Your guide will be dressed as one of the Scottish capital’s most infamous historical characters, bringing an extra spook factor to your experience.

Then, set out on foot to explore the hidden wynds and closes radiating from the Royal Mile. Stroll through shadowy lanes and courtyards, and listen as your guide details their dark history and horrifying secrets, hearing tales of the criminality and murders once rife here.

Next, head to what is claimed to be the world’s most haunted cemetery: Greyfriars Kirkyard. Walk around the tombstones, and listen to stories of poltergeists, missing bodies, and the graveyard’s famously loyal dog.

Lastly, follow your guide into Edinburgh’s underground vaults. Explore the dark subterranean chambers, and uncover their 400-year history as you hear gruesome snippets about ghosts, torture, murder, witchcraft, and unexplained events.

As you walk, watch and listen or any strange events and noises: many visitors to the vaults have reported weird sensations and sightings.

When it’s time, re-emerge into the streets of the Old Town, where your tour ends when you say goodbye to your guide.

Edinburgh Old Town

Experience the Old town's wynd's and closes Visit the most haunted graveyard in Edinburgh Explore the Edinburgh Vaults beneath the city's streets

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travellers can participate
guests should arrive 10 minutes prior to tours
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers

Operated by City of Edinburgh Tours

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour?

A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travellers

Q:What is the policy on sanitisation during The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour?

A:The policies on sanitisation are:

Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use

Q:What is the social distancing policy during The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour?

A:The policy on social distancing is:

Social distancing enforced throughout experience

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during The World Famous Underground Ghost Tour?

A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

Hangman was a brilliant guide and highly recommend this tour to anyone who comes to Edinburgh!

Reviews

4.5

2,303 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers

Showing 1-10 of 2,303 reviews

Nice tour

Iza_D, May 2022

Great tour. Our guid jake or jack hah was perfect. Good info and scary parts. Would recommend. The story from the past about children very scary

Brilliant! Highly recommend

Marie_S, May 2022

Jessie was fantastic! I would highly recommend taking the tour. It was fun, interesting and scary. Jessie did an amazing job, thank you!

Lovely tour!!!

Rachel_S, May 2022

John was an amazing guide. He made the tour informative and animated. Lots of haunted moments. Thank you John!

Best tour I’ve ever taken

Lauren_B, May 2022

John “the Scientist” was amazing! Best tour guide ever. So funny and super knowledgeable! This was the best tour I’ve ever been on, I’m not much of a history person but scotlands history is so interesting and Johns stories were truly incredible. Don’t skip this tour!

Ghost tour

leeann_w, May 2022

Sanny bean was our guide very knowledgeable fun and helpful. Great tour if you enjoy history and mystery great wat to see edinburgh

Amazing Experience!

Kerri_M, May 2022

Dr. Knox was a great tour guide! He managed to give a lot of history and tell some incredible stories all while making us laugh most of the tour!

Well worth it

Julie_C, May 2022

Orbs captured on video in the underground street. Agnes (the Witch) was knowledgeable and fun, providing education on the history and geography of Edinburgh

The Doctor

James_B, May 2022

The tour guide were amazing, made the experience come alive with all the history and knowledge he knew. Funny, witty and made you part of the tour.

Fantastic Experience

Helen_O, May 2022

Fantastic tour, would definitely recommend it. Dr Robert Knox best tour guide ever...he really made the stories come to life. The story of the children gave me chills and the toy's left behind so eerie, imaging what life was like back then, so difficult. Will definitely be back for another tour if ever I am fortunate enough to visit beautiful Edinburgh again.

Our experience

Paul_H, May 2022

Fab experience, brilliant host, brought the tales to life. Saw Edinburgh in a whole new light. Not too be missed.

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Questions?

Product code: 36194P8

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