Walking tours · Edinburgh
Free walking tours in Edinburgh
3 free walking tours, each checked on the operator's own website. Tip-based tours have no ticket: you join at the meeting point and give the guide what you think the tour was worth at the end. Free Tickets is an independent guide, not connected to these operators.
Checked Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Times change by season — confirm on the operator's page before you go.
Free
3 free walking tours in Edinburgh
Tip-basedCity Explorers Tours
Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh
Two hours around the Old Town from the Royal Mile with a local guide: the landmarks, closes and stories that help you make sense of the city.
- Starts
- Times are in the operator's booking calendar
- Takes
- 2 h
- Meet
- In front of The Copper Still bar, 154 High Street (Royal Mile) map
- Languages
- English
- Booking
- Booking a free spot is recommended — Free booking to secure a place; groups of up to 12.
- Tipping
- No fixed amount; most travellers give £10-£50, in cash or by card.
Tip-basedEdinburgh Street Historians
Fabulous Old Town Pay What You Think It's Worth – Free Walking Tour
Independent, Edinburgh-born guides on a two-hour Old Town walk mixing well-known sights with the city's overlooked stories and its role in the wider world.
- Starts
- Daily 11:30 (a 9:00 tour is being trialled)
- Takes
- 2 h
- Meet
- The High Street Wellhead, Royal Mile (EH1 1QX) map
- Languages
- English
- Booking
- Booking a free spot is recommended — Booked through the operator's Ticket Tailor page.
- Tipping
- Guides accept cash, card and PayPal; the operator says £20-£30 per person is typical.
Tip-basedStrawberry Tours
Essential Free Tour Edinburgh
Old Town essentials: the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral and the Heart of Midlothian, Victoria Street, Greyfriars Kirkyard and Greyfriars Bobby.
- Starts
- Times are in the operator's booking calendar
- Takes
- 2 h
- Languages
- English
- Booking
- Book a free spot online first — Free booking; the meeting point and a map are sent by email after booking.
More free things to do in Edinburgh
FAQ
Free walking tours in Edinburgh: common questions
Are free walking tours in Edinburgh really free?
All of the 3 tours listed here are tip-based: there is no ticket, and at the end you give the guide what you think the tour was worth.
Do I need to book a free walking tour in Edinburgh?
Book a free spot online first for Essential Free Tour Edinburgh.
Sources
Where this comes from
- cityexplorerstours.com · Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh · checked Tuesday, 3 November 2026
- streethistorians.com · Fabulous Old Town Pay What You Think It's Worth – Free Walking Tour · checked Tuesday, 3 November 2026
- strawberrytours.com · Essential Free Tour Edinburgh · checked Tuesday, 3 November 2026