Edinburgh Old Town and Calton Hill Self Guided Audio Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• Edinburgh Castle (Pass by)

  Begin the self-guided walking tour at Edinburgh Castle, one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks. From Castlehill, discover the fortress’s dramatic setting on an ancient volcanic rock and hear about its royal residents, sieges, battles and importance in Scottish history. The Votura app provides the audio commentary and guides you onwards through Edinburgh’s Old Town. (Admission is not included and can be purchased on site)

  Admission ticket free
• Camera Obscura and World of Illusions (Pass by)

  Continue along Castlehill to Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, one of Edinburgh’s best-known visitor attractions. The tour explains the history of the site and its long association with panoramic views of the city, while introducing the character of Castlehill and the upper Royal Mile. (Admission is not included and can be purchased on site)

  Admission ticket free
• 1
  Victoria Street

  Walk down one of Edinburgh’s most distinctive streets, known for its curved layout, colourful shopfronts and layered Old Town architecture. Hear how Victoria Street developed in the 19th century and how its dramatic design connects the upper Old Town with the Grassmarket below.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Gladstone's Land

  Discover one of the Royal Mile’s best-preserved historic tenement buildings. Hear how merchants and residents lived in Edinburgh’s crowded Old Town, and learn how buildings like Gladstone’s Land reveal the social history, architecture and everyday life of the city over several centuries.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Heart of Midlothian

  Stop beside the heart-shaped mosaic set into the pavement near St Giles’ Cathedral. Learn how it marks the site of Edinburgh’s former Old Tolbooth, once used as a prison, courthouse and place of execution, and hear about the unusual local tradition associated with the spot.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Advocate's Close

  Step into one of the Old Town’s atmospheric historic closes, descending from the Royal Mile through a narrow passage framed by tall stone buildings. Learn how Edinburgh’s closes developed, how people lived and worked within them, and why they are such a distinctive part of the city’s medieval street pattern.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  St Giles' Cathedral

  Visit one of the most important historic buildings on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Learn about St Giles’ role in Scotland’s religious history, the Scottish Reformation and its association with John Knox, while taking in the cathedral’s distinctive crown-shaped spire and Gothic architecture.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Parliament Square- Edinburgh

  Explore the historic square beside St Giles’ Cathedral, once the heart of Scotland’s political and legal life. Learn about the former Parliament House, the old Scottish Parliament before the 1707 Union, and the square’s continuing importance to Edinburgh’s legal institutions.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Mercat Cross

  Stop at Edinburgh’s historic Mercat Cross, once the traditional centre for public announcements, proclamations and civic ceremonies. Learn how the cross played a key role in the life of the medieval burgh and why it remains an important symbol of Edinburgh’s civic history.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  National Museum of Scotland

  Stop outside the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, home to collections covering Scottish history, archaeology, science, technology and world cultures. Learn about the museum’s striking architecture and its role in preserving and presenting Scotland’s national story.

  1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9
  Greyfriars Bobby

  See the famous statue of Greyfriars Bobby and hear the story of the small Skye Terrier said to have remained devoted to his owner long after his death. Learn how Bobby became one of Edinburgh’s best-known local legends and why his story still attracts visitors today.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 10
  Greyfriars Kirk

  Explore one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric historic graveyards, surrounding Greyfriars Kirk. Hear about notable people buried here, the Covenanters, centuries of Edinburgh history and some of the legends associated with the kirkyard.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Grassmarket

  Discover one of Edinburgh’s oldest market areas, set beneath the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Hear about the Grassmarket’s history as a centre of trade, public gatherings and executions, and learn how the area evolved into one of the Old Town’s most distinctive historic districts.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• John Knox House Museum (Pass by)

  Stop at one of the Royal Mile’s most distinctive historic buildings, traditionally associated with Protestant reformer John Knox. Learn about Edinburgh during the Scottish Reformation, the building’s medieval character, and the religious and political changes that transformed Scotland in the 16th century.

  Admission ticket free
• 12
  Old Calton Burial Ground

  Visit this historic cemetery at the foot of Calton Hill, where monuments and memorials tell stories of Edinburgh’s political, military and intellectual past. See notable memorials including the striking Political Martyrs’ Monument and learn about some of the people commemorated here.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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