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Let our local experts guide you through a handpicked selection of things to do on a private tour. Think hidden gems, insider stories, and all the local vibes. Ready to find your private tour of Edinburgh? Your adventure-packed day is just one click away!
Make your stay in Edinburgh complete with these things to do
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Our locals will give you the best experiences that Edinburgh has to offer
Learn about their personal stories and find out how you can explore Edinburgh with locals










Discover experiences based on your interest
When you hit the road and land in a new city like Edinburgh, there's an exciting way to dive into its soul: personalized local tours. Forget the typical touristy routes – these tours are like having a local friend show you around all the cool spots.
Imagine having someone who lives and breathes Edinburgh spill its secrets. That's what local guides bring to the table. They know the hidden alleys, the best bites, and stories that never made it to the guidebooks. Whether you're into munching through food tours, wandering the city's streets, or going off the beaten path, a local guide hooks you up with a private tour that's authentically Edinburgh.
The best part? These tours are all about you. No herding in big groups or rushing through places you're not interested in. With private tours, you're the boss. Whether it's snapping pics at iconic landmarks, diving into history, or checking out the art scene, the tour is tuned to your vibes at your tempo.
But it doesn't stop at city limits. Day trips let you escape the urban jungle and explore nearby wonders. And if you're just setting foot in Edinburgh, kickstart tours give you a taste of everything. Think of it as a crash course in Edinburgh awesomeness, guided by a local who knows the city like the back of their hand.
So, next time you're in Edinburgh, ditch the ordinary. Grab a local tour and unlock the city's real magic – the stories, flavors, and places that make it uniquely Edinburgh. Get ready to explore like a local!
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Enjoy Edinburgh like a local


















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Always private. It’s just you and your local host. No strangers, no groups.
Let your local host tailor the experience completely to your wishes.
Our tours are designed with people, places, and the planet in mind.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You’ll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You’re choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that’s okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You’ll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You’re choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that’s okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.
Reviews from guests about our tours and locals
"We just completed a food tour of Edinburgh with Mark, and it was outstanding. He brought unique local insight and a deep knowledge of the city’s food and history that really elevated the experience. Mark has a warm, engaging personality, and you could genuinely tell it mattered to him that we enjoyed ourselves. His passion for what he does came through the entire time. Highly recommend touring with him!"
"Scott gave us an unforgettable day in the Highlands. His calm and elegant driving style ensured we made it safely through the day. His car was also extremly comfortable. He showed us incredibly beautiful scenery, entertained us with fascinating historical details and possesses a vast knowledge base. Thank you so much, Scott, for your time. It was a pure pleasure. Heartly greetings from Austria!"
"Before we’s even met Mark for a 3 hr tour of Edinburgh, he’d given us lots of food recommendations that we took and LOVED. As a born and raised son of Edinburgh, Mark was the perfect guide to introduce us to this charming city. I told him, my wife wouldn’t make it through the tour without eating, so he adjusted his typical walking tour to include a visit for some Haggis and Meat/Macaroni Pies that were SO great and helped us power on. He focused INT elling the stories of the people associated with the city’s history and the buildings, closes (alleyways), courtyards, memorials, plaques, graves and statues associate with them. The stroll was leisurely and he would entertain all of our questions and interests and was funny, interesting and a downright enjoyable fellow!! Because we meandered so much in our conversation and because the made sure to feed us, we hadn’t quite seen everything he had meant to show us by the time 3 hours was up and he gladly spend another 40min with us showing us around. We would HIGHLY recommend Mark as your guide to food or to Edinburgh or both!!"
"We had a terrific tour with Mark who fit a lot into 3 hrs w'out rushing and who gave us a true appreciation for Edinburgh - its history and present. He was a great communicator before the tour as well as being a professional - and hilarious - guide. He remembered what we were interested in and tailored the tour just for us. Highly recommend. "
"Chris was an outstanding tour guide in Edinburg . He was knowledgeable and informative, intelligent, and kept the tour engaging with his great sense of humor. He presented the history and culture in a way that was both interesting and easy to follow, and he truly did an amazing job overall. Highly recommended"
"We met Alice for the "Treasure of Edinburgh" on our second day at sunset. Alice is a wonderful stories teller!!! She bring to life every stories (the spooky, the legend and the historical moment). Even if you know some of it, you never had it tell by Alice... Time fly and in no time you're already at the last one... What a wonderful experience we had !!! I recommande Alice to anyone who like to live the stories they hear Thank you Alice"
" ChatGPT 5.1 You said: Can you make review if a lical guide that we had for 3 hours in Edinburgh yesterday? Name Oluf Very knowledgeable Got all the dates and facts and impressive. Easy going Vitty and funny Interesting insight into Edinburgh history from long gone to current. ChatGPT said: Sure thing, Thorsteinn — here’s a polished review you can use for Oluf: Review for Oluf – Local Guide in Edinburgh We spent three hours with Oluf in Edinburgh yesterday, and it was an absolute pleasure. He is incredibly knowledgeable, with an impressive command of dates, facts, and historical context. His explanations were clear, engaging, and filled with interesting insights into Edinburgh’s past — from ancient history to modern times. On top of that, Oluf is easy-going, witty, and genuinely funny, which made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable. His storytelling brought the city to life, and we walked away knowing so much more than we expected. Highly recommended for anyone wanting entertaining look into Edinburgh’s history and culture. Thorsteinn Örn "
"Had a great experience with Chris. Very professional and knowledgeable. Thank you so much!"
"We had a great time with Monica! My wife and I were in Edinburgh for four days and scheduled a tour. Our guide, Monica, was flexible with the tour based on what we had already visited. She knew numerous stories related to the history of Edinburgh and she gave us greater context of the architecture and historic sights. It was like going out with a friend. Overall, it was a wonderful experience."
"I’m a huge fan of Edinburgh and have been many times before, but this time I wanted my friends — who were visiting for the first time — to get a really good start and overview of the city. Chris was the perfect guide for that! We were a group of four and had an amazing 3-hour tour with him. He was funny, knowledgeable, and full of great stories that brought the city’s history and hidden corners to life. Even though I already knew quite a bit about Edinburgh, Chris still managed to surprise me with facts and sights I hadn’t seen before! His tour was the ideal way to kick off our few days in this beautiful city, and his tips turned out to be super useful for everything we did afterwards. It honestly couldn’t have been better — absolutely perfect. Highly recommended! 👏"