Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour
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Quick answer
Is Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour worth booking?
Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, from $12 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $12 per person
This is a self-guided exploration game where you'll be solving a paranormal case involving real people and their wandering ghosts. The file on Edinburgh's Old Town has been open since 1966. You, with your detective and observational skills, and a little help from the Questo app, will try to close it in 2 hours. The route takes you down the Royal Mile and through Greyfriars Kirkyard, past 13 of its darkest addresses. Your job is to take statements from the dead and check them against the record. You'll discover dark stories like the councillor who burgled the houses he fitted with locks, the woman who woke up after her own hanging, and the body snatchers who never broke a single law. Each location involves inspecting a real-world object and solving a challenge. Best after dark with your phone lantern. About 1.4 miles of walking, with unlimited breaks. Hints and 24/7 support available if you get stuck. Perfect for Halloween or any night you're in the mood for creepy ghost stories.
What you get
About this experience
This is a self-guided exploration game where you'll be solving a paranormal case involving real people and their wandering ghosts. The file on Edinburgh's Old Town has been open since 1966. You, with your detective and observational skills, and a little help from the Questo app, will try to close it in 2 hours. The route takes you down the Royal Mile and through Greyfriars Kirkyard, past 13 of its darkest addresses. Your job is to take statements from the dead and check them against the record. You'll discover dark stories like the councillor who burgled the houses he fitted with locks, the woman who woke up after her own hanging, and the body snatchers who never broke a single law. Each location involves inspecting a real-world object and solving a challenge. Best after dark with your phone lantern. About 1.4 miles of walking, with unlimited breaks. Hints and 24/7 support available if you get stuck. Perfect for Halloween or any night you're in the mood for creepy ghost stories.
What's included
Included
- Full availability: Every day of the year.
- Flexibility: start, take a break and continue at your own pace.
- Access to the self-guided city exploration game in the Questo app
Not included
- Live game master or physical guide
- Private transportation
- Meals
What you'll see and do
Witches well
You'll start on Castlehill, just below the castle esplanade, where the app opens your case file and introduces the agent running it. Your first task will be to find a small iron fountain on the wall and work out what's hidden under the sticker in your photo. You'll learn that it's the only memorial to the more than three hundred women burned on this hill, and that it doesn't even run.
8 minutes here
The Hub
You'll walk to the foot of the tallest spire in Edinburgh and use two street signs on the railings to crack a five-letter password. You'll learn why it was built to be seen from the New Town, and why it carries the name of a building that no longer exists.
7 minutes here
Deacon Brodie's Tavern
You'll stop at Deacon Brodie's Tavern on the Lawnmarket and compare its famous two-faced sign with your photo to find what's missing. You'll learn about the respectable councillor and locksmith who let himself into the houses he had fitted, and who later inspired Robert Louis Stevenson.
8 minutes here
Victoria Street
You'll go up onto Victoria Terrace, above the curve of Victoria Street, and find the word missing from a nearby sign. You'll learn about Major Thomas Weir, who confessed in 1670 to crimes nobody had accused him of, and why his house then stood empty for a hundred years.
7 minutes here
Grassmarket
You'll head down to the Grassmarket and find the stone plaque at the old gallows site to complete its inscription. You'll learn about Maggie Dickson, hanged here in 1724, who woke up in the cart on the way to her burial.
7 minutes here
Greyfriars Kirkyard
You'll walk into Greyfriars Kirkyard to the domed tomb of Bluidy Mackenzie, decode a scrambled instruction and inspect the door to answer it. You'll learn about the 1,200 Covenanters held through a winter in the field next to his grave, and the night in 1999 that started the hauntings.
8 minutes here
Greyfriars Bobby
You'll stop at the little bronze dog on the corner of Candlemaker Row and pick the real statue out of four photos. You'll learn what the council records say about Scotland's most loyal dog, and why one historian thinks there were two.
7 minutes here
National Museum of Scotland
You'll walk along Chambers Street to the statue of William Chambers outside the museum and spot the detail added to your photo of one of its bronze panels. You'll learn how the man who bought Bobby's licence cut the city's death rate by a third, and what he demolished to do it.
7 minutes here
Old Town
You'll go round the back of the old Royal Infirmary, to the lane where the anatomy school took its deliveries at night, and decode a word from a weathered plaque. You'll learn what a body was worth in a hard winter, and why taking one was never against the law.
7 minutes here
John Knox House Museum
You'll walk down the Royal Mile to the brass line in the road where the city gate once stood, read the World's End sign, then compare the carved panel on John Knox House with your photo. You'll learn why the gate came down in 1764, and why Knox probably never lived in the house that carries his name.
8 minutes here
Tron Kirk Market
You'll stop at the Tron Kirk and find the detail that exists only in your photo of its sign. You'll learn what was found under its floor in the 1970s: a whole sixteenth-century street, still paved.
6 minutes here
St Giles' Cathedral
You'll finish at the Heart of Midlothian outside St Giles', where you'll turn every fragment you've collected into one final question about the Mercat Cross. You'll learn why people still spit on the heart in the cobbles, and how Deacon Brodie tried to survive his own hanging.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Edinburgh
The game starts at the Witches' Well on Castlehill. After booking, we'll message you a code and activation link. Activate with your own email, then log in to the Questo app with that email. No message? Open the Questo app, tap "Bought a quest somewhere else?" and enter your booking reference number.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The game ends at the Heart of Midlothian, in the cobbles outside St Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Questo
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A charged smartphone with internet is required to play the game in the Questo app
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $12 to $13
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Questo, who run 335 experiences we rank across 154 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 57.8.
See everything Questo runsWhy this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Edinburgh.
How much does Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour cost?
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Prices start at $12 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Edinburgh usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Edinburgh is not rushed.
Is Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Edinburgh, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Edinburgh can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Edinburgh and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Edinburgh within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Edinburgh?
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On Outty we rank every Edinburgh experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh, The Mountebank Comedy Walk of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Old Town: Historical Guided Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour?
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Included: Full availability: Every day of the year; Flexibility: start, take a break and continue at your own pace; and Access to the self-guided city exploration game in the Questo app. Not included: Live game master or physical guide; Private transportation; and Meals. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour?
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The game starts at the Witches' Well on Castlehill. After booking, we'll message you a code and activation link. Activate with your own email, then log in to the Questo app with that email. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Edinburgh Haunted Old Town Self Guided Ghost Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Edinburgh. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
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