
Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 4 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth booking?
Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, from $15 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 4 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (4)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $15 per person
Discover Edinburgh’s complex history through the lens of its most influential architects, on a 90-minute walk. If you’re curious about the origins of Scottish design then you'll enjoy this self-guided walking tour in th
What you get
About this experience
Discover Edinburgh’s complex history through the lens of its most influential architects, on a 90-minute walk. If you’re curious about the origins of Scottish design then you'll enjoy this self-guided walking tour in the atmospheric Old Town. You’ll explore the fascinating historical buildings that give the area its character, and admire award-winning contemporary architecture like the famous Scottish Parliament. On this audio tour, you’ll meander through narrow closes, beneath stepped gables and turrets, pausing at breathtaking viewpoints. You'll be shown the easy-to-miss details on the buildings, and old maps and drawings. Downloading the tour onto the VoiceMap app to enjoy the tour on location or virtually at home.
What's included
Included
- VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
- Lifetime access to this tour in English
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Not included
- Food/Drink
- Smartphone and headphones
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
- Transportation
What you'll see and do
Royal Scottish Academy
This self-guided audio tour starts in front of Edinburgh's Royal Scottish Academy. Before you start your walk, you'll be introduced to the tour and hear a bit about how the VoiceMap app works.
Pass by without stopping
Princes Street Gardens
The tour takes you through a section of Princes Street Gardens. While you walk, you'll hear a bit of Edinburgh's history and how its history is represented through its architecture.
Pass by without stopping
Royal Mile
The tour takes you down part of the Royal Mile. You'll hear about how the Royal Mile is the physical and social backbone of the Old Town.
Pass by without stopping
National Museum of Scotland
You'll walk around the outside of the National Museum of Scotland. While you walk, you'll see the unusual, lesser-known side of the National Museum of Scotland.
Pass by without stopping
Gladstone's Land
The tour briefly stops in front of Gladstone's Land. You'll learn about this pre-mid 17th century building, one of the few on Royal Mile, before continuing your walk.
Pass by without stopping
Riddle's Court
The tour takes you to Riddle's Court where you'll learn about this hidden place that was once a merchant's house.
Pass by without stopping
St Giles' Cathedral
The tour takes you past St Giles Cathedral. While you walk, you'll hear the history of the cathedral and hear about some of its remodellings.
Pass by without stopping
John Knox House Museum
The tour briefly stops in front of John Knox House Museum. You'll learn the history of the house and how the building got its name.
Pass by without stopping
The Scottish Parliament
The tour ends in front of the Scottish Parliament building. You'll hear about some of its architectural features.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Edinburgh
Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
This self-guided audio tour ends in front of the Scottish Parliament Building.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
1 mentionThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
1 mentionThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
1 mentionReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Pace and timing
1 mentionSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
4 verified traveler reviews for Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Overall decent
It was our first time using the app. Overall, the experience was relatively good. Sometimes it knew exactly where we were, but sometimes it didn't, which was a bit challening. This particular tour was very focused on the city's architecture, which I didn't recall from the description, so if you aren't as interested in that aspect of the city's history, you may want to try another tour.
via Viator
A stroll around history !!!
A very relaxed and informative tour of the Old town. Plenty of interesting facts about the development of the city. You can stroll around, along at your own pace and pause if you need more time or want to pop into a shop or cafe/bar. We completed it in about 2hours, but that was at a more leisurely pace. Definitely recommend.
via Tripadvisor
Loved this audio tour of Edinburgh Old Town
Me and family loved the architectural audio tour in Edinburgh Old Town. At the same time, we had all the freedom to stop for photos, food, and shopping. The narration is very clear, lively and informative. Both architects and non architects in the family enjoyed this experience. Geolocation worked very well, and overall very easy to use this app.
via Tripadvisor
An excellent audio tour in Edinburgh
Thank you for creating this amazing architecture audio tour for Edinburgh! We had a great time and learnt loads about Dean Village. The audio tour is super easy to use.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours, who run 703 experiences we rank across 222 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.8.
See everything VoiceMap Audio Tours runsWhy this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Edinburgh.
How much does Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour cost?
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Prices start at $15 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 Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio 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 Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 4 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in Edinburgh, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio 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 Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?
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Around 1 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 Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio 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.
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