About This Event

Explore Edinburgh at your own pace Beneath the polished cobblestones of Edinburgh lie centuries of blood, fire, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. You are walking over the ghosts of political battles and the hushed whispers of forgotten scandals. This self-guided audio tour acts as your personal key to the city. Unlock hidden narratives and discover the jagged edges of history that most travelers walk past without a second glance. Why does the loyal dog in Greyfriars still wait for a master long dead? Which ancient prisoner escaped the castle by hiding inside a dung cart? What dark ritual remains etched into the foundations of the Grassmarket gallows? Photo: Adam Wilson, Unsplash Tour details Duration: 2 hours 41 minutes, entirely at your own pace Distance: around 7.8 km (4.8 miles) Stops: 15 landmarks, including Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirk Audio: up to 38 minutes of narration Starts at: Edinburgh Castle Map data by Mapbox and OpenStreetMap contributors How it works Book here and a redemption code arrives by email within minutes. Download the free AudaTours app on your phone and enter the code. Download the tour once and the whole thing works offline. Walk to the first stop and press play. The audio for each landmark starts automatically as you approach it, so your phone can stay in your pocket. There is no fixed date and no start time. The date you pick at checkout does not matter, and the tour stays on your phone permanently, so you can use it whenever you next visit and walk it again as often as you like. What is included Professionally narrated audio that plays automatically at each stop An interactive map showing the walking route between landmarks Full offline access once downloaded, so you need no data or signal Freedom to start, pause and resume whenever you like Lifetime access - your code never expires Where you will stop Edinburgh Castle Grassmarket Greyfriars Kirk National Museum of Scotland Parliament House, Edinburgh St Giles' Cathedral Writers' Museum Scottish National Gallery Princes Street Gardens Scott Monument Calton Hill Canongate Kirkyard Scottish Parliament Holyrood Park Holyrood Palace Image: AudaTours What is AudaTours? AudaTours turns a walk through a city into a story. Our guides bring landmarks to life with the history, the scandals and the detail you would never get from a plaque. Immersive: real stories about the places in front of you, not a dry commentary Offline: download once and use it with no data, anywhere At your own pace: start, pause and resume whenever you want Accurate: every story is built from verified historical sources and checked before release Good to know This is a self-guided audio tour on your own phone. There is no in-person guide. It does not include entry to any building or site along the route. The landmarks on the tour are not affiliated with AudaTours. You need a smartphone with Android 7.0 or later, or iOS 16 or later. Bring headphones and start with a charged phone. Who it suits Solo travellers, couples, families and small groups who would rather explore on their own schedule than follow a guide and a fixed departure time. It suits a first visit, and it suits anyone who has already seen the famous sights and wants to know what actually happened in them. Image credits Photos: Joss Broward, Adam Wilson, Ben Guerin (Unsplash).

Staying overnight?

Hotels within walking distance of Edinburgh Castle.

Frequently asked questions