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Free audio walking tours of Edinburgh
Itinerarly has 3 self-guided audio tours of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, from 1 h to 2 h 20. Each one walks you between the stops in order and plays a short narrated story when you arrive. The narration is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, and the tours are free.
Edinburgh Getaway
Castle, Royal Mile and St Giles in 1h
- Edinburgh CastlePerched on a 350-million-year-old volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city like a crown of stone. A royal fortress since the 12th century, it was besieged more than twenty times, making it one of the most contested sites in Europe.
- Royal MileThe Royal Mile is the backbone of the Old Town, a long cobbled street running down from the castle to Holyrood Palace. Over a little more than a Scots mile stand medieval houses, shops, pubs and tall buildings called tenements, threaded with narrow alleys, the closes, where history hides at every step.
- St Giles' CathedralSt Giles' Cathedral, recognisable by its crown-shaped spire, has been Edinburgh's principal church for almost nine centuries. At the heart of the Scottish Reformation, it was the pulpit of the fiery preacher John Knox, who defied Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, here.
Royal Edinburgh
From the castle to Holyrood through the Old Town
- Edinburgh CastlePerched on a 350-million-year-old volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city like a crown of stone. A royal fortress since the 12th century, it was besieged more than twenty times, making it one of the most contested sites in Europe.
- Royal MileThe Royal Mile is the backbone of the Old Town, a long cobbled street running down from the castle to Holyrood Palace. Over a little more than a Scots mile stand medieval houses, shops, pubs and tall buildings called tenements, threaded with narrow alleys, the closes, where history hides at every step.
- St Giles' CathedralSt Giles' Cathedral, recognisable by its crown-shaped spire, has been Edinburgh's principal church for almost nine centuries. At the heart of the Scottish Reformation, it was the pulpit of the fiery preacher John Knox, who defied Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, here.
- Palace of HolyroodhouseAt the foot of the Royal Mile rises the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland. Founded as an abbey in the 12th century, it became a royal palace and the stage for famous dramas: it was here that Mary, Queen of Scots, saw her Italian secretary Rizzio murdered with fifty-six…
- Scott MonumentThe Scott Monument is the largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. This 61-metre Gothic spire, blackened by time, was raised in 1844 in honour of Sir Walter Scott, father of the historical novel and author of Ivanhoe.
Complete Edinburgh
The Old Town, the hills and the panoramas
- Edinburgh CastlePerched on a 350-million-year-old volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle towers over the city like a crown of stone. A royal fortress since the 12th century, it was besieged more than twenty times, making it one of the most contested sites in Europe.
- Royal MileThe Royal Mile is the backbone of the Old Town, a long cobbled street running down from the castle to Holyrood Palace. Over a little more than a Scots mile stand medieval houses, shops, pubs and tall buildings called tenements, threaded with narrow alleys, the closes, where history hides at every step.
- St Giles' CathedralSt Giles' Cathedral, recognisable by its crown-shaped spire, has been Edinburgh's principal church for almost nine centuries. At the heart of the Scottish Reformation, it was the pulpit of the fiery preacher John Knox, who defied Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, here.
- Palace of HolyroodhouseAt the foot of the Royal Mile rises the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland. Founded as an abbey in the 12th century, it became a royal palace and the stage for famous dramas: it was here that Mary, Queen of Scots, saw her Italian secretary Rizzio murdered with fifty-six…
- Arthur's SeatArthur's Seat is the summit of a volcano extinct for 340 million years, rising to 251 metres in the very heart of the city, within Holyrood Park. Its name perhaps evokes the legendary King Arthur and his Camelot.
- Calton HillCalton Hill, a small hill at the end of Princes Street, offers the postcard view of Edinburgh. You climb it in a few minutes to discover a striking ensemble of neoclassical monuments that earned the city the nickname "Athens of the North".
- Scott MonumentThe Scott Monument is the largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. This 61-metre Gothic spire, blackened by time, was raised in 1844 in honour of Sir Walter Scott, father of the historical novel and author of Ivanhoe.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a free audio walking tour of Edinburgh?
- Yes. The Itinerarly app has 3 free self-guided audio tours of Edinburgh: Edinburgh Getaway (3 stops, about 1 h); Royal Edinburgh (5 stops, about 1 h 40); Complete Edinburgh (7 stops, about 2 h 20). The narration is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
- Which sights do the Edinburgh audio tours visit?
- Stops include Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scott Monument, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill.
- How long does a walking tour of Edinburgh take?
- The Edinburgh tours take from 1 h to 2 h 20, including time at each stop. Pick the shortest one if you only have an hour.
- Do I need to pay or book?
- No. The tours are free and you start them whenever you want. Some monuments charge their own entry ticket; the app links to the official ticket page where there is one.
- Does it work offline?
- You need a connection for the map and directions. A stop you have already downloaded can be replayed without a connection.
- What do I need?
- The free Itinerarly app on iPhone (App Store) or Android (Google Play), and a free account.
- Can Itinerarly plan the rest of my day in Edinburgh?
- Yes. In Plan mode you add the places you want to see and Itinerarly puts them in the best order, with travel times that account for live traffic.
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