Edinburgh Underground Vaults & Graveyard Ghost Tour (18+ Only)

Step beyond Edinburgh’s famous landmarks and into its darker side on an adults-only ghost tour through hidden underground vaults, shadowy closes, and one of the city’s most historic graveyards. Led by a Master Storyteller, this extended experience combines atmospheric locations with true tales of crime, tragedy, and reported hauntings.

Getting started

Meet your guide at the Mercat Tours departure point and check in before the tour begins. After a brief introduction, collect your TourTalk audio device and headset, then set off through Edinburgh’s Old Town with your small group.

What to expect

Journey through the narrow closes and wynds of Edinburgh’s Old Town, where stories of notorious criminals, tragic figures, and ghostly encounters linger in the shadows. Descend into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, where darkness, silence, and centuries-old surroundings create an unsettling atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the city. The tour continues to Canongate Graveyard, where the resting places of famous Edinburgh residents provide the backdrop for tales of gruesome deaths, infamous deeds, and enduring legends.

Features

• Exclusive access to Blair Street Underground Vaults: Venture beneath the city into the haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults, a hidden network of chambers accessible only on select guided tours. Hear chilling stories connected to the vaults while surrounded by their eerie darkness and confined spaces.

• Visit to Canongate Graveyard: Walk among historic monuments and weathered gravestones while learning about notable figures buried here, including Adam Smith, David Rizzio, and James Douglas, the infamous "Cannibal of the Canongate."

• Adults-only small-group experience: With a maximum of 18 guests and an adults-only format, the tour explores Edinburgh’s darker history in greater depth while maintaining an intimate and immersive atmosphere.

• Master Storyteller commentary with immersive audio: Follow every detail through TourTalk audio devices as your guide shares stories of ghostly sightings, unsavoury characters, and real events that unfolded in the very places you visit.

From the unsettling darkness of the underground vaults to the shadowy paths of Canongate Graveyard, this tour focuses on the real stories behind Edinburgh’s haunted reputation. Along the way, engage your senses through atmospheric surroundings, original artifacts, and carefully crafted storytelling, with a curated tour playlist helping keep the memories alive long after the evening ends.