Mercat Tours is an award-winning Scottish tour company based in Edinburgh, sharing the city’s history through vivid storytelling for 40 years. Starting as a local, independent, family-owned business, it has grown into a leader in Scottish tourism. All tours begin at the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile and bring Edinburgh’s extraordinary past to life.

Visitors can choose from History Walks, Historic Vaults tours with exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults and Vaults Museum, Secrets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile (with optional Edinburgh Castle entry), Underground: Whisky Tour & Tasting, and Witches: Trial and Truth. Ghost Tours include Haunted Underground, Evening of Ghosts & Ghouls, Doomed, Dead & Buried, Hidden & Haunted, Gory Stories: The Kids’ Tour, and Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Private Tours offer experiences such as Your Personalised Tour, Edinburgh Outlander Experience, Tale O' Twa Touns, Enlightenment Edinburgh, National Museum of Scotland tours, Craft a Memory; Tour & Workshop, Tour & Whisky Tasting, Storytelling Over Dinner, Treasures of the Old Town, and Edinburgh's Talking Statues.

Prices vary depending on the tour. Adult tickets range from £25.00 to £40.00, child tickets range from £19.00 to £23.00, and concession tickets range from £22.00 to £29.00 across selected tours. Private Group bookings for Historic Vaults are £350.00, and optional extras such as souvenir guidebooks (£7.00) and Mercat Tours Glencairn Whisky Glass (£8.00) are available on certain tours.

Overall, Mercat Tours offers immersive, multi-sensory storytelling experiences led by Master Storytellers using exclusive TourTalk audio devices. From historic walks and underground vault explorations to whisky tastings and ghost tours, there is a wide variety of themes to suit different interests. It is an ideal way to discover Edinburgh’s Old Town, uncover hidden stories, and experience Scotland’s history in a memorable and engaging way.

History Walks

Historic Vaults

• Exclusive access to the Blair Street Underground Vaults – the city’s oldest, deepest vault system 
• Discover the history of day-to-day life in Old Town Edinburgh
• Visit our Vaults Museum, with interactive 3D models and the 'Vaults Revealed' film
• See and touch authentic artefacts unearthed from the vaults 
• Mercat Tours exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices 
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Secrets of Edinburgh's Royal Mile

• Discover the fascinating secrets behind Edinburgh’s famous historic Old Town 
• Enjoy a relaxed tour of the Royal Mile & include Edinburgh Castle (with skip-the-line entry) as an optional extra 
• Experience the same sights and sounds as royalty, writers, philosophers and everyday folk living in Edinburgh through the ages. 
• Uncover little-known local sites where history was lived and made 
• Mercat Tours exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices 
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Underground: Whisky Tour & Tasting

• Experience whisky tour & tasting to discover the history of Edinburgh's Old Town and its connection with the finest “water of life” 
• Sip and savour fine malt whiskies and learn how your dram was created  
• Explore the lives of whisky blenders and smugglers
• Hear of the evolving role that scotch whisky played in Scotland’s past 
• *Includes souvenir Glencairn whisky tasting glass* 
• Mercat Tours exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• 18yrs+ due to service of alcohol 
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Witches: Trial and Truth

• Hear centuries of myths dispelled – it’s time for truth  
• Uncover the very real history behind Scotland’s witch trials   
• Discover true accounts of those accused of witchcraft  
• Visit the locations where Scotland’s witches were once executed, and are now remembered  
• Mercat Tours exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• Choosing Mercat is ‘Good for you, Good for Edinburgh’ - our team, community and planet. 
• Please note this tour is adults-only due to mature themes. 

Ghost Tours

Haunted Underground

• Experience a haunted underground Edinburgh ghost tour where every tale is true... 
• Get up close to Edinburgh’s haunted past 
• Explore the famous Blair Street Underground Vaults on this high-spirited tour 
• Mercat exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices 
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Evening of Ghosts & Ghouls

• Delve into Old Town Edinburgh’s grim and ghostly past
• Explore the Blair Street Underground Vaults as your Master Storyteller shares gory details of dark Edinburgh history and folklore
• Indulge in a dram of Ballantine's Finest Scotch Whisky, Skeleton Blues hazy IPA or your choice of Scottish-made soft drinks crafted from natural ingredients.
• Settle in to the flickering glow of our candlelit cellar, where you’ll hear more spine-chilling tales on this intimate Edinburgh ghost tour.
• Mercat’s exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Doomed, Dead & Buried

• Explore the Blair Street Underground Vaults and the Canongate graveyard, on this in-depth adults-only Edinburgh ghost tour
• Hear of infamous murderers and cursed souls, hard lives and tragic deaths
• Experience terror of the city’s gruesome past, with a focus on horrific true tales from Edinburgh’s dark history
• Mercat’s exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Hidden & Haunted

• Uncover the most sinister side of Edinburgh’s Old Town on this dark adults-only ghost tour
• Follow your guide deep underground into the famous Blair Street Underground Vaults
• Mercat’s exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories...
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Gory Stories: The Kids’ Tour

• Learn about the real history of Edinburgh on this family-friendly ghost tour 
• See artefacts found in Edinburgh’s secret underground vaults 
• Hear about the grisly things that were once commonplace in Edinburgh life 
• Mercat’s exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• Accompanying adults pay the same price as a child's ticket
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh's Royal Mile

• Follow the fate of villains and victims from Edinburgh’s dark past and discover who still haunts the streets today 
• Tailored for guests with mobility and sensory needs: entirely above ground, accessible to all 
• Delve into the gore of Old Town Edinburgh’s darkest deeds and crooked characters 
• Mercat’s exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

Private Tours

Your Personalised Tour

• Enjoy a personalised tour, just for you
• A relaxed experience at time to suit you
• You pick the stories and theme you'd like to hear 
• Have a 5 star storyteller all to yourself!
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

Edinburgh Outlander Experience

• Explore the Jacobite Edinburgh of the Outlander novels, with your expert Storyteller
• See Canongate Kirk, the Tolbooth Jail, 18th Century taverns that are still open today and numerous other perfectly preserved historical locations
• Visit the historical Edinburgh locations that were used in the filming of the Outlander TV Series
• Hear stories of witchcraft, the Jacobites, Royal Stuarts, curses, clans and more
• Learn how Claire and Jamie’s story relates to the real history of Edinburgh
• Mercat exclusive audio devices - be immersed and get lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planetExplore the contrast between Edinburgh’s Old and New Town
• Visit two National Trust for Scotland properties: Gladstone’s Land and the Georgian House
• Enjoy a private tour with an expert guide
• Mercat exclusive audio devices - get immersed and lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

Tale O' Twa Touns

• Explore the contrast between Edinburgh’s Old and New Town
• Visit two National Trust for Scotland properties: Gladstone’s Land and the Georgian House
• Enjoy a private tour with an expert guide
• Mercat exclusive audio devices - get immersed and lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

Enlightenment Edinburgh

• Explore Edinburgh’s fascinating role in the history of ideas
• Visit Old & New Town, tracing the tales of how it developed in the history of Europe
• Enjoy a private tour with a master storyteller guide
• Mercat exclusive audio devices - get immersed and lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

National Museum of Scotland tours

• Discover the story of Scotland through our National Museum 
• We’ll take you straight to the most striking displays and share their secrets
• You will learn the places where history happened and follow Scotland’s story through iconic exhibitions
• Mercat exclusive TourTalk audio devices - be immersed and get lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Craft a Memory; Tour & Workshop

• Choose day or night, haunted or historic and explore Edinburgh’s fascinating history
• Make your own gift with award-winning The Edinburgh Remakery in your own private workshop
• Enjoy a private tour with a master storyteller
• Mercat exclusive audio devices - get immersed and lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

Tour & Whisky Tasting

• Sip your way through the Scottish whisky regions, with four drams from across the country
• Experience whisky tour & tasting to discover the history of Edinburgh's Old Town and its connection with the finest “water of life” 
• Discover how your dram was created
• Explore the lives of whisky blenders and smugglers
• Hear of the evolving role that scotch whisky played in Scotland’s past 
• Includes a souvenir Glencairn whisky tasting glass
• Mercat Tours exclusive multi-sensory tours - be immersed and get lost in the stories... 
• Master Storytellers are at the heart of each experience, enhanced with hand-picked sounds of Edinburgh and delivered through TourTalk audio devices
• 18yrs+ due to service of alcohol 
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and environment

Storytelling Over Dinner

• Enjoy an authentic Scottish storytelling experience
• Hear all about the symbols of Scotland and how they are part of our culture
• Immerse yourself in traditional Scottish stories, language and music
• Our Storyteller will entertain you over a meal in a private venue of your choice

Treasures of the Old Town

• Meander through the ancient, picturesque closes and gardens of Edinburgh’s Canongate
• Hear the lesser known tales of fascinating and often scandalous events that took place in the lower section of the Royal Mile (which contains more historic buildings than the upper half!)
• Delve into the escapades of famed Edinburgh characters like Mary, Queen of Scots
• Explore Palace of Holyroodhouse, His Majesty the King’s official residence in Scotland (Special one-time only complimentary palace entry as part on Mercat's 40th birthday celebration)
• Mercat exclusive audio devices - be immersed and get lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community and planet

Edinburgh's Talking Statues

• Stop. Look up and listen in.  Consider the historic figures who stand above us - and if they should... 
• Hear history from a range of diverse and underrepresented backgrounds
• Visit and hear tales of our statues - existing and ‘missing’
• Revealed - those who have had an impact on the city and its people and the world over.
• Enjoy Mercat exclusive audio devices - get immersed and lost in the stories...
• Choosing Mercat is 'Good for you, Good for Edinburgh' - our team, community, and environment