If you're planning a trip to Edinburgh, one of the first questions you'll come across is whether to join a group tour or book a private guide. The short answer is that both can be great, it just depends on what you want from your day. Now, with working for a company that runs private tours my opinion might be slightly biased, but i'll do my best to give you a fair picture of your choice! 

When a Group Tour Makes Sense

Group tours are typically cheaper per person and easy to book onto at short notice. If you only have a couple of hours in the city and want a quick introduction to the main sights, a larger group tour does the job well. You also get to meet other travellers, which some people really enjoy. But personally when I travel, I don't enjoy sitting next to strangers on a packed bus, all fighting to try and hear the guide!

In a group tour the meeting point, stops and timings are already decided, for me that is a downside. If I really like the place or just want to take things a bit slower and explore that extra room, or venture to the top of a spiral stair case just to see what's up there! However I know for some having that defined route and plan can take the mental load away and you just know you're going to see the highlights, which is absolutely fair and works for some people (just not me).

Some photos of what the extra time allows us to see on a private tour - 2 are at the very top of different castles and I don't mean to brag... but the views in Scotland!

What changes with a private tour

On a private tour it is just you and your party with the guide. That means the day is fully shaped around you and your interests. Let's say you love castles, we will alter the itinerary so we can spend longer at the castle, or we can add in some extra ones if they are in the area so we can get the most of what you enjoy in a day!

Or if you'd rather skip museums, long lines and queues for the photo stop, we can do that. And as local guides who know the city extremely well with over 20 years experience, trust us we can find you the best photo spots, without the queue.

And on top of that, on our day tours - we pick you up from your hotel. No hassle trying to get to and find the meeting point, just relax in your hotel lobby.

Private tours are much easier to adapt. If somebody is tired, if the weather turns, or if the kids have lost interest (it happens!), we can change things as we go. If you let us know about kids, we plan extra stops and places with activities for the kids. If you let us know you've got mobility issues, we plan accessible routes and journeys. If you tell us you've seen an amazing place you want to go for lunch in the day, we work that in. Whatever you can think of I'm sure we've covered it and our guides like staying on their toes. Just last year one of the guides was on a horse riding trail in the Highlands. I Myself found out about canyoning through one of the guests we had and before I knew it, I was in the freezing cold Falls of Bruar with a wet suit on jumping off a cliff into the water!

We really do cater for all interests and there is always time to maximise the day. We want everyone to experience Scotland in the best way and we think this is the way to do it! Don't just take our word for it though - we have hundreds of reviews where people that came on tour with us left extremely happy with their experience. I think this review sums up Edinburgh Tour Guides perfectly

So Which is best for you?

A private tour tends to work best if:

• You're travelling as a family, as a couple or with a small group of friends
• You have particular interests you want more of
• You want to go at your own pace
• You want to see more than just the photo stop locations
• Anyone in your party needs a slower pace or a few extra stops

A group tour tends to work best if:

• You're travelling solo on a budget
• You only have a short amount of time
• You just want a general overview of the city

My advice

Whatever option suits your needs best go for it! Either way I do recommend booking a tour at some point in your trip. If Edinburgh is your base for the trip then great, it is a fantastic city to walk around, but it is much more interesting when someone tells you the stories behind the buildings.

If you'd like to see Edinburgh your way, we'd love to show you around. All of our private tours are flexible and designed around you, and you can browse the options or ask us to build something custom. We have a dedicated customised walking tours page, where you can book to secure your day and then just email us to let us know what you want to cover. On top of that if you want to take a day trip we are able to adjust itineraries and provide a more relaxed experience throughout the day - just book and tell us your interests!

We look forward to showing off Scotland to you soon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿