Edinburgh

Edinburgh Trips & Tours

Edinburgh

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Joanna - Travel Consultant
Johnny - Travel Consultant
Eve - Travel Consultant
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Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Feefo

4.9/5 (1007 reviews)

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
We're one of the World's Best Tour Operators!
Named three years running in Travel+Leisure World's Best, including No.1 in 2024
Scotland’s alluring capital city of ancient architecture, charm, culture and cuisine in spades.

One of the finest capital cities in the world and preposterously beautiful, it’s hard not to fall in love with Edinburgh. Built across seven hills and around the volcanic plug of Castle Rock, the city sits in the looming shadow of Arthur's Seat (walk to the top in under an hour for a staggering view), named after the King himself. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a medieval labyrinth of closes and wynds that branch from the Royal Mile, the single spine that runs from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and home to all manner of tartan stores, fudge houses and historic pubs. Beside it, the Georgian New Town, planned in 1765, is still one of Europe's finest pieces of civic ambition, the wide streets and sandstone townhouses as stately and elegant as ever. A little further and you’ll find Stockbridge, the prettiest neighbourhood in the city, and Leith, the port district and quickly on its way to becoming one of the UK’s most extraordinary restaurant destinations. And then there’s the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world that takes over just about everything in August: 3,000 shows, 25 days, half a million people, and pure joy and creativity.


Things to do

What to do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh wears its drama openly, and Edinburgh Castle is where it starts, perched above the city, its ramparts handing you the whole skyline in one sweep. From there, the Royal Mile tumbles down past St Giles' Cathedral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, still very much a working royal residence. Descend into the Old Town's underground vaults for a shiver, or take a ghost walk after dark (not for the faint-hearted). By day, hike up Arthur's Seat for views over the Firth of Forth, or pedal the cobbles on two wheels instead. No visit is complete without a nose around the Scotch Whisky Experience (yes, an actual nose; there's a smell test) and an evening working through the Old Town's best kitchens. For a quieter finish, climb Calton Hill at dusk, where Edinburgh's half-built Acropolis catches the last of the light.
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Why you'll love it

Why you'll love it

The closes, or narrow medieval alleyways that branch off the Royal Mile every few steps, are where Edinburgh's real character lives; each one named (Lady Stair's Close, Mary King's Close), and each one leading somewhere you hadn't expected...


Off the beaten track

Off the beaten track

It might not be as undiscovered as it used to be, but Dean Village, ten minutes' walk from Princes Street along the Water of Leith, is a beautiful cluster of 19th-century mill buildings perched along a wooded river that feels a million miles from the city.


Something to think about

Something to think about

Book your restaurants in advance: Edinburgh’s stand with the best of Europe. In Leith, you’ll find The Kitchin, Martin Wishart and Heron, all Michelin-starred, and in the city, there’s always something new, local and equally as special.


When to go

Best time to visit Edinburgh

Excellent
Good
Mixed

january

a quieter time to visit

Reviews

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Based on 1007 Feefo Reviews

An Incredible Safari Experience Thanks to Timbuktu Travel
Matt
An Incredible Safari Experience Thanks to Timbuktu Travel
October 2026
11 nights in Kenya and Tanzania
We recently returned from an incredible safari through Kenya and Tanzania, and we couldn't be happier with our experience working with Timbuktu Travel. Joanna and her team were wonderful from start to finish. They listened to what we wanted from our safari and designed an itinerary that exceeded our expectations. They helped us prepare for every aspect of the trip, answered our questions along the way, and made sure everything ran seamlessly once we arrived in Africa. From the accommodations and guides to the transfers and overall coordination, everything was exceptionally well organized. We were also celebrating a milestone anniversary, and Joanna and her team went above and beyond to make it special. They arranged anniversary surprises at every stop, including cakes, traditional celebration songs, and even a private dinner. These thoughtful touches made an already amazing trip even more memorable. We also want to recognize Joachim, our private guide for the final four days of our safari. He was friendly, patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and an absolute pleasure to spend time with. He made the final part of our journey particularly enjoyable. The entire experience exceeded our expectations. We saw incredible wildlife, stayed at wonderful camps, and never had to worry about the logistics. Timbuktu took care of everything, allowing us to simply enjoy the adventure. We can't thank Joanna, Joachim, and the entire Timbuktu team enough for creating such an unforgettable experience. We would highly recommend Timbuktu Travel to anyone planning an African safari.

Why travel with Timbuktu?

We design tailor-made journeys for travellers who want more than a holiday, from first-time safaris, gorilla treks and multi-generational family adventures to once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons - and everything in between. And here's why so many choose us to plan them.

Tailor-Made Since 2014

Tailor-Made Since 2014

We've been crafting one-of-a-kind journeys since 2014 — over 2,500 trips across 40+ countries, each one built from scratch around your interests and dreams.

Specialists Who've Been There

Specialists Who've Been There

Our team only recommends places they've slept in, eaten in, and happily keep going back to. Condé Nast Traveler named 11 of them Top Travel Specialists in 2026, and Travel+Leisure made three A-List Advisors.

The World's No 1 Tour Operator

The World's No 1 Tour Operator

Travel+Leisure's readers voted us the World's No.1 Tour Operator in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 — the travel industry's biggest readers' award, judged by people who actually travel.

Every Trip Makes A Difference

Every Trip Makes A Difference

$50 from every booking goes to female empowerment, tech education, and conservation projects across the countries we love. We have donated $78,000 so far – and it's going up!

Collaboration Is Key

Collaboration Is Key

Your travel specialist is with you the whole way, dreaming up the trip, building the itinerary, checking you in, and answering the 2am question from the other side of the world..

Loved By Our Guests

Loved By Our Guests

We are rated 4.9 out of 5 from 1007 verified Feefo reviews. And these are the words of people who actually went, not us talking about ourselves.

As Seen in

11 Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists 2026

Condé Nast Traveler

No. 1 & No. 2 Tour Operator in Travel + Leisure's Best Awards 2024 & 2025

Travel + Leisure

Best Booking Platform in Women's Health Travel Awards 2025

Women's Health magazine

Travel Specialist voted as Latin America A-List Travel Advisor 2025

Condé Nast Traveler A-List Awards

"Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip."

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