What type of accommodations can I expect when starting a tour from Edinburgh?

Edinburgh tours provide a range of places to stay that match different budgets and preferences. The 3-star Mercure Edinburgh Haymarket represents a typical city hotel choice while local B&Bs offer a more personal Scottish welcome. When traveling to Portree guests often stay at the Caledonian Hotel. In Ullapool the Foinaven and Ullaviews guesthouses are common stops. A TourRadar traveler notes: "The B&B accommodations were comfortable though some rooms were quite small particularly in Portree where it was challenging to move around."

What should I explore during my free time in Edinburgh before the tour starts?

Edinburgh's compact city center makes it easy to explore key attractions on foot. The centerpiece Edinburgh Castle sits high above the city while the Royal Mile leads visitors through medieval streets to Holyrood Palace. The Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage site reveals centuries of history around every corner. The National Museum of Scotland offers free entry and Princes Street provides modern shopping. A TourRadar traveler shares: "We stayed at the Intercontinental Edinburgh The George which gave us perfect access to explore the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle before our tour began."

What's the typical starting point for tours in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Bus Station at St Andrew Square (EH1 3DQ) serves as the main departure point with Gates J and K designated for tour pickups. Highland Explorer tours ask passengers to arrive 15 minutes before the 9:00 AM departure. A TourRadar traveler notes: "Our guide Micheal was great at organizing our morning departure and kept everything running smoothly throughout the tour."

What weather should I prepare for when starting a tour from Edinburgh?

Scottish weather demands versatile packing with layers and rain gear essential year-round. Summer brings mild temperatures between 15-20°C (59-68°F) while winter sees cooler conditions from 1-7°C (34-45°F). Rain showers occur frequently in all seasons. A TourRadar traveler suggests: "Weather in the Highlands was very unpredictable - our guide Donald helped us make the most of clear spells for photography and viewing."

What are the most common next destinations after Edinburgh?

Tours typically head first to natural landmarks like Loch Lomond or through the Cairngorms National Park. The historic town of Pitlochry St Andrews and Dunkeld also feature as early stops on many routes. A TourRadar traveler notes: "The journey from Edinburgh through the Cairngorms to Loch Ness was breathtaking with plenty of scenic stops along the way."

How long are typical multi-day tours starting in Edinburgh?

Tours from Edinburgh generally span 6 to 15 days with most popular options running 7 or 8 days. The Highland Experience "Hebrides Skye & The Far West" tour takes 8 days while Haggis Adventures offers a 6-day "Isle of Skye & Hebridean Hopper." A TourRadar traveler shares: "The 8-day tour was fascinating fabulous and a lot of fun giving us plenty of time to explore the Highlands and Islands at a good pace."

What's the best time of year to start a tour from Edinburgh?

The main tourist season runs May through September offering the most tour options and best weather for Highland exploration. August gets especially busy when the Edinburgh Festival and Military Tattoo draw crowds to the city. A TourRadar traveler reports: "We visited in July and had perfect weather for exploring both Edinburgh and the Highlands."

Europe Tours from Edinburgh

Find your perfect adventure! We have 106 tours of Europe that start in Edinburgh, Scotland. The most popular month is June, and tour lengths range between 2 and 23 days.

10 best Europe tour packages from Edinburgh

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Explorer
Exploring Britain and Ireland featuring England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (Edinburgh to Dublin) (2025)
4.5 (76 traveler reviews)
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Scotland England Wales Ireland
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Collette
8% Off
From $5,599
US$5,149per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Exclusive
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Polar
Crossing the Arctic Circle
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Scotland Faroe Islands Norway Svalbard
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
M/V Sea Spirit
Operated in
English
Operator
Poseidon Expeditions
40% Off
From $7,795
US$4,677per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Polar
North Atlantic Wonders
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Scotland England Denmark Iceland
Age Range
Ages 6+
Ship
M/V Sea Spirit
Operated in
English
Operator
Poseidon Expeditions
15% Off
From $9,595
US$8,156per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Best of Scotland & Ireland and Northern Ireland
Duration
17 days
Destinations
Scotland Ireland Northern Ireland
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
Firebird Tours
15% Off
From
US$8,588per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Scotland and Ireland
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Scotland Northern Ireland Ireland
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Europamundo
15% Off
From
US$3,168per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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River Cruise
Whiskey, Fire & Ice - Scotland to Iceland
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Scotland Faroe Islands Iceland
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ship
Scenic Eclipse
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
56% Off
From $32,427
US$14,207per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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$5-Day Orkney & Scotland\'s Northern Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh Tour$
$5-Day Orkney & Scotland\'s Northern Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh - 19 destinations$
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Explorer
5-Day Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh
4.7 (87 traveler reviews)
"The sites visited were incredibly interesting if you are into history at all! I was in awe of each one!"
Mildred, traveled in September
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Stirling, Doune, Callander, Glencoe, Loch Ness,Inverness,Dunrobin,John O'Groats,Orkney Islands,Kirkwall,Skara Brae,Stenness,Stromness,Lairg,Ullapool,Culloden+11 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Rabbie's Tours
56% Off
From
US$1,290per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Whisky Coast & Scottish Islands - 12 days
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"His knowledge of Scotland was shared throughout the tour. Both men were very good drivers making it enjoyable to be along for the ride."
Angela, traveled in October
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Oban, Islay Island, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig,Inveraray,Isle of Mull,Staffa,Glencoe,Fort William,Ben Nevis,Plockton,Isle of Skye,Eilean Donan,Loch Ness,Inverness,Kirkwall,Orkney Islands,Ullapool,Culloden+15 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
Northern Scotland
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From $5,595
US$4,476per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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In-depth Cultural
Isle of Skye & The Outer Hebrides
4.7 (36 traveler reviews)
"Had an amazing time. Great accommodation."
Jennifer, traveled in July
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Stirling, Doune, Glencoe, Loch Ness, Inverness,Ullapool,Stornoway,Lewis,Callanish,Carloway,Eoropaidh,Portree,Sligachan,Eilean Donan,Mallaig+10 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Regions
Northern ScotlandIsle Of Skye+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Highland Explorer Tours
20% Off
From
US$1,689per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Highland Fling
4.7 (651 traveler reviews)
"We fit so many amazing sights into 5 days. Rich was hilarious, witty and so knowledgeable."
Colette, traveled in May
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Edinburgh, Stirling, Doune, Glencoe, Oban, Isle of Skye,Eilean Donan,Loch Ness,Inverness,Beauly,Culloden,Dunkeld+6 more
Age Range
Ages 18-45
Operated in
English
Operator
Haggis Adventures
20% Off
From
US$685per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Scotland and Ireland with London
Duration
16 days
Destinations
Scotland Northern Ireland Ireland Wales England
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Europamundo
20% Off
From
US$3,838per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Scotland and Ireland 35 to 45 (35 To 45)
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Scotland England Ireland Northern Ireland
Age Range
Ages 35-45
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
20% Off
From
US$2,966per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
British Landscapes featuring England, Scotland and Wales (Edinburgh to London) (2025)
4.4 (68 traveler reviews)
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Scotland England Wales
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Collette
5% Off
From $3,149
US$2,999per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Scotland and Ireland (Classic, Summer)
4.9 (21 traveler reviews)
"The tour was very good at making the trip as smooth as possible."
Lillian, traveled in March
Duration
13 days
Destinations
Scotland Northern Ireland Ireland
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Operated in
English
Operator
Contiki
10% Off
From $2,175
US$1,958per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Elegance of Great Britain (Classic, Summer, Start Edinburgh, 12 Days)
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
"Scotland and England are beautiful countries filled with rich history!"
Carol, traveled in August
Duration
12 days
Destinations
Scotland England Wales
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Insight Vacations
12% Off
From $4,995
US$4,396per person
Price based on Shared Room
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