Edinburgh Audio Tour: Old Town Myths & Mysteries

Explore Edinburgh at your own pace

A spire pierces the Edinburgh sky, blackened by centuries of secrets and storms. The city below shudders with history both whispered and shouted. Uncover a side of Edinburgh most never see on this self-guided audio tour. Move from the looming Scott Monument to the timeworn stones of Greyfriars Kirk, through the halls of New College and beyond, chasing the tales that haunt every step. Why did a silent midnight duel near the kirk change the fate of a nation? Which monument conceals the scars of a forgotten rebellion? What odd ritual once echoed through New College's secluded courtyards? Wander ancient closes and grand crescents. Trace the city's shadows and scandals in corners tourists rush past. Every moment here tilts between awe and revelation, promising fresh eyes on a living legend. Take the first step into Edinburgh's tangled heart and let its true story unfold.

Photo: Adam Wilson, Unsplash

Tour details

• Duration: 54 minutes, entirely at your own pace
• Distance: around 2.0 km (1.2 miles)
• Stops: 10 landmarks, including Scott Monument, Scottish National Gallery, New College, Edinburgh
• Audio: up to 25 minutes of narration
• Starts at: Scott Monument

Map data by Mapbox and OpenStreetMap contributors

How it works

• Book here and a redemption code arrives by email within minutes.
• Download the free AudaTours app on your phone and enter the code.
• Download the tour once and the whole thing works offline.
• Walk to the first stop and press play. The audio for each landmark starts automatically as you approach it, so your phone can stay in your pocket.

There is no fixed date and no start time. The date you pick at checkout does not matter, and the tour stays on your phone permanently, so you can use it whenever you next visit and walk it again as often as you like.

What is included

• Professionally narrated audio that plays automatically at each stop
• An interactive map showing the walking route between landmarks
• Full offline access once downloaded, so you need no data or signal
• Freedom to start, pause and resume whenever you like
• Lifetime access - your code never expires

Where you will stop

• Scott Monument
• Scottish National Gallery
• New College, Edinburgh
• Church of Scotland
• Cowgate
• Greyfriars Kirk
• National Library of Scotland
• St Giles' Cathedral
• Mercat Cross, Edinburgh
• Thistle Chapel

Image: AudaTours

What is AudaTours?

AudaTours turns a walk through a city into a story. Our guides bring landmarks to life with the history, the scandals and the detail you would never get from a plaque.

• Immersive: real stories about the places in front of you, not a dry commentary
• Offline: download once and use it with no data, anywhere
• At your own pace: start, pause and resume whenever you want
• Accurate: every story is built from verified historical sources and checked before release

Good to know

• This is a self-guided audio tour on your own phone. There is no in-person guide.
• It does not include entry to any building or site along the route.
• The landmarks on the tour are not affiliated with AudaTours.
• You need a smartphone with Android 7.0 or later, or iOS 16 or later.
• Bring headphones and start with a charged phone.

Who it suits

Solo travellers, couples, families and small groups who would rather explore on their own schedule than follow a guide and a fixed departure time. It suits a first visit, and it suits anyone who has already seen the famous sights and wants to know what actually happened in them.

Image credits

Photos: Adam Wilson, Ben Guerin (Unsplash).