Home > Baltic > Scotland > Glasgow (Greenock) >

Highlights of Edinburgh
Greenock Shore Excursion - Highlights of Edinburgh
 

Private Edinburgh Castle tour from the Greenock cruise port includes a scenic driving tour of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town, a photo stop on Calton Hill, and an interior visit to Edinburgh Castle, home to the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Free time to explore the Royal Mile and St Giles Cathedral is also included. 8 to 8.5 hours.

8 hours (private)
private excursion
licensed guide
english speaking expert
all group sizes
sedan to full size coach
››
port or hotel
pick up either location
  • Pick up from your Hotel or the Port in Glasgow
  • Your contact will hold a welcome sign with your name written
  • Private Vehicle with Licensed English Speaking Guide
  • Included Interior Visits- Edinburgh Castle
Read Full Tour Description





Tour Number: SGLAS-04


Group Size (Prices in USD)*: 		2 People - $576 Per Person
3 People - $406 Per Person
4 People - $316 Per Person
5 People - $260 Per Person
6 People - $224 Per Person
7 People - $202 Per Person



Port / City*:

Month*:

Day*:

Year*:

Pick Up Time*:

Pick Up Location*:

Name of Ship or Hotel*:

TOUR DESCRIPTION
 

Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Shore Excursion from Glasgow

This full day shore excursion from Greenock, about 75 miles (121km) away, takes you to Edinburgh for a driving tour of the city and a visit to Edinburgh Castle.

After meeting your driver-guide at the pier, you drive to Edinburgh through the Georgian New Town, with a photo stop on Calton Hill for views over the city and its Old Town. In the Old Town, you visit Edinburgh Castle, built in stages over several centuries: St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building on the castle rock, dates to around 1130; the Great Hall was built for James IV in the early 1500s; the Half Moon Battery was added by the Regent Morton in the late 1500s; and the Scottish National War Memorial was completed after the First World War. Inside the castle you can see the Crown Jewels of Scotland (the Honours of Scotland), the Stone of Destiny, the 15th century siege gun Mons Meg, and the National War Museum of Scotland. Margaret of Scotland, later Saint Margaret, took refuge in Scotland after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and married King Malcolm III; she died at Edinburgh Castle in 1093.

Following the castle visit, you have free time for lunch in a local pub and to explore the Royal Mile on your own, including St Giles Cathedral, the High Kirk of Edinburgh, known for its crown shaped spire and the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle.

Later in the afternoon, you return to the pier in Greenock.

What's Included

Included

  • Pick up from your Hotel or the Port in Glasgow
  • Your contact will hold a welcome sign with your name written
  • Private Vehicle with Licensed English Speaking Guide
  • Included Interior Visits- Edinburgh Castle

Not Included

  • Meals and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Gratuities (optional, at your discretion)
  • Personal shopping

Tour Timing

All times are approximate and will vary based on your group's pace and interests.

  • 1
    1.5 Hours
    Drive to Edinburgh
  • 2
    1 hour
    Edinburgh Driving tour with photo stop
  • 3
    1.5 Hours
    Visit Edinburgh Castle
  • 4
    2.5 Hours
    Free time for lunch and exploring the Royal Mile
  • 5
    1.5 Hours
    Return to Glasgow / Greenock

Resources

Clydeport - Greenock Ocean Terminal . Operator of the Greenock Ocean Terminal cruise berth on the River Clyde, with marine operations and port information for the Firth of Clyde. Official Website

Forever Edinburgh . The City of Edinburgh's official destination guide, with visitor information for the Old Town, Royal Mile, and Edinburgh Castle. Official Website

Good to Know

Mobility
This tour involves steps and uneven terrain that make it unsuitable for wheelchair users. If you have mobility concerns, contact us and we can discuss alternatives.
Dress Code
Some sites on this tour require that shoulders and knees be covered. We recommend wearing or bringing a light layer to avoid being turned away at the entrance.
Customizable
This tour can be adjusted to fit your group’s pace and interests. If you’d like to spend more time at a particular site or add a stop, contact us when you inquire.
Larger Groups
For groups that need a minibus or full coach, contact us for a custom quote. We accommodate groups of any size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Queen Margaret and why is she connected to Edinburgh Castle?
Margaret, later Saint Margaret of Scotland, was an Anglo-Saxon princess who fled to Scotland after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and married King Malcolm III. She died at Edinburgh Castle in 1093, and St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building within the castle walls, is named in her honor.
What is the Stone of Destiny?
The Stone of Destiny is the traditional coronation stone of Scottish monarchs. It was taken to England in 1296 and used in English and later British coronations for centuries before being returned to Scotland in 1996, where it is now displayed at Edinburgh Castle alongside the Honours of Scotland.
Is lunch included on this tour?
Lunch is not included. You have free time in the Old Town to choose a pub or restaurant on the Royal Mile and pay for your own meal.
How do I find my driver when I arrive in Glasgow (Greenock)?
Cruise Ship: After leaving the ship at Glasgow (Greenock), make your way to the main public exit of the terminal. Where a terminal building exists, pass through the arrivals area to the outside pickup area -- cruise staff can direct you. If there's no terminal building, your driver waits dockside. If you can't spot your contact immediately, stay put near your exit and call the local dispatch number in your confirmation. Hotel: Your driver or guide will be waiting either just outside the main entrance or inside the lobby, sign in hand with your group's name. Airport: Once you've collected your luggage and cleared customs, head into the arrivals hall -- your driver or guide will be there holding a sign with your group name.
included
Lunch is not included. You have free time in the Old Town to choose a pub or restaurant on the Royal Mile and pay for your own meal.
Can we add a stop to our Glasgow (Greenock) tour that isn't on the standard itinerary?
A private Glasgow (Greenock) tour is built to flex around what you want to see. Let your driver or guide know about a must-see spot right at pickup, and they'll try to make it happen -- though traffic and scheduling sometimes cap what's possible. Either way, they'll keep the day as tailored as they can.

Also Available:

›Highlights of Glasgow - An 8 hour driving tour of Glasgow with a visit to Glasgow Cathedral and free time to explore museums including the Kelvingrove and the Riverside Museum.
›Stirling Castle and Falkirk Wheel - Combines a visit to Stirling Castle with a boat ride on the rotating Falkirk Wheel boat lift.

Our Back-to-Ship Guarantee

Every excursion returning 1.5 hours before departure is covered. If we are late, we cover your costs to reach the next port. More info ›

Book With Confidence

Back-to-Ship Guarantee
Guest Reviews
Group & Custom Requests
Contact Our Team
Shore Trip Timing is approximate based on your interests & traffic
  • Drive to Edinburgh - 1.5 Hours
  • Edinburgh Driving tour with photo stop - 1 hour
  • Visit Edinburgh Castle - 1.5 Hours
  • Free time for lunch and exploring the Royal Mile - 2.5 Hours
  • Return to Glasgow / Greenock - 1.5 Hours

Average Rating: Average Rating: 5 of 5 5 of 5 Total Reviews: 9 Write a review »

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Glasgow (Greenock) Sunday, July 12, 2026
Reviewer: Travel Agent Donna U from Royal Palm Travel and Cruise Everything  
We had a fantastic time! Our guides were great, and had a terrific personality. He was also quite the historian!!! We saw more in one day than anyone else on the ship. I will tell all my clients to contact your company. I could not be happier!!! Heres to next time.

Was this review helpful to you?

  2 of 2 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Glasgow (Greenock) Sunday, June 14, 2026
Reviewer: Jane L from NEW IBERIA, LA  
Ken organized an excellent excursion for our group of 16 from Regal Princess cruise stop in Glasgow (Greenock). Our tour guides (we had two eight seater vehicles) were very knowledgeable, friendly and ensured that we all had a great time while visiting Loch Lomond, Luss, Aberfoyle, etc. Every one of our group thoroughly enjoyed themselves! celebrating birthdays that week, we broke out into impromptu choruses of Happy Birthday. All in all, we can confidently say that our London visit was very much enhanced by the outstanding guide we had ---- never underestimate when someone says that a tour guide can make or break your experience. Konrad is tops!

Was this review helpful to you?

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Glasgow (Greenock) Sunday, June 7, 2026
Reviewer: Dannelle M from Mission Viejo, California  
Again, Private Shore Trips did not disappoint. Been using them since 2009. Steven is so great to work with - and his team of tour guides all over Europe have been amazing. This time we used them in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. David in London, Ricky in Edinburgh, Ricky and Graeme in Glasgow and Paul in Belfast. All were personable, friendly, very knowledgeable, and flexible.

Was this review helpful to you?

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Glasgow (Greenock) Monday, October 6, 2025
Reviewer: Fred H from Roswell, GA  
Everything went very well. Thanks for a great service.

Was this review helpful to you?

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Glasgow (Greenock) Thursday, October 31, 2024
Reviewer: David K from Silver Spring, MD  
I just wanted to commend you on a job very well done on our cruise vacation excursions. All the drivers and guides were really excellent and we got to see much more than the people on the big bus tours. We will certainly recommend your service to others.

Was this review helpful to you?

View All Customer Reviews