Edinburgh Private Shore Excursions from Leith - Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, St Andrews & Stirling

Cruise ships calling at Edinburgh dock at the Port of Leith - Edinburgh's historic harbour on the Firth of Forth, approximately 2 miles north of Edinburgh city center. The drive from Leith cruise terminal to Edinburgh Old Town takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes by private vehicle. Your private guide and vehicle will meet you at the pier exit with a name sign. Edinburgh Castle is about 30 minutes from the cruise terminal.

The Best of Edinburgh private shore excursion is the strongest full-day choice - Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and free time in the Old Town in 8 hours. It is described as an Edinburgh city tour and leisure time shore excursion, giving you guided highlights and unscheduled time to explore independently. For guests who have already visited Edinburgh, the Stirling and Edinburgh tour combines two of Scotland's great castle cities, and the St Andrews tour reaches one of the most distinctive towns in Scotland - the Old Course, the ruined cathedral, and the medieval streets of the university town.

Edinburgh Castle sits on a volcanic crag above the Royal Mile, occupied since at least the 12th century. The castle holds the Scottish Crown Jewels - the crown, sceptre, and sword of state - and the Stone of Destiny, the sandstone block on which Scottish monarchs were crowned for centuries and which was held in Westminster Abbey from 1296 until its return to Scotland in 1996. The castle also houses the Scottish National War Memorial and the oldest building in Edinburgh - St Margaret's Chapel, dating from the early 12th century. A guided visit to the castle interior is included on the Best of Edinburgh full-day private shore excursion.

Yes. St Andrews is approximately 55 miles northeast of Leith cruise port - about 1 hour by private vehicle across the Firth of Forth via the Forth Road Bridge and through the Kingdom of Fife. Our Highlights of St Andrews private shore excursion from Leith is a full 8-hour day covering St Andrews Cathedral - once the largest building in medieval Scotland - the medieval town center, and the Old Course. The university, founded in 1413, is Scotland's oldest and the third oldest in the English-speaking world.

Our back-to-ship guarantee means that if an unforeseen delay during your private Edinburgh shore excursion prevents you from returning to Leith cruise terminal before your ship departs, we will arrange and cover the cost of transportation to your next port of call. This guarantee applies to all private shore excursions in Edinburgh Scotland booked through us. Your tour must be scheduled to return 1.5 hours before the ship departs.