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City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour: Is Edinburgh’s Spookiest Experience Worth It?
- Elijah
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
“It came from the shadows… in Edinburgh!” Dare you walk the cobbled streets where history refuses to stay buried? On this night of fog and fright, you, yes, you, will step beyond the iron gates… into Greyfriars Kirkyard, where whispers of the past echo louder than your heartbeat! Hold onto your sweetheart, steady your nerves, and whatever you do… don’t stray from the group.
This isn’t just a ghost tour. It’s a 90-minute descent into the paranormal, led by guides who know what lurks in the dark. Exclusive access, real legends, and the infamous Mackenzie Poltergeist await. Do you have what it takes to face the City of the Dead?
(Thank you, three semesters of college writing courses, for that intro. I’m sure this is what you had in mind.)
Tour Basics: Cost, Duration, and Departure Info
Cost of the Tour
Adults: $19.43 / £19.00
Seniors: $17.39 / £17.00
Booking is cheaper directly through the City of the Dead website
Departure & Ending Points
Start: “Tree of the Dead” beside St. Giles’ Cathedral, on the Royal Mile
End: Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery, EH1 2QQ
Tour Times
Summer (Easter–Halloween): 9:00 PM (Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Winter (Halloween–Easter): 8:30 PM (Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Tour Duration
Total Duration: 90 minutes for the evening tour
Links to Book
Locations Visited
Tree of the Dead (starting point)
St. Giles’ Cathedral
The Royal Mile
Charles II and the Duke of Buccleuch statues
Edinburgh South Bridge
Greyfriars Bobby statue (be ready to tear up)
Greyfriars Kirkyard (the world’s most haunted cemetery)
Covenanter’s Prison and Black Mausoleum (exclusive access)
Exclusive Access: Why This Tour Is Different
This tour is the only one with access to the Covenanter’s Prison and Black Mausoleum, locked behind iron gates and high walls inside Greyfriars Cemetery.
The area is linked to the Mackenzie Poltergeist, called “the best documented supernatural case of all time.”
You’ll stand inside one of Edinburgh’s most disturbing historical sites, not just peer in from the outside
Is It Scary? Our Honest Experience
We’ll never forget the moment we stepped under the stone archway into the Covenanter’s Prison. The air seemed heavier, the temperature dropped, and even the ambient city noise disappeared behind the old walls. It was dark, eerily quiet, and somehow… still. You could feel it in your chest, that tightening hush before something happens in a horror film.
Our guide, Ross, added an unexpected layer to the experience: he was clearly under the weather. Pale, hoarse, and coughing through half the tour, it somehow made the whole thing feel more cursed, like we had stumbled into a Victorian ghost story where even the narrator is slowly becoming a part of the graveyard. In all seriousness, he pushed through like a champ. His storytelling was sharp, his sarcasm was well-timed, and his silences were intentional and effective. It wasn’t theatrical in a theme park way; it was unnerving in a slow-burn, real-history kind of way.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this tour builds its tension through atmosphere. You’re not being jump-scared. You’re being walked deeper and deeper into a story, one that just happens to involve plagues, prisons, and a haunted mausoleum. By the time you reach the Black Mausoleum and hear about the Mackenzie Poltergeist, you may find yourself scanning the shadows a little more carefully.
We didn’t see or feel anything supernatural. But we also didn’t linger behind the group, and we didn’t knock on any tombs. Just in case.
Important Tips and Warnings Before You Go
This is a nighttime walking tour through centuries-old alleyways and graveyards. Come prepared, especially if you're visiting in colder months.
Dress for the weather: Edinburgh nights can be brisk even in the summer, and damp in the fall. Wear layers and sturdy shoes with grip; the paths inside Greyfriars were wet, uneven, and a bit slippery during our visit.
Bring a small flashlight: There’s little lighting inside the graveyard, and the ground can be uneven. A small flashlight or phone light helps you avoid puddles, mud, and unexpected tombstones.
Warm drink = smart move: We grabbed hot drinks just before the tour, and they were a lifesaver for our hands while walking. Bonus points if it fits the spooky mood.
Visit around Halloween for extra atmosphere: We booked this tour close to Halloween, and the chill in the air paired perfectly with the stories. It’s a fun way to lean into the season without doing anything too cheesy.
Pros and Cons of the City of the Dead Ghost Tour
Pros
Exclusive access to haunted locations others can’t enter
Deep historical context paired with theatrical storytelling
Memorable setting and well-paced walking tour
Affordable, even more so when booked directly
Cons
Not for the faint of heart (or the physically unprepared)
Tour experience depends heavily on your guide’s energy
A little awkward as people around Edinburgh look at you funny (to be fair, our guide was randomly shrieking)
No refunds if turned away for breaking rules (alcohol, age, etc.)
Final Verdict: Is the Haunted Graveyard Tour Worth It?
This is one of Edinburgh’s best ghost tours if you’re looking for something that feels authentic, intense, and rooted in history. It’s not (too) cheesy, overdone, or overly sanitized. Just know what you’re signing up for: a dark walk-through, a real grave, a bit of fear, and a deep dive into the brutal past of Edinburgh’s most haunted corner.
Looking for other tours of Scotland? Check out our review of a Castles, Lochs, and Highlands Tour
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