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Spending Halloween in Edinburgh? 11 Spooky things you can’t miss this year
From underground ghost tours to haunted vaults to ancient Celtic fire festivals, discover 11 ways to celebrate Halloween in Edinburgh.
Scotland has always done dark and moody well. From its misty glens and centuries-old castles to its eerie folklore, it’s no wonder the hit show The Traitors chose a Scottish castle for its backdrop of betrayal.
So if you’re heading to Edinburgh this Halloween, don’t waste it on a generic pub crawl.
Halloween’s Scottish roots mean Edinburgh is full of spooky events and activities. From ghost hunts in underground chambers to a Celtic-inspired fire festival, here are 11 ways to spend Halloween in Edinburgh.
| Experience | Best for | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|
| Samhuinn Fire Festival | Once-in-a-lifetime spectacle | Join waiting list |
| Real Mary King’s Close | History lovers | Yes, timed slots |
| South Bridge Vaults tour | Ghost hunters | Yes |
| Greyfriars Kirkyard night tour | Thrill seekers | Yes |
| The Edinburgh Dungeon | Groups, jump scares | Yes |
| Witchery Tour | Comedy plus scares | Yes |
| Surgeons’ Hall Museums | Macabre history | Recommended |
| Arthur’s Seat and the miniature coffins | Free, daytime mystery | No |
| Scottish Storytelling Centre | Families, folklore fans | Check events |
| Lauriston Castle Halloween events | Families | Check for returns |
| Dinner at The Witchery by the Castle | Gothic date night | Yes |
1. Watch Calton Hill burn at the Samhuinn Fire Festival
Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival often seen as the root of Halloween, appears in Irish writing as far back as the 9th century. In Scotland, it’s spelled Samhuinn.
The Samhuinn Fire Festival at Calton Hill celebrates the shift into the “darker half” of the year with a spectacle of fire dancing, drumming, acrobatics, and a huge bonfire. Gates open at 6:30 PM, with the iconic bonfire lighting taking place at 7:45 PM.
Tickets, available only on Citizen Ticket, are already sold out, but you can join the waiting list to grab any last-minute spots. Just note that the show includes semi-nudity, and under-16s need a ticketed adult with them.
2. Walk a buried street at The Real Mary King’s Close
The Real Mary King’s Close is Edinburgh’s preserved 17th-century street, sealed beneath the bustling Royal Mile.
The eerie silence here contrasts sharply with the busy streets above. But what makes it one of the most unusual things to do in Edinburgh is the guides. They dress in costume and share fascinating, often spooky stories of what happened there centuries ago.
One story is about “Annie,” the famous ghost of a young girl, and how visitors often leave toys in Annie’s room to soothe her spirit.
The standard tour of The Real Mary King’s Close lasts about 1 hour and starts at £25 per person (£18.25 per child over 5).
3. Brave the South Bridge Vaults by candlelight
The South Bridge Vaults are a series of underground vaults under Edinburgh’s South Bridge.
Dating back to the 1700s, they have a long and interesting history, used as storage spaces and workshops before becoming slum housing and then a hub for illegal gambling and prostitution.
In the 19th century, the vaults were abandoned, and in recent years they have sparked interest among ghost hunters, who consider them one of Scotland’s most haunted spots. Now various tour companies run tours there, including nighttime candlelight ghost tours.
4. Enter the Covenanters’ Prison at Greyfriars Kirkyard
In 1679, around 1,200 Covenanters captured at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge were held in an open-air prison here, and hundreds died from cold and hunger.
Since 1999, it’s been a paranormal hotspot, home to the so-called Mackenzie Poltergeist, which has been blamed for leaving hundreds of visitors with unexplained scratches, burns, and bruises.
The prison is kept locked, so a guided night tour is the way in. If that sounds too terrifying, you can visit the Kirkyard grounds during the day instead. As it remains an active burial ground, always show respect when visiting.
5. Scream your way through The Edinburgh Dungeon
If you prefer a “safe scare” without the threat of a real poltergeist, head to The Edinburgh Dungeon. With live actors who jump out at you, a cannibal’s cave, and gruesome scenes from the city’s witch trials, your heart will surely be racing when you reach the exit.
The experience lasts about 70 minutes, and because it’s indoors, it’s a great rainy-day option. Tickets start at £19 per person when you book online, and Halloween-week slots fill up fast, so book in advance.
6. Laugh and shiver on The Witchery Tour
The Witchery Tour is a walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town, full of witch-trial history, dark humor, and costumed ghosts and ghouls. During the tour, you pass many historic monuments, including The Witches’ Well, where accused witches were burned at the stake.
Tours run Wednesday to Sunday at 7 PM, last around 90 minutes, and cost £16 per adult or £12 per child aged 5 to 15. It’s spooky but not terrifying, making it a great choice for first-timers and families.
7. Get grisly at Surgeons’ Hall Museums
A museum may seem like a “soft” experience, but this one is not for the squeamish. The Surgeons’ Hall Museum has some seriously gory surgical history exhibits, including the macabre artifacts from the Burke and Hare body-snatching case.
Open from 10 AM to 5 PM, it’s a great daytime activity to do before an evening ghost tour. It’s also one of Edinburgh’s most affordable spooky activities, with tickets costing just £10 per person and £5.50 for kids aged 5 to 15, though the museum recommends it for ages 10 and up.
8. Solve the mystery of the Arthur’s Seat coffins
17 miniature coffins were found on Arthur’s Seat in 1836, and no one knows why. Even stranger, each coffin contained a carved wooden figure dressed in cloth, with tiny boots painted on.
Many people believe the coffins are linked to the 17 known victims of Burke and Hare, while other theories suggest they were used in witchcraft.
Only 8 coffins remain, now on display at the National Museum of Scotland. If you have several days in Edinburgh, pair a museum visit with a sunset hike up Arthur’s Seat, then take an evening ghost tour.
9. Hear Scotland’s ghost stories at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
The 2026 Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs from October 21 to 31, coinciding with Halloween.
Throughout the festival, the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile hosts a range of folklore storytelling events, making for a gentle Halloween activity.
Step-free access and an on-site café also make it an easy option for families. On Halloween morning, the center also hosts a family Samhuinn celebration, a gentle way to introduce kids to Scotland’s take on the holiday.
10. Bring the kids to Halloween at Lauriston Castle
Lauriston Castle is one of the lesser-known haunted castles in Europe, where staff have reported footsteps and rustling skirts in empty rooms. However, during Halloween, it’s one of the most family-friendly places to visit.
The festivities start on October 24 with the Witches and Wizards Workshop, which includes spellcasting and potion-making. Halloween Magic School follows on October 25, where your little ones can learn, create, and perform magic tricks. Then on October 31, there is the Halloween in the Castle event, a theatrical costumed history tour. The October 24 workshop and the Halloween tour have already sold out, so book Magic School soon or call the castle about returns.
To reach the castle, catch the Line 47 bus from central Edinburgh, which takes around 30 minutes, followed by a short walk to the gates.
11. Dine in gothic style at The Witchery by the Castle
Complete your Halloween trip with an enchanting meal at The Witchery, next to the Edinburgh Castle esplanade.
While the name is similar, it’s not connected to The Witchery Tour. Rather, it’s a fine-dining restaurant named after the witch burnings that took place on Castlehill in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The restaurant features a theatrical, gothic design with candlelit rooms that look like a setting from an old horror movie. It gets busy on Halloween weekend, so book well in advance.
Planning your Halloween week in Edinburgh
A few practical things to know before you go:
- Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so Saturday evening tours and the Samhuinn festival will be crowded.
- UK clocks go back on Sunday, October 25, so it will be dark before 5 PM. It’s worth booking an earlier ghost tour and heading to dinner afterward.
- Autumn in Scotland is cold and rainy, and evenings average around 6°C (43°F) and can dip lower, so pack warm layers and waterproof shoes.
- If you can’t get a flight into Edinburgh, fly into London, then take the train up. The train journey takes around 4 hours 20 minutes and gives you the opportunity to add a few days in London to your trip.
- Sort your phone data before you land, as you’ll need maps to navigate the attractions, QR codes for tour tickets, and rideshares after late finishes. Avoid expensive UK roaming fees by picking up a local UK SIM card upon arrival or sorting a travel eSIM before you fly.
Stay connected through every dark close with Holafly
Edinburgh’s Old Town is made for wandering, but when a ghost tour ends deep inside a candlelit vault, you’ll want your map, your tickets, and your group chat working right away.
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Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
