Private tour in Edinburgh Irene M
5.0
(69) reviews
3 hours
1
3 hours
1
Irene M.
5.0
Guide rating
93
Reviews
Tours delivered
2 hrs
Avg. response time
Born in Milan, I spent my adult life in Edinburgh where I moved in 2009. This wonderful city stole my heart and here I am! Throughout this period I had the chance to get to know the city and dive in its history, culture and traditions. My academic background, teaching experience and passion for history and architecture, motivate me to research and create interesting tour outlines and narratives. I enjoy sharing the fascinating history of Edinburgh with visitors and bringing the stories behind monuments and streets to life! Having worked in the Education Department of local art galleries I love creating activities for younger audiences, and I have fun working with families and kids. I am a foodie and always looking for the best eating spots in town! Artisan food producers and local business are simply the best. From traditional Scottish food (haggis, anyone?!) to modern cuisine, I'd be happy to give you insider's tips and recommend off-the-beaten path restaurants, cafes, bars and food markets. On top of food, in my hands you will also find books. An avid reader, I enjoy Scotland crime novels among other genres - nothing better than a Tartan Noir story! Despite my reluctance to sit on planes, I love travelling! While I have already ticked many places off my list, there are still many destinations I wish to visit. Guiding clients from all over the world is one of the highlights of my job: it is so enriching to meet people from different countries and share experiences. Having travelled widely makes me sensible to visitors' needs and I realise the importance of meeting expectations. For this reason, all my tours can be customise and I would love to hear from you in order to create a unique and personalised itinerary. I look forward to meeting you, and I hope my tours will make you appreciate this wonderful city as much as I do. I hold a PhD and a Masters degree in history of art from the University of Edinburgh. I have been working as a tour guide since 2015. Emergency First Aid at Work (completed in 2025). I am not a driver guide. I can accompany you in your vehicle.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Irene M.
In this 3h tour, we will stroll around Edinburgh Old Town, admiring its historical landmarks and exploring its fascinating narrow cobbled lanes. By considering the key moments that shaped the history of the city, we will understand how Edinburgh developed from a medieval burgh to an international hub. While Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse will tell us about kings, queens, battles and sieges, St. Giles Cathedral will offer the perfect setting to learn about the Scottish Reformation. Greyfriars Graveyard, Grassmarket and the closes of the Royal Mile, will serve as the backdrop to recall the stories of murderers, executions, and bodysnatchers. In the National Museum of Scotland I'll tell you about Edinburgh's most intriguing mistery, the seventeen miniature coffins. . . We will also look at Edinburgh cultural scene, from writers and books (Harry Potter, anyone?) to the Fringe Festival and other art, music and film events that the city hosts throughout the year.
Our walking tour in Edinburgh was fantastic! Irene planned our introduction to the old town city center perfectly. The blend of Scotland and Edinburgh history shared throughout the tour provided continued interest from children to the eldest adult on our tour.
Our tour with Irene was wonderful! She is truly lovely and a wealth of knowledge. She tailored the tour ever so slightly as we requested and managed it in an order that made sense chronologically.... info garnered at the beginning was useful in tying everything together by the end. Thanks so much Irene!
Irene is a terrific guide, knowledgeable and passionate about Edinburgh, and great fun to be with. Her tour is very well organized but she will also divert a bit to make sure you become aware of treasures such as the Scotland National Museum. Her background in art is a plus. We highly recommend her!
Fabulous. Irene is very knowledgeable and is full of energy. We had a great time!
Irene provided an amazing introduction to Edinburgh for my daughter and me. Irene was very knowledgeable, personable, and friendly. I could tell that as the tour went on, Irene specifically tailored aspects of the tour on the fly to our (and specifically my daughter’s) interests. Irene was absolutely incredible, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Irene was an excellent and personable guide. Her tour was very interesting and informative for our adult family of four. Tour path was efficient and easy to follow with historical significance. We ended in a local Scottish pub with great ambience and excellent local food. Highly recommend Irene!
• Castle Esplanade • The Royal Mile • Victoria Street • Grassmarket • Greyfriars Graveyard • Greyfriars Bobby • The National Museum of Scotland (if open) • St. Giles Cathedral • The Mercat Cross • The 'closes' of the Old Town • John Knox House (exterior) • The Scottish Parliament • The Palace of Holyroodhouse (from the outside) Please note this tour can be customised. Use the 'message guide' button to contact me for a customised tour.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Walking Tour
354 Castlehill, Scotland, Scotland, EH1 2NE, United Kingdom
I recommend meeting outside of the Scotch Whisky Experience on 354 Castlehill, Edinburgh.
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AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
3 hours
1
3 hours
1
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