Private tour in Edinburgh Irene M
5.0
(8) reviews
2 hours
30 minutes
1
2 hours
30 minutes
1
Irene M.
5.0
Guide rating
95
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.
Join me for a tour of Edinburgh New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Built in the eighteenth century, the New Town features broad streets and open spaces, which contrast with the medieval, dark streets of the Old Town. We will discuss the context in which the New Town was built, and admire elegant examples of neoclassical architecture along the way - including Georgian and Palladian-style mansions. These were once the houses of some of the great minds of the Scottish Enlightenment, including Robert Adam, David Hume, Adam Smith who you will meet at the National Portrait Gallery. We will soak up the atmosphere of the city by walking through George Street and Princes Street Gardens where we could stop for coffee or ice cream. Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the New Town, we will then enter the Dean Village. A hidden gem, the Dean Village is a picturesque, charming little area of Edinburgh with an intriguing medieval past.
Irene M was our guide. She was wonderful, filled us in on the history of this iconic city. She took us all around. We were never, without information about what we were seeing. We walked for three hours each of our two days, she helped make it an experience we will not forget.
Our tour guide, Irene, provided an easy and approachable narrative that brought to life the history of New Town Edinburgh, as well as how modern Edinburghers live, work and play in this glorious city. Always informative and entertaining, Irene gave us a thorough grounding in how to navigate and engage in this glorious city. of great hospitality. She readily accommodated our desire to avoid “too many stairs” and at the same time ensured that we saw the art, architecture, parks, squares, monuments that mark this unique town. Importantly, Irene made certain to share the unique history, legends and even current affairs that brought understanding and a desire to visit again. She was never unnerved by a foolish query nor stumped by an arcane question about Edinburgh history or culture. We strongly recommend expert and amiable Irene as the ideal Edinburgh companion and guide.
Irene was a great tour guide. We learned a lot about the history of Edinburgh and enjoyed walking around and conversing with Irene. We would definitely book Irene again.
Irene is very pleasant and patient, and gave us lots of great information and tips about the Old town and New town in two afternoon tours. She is an exceptional guide. Highly recommend!!
This was our second tour with Irene and again we had an amazing time. We met on time across from the Apple Store and after a quick briefing we started our walk to some very exciting places. As we walked we were able to pick up a few geocaches. We must say the architecture of this “New” area was quite amazing. In the end we found ourselves at Dean Village which was a real treat. Thank you so much for two fun filled informative days.
Irene was awesome - friendly, flexible and knows her content like crazy
•The Balmoral Hotel • St. Andrews Square • The National Portrait Gallery • George Street • The Dome • Rose Street • Princes St Gardens • Charlotte Square • Dean's Bridge • The Dean's Village 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
9 Waterloo Place, Scotland, Scotland, EH1 3BG, United Kingdom
I recommend meeting next to the Duke of Wellington Equestrian Statue opposite the Balmoral Hotel, 9 Waterloo Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3BG. I live in the city centre of Edinburgh and can meet you in town or at your hotel in the city centre.
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2 hours
30 minutes
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2 hours
30 minutes
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
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