20+ Spooky Places in Edinburgh to Visit this Halloween (2026)!

Edinburgh is famous for being one of the most haunted cities in the world. 

So, you’ll find endless ghost tours, spooky museums, haunted graveyards, creepy vaults, and gothic literary locations. 

Visiting in autumn around the Samhain festival is the best time to enjoy its obscure attractions while the veil between worlds is thinnest.

Not to mention, the foliage found here is a riot of colour, awash with red and orange hues.

Fall in Edinburgh is easily my favourite time to visit. No other city beats the ghoulishly good vibes.

Here is a complete list of spooky places in Edinburgh you must experience.

Spooky Places in Edinburgh 

Edinburgh has endless spooky places to visit, so it’s hard to boil it down to just a few.

But here is a list of the very best attractions you should haunt this Halloween. 

1. Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Kirkyard is my favourite graveyard in Edinburgh. It’s known as the most haunted graveyard in the entire world.

This 400-year-old burial site has played a role in many of the city’s most important historic chapters.

Many of the city’s most notable residents have been buried here, and it was also home to Franciscan Friars and the Covenanters. 

“Bloody MacKenzie” is easily the most infamous plot with his Black Tomb. It is rumoured that his restless spirit attack intruders so it’s chained up. 

Today, this graveyard is most famous for a little dog that’s buried here called Greyfriars Bobby. It’s a story that will melt your heart.

It’s also risen to fame due to its Harry Potter connection. Potterheads will love the fact that you can find many famous names on the headstones. 

It’s easily one of the best spooky places in Edinburgh. You can’t miss it.

2. Witches Well

The Witches Well is a small memorial monument on the Castle Esplanade.

It was erected in 1902 and was built to remember the thousands of people burned at the stake for witchcraft in the 15th to 18th centuries. 

There is both a wicked head and a serene head symbolising that many of these victims used their extensive knowledge for evil purposes.

The serpent has a dual meaning of evil and wisdom, and the foxglove represents the dual purpose of common objects.

The Edinburgh Castle area is always busy, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled. 

It’s quite hidden away, but look out for it next to the Tartan Weaving Mill & Exhibition.

3. Boswell’s Court

Boswell’s Court is one of my favourite places on the Royal Mile that has an effortless mystery to it. 

It’s a historic courtyard on Castlehill just inches away from Edinburgh Castle that is one of the best spooky places in Edinburgh.

You’ll see The Witchery by the Castle sign welcoming travellers inside, which piques interest. 

As you walk down the dark alleyway, you’ll be itching to discover what lies beyond this sixteenth-century close.

The best time to visit would be during the spooky season when they decorate this court with lots of colourful pumpkins for Halloween. 

4. The Witchery by the Castle

The most delectable and magical dining experience you can have in Edinburgh is at The Witchery by the Castle. 

Set in a sixteenth-century merchant’s building on the Royal Mile, you’ll dine by candlelight surrounded by tapestries and ancient oak. 

They serve up an award-winning menu or you can visit for their light lunch, which I would always recommend. 

You can choose to visit their original Witchery restaurant or the whimsical Secret Garden. 

As a lover of all things dark fantasy, I loved eating here. The mystical atmosphere is unmatched, and the food is utterly divine. 

5. Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle sits proudly on Castle Rock and is one of the oldest fortified castles in Europe.

It’s long been the seat of Scottish royalty, with resident monarchs like Mary de Guise, Mary Queen of Scots, and James VI. 

It’s also one of the most haunted in Scotland with a grisly, 900-year history of imprisonment, torture and execution.  

You can visit the Great Hall, Royal Palace, and St Margaret’s Tower as well as wander the Argyll Batteries and see the Honours of Scotland. 

You could easily spend half a day here. There’s so much to see and do inside.

It’s always busy and has very long lines for tickets, so I would recommend booking tickets in advance to save time and money.

6. Ghost Bus Tour 

One of the best ways to visit the most spooky places in Edinburgh is to take a Ghost Bus Tour.

It’s a 75-minute theatrical journey through this Gothic city to learn about its phantom residents.

You’ll sit on a vintage black double-decker bus called the ‘Edinburgh Necrobus’ while your host regales you with a comedy of horrors. 

Make sure to have your camera ready as you may be able to capture some of the paranormal activity on the way.

7. St Giles Cathedral

St Giles Cathedral is the High Kirk of Edinburgh and has been a site of worship for over 900 years.

It was founded in 1124 as a Roman Catholic cathedral but was changed to Protestant during the Scottish Reformation in 1559. 

This was led by the reformer John Knox, who became the first Protestant minister.

The architecture of this Gothic building, with its crown steeple, is enchanting. But it’s the dramatic interiors that are the real treasure. 

You’ll find high archways, wooden carvings, stained glass windows and statues that will take your breath away.

8. The Cadies & Witchery Tours

The Cadies & Witchery Tours run award-winning walking tours of the city, guaranteed to send a chill up your spine.

You can join them for a Ghosts & Gour Tour or a Greyfriars Cemetery tour to see some of the most spooky places in Edinburgh.

Make sure to check their website for availability as tours do sell out. 

Even if you didn’t want to join a ghost tour, it’s well worth exploring their small store on Victoria Street.

You can see the William Burke Museum, which is the smallest museum in the world. 

It has one exhibit, and that’s of a small calling card case made with William Burke’s skin.

9. Chase Harry Potter locations 

Witches and wizards of all houses, did you know that Edinburgh has many magical Harry Potter locations to visit?

Edinburgh is known as the birthplace of Harry Potter, as J. K Rowling wrote some of the very first chapters of the books here.

So, there are many places in this historic city that are thought to have inspired the epic fantasy tale. 

Ever since, Edinburgh has become a popular pilgrimage for Potterheads who want to experience some of the magic.

The best place to start is Victoria Street, which is thought to be a real-life Dragon Alley.

You can then pop inside Museum Context, or visit the Elephant House for a Butterbeer. 

10. Black Moon Botanica 

If you love witchy shops, then you must stop by Black Moon Botanica on Candlemaker Row.

It’s a spooky independent boutique that sells all sorts of magical items like beeswax candles, herbs, oils and crystals.

They also offer tarot readings and studying astrological charts. It’s a gorgeous place to visit all year but best enjoyed during fall. 

Just note that it is a small place with a visitor limit. So, you may have to queue to go inside at busy periods.

11. Find Burke & Hare locations

“Up the close and doon the stair, but and ben wi’ Burke and Hare. Burke’s the butcher, Hare’s the thief, Knox the boy that buys the beef.”

This is a popular rhyme here in Edinburgh which warns children about two infamous murderers.

Back in the 19th century, medical science was still developing, and anatomy was largely misunderstood.

Medical professionals, students, and artists all needed to examine human anatomy and dissect bodies for their studies.

Back then, dissecting fresh corpses in the name of art and science was illegal and seen as sacrilege.

So, many resorted to stealing freshly buried bodies from gravesites as there was money to be made for those brave enough to body-snatch. 

Burke and Hare found it far easier to simply murder people instead and quickly sell those cadavers to seek their fortune.

The duo’s gruesome get-rich-quick scheme with Dr Knox lasted for around a year until they were both arrested. 

Hare got off scot-free, but Burke was hanged in public with 30,000 spectators.

There are many Burke & Hare locations around Edinburgh to follow in their footsteps. 

12. See the Coffin Dolls

One fine day in June 1836, a group of boys went out to hunt for rabbits in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh.

It’s here that they found a small cave that contained a set of creepy Coffin Dolls.

Ever since they reported this baffling discovery, these miniature dolls and their meaning have remained a mystery. 

Were they a witch’s curse? A Satanic spell? A burial ritual of some kind? Or, did they pertain to something even darker and more gruesome…

Many people believe that these figures are Burke and Hare Dolls, and one was created each time the body-snatching duo took another victim.

You’ll find them waiting for you in the Daith Comes In exhibit of the National Museum of Scotland. 

13. Surgeons’ Hall Museums

If you like your niche exhibits, then I highly recommend a visit to the Surgeons’ Hall Museum.

It takes you on a journey of surgery through time, pathology and dental practice. 

There are several exhibits with art galleries, surgery rooms, dental collections and human remains.

It’s one of Scotland’s oldest museums and one of the most significant medical collections in the UK.

The reason for my visit was to see the death mask of William Burke.

You’ll find some information about his execution along with a pocket book made with his skin in the aftermath.

14. Frankenstein Bar

Did you know there is a world-famous Frankenstein bar in Edinburgh? It’s a ghoulishly good time and perfect for any fan of spooks and horror. 

You can sit in Dr Victor Frankenstein’s lab while indulging in killer pizzas and chilling cocktails. 

The best part is their regular show where you can see Frankenstein’s creation come to life before your very eyes.

15. The Real Mary King’s Close

Real Mary King’s Close is another spooky experience in Edinburgh you cannot miss. 

It’s a historic close under the Edinburgh City Chambers, and it’s named after the burgess Mary King.

You’ll take a one-hour guided tour deep underground to explore a preserved network of subterranean medieval living quarters. 

It was home to many plague victims, and there is a phantom ghost called Annie who lives here with several other spirits.

It’s easily one of the most spooky places in Edinburgh to visit.

I’ve done this tour twice, and I’ve loved it every time as each humorous guide is different. The stories about this labyrinth are captivating. 

16. Liberton Kirk

Edinburgh is always a gorgeous place to visit in the Autumn season.

This is when all the lush foliage changes from emerald greens to yellows, vibrant oranges, and reds.

Liberton Kirk is truly one of the highlights to visit during the spooky season. 

This is when the blanket of ivy covering the church turns a ruby-red colour to match their Elven-style red doors.

17. Scottish National Portrait Gallery 

One of the prettiest museums in Edinburgh has to be the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. 

It’s a 19th-century Neo-Gothic museum that champions Scottish heroes through art.

Here, you can marvel at their Great Hall with the famous frieze, which will take your breath away.

You can then visit their portrait galleries showcasing important chapters of Scottish history. Or, visit the Portrait Café for coffee or lunch. 

The museum is completely free to visit, so there’s no excuse not to go. 

18. Deacon Brodie’s Tavern & Gallows 

Did you know that Deacon Brodie’s Tavern was the inspiration for Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde?

William Brodie was an upstanding member of society by day, but he had a terrible habit of gambling and drinking. 

To pay off his debts, he would rob the wealthy. As a cabinet maker by trade, he would make wax impressions of his clients’ keys to steal from them.

He was only caught when one of his assistants provided King’s evidence. He was then tried and hanged at the gallows that very same day.

Robert Louis Stevenson used this story to write his novel, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, and you can visit Deacon Brodie’s Tavern to learn all about it. 

The site of the gallows where he was hanged is just outside of the pub. You can see a brass tribute on the pavement in Lawnmarket. 

19. St Cuthbert’s Kirkyard

St Cuthbert’s Kirkyard is an atmospheric graveyard you can find next to Princes Street Gardens with views of Edinburgh Castle.

You can head into this evocative burial site to see many historic tombs and headstones with panoramic views.

Although not as famous as Greyfriars Bobby, there is a statue here dedicated to Bum the Dog.

Bum was a stray from San Diego who arrived in the city as a stowaway. He was loved by Victorians who fed and looked after him here. 

Many people leave sticks on his memorial that he can play with in the afterlife. Aw.

20. Edinburgh Vaults 

The Edinburgh Vaults are a series of underground chambers built inside the 19th arches of the South Bridge in the Old Town.

These date back to the 1700s and were often used as slums, gambling dens or hideouts for criminals.

Today, you can take a variety of historic tours or ghost walks through them. You can even spend the night inside, if you dare.

They are rumoured to be haunted by resident spirits like Mr Boots, Jack the Child and The Aristocrat. It’s one of the most Spooky places in Edinburgh.

Don’t skip Spooky Season in Edinburgh  

I could go on, as there are endless spooky places in Edinburgh to visit, but these attractions are a good place to start. 

You can visit these uncanny places throughout the year, but the best time would be in autumn when the city has a palpable haunting presence. 

As a Spooky girl, spending fall in Edinburgh was like a dream come true. The eerie vibes and the autumn colours are just so magical. 

You must experience Halloween in Scotland at least once. Make sure to add these ghoulish places to your obscure bucket list!

Read more of my Edinburgh guides

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The best viewpoint in Edinburgh

A complete list of Outlander film sites in Edinburgh

Why you must visit Bakehouse Close

Lady Stair’s Close & The Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh

A complete guide to the Vennel Steps

World’s End Pub review

Topping & Company Booksellers Edinburgh review

The hidden gem of Tweeddale Court

Why Craigmillar Castle has to be on your list

A fairytale visit to Dean Village 

How to find the old Stockbridge market arch 

Secrets of Queen Mary’s Bath House

Save these Spooky Places in Edinburgh for later