The Undercity

Most people are unaware that the entire city of Edinburgh was built above an older city that existed on the same site. Well, it's true. The undercity, as it is now called, was abandoned some 200 years ago. Some say the undercity was abandoned due to the plague that was raging through the area, but there were several reasons that led to the eventual evacuation. A short time later, the new Edinburgh was built over the remains of the old city. There are still several passages underneath Edinburgh, and several ways to get down there from the surface. The better tours will take you down to the undercity and show you what life was like when this part of the city was used. You'll see the narrow streets, the old houses, hear about the plague, and more. It's a once in a lifetime experience that should not be missed!