Experience the legend and mystery of Rosslyn Chapel and the Holy Grail on this ‘Da Vinci Code’ tour from Edinburgh. In a small group, travel to the charming town of Melrose and through the Scottish borderlands. Explore Melrose Abbey and Rosslyn Chapel, and hear intriguing tales of Cistercian monks, the Knights Templar, and Robert the Bruce.

Small group excursion to Melrose, Rosslyn Abbey, and the Scottish Borders from Edinburgh
Visit locations featured in Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code
Hear the true history of Rosslyn Abbey
Travel in a top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach
Professional driver/guide
Enjoy privileged, personalized attention from your driver/guide on this small group tour
Small-group tour for a more personalized experience

What's Included

Professional driver/guide
Small group tour (16 people max)
Transport by 16-seat Mercedes luxury mini-coach

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Entrance fees (Melrose Abbey, Rosslyn Chapel)

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Bus Station
Edinburgh EH1 3AY, UK
Please meet your Rabbie's guide inside the Edinburgh Bus Station, Gate J and Gate K, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ (Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure)

Start time

09:45 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Your ‘Da Vinci Code’ adventure departs in the morning from central Edinburgh. Meet your expert guide and board your top-of-the-range, 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach for a half-day tour of the Scottish Borderlands and some of the area’s most legendary locations.

Your first stop is the epic viewpoint at Scott’s View—named for Sir Walter Scott—perched high above Tweed Valley and Eildon Hills. Snap some photos of Roman ruins and the rugged Scottish landscape, then continue to the lovely town of Melrose, an ancient settlement along the River Tweed. Stroll through the town that suffered a history of English invasion to see Melrose Abbey, the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart. Founded by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, the abbey offers a legendary history connecting the Cistercians to the Knights Templar. Tour the space and grab some lunch in town (own expense).

After lunch, continue to the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel, a 15th-century masterpiece that enjoyed a critical role in "The Da Vinci Code." Explore the medieval structure and study the chapel's elaborate stonework, loaded with provocative symbolism. Hear some of the many theories, myths, and legends about the chapel that attracts visitors from around the globe, then relax on the ride back to Edinburgh.

Your tour ends at Waverley Bridge.

William Wallace Statue

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Melrose Abbey

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Rosslyn Chapel

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Scott's View

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Check in closes 15 minutes prior to departure
Not wheelchair accessible
Please note: From 1 February 2023 all tours from Edinburgh will depart from Edinburgh Bus Station, Gate J and Gate K, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
Min. age 5 years old. We do not accept children under the age of 5 years.
Luggage Allowance: You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person on our tours. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus a small bag for onboard personal items.
Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate
For your optional Melrose Abbey tickets you must reserve your time slot in advance. Please use the link printed on your voucher.
Rosslyn Chapel - We reserve tickets for you. If you want to visit this attraction, please purchase your ticket whilst on tour.
Due to safety inspection and possible maintenance work, Melrose Abbey is closed until further notice.
In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:What is the departure point for the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The tour departs from Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH1 3DQ

Feb 2023

Q:Is parking available near the departure point for the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:Parking can be difficult to find in the center of town. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of the excellent public transportation that is available.

Jun 2021

Q:How early should I arrive for the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:Check-in closes 15 minutes before your departure time. The tour departs on time, so please do not arrive late.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring luggage with me on the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:You may bring up to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.

Jun 2021

Q:What should I bring with me on the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Bring your camera and spending money for lunch, optional admission tickets, etc.

Jun 2021

Q:Are admission fees included in the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:No. You pay for access to sites such as castles and museums as you arrive. Most of these locations accept both cash and card.

Jun 2021

Q:What type of vehicle is used during the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The tour is conducted in a 16 seat Mercedes Mini-coach. There are three steps up into the coach – each 150mm in height. There are grab handles on both sides, the step edges are clearly marked and the treads are non-slip.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring a wheelchair on the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:The bus is not wheelchair accessible, however, there is storage available for a folding wheelchair or walking frame. Guests must be able to get on/off the bus on their own or with the assistance of a companion as guides cannot assist physically.

Jun 2021

Q:Are restrooms available on the bus during the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:There are no restrooms on board the bus, however, the group does make regular breaks to use the restroom during the tour.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring my small child with me on the Rosslyn Chapel and Scottish Borders Small-Group Day Tour?

A:All guests must be at least 5 years old to participate in this tour. If your child is 5 or older, but under 1.35m (4.4 ft.) tall, please notate this in the "Special Requirements" box so a booster seat can be arranged.

Jun 2021

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Kevan_K

Really enjoyed this tour. Good amount of time spent at each site and our guide was amazing! Hilarious, knowledgeable and full of stories (he was an extra in Game of Thrones and Outlander), you get so much from the 6.5 hours!

Reviews

4.5

504 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 504 reviews

Wonderful tour

Andrea_A, Sep 2023

A wonderful tour with a really good guide! I love the small size of group (16) that usually travel with Rabbies tours! Roslyn Chapel was overwhelming!

Great tour!

Heather_W, Sep 2023

We loved seeing Melrose Abbey and Rosslyn Chapel. Our guide Jim D was excellent and had lots of interesting commentary along the way to each stop. The smaller group size was really comfortable and we would definitely look to do other tours with Rabbies again.

6 hours of beautiful countryside & history

Sandra_J, Sep 2023

Our tour guide George was wonderful! Great stories and amazing sights. Rosslyn Chapel & Melrose Chapel are both magnificent- I wish there’d been more time at both but this was a great introduction and we loved seeing the countryside South of Edinburgh. Two thumbs up!

Rosslyn Chapel Beauty

Rebecca_H, Sep 2023

Our tour guide and driver, Jo, was so well-informed about our destinations, and told some amazing history stories. She was able to break down the complicated history into understandable (and funny!) pieces. The Rosslyn Chapel itself was stunning.

Beautiful

Carol_O, Sep 2023

Roslyn Chapel was incredible!!! The Scottish Borders was beautiful!! Thank you for a beautiful day!!

Beautiful trip.

Christine_S, Sep 2023

Martin our driver was very friendly and pointed out sights as we went. Loved Melrose Abbey and Rosslyn Chapel

Wonderful day!

Laurel_Q, Sep 2023

Beautiful countryside views, Scottish history, knowledgeable guide. It was a nice day trip outside of Edinburgh. Thoroughly enjoyed Melrose Abbey and Roslyn Chapel.

A tour that’s just right!

Kevan_K, Sep 2023

Great tour with a great guide

Tafadzwa_B, Jul 2023

A lovely day trip from Edinburgh. Rosslyn chapel was amazing, you could spend the whole afternoon studying the chapel. The tour had just the right amount of time allocated for each stop. Our tip would be to buy some lunch in advance so that you have more time to explore the abbey in Melrose. A special thanks to Declan (James) our wonderful entertaining guide - there was never a dull moment!

Mac is the best

Bill_L, Jul 2023

Mac did a wonderful job Very funny and extremly knowledgeable He had a trainee with him who also added to the trip

Awesome memories of Rossyln Chapel and Scottish Borders

Anil_S, Jul 2023

Ally the guide cum driver of the mini coach was a standout. He was very good. He had an excellent knowledge of the history of the places we visited. He was very communicative and engaging with the group and friendly with all. Kept the small group engrossed with his narrative and anecdotes on the places visited. He is an asset to his company.

Great day out

AnneMarie_M, Jul 2023

The driver and guide Ally P was very knowledgeable and at the same time very witty. He made us all feel welcome.

Great tour to Rosslyn Chapel!

Sarah_M, Jul 2023

We had a lovely tour!! Our tour guide, Jo, was knowledgeable and sweet. She had stories about the locations we were traveling. I highly recommend!

Rosslyn Chapel and the Border

Iris_C, Jul 2023

William was a wonderful driver and guide. The tour was well-managed and informative, as well as entertaining with a bit of Highland charm🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The times allotted at the stops were appropriate, and we saw places we would not have seen otherwise. It was a lovely time.

A beautiful day we couldn't have created without our Rabbi Tour Guide

Landon_H, Jun 2023

The Scottish Borders surprised me with their beauty and Rosslyn Chapel was amazing. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful in recommending the Chapel talk by an excellent docent.

Beautiful but uncomfortable and rushed

Melissa_K, Jun 2023

The tour bus was brand new and clean, the only problem was the seatbelts were so tight on our shoulders we could barely move. The tour felt rushed at Melrose Abbey and went long at Rosslyn Chapel (both beautiful but the time allocation was off; we had more time at Rosslyn, but needed to fit both lunch and the tour in at Melrose).

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi Melissa, Thanks so much for your feedback. The problem with the seatbelts is a new one for us that has recently been brought to our attention and we are looking into how to make your time on the bus more comfortable. Thanks for bringing our attention to this as we now know that this is impacting a number of a customers. I'm so glad you found both spots beautiful, they really are magical places. We try very hard to get the right balance of time at stops and we must be at Rosslyn chapel in time to make sure all our customers get to enjoy the talk provided. Usually we should provide plenty of time at Melrose to allow for lunch and optional extras, but every so often delays and traffic can get in our way meaning we need to cut things a little short. We're sorry if that was the case this time. We hope this didn't take away from your time on tour and still had a wonderful time exploring Scotland, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Thanks, Jo

Beautiful Country

Sarah_M, Jun 2023

Stuart did a great job showing us his beautiful country. The weather was perfect, and the sights were fantastic.

Amazing!!

Robert_K, Jun 2023

Amazing!!! great trip, great scenery and great tour guide. A must see! and the comfortable van was very nice, highly recommend

Unique day trip

Deleep_S, Jun 2023

Our guide, Colin, was very friendly and knowledgeable, giving us a good background of the various places of interest. He was also funny and told many interesting stories along the way. Rosslyn Chapel was beautiful and majestic in its own way, although photography was not permitted within the chapel, we still got many great photos outside it. Melrose Abbey is another great place to see, has a nice history and unique in its own way. The drive there was scenic and interesting. Will recommend this tour!

Martin was a very...

Larry_E, Jun 2023

Martin was a very personable and knowledgeable guide! We enjoyed the tour—and continued to learn lots of interesting facts about Scotland.

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