22 Best Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland

Are you searching for issues to do in Edinburgh? We requested native author Karen Worral to share her insider suggestions and favourite Edinburgh points of interest to take advantage of your keep.

From the imposing Edinburgh Castle that appears over the town to the well-known Royal Mile, Edinburgh is a type of locations that can preserve you coming again. Edinburgh is a metropolis of historic tales, royal tales, gory tales, and ghost tales. It is a potent mix of outdated and new at each flip.

The Top Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland

Having lived in Edinburgh all my life, it’s not stunning that I feel the town is unbelievable. With an enormous quantity of historical past, thrilling nightlife, and epic locations to see, you may simply turn out to be overwhelmed by all of the issues to do in Edinburgh. It will not be solely an important place to go to however to reside as effectively.

Over the years I’ve been ready to discover nearly all Edinburgh points of interest. That has given me the experience to share with you the entire finest issues to do in Edinburgh whether or not it is a first-time go to or your fifth time one can find one thing that piques your curiosity.

If you might be visiting Edinburgh for the primary time it may be a bit of intimidating. We needed to make issues a bit of simpler for you by offering you with up-to-date details about the perfect Edinburgh points of interest in addition to our suggestions for planning the right journey to this unbelievable metropolis.

Surprisingly, a number of Edinburgh points of interest are free! Below one can find, in no explicit order, what we think about the issues you shouldn’t miss if you’re visiting Edinburgh for the primary time.

1. Edinburgh Castle

Visiting Edinburgh Castle might be the primary factor to do in Edinburgh. It has been an important fortification concerned in army and strategic endeavors because the twelfth century and has been repeatedly occupied in some type since then.

It proudly sits atop one of many metropolis’s extinct volcanos, Castle Rock, and homes many treasures like The Stone of Destiny and the oldest crown jewels in the UK. If you might be into Scottish historical past you could go to this Castle because it as soon as housed necessary figures equivalent to Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Don’t neglect to stroll the grounds and be impressed by the large cannons, The Great corridor, and naturally the Chapel that dates again to the twelfth Century.

If you’re a actual Royal fan get your self the Royal Edinburgh Ticket. It saves you cash on this and different points of interest equivalent to, Holyrood Palace, The Royal Yacht Britannia, and 48-hour entry to the HOHO Bus! Get Your Royal Edinburgh Ticket Here

The citadel has been dwelling to royalty, the chief seat of energy, and a army base all through the years. The one o’clock gun goes off from the entrance of the citadel every single day besides Sunday. It is one thing you don’t need to miss. The gun was carried out to assist with delivery and to preserve time.

Insider Tip – This is without doubt one of the hottest points of interest in the town and may get very busy, so strive to go to in the morning should you can. I like to recommend that you simply e-book your ticket in advance and get one with quick observe entry which can enable you to skip the ticket traces, particularly if you’re visiting in the course of the busy summer time season.

Hours: Summer (April 1-Sept 30) 9.30 am-6 pm (final entry at 5pm). Winter (Oct 1-Mar 31) 9.30 am-5 pm (final entry 4 pm). Price to Enter: Right now you could e-book a ticket in advance on-line for entry. Adult £15.50 on-line, Concessions £12.40 on-line, Children 5-15 £9.30 on-line. Under 5s are free.

2. The Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the oldest a part of the town and is certainly one of my favourite issues to do in Edinburgh. In transient, The Royal Mile runs from Edinburgh Castle all the best way down the volcanic path that takes you to Holyrood Palace – a mile down.

This is Edinburgh’s Old Town and Old High Street. It is chock stuffed with historical past and tales worthy of its personal information. The Royal Mile space itself is definitely 5 separate streets and it’s value it to discover all of them. High Street is filled with sights and landmarks in addition to eating places and museums.

Even although the Royal Mile stroll itself will solely take you quarter-hour instantly, I’d suggest spending just a few hours right here. Start on the citadel and work your means down – it’s simpler strolling downhill! If you intend to go to in the summer time be certain to plan across the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as you gained’t have the option to transfer in the streets.

Is this your first time in Edinburgh? If so, try our 3 Day Edinburgh Itinerary

3. Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace, which is situated at one finish of the Royal Mile and proper throughout the road from the Scottish Parliament, is without doubt one of the most necessary palaces in Scotland. It is used as a museum for many of the yr and is the official dwelling to the Queen and the Royal household once they come to go to.

The Abbey was constructed earlier than the palace relationship again to 1128, by order of King David 1st of Scotland. In the fifteenth century, the abbey’s guesthouse was made right into a royal residence and has been utilized by British royalty ever since. It is a vital a part of Scottish historical past.

Make positive not to miss the Mary Queen of Scots chambers. They are fairly spectacular. One fast word. Photography will not be allowed inside however you may take images of the gardens, exterior, and the Abbey. If you have an interest in any respect in the Royal Family then you want to add this to your listing.

Admission to Holyrood Palace: They are solely taking timed entries in the mean time so that they should be booked in advance. This tour affords a free audio information as effectively.

4. National Museum of Scotland

If you’re a museum lover then this might be on the high of your listing when searching for issues to do in Edinburgh. The National Museum of Scotland is located on Chamber’s Street in the outdated city and is a effective Victorian constructing that opened in 1866.

The National Museum is free and the in depth vary of matters lined is improbable. Whether you’re in Scottish historical past, know-how, innovations, world cultures, music, pure historical past, royalty, gory historical past, historic civilizations, or pure disasters, it’ll have one thing for you.

You might undoubtedly spend a number of time in the National Museum, which welcomes over 2 million guests a yr, so be certain to plan accordingly.

If the climate is good, be certain to head up to the rooftop terrace the place you may take in some unbelievable views of the town and the encircling space.

5. Scottish National Gallery

When visiting Edinburgh you could be certain to make a journey to The Scottish National Gallery. This is a improbable Greek-columned complicated that’s artwork located proper in the center of Princes Street in the very heart of Edinburgh.

It consists of two buildings; the primary National Gallery is the constructing on the again, with the one on the entrance being a part of the Royal Scottish Academy. The foremost gallery holds everlasting collections and is all the time free to go to.

If you might be an artwork lover the Scottish National Gallery has you lined. With artwork from Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Gauguin to works from Scottish artists like Reverent Robert Walking and Henry Raeburn, the Scottish National Gallery has one of many premier collections in the UK. If you might be an artwork lover, like I’m, this might be top-of-the-line issues in Edinburgh that you’ll do.

Currently, you could e-book a timed entry ticket on their web site. Scottish National Gallery Hours: 10 am-5 pm every day (Thursdays prolonged till 7 pm). Cost to Enter the Scottish National Gallery: Free for everlasting exhibitions, some at RSA have a charge.

6. Climb Arthur’s Seat and stroll in Holyrood Park

If you might be searching for the perfect views of the town then you want to climb up to the highest of Arthur’s Seat for positive. Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags are the hills in Edinburgh’s metropolis heart and could be seen from nearly wherever in the town.

It is the location of a 350 million-year-old extinct volcano. The final eruption was greater than 100 million years in the past. Arthur’s Seat used to be a royal park (you may see from noting the crowns on the lamps on the best way in), however was gifted by the Queen to the folks, so is now a public park (Holyrood Park).

The best route up to Arthur’s Seat is to take the grassy slope on the east facet from Dunsapie Loch on Queen’s Drive. It takes about half-hour to attain the highest and is a comparatively straightforward hike (however a bit steep). Make positive to costume for the climate as it will probably fairly windy on the high.

We counsel heading up to Artur’s Seat for Sunset. The views of the town are magnificent and you might be solely quarter-hour from the town heart. If you might be searching for an alternate for sundown Calton Hill is a superb various.

7. Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is situated in the center of Edinburgh, on Princes Street proper beneath Edinburgh Castle. They used to be the location of the Nor Loch – the North Loch which was drained when the New Town was constructed in the 1760s. The gardens have an exquisite view of the citadel, and it’s a good spot to stroll or cease for a picnic.

They are additionally dwelling to the Edinburgh Christmas market. If you might be visiting in the winter you need to be certain to take this in.

8. Visit or Climb the Scott Monument

The Scott Monument, situated on the japanese finish of Princes Street Gardens, will not be solely one of the vital spectacular monuments in the town, but it surely additionally affords some distinctive views of Edinburgh Castle and different Edinburgh points of interest.

Climbing up the slender staircase (287 steps) of the Scott Monument could also be one of many extra adventurous issues to do in Edinburgh however be certain to cease on the primary degree and study a bit of extra in regards to the revered Scottish author Sir Walter Scott.

Built in 1832 to commemorate the demise of Sir Walter Scott, this gothic spire stands 200 ft excessive and is intricately embellished with beloved characters from his books. If you have an interest in literature and the writings of Sir Walter Scott in addition to Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and different Scottish writers we suggest visiting the Writers Museum close to the Royal Mile.

9. Climb Calton Hill

The high of Calton Hill is without doubt one of the finest spots for a spectacular view of the town, particularly at sundown. It is a a lot simpler climb than Arthur’s Seat, taking lower than ten minutes to attain the highest from Regent Road.

The high of Calton hill is dwelling to the Nelson Monument (that appears like a form of upside-down telescope), the National Monument, which is designed equally to the Parthenon in Athens in Greece, and the City Observatory.

Even although the nationwide monument stays unfinished 200 years later, it’s nonetheless highly regarded amongst guests. Calton Hill can also be an important place to benefit from the fireworks above the citadel throughout Hogmanay.

10. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden is located outdoors the town centre by the stunning village of Stockbridge and has been there because the Victorian period. It is one other good spot to get away from the crowds and luxuriate in nature, however right here it’s cultivated nature, with many stunning flowerbeds. There are gardens and flora from many various international locations together with China, Japan, France, Spain, and Australia.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Hours: Daily 10am-6pm. Cost: Gardens free. Glasshouse £6.

11. Mary King’s Close

The Real Mary King’s Close is without doubt one of the coolest issues to do in Edinburgh, primarily as a result of it’s all beneath the streets of Old Town and the Royal Mile.

What was as soon as one of many busiest streets in the town was lined by building again in the nineteenth century. But you may get a have a look at what life was like between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries with a tour of the Real Mary King’s shut.

You can solely discover the world with a delegated information, so we advise reserving a guided tour to get probably the most out of this nice Edinburgh attraction. FYI, there are not any images allowed on the tour.

12. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is by far one of the vital enjoyable issues to do in Edinburgh, particularly if you’re visiting Edinburgh with children. This attraction is made up of two totally different areas. The first is the World of Illusions, which is a number of flooring of magic shows, optical illusions, interactive displays, and different enjoyable issues that everybody will take pleasure in. Make positive to strive the Vortex!

But the primary attraction is on the roof, which is the Camera Obscura. This is mainly an old school projection system, however the demonstration and the story behind are what make this the star attraction. If cameras and magic should not an excessive amount of of curiosity, the views from the rooftop over Edinburgh are undoubtedly value it as effectively. You can learn the opinions and e-book your tickets right here.

13. St Giles Cathedral

There is not any scarcity of church buildings in Edinburgh and most are fairly spectacular. But should you resolve to go to solely certainly one of them you need to make it to this one. It is difficult to miss the crown-shaped steeple of St Giles Cathedral which dates again to the 14th century and is an icon of the Edinburgh skyline.

Located shut to Old Town and the Royal Mile, it’s spectacular from the skin however I discover the within to be actually stunning. Don’t miss the Thistle Chapel (be certain to try the ceiling) or the rooftop tour to take advantage of your time there. Admission is upon donation and you should buy a pictures allow for two kilos on the info desk if you need to take images inside, which I like to recommend.

14. Royal Yacht Britannia

You can not go to Edinburgh and never go to The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. It is unquestionably one of the vital widespread issues to do in Edinburgh.

This floating museum was Her Majesty the Queen’s ex-Royal Yacht. Built again in 1953 it served because the Royal Yacht till it was decommissioned in 1957. Several decks are open to the general public to view the varied staterooms and public rooms of the vessel.

You can take the audio tour to get all the within royal particulars or you may have Afternoon Tea on the Royal Deck Tea Room for the complete expertise. Since it’s Scotland’s Best Attraction in accordance to the tourism website, you want to e-book your ticket in advance to keep away from the crowds.

Hours: 9.30 am-4.30 pm. Cost to go to the Royal Yacht Britannia: £17.00/15.00 concession, £8.75 for kids 5-17.

15. Georgian House Museum

The Georgian House is a museum in Charlotte Square, which showcases the life-style of the excessive Georgian society in Edinburgh’s New Town (George Street). Built in 1796, and situated in New city, its first proprietor was John Lamont, who was the 18th clan chief of the clan Lamont.

He moved to the town centre to discover the perfect training for his sons and the perfect husbands for his daughters. People in Georgian instances, structure, and life would take pleasure in visiting the Georgian House at No. 7 Charlotte Square.

Note: They are closed in the mean time. Please verify their web site for up-to-date hours. Hours: Summer hours (April-October) 10 am-5 pm every day. Winter hours (November-March) 10 am-4.15 pm every day.

16. Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery is certainly one of Edinburgh’s finest artwork galleries. If you’re a fan of portraiture, then this is without doubt one of the issues to do in Edinburgh that you simply don’t need to miss. It holds tons of of work of distinguished Scots from royalty, lords, and women, to artists, poets and writers.

The gallery has a mixture of mediums, from oil work to watercolors, to pictures. Also, there’s a statue of Robert Burns – Scotland’s bard – welcoming in the lobby.

17. Take a Ghost Tour

Edinburgh is seemingly one of the vital haunted cities in the world. One of the elements that contribute to this contains the tons of of plague victims who have been walled in, in the outdated streets beneath the Royal Mile.

Another issue is all of the hangings that occurred in the Grassmarket, the place a number of the sad souls, and grieved harmless folks hanged hang-out the town. This is my favourite Ghost tour in Edinburgh. Great guides and truly fairly scary.

18. Greyfriar’s Bobby

Greyfriar’s Bobby is the story of a wee canine from the Greyfriar’s space of Edinburgh. His is a story of friendship and devotion. A form native policeman named Jock Grey adopted a bit of Skye terrier and named him Bobby when he was simply a few weeks outdated. The pair quickly grew to become the perfect of pals, going in every single place, together with the native pub by Greyfriar’s Kirk (church), collectively.

Sadly after solely two years collectively, Jock handed away from tuberculosis, and Bobby was left master-less. The wee canine was broken-hearted, so spent each evening of the remainder of his life – one other 14 years – sleeping on Jock’s grave. He was taken in by the neighborhood and given a license by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and has been a form of people hero since.

Many folks have taken to rubbing the statue of Bobby’s nostril for luck and taking a photograph with him, so don’t miss visiting the town’s favourite canine.

19. The Grassmarket Gallows

The Grassmarket is a bustling a part of Edinburgh, which has nice nightlife and locations to eat, in addition to an intriguing previous. Situated in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle to the south, it’s named, because it was the market the place all animals that ate grass –in addition to the grasses to feed them – have been offered.

The bustling sq. hosts a meals and craft market on Sundays and has a plethora of nice outdated character-filled pubs to go to and nice eating places to pattern Scottish or worldwide meals. Common criminals who had been sentenced to demise have been hanged right here on the spot, which now’s a raised platform with a cross on it.

Some notorious Edinburgh criminals equivalent to mass assassin William Burke and thief Deacon Brodie met their finish right here.

20. Harry Potter in Edinburgh

You can not say you’ve accomplished the perfect issues to do in Edinburgh with out taking in a number of the Harry Potter points of interest. JK Rowling lived in Edinburgh when she began writing Harry Potter, and through most of her time writing the tomes, so there are many hyperlinks to the tales for these . If you’re a Harry Potter fan you’ll love Edinburgh.

The means to get the perfect Harry Potter expertise is to take a tour. This Harry Potter Walking Tour is without doubt one of the finest in the town and is absolutely inexpensive.

21. Tour the Harry Potter Locations in Edinburgh

You don’t want to take a guided tour to take pleasure in Harry Potter areas in Edinburgh. You can go to many by your self. Here are just a few of my favorites.

The Elephant Café – On George Fourth Bridge. This is a café the place Rowling did a number of writing throughout her early phases of the books.

Greyfriar’s Kirk – The grave of Scottish poet McGonagall was the inspiration for the character Ms. McGonagall, as Rowling loved the irony of naming a really literate and intelligent character after somebody notorious for his horrible poems.

Hogwarts – The description of Hogwarts is claimed to be an amalgamation of inspiration from three personal faculties in Edinburgh, Stuarts Melville, Fettes College, and George Heriots. All three faculties aren’t removed from the town heart, with George Heriots located proper behind Greyfriar’s Kirkyard should you go to there, so are straightforward to go to see.

The Boy Wizard Shops– Harry Potter outlets known as The Boy Wizard are popping up round Edinburgh for all of your Potter merchandise wants. There is at the moment one on South Bridge, The Royal Mile, contained in the Tartan Weaving Center proper subsequent to the Castle downstairs, and one simply opened in Edinburgh airport!

21. A Scotch Whisky Experience

You can not go to Scotland and never expertise Scotch. Well, that is what The Scotch Whiskey Experience is all about. Located throughout the road from Camera Obscura and The World of Illusions, this is without doubt one of the most enjoyable grownup issues to do in Edinburgh fingers down. Especially should you love whiskey.

Even should you don’t you should have enjoyable studying in regards to the course of and why it’s so widespread in this a part of the world. For those that are searching for only a style I like to recommend The Silver your which is their most inexpensive and if you’re extra of a connoisseur then try the Platinum tour or the Masterclass. This place can get fairly busy so I counsel grabbing a Skip the Line Ticket particularly if you’re visiting in the course of the summer time.

Edinburgh affords a ton of various whiskey excursions all through the town and I’ve achieved just a few. The one above is my favourite however if you need to verify some extra of the town do this History of Whiskey Tour.

22. The Edinburgh Dungeon

Edinburgh has a protracted historical past and a tumultuous one. A go to to The Edinburgh Dungeon is a should should you like exploring a bit of of the macabre. This expertise is finished rather well with reside actors, particular results, and underground rides.

Walk the plagued roads of 1645, keep away from Burke and Hare and you may even face prosecution at trial. The Edinburgh Dungeon holds late-night occasions as effectively which can be adults solely. You are assured to have an excellent time.

How Much Time Should You Spend in Edinburgh?

Like most locations, the period of time you want in a metropolis is solely depending on how a lot you need to see and do.

We suggest spending at the least 3 Days in Edinburgh, in order to take full benefit of visiting all the primary Edinburgh points of interest like Old Town, Arthur’s Seat, and Calton Hill in addition to a number of the extra distinctive issues like a ghost tour.

If you might be actually into Scottish historical past and Museums you may want to give your self a bit of longer.

When is the perfect time to go to Edinburgh?

The finest time to go to Edinburgh is in the summer time. There are a number of issues occurring and you’re going to get the perfect climate. August can also be the month when a number of festivals happen such because the Edinburgh worldwide pageant, so you want to issue that into your planning. The solely caveat is that it will likely be fairly busy.

If you need to go to when it’s a little much less crowded then the shoulder seasons of Spring and Fall are for you. Accommodation costs are a bit decrease and the primary points of interest are much less busy.

Don’t write off winter although, particularly if you need to go to the Edinburgh Christmas Market.

How to Get to Edinburgh

There are direct flights to Edinburgh from any of the UK’s main cities and round Europe.

Plus many main cities are linked to the Scottish capital by practice. The foremost practice station is the Waverley Train Station however you can even take the practice to Haymarket.

Buses additionally function between London and Edinburgh.

Getting Around Edinburgh

The great thing about a compact metropolis like Edinburgh is which you could simply entry a number of the primary points of interest on foot. If you aren’t into doing a little strolling (and a few hill climbing) you may entry the cities environment friendly bus and tram traces in addition to the well-run taxi service.

There can also be the HOHO Bust that’s provided free for 48 hours on the Edinburgh Pass, one other good way to get round.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Edinburgh

And that’s my information to the perfect issues to do in Edinburgh, Scotland. Visiting these Edinburgh points of interest ought to offer you an important start line when planning your journey to Edinburgh.

Regardless of whether or not you might be visiting for every week or a weekend, I’ve tried to embrace issues which can be free to do in addition to a number of low-cost objects. I hope you take pleasure in visiting my metropolis as a lot as I do dwelling right here.