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Ultimate Edinburgh Travel Guide + Local Tips (2024)

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Welcome to your ultimate Edinburgh Travel Guide, a comprehensive resource for exploring Scotland’s capital.

Whether you’re a first time visitor or returning to discover more, this guide covers everything from transportation and accommodation to top attractions and hidden gems.

As someone who lived in Edinburgh for nearly three years and visits frequently as a tourist, I understand the unique challenges and joys of exploring this vibrant city.

Here, you’ll find practical tips and insider insights to help you make the most of your Edinburgh adventure, from must-see landmarks to the best local spots. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Getting to Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s strategic location makes it accessible by air, train, and road. Here’s a breakdown of how to get to Scotland’s historic capital .

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the primary gateway, with direct flights from major European and international cities. Located about 8 miles west of the city center, it’s easy to reach via various transportation options. Glasgow Airport (GLA), about 50 miles west of Edinburgh, also offers connections to the city by train or bus.

Transportation from Edinburgh Airport

Once you land at Edinburgh Airport, choose from these options to reach the city center:

• Tram : The Edinburgh Trams provide a direct route from the airport to York Place in the city center, with stops at key points like Murrayfield Stadium and Haymarket . It’s cost-effective and reliable.
• Bus : Airlink 100 is a dedicated airport bus service that runs 24/7, taking you to central Waverley Bridge in about 25 minutes. A quick and affordable choice.
• Taxi/Rideshare : Taxis are available at the airport , offering a direct but pricier journey. Rideshare services like Uber and Bolt are also options for a more personalised travel experience.

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Train Services

Edinburgh has two main stations: Waverley and Haymarket . Waverley, the larger station, is centrally located between the Old Town and New Town, serving long-distance and regional trains. Haymarket, west of the city center, is ideal for airport connections and other parts of the city.

Direct trains to Edinburgh operate from major UK cities like London, Manchester, and Glasgow. To save money, book your tickets in advance.

🚋 Book Your Train Tickets Here

Arriving by Car

For those traveling by car, Edinburgh is accessible via major roads like the M8 and A1. Keep in mind:

• Parking : The city center has limited parking. Consider park-and-ride options or use parking garages, such as Castle Terrace or NCP at St. James Centre .
• Traffic Considerations : Traffic can be heavy during rush hours and festival seasons. Plan accordingly.

🚗 Hire Your Car Here

Buses and Coaches

Edinburgh Bus Station , located near St. Andrew Square, is the central hub for buses and coaches. Major operators like National Express and Megabus run services to and from Edinburgh, ideal for budget travelers .

🚌 Book Your Bus Tickets Here

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Ferry Connections

Although Edinburgh doesn’t have a direct ferry terminal, Rosyth , about 30 minutes by car or train, serves as an entry point for those arriving from Northern Ireland or mainland Europe.

Getting Around Edinburgh

One of the my favourite ways to explore Edinburgh is on foot – despite some of the hills and stairways you need to encounter.

The city is compact and offers countless historic sites, charming neighborhoods, and hidden gems within walking distance.

Here’s an overview of walking in Edinburgh, followed by other transportation options to help you navigate the city.

Exploring Edinburgh on Foot

Walking is a fantastic way to experience Edinburgh’s unique character. The Old Town’s narrow alleyways, known as “closes,” and the broad streets of the New Town are ideal for leisurely strolls.

• The Royal Mile : This historic thoroughfare connects Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, filled with shops, restaurants, and street performers. It’s a must-walk route.
• Arthur’s Seat : For a more adventurous walk, hike up Arthur’s Seat, a dormant volcano offering panoramic views of the city. The hike up Arthur’s Seat is relatively easy but you still need to wear good walking shoes. I’ve done it in thongs (flip flops) before and I do not recommend this to anyone.
• Calton Hill : A shorter walk with great views, featuring iconic monuments like the National Monument of Scotland and the Dugald Stewart Monument . Calton Hill is especially beautiful at sunset!

Tips for Walking in Edinburgh

• Comfortable Shoes : Edinburgh has some steep hills, so wear comfortable footwear.
• Navigation Tools : Keep a map or GPS app handy, especially in the winding streets of the Old Town.
• Weather Considerations : Bring a light jacket or raincoat, as Edinburgh’s weather can change quickly.

Public Transportation Options

If you prefer not to walk or need to travel longer distances, Edinburgh has a comprehensive public transportation network:

• Lothian Buses : The bus network connects major attractions and neighborhoods. Purchase tickets on the bus or use a day pass for unlimited travel.
• Edinburgh Trams : The tram line runs from the city center to Edinburgh Airport, with stops at key points. Trams are a convenient option for airport transfers and travel along the city center.

Tips for Public Transportation

• Tickets : Single-ride tickets and day passes are available. Consider a Ridacard for unlimited rides over a set period.
• Transit Apps : Use the “Transport for Edinburgh” app for real-time bus and tram information, route planning, and ticket purchase.

Bike Rentals and Cycling Routes

For a different perspective, rent a bike and explore Edinburgh’s cycling routes:

• Bike Rentals : Shops like “ Leith Cycle Co. ” offer rental services. Bikes are great for exploring scenic paths and cycle-friendly roads.
• Cycling Routes : Try the Water of Leith Walkway for a scenic ride, or venture to the Pentland Hills for a longer adventure.

Car Rental and Parking Options

If you plan to explore beyond Edinburgh, renting a car might be ideal:

• Car Rental : Major rental agencies like Hertz and Enterprise operate in the city. Car rentals are great for day trips or exploring surrounding areas.
• Parking Options : Parking in central Edinburgh can be challenging. Consider park-and-ride locations on the outskirts, or use parking garages in central locations like Castle Terrace and St. James Centre.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

Choosing the right place to stay in Edinburgh can make a big difference in your travel experience. Here’s a guide to Edinburgh’s neighborhoods and accommodation options, with specific recommendations for hotels, hostels, and other types of lodging.

Neighbourhoods in Edinburgh

Each neighbourhood in Edinburgh has its unique charm. Here’s an overview of the key areas to consider when choosing where to stay:

The Old Town is the heart of historic Edinburgh. With its medieval architecture and cobblestone streets , it’s ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the city’s past. This my favourite part of Edinburgh and also where I used to live! I was lucky enough to live right below the Castle on the Grassmarket.

• Close to major attractions like Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, and Holyrood Palace.
• Rich in character, with traditional pubs, boutique shops, and museums.
• Bustling with activity during festivals like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe .
• The Balmoral Hotel : A luxury hotel with a landmark clock tower. Offers elegant rooms, a spa, and fine dining. If you are a fan of Harry Potter ask to stay (or look at) the Harry Potter room.
• The Grassmarket Hotel : A mid-range hotel with a central location in the vibrant Grassmarket area.
• KickAss Greyfriars : A budget-friendly backpacker’s hostel near Greyfriars Kirkyard, offering shared and private rooms.

The New Town is known for its Georgian architecture and wide streets. It’s ideal for those seeking a more contemporary atmosphere with great shopping and dining options.

• Home to some of Edinburgh’s best shops, cafes, and restaurants.
• Offers a more relaxed vibe compared to the Old Town.
• Centrally located, with easy access to Princes Street and George Street.
• InterContinental Edinburgh The George : A luxury hotel in a Georgian building, offering spacious rooms and a sophisticated atmosphere. The George has a beautiful high tea and decorated with the most beautiful decor at Christmas time.
• Travelodge Edinburgh Central Queen Street : A budget-friendly hotel with basic amenities and a central location.

Leith is a trendy, quieter area with waterfront views. It’s perfect for travelers who prefer a more laid-back setting.

• Quieter than the city center, with a unique character and creative energy.
• Features waterfront restaurants, bars, and the Royal Yacht Britannia .
• Great for experiencing Edinburgh’s local scene away from the tourist crowds
• Malmaison Edinburgh : A boutique hotel on the waterfront, offering stylish rooms and a trendy bar.
• Ocean Apartments Edinburgh : Located near the waterfront, this place offers comfortable self-catering apartments at a reasonable price.

Tips for Booking Accommodation

To ensure you find the best place to stay in Edinburgh, consider these tips:

• Best Times to Visit : The summer months are busiest due to festivals, so book early. Consider visiting in spring or autumn for lower prices and fewer crowds
• Online Platforms : Use popular booking sites like Booking.com , Hotels.com , VRBO or Expedia to compare prices and read reviews
• Discounts : Look for early booking discounts, special offers, and package deals that include accommodation and attractions

Top Attractions in Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers a captivating mix of history, culture, and stunning landscapes. Here are some attractions that make this city so unique, along with reasons why you should visit them.

1. Edinburgh Castle

One of my favourite places and a place you can’t miss is Edinburgh Castle . This iconic fortress dominates the city’s skyline from Castle Rock. Inside, you’ll find the Crown Jewels , the Stone of Destiny , and the National War Museum . It’s also home to the famous One O’Clock Gun , fired daily except Sundays. Explore the castle’s history and enjoy panoramic views of Edinburgh from the castle walls.

➡️ Book Your Tickets Here

2. The Royal Mile

Stretching from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, The Royal Mile is a scenic route through the heart of the Old Town.

It’s filled with historic sites, shops, restaurants, and street performances, making it a vibrant place to explore. Wander through the narrow closes (alleyways) and soak up the medieval atmosphere.

➡️ Book Your Tour Here

3. Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat is a dormant volcano and one of Edinburgh’s most popular hiking spots. A climb to the summit rewards you with breathtaking views of the city and beyond. It’s a great way to experience Edinburgh’s natural beauty and enjoy a bit of outdoor adventure within the city.

4. Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Visitors can tour the state apartments, including the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots , and explore the ruins of Holyrood Abbey .

The palace also features beautiful gardens and hosts events throughout the year. If you are looking for some amazing scones a visit to the Cafe is a must (as touristy as it sounds).

5. Calton Hill

Calton Hill is known for its collection of monuments, including the National Monument of Scotland and the Dugald Stewart Monument. It’s an excellent spot for taking in panoramic views of the city, especially at sunrise or sunset. The walk to the top is relatively easy, making it accessible for most visitors.

6. National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland offers a diverse range of exhibits, from Scottish history and culture to science and technology. Highlights include the Grand Gallery , the Lewis Chessmen , and the reconstructed T. rex skeleton. It’s a great place for families and those interested in learning about Scotland’s rich heritage.

7. The Scotch Whisky Experience

For whisky enthusiasts, The Scotch Whisky Experience is a must-visit. Located near Edinburgh Castle, this attraction offers guided tours that explore the history and production of Scotch whisky. You’ll also get to taste various whiskies and learn about different whisky regions. When you hear about the ride in the Whiskey Barrel is sounds a bit lame but take it from someone who is not a fan of Whisky, this is a must do.

8. Dean Village

Dean Village is a hidden gem along the Water of Leith, offering a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. I used to walk through Dean Village to get to work and I never got sick of this picturesque village.

Walk through the historic village, admire the picturesque buildings, and take a stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway. It’s a great spot for photography and a relaxing afternoon.

9. Stockbridge

Stockbridge is a charming neighborhood known for its boutique shops, cafes, and the Stockbridge Market . It’s perfect for exploring at a leisurely pace, with plenty of places to enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat. Don’t miss the picturesque St. Bernard’s Well and the nearby Inverleith Park .

And, if you listen hard enough on Monday or Thursday night your might hear the call of the bagpipes as the Stockbridge Pipeband practice a tune or two.

10. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a beautiful place to spend a few hours. Explore the extensive gardens, including the Glasshouses, which feature tropical and exotic plants. It’s a peaceful retreat in the city, perfect for nature lovers and families.

Food and Drink in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s culinary scene offers a delightful mix of traditional Scottish cuisine and international flavors.

Whether you’re seeking a classic Scottish dish or a unique dining experience, here’s an overview of the city’s food and drink landscape, complete with recommendations for pubs, cafes, fine dining, and street food.

Traditional Scottish Cuisine

Scottish cuisine is known for its hearty dishes and unique flavors. Here are some traditional dishes you should try while in Edinburgh:

• Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties : Haggis is a savory pudding made from sheep’s offal, spices, and oats, often served with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).
• Scotch Pie : A savory meat pie typically filled with minced lamb or beef.
• Cullen Skink : A creamy soup made with smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions.

Best Places to Try Traditional Dishes

To enjoy authentic Scottish cuisine, head to these recommended spots:

• The Witchery by the Castle : This fine-dining restaurant near Edinburgh Castle offers a special experience with a traditional Scottish menu. The setting is gothic and atmospheric, adding to the dining experience. If you are visiting in August when the Edinburgh Tattoo is on try and book as late as possible. You will be able to just outside the door and get a unique view as all the performers march out of the castle. It is really something special.
• The Mitre : Located on The Royal Mile, The Mitre serves classic pub food, including haggis, Scotch pies, and other traditional Scottish dishes. It’s a great spot for a relaxed meal.
• The Mussel & Steak Bar : If you love seafood and steak, this spot in the Grassmarket is perfect. Try their mussels, prepared in various styles, or their hearty steaks.

Recommendations for Pubs, Cafes, and Fine Dining

Edinburgh has a vibrant pub scene, quaint cafes, and upscale dining options. Here’s where to find the best experiences:

• Pubs : The Grassmarket is home to many excellent pubs. Stroll along the area and find your favorite spot for a pint and pub grub. Try “ The White Hart Inn ,” one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs, for a historic atmosphere and a pub that claims to be haunted or if you’re looking for some live music and dancing “ Biddy Mulligans ” is a fantastic Irish pub.
• Cafes : For healthier options and great juices and smoothies, head to Hula Grassmarket . It’s a popular choice for those seeking a light meal or snack in a trendy setting – it is my favourite place to grab a juice or a smoothie on the go.
• Fine Dining : If you’re in the mood for a luxurious experience, “The Witchery by the Castle” is a top choice. For a more refined setting, “ The George Hotel” is ideal for high tea, offering an elegant environment and a delightful selection of teas and pastries.

Tips for Food Markets and Street Food

If you prefer a more casual dining experience or want to sample local produce, Edinburgh has several food markets and street food options:

• Stockbridge Market : Held on Sundays, this market features a variety of stalls offering fresh produce, baked goods, street food, and crafts. It’s a great place to experience Edinburgh’s local food scene.
• Grassmarket : In addition to its pubs, the Grassmarket hosts various events and street food vendors, especially during festivals. It’s a lively area to explore.
• Marks and Spencer Food Hall : If you’re looking for an affordable meal with a view, the food area at Marks and Spencer on Princes Street offers a selection of prepared foods and a fantastic view of Edinburgh Castle.

Cultural Experiences and Events in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city with a rich cultural scene, offering a wide range of experiences for visitors. From museums and galleries to theaters and live music venues, there’s always something happening in this vibrant city. Here’s an overview of the cultural landscape and a guide to the best festivals, events, and entertainment options throughout the year.

Museums and Galleries

Edinburgh’s museums and galleries showcase a diverse range of art, history, and science. Here are some must-visit places:

• National Museum of Scotland : This extensive museum covers everything from Scottish history and culture to science and technology. It’s a great destination for families and anyone interested in learning more about Scotland’s heritage
• Scottish National Gallery : Located on the Mound, this gallery houses an impressive collection of European art, including works by Titian, Van Gogh, and Monet. It’s a must-see for art lovers.
• Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art : Split across two buildings, this gallery focuses on modern and contemporary art. It’s an ideal place to explore the works of Scottish and international artists.

Theaters and Live Performances

Edinburgh is home to a thriving theater scene, offering everything from classic plays to experimental performances. Check out these popular venues:

• Edinburgh Playhouse : One of the largest theaters in the UK, it hosts a variety of performances, including musicals, plays, and concerts.
• The King’s Theatre : A historic venue showcasing traditional plays, pantomimes, and touring productions.
• Traverse Theatre : Known for its contemporary and experimental works, the Traverse Theatre is a hub for innovative performances.

Live Music Venues and Comedy Clubs

If you’re into live music or comedy, Edinburgh has plenty to offer. Here are some recommendations:

• The Queen’s Hall : This venue hosts a variety of musical performances, from classical and jazz to folk and rock. It’s a versatile spot for live music
• Sneaky Pete’s : A small and intimate venue that features up-and-coming bands and DJs. It’s a great place to discover new music
• The Stand Comedy Club : For a night of laughter, visit The Stand Comedy Club, one of Edinburgh’s top spots for live comedy. It hosts both local and touring comedians.

Festivals and Events

Edinburgh is renowned for its festivals, attracting visitors from all over the world. Here are some of the most popular events throughout the year:

• Edinburgh Festival Fringe : The largest arts festival in the world, the Fringe features thousands of performances across various venues in August. Expect everything from comedy and theater to music and dance
• Edinburgh International Festival : Running concurrently with the Fringe, this festival focuses on high-quality theater, opera, music, and dance
• Edinburgh International Book Festival : Held in Charlotte Square Gardens, this festival brings together authors, poets, and writers for readings, talks, and discussions
• Hogmanay : Edinburgh’s famous New Year’s celebration features street parties, concerts, and fireworks. It’s one of the biggest Hogmanay celebrations in the world and is not to be missed.

Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors to Edinburgh

Planning your first trip to Edinburgh? Here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your visit. From the best time to go to budgeting, safety, and day trips, these insights will ensure your journey is enjoyable and stress-free.

Best Time to Visit Edinburgh

The timing of your visit to Edinburgh can affect your experience. Here’s what to consider:

• Seasonal Variations : Summer (June to August) is peak season, with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the International Festival drawing large crowds. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer milder weather and fewer tourists. Winter (December to February ) can be cold and rainy, but it’s also when you can experience the magical Hogmanay celebrations.
• Weather Considerations : Edinburgh’s weather is unpredictable. Bring layers and a rain jacket, as rain showers can occur even in summer. In winter, temperatures can drop, so pack warm clothing.

Budgeting and Managing Expenses

Edinburgh can be an expensive city, but with some planning, you can keep costs under control:

• Accommodation : Book in advance, especially during peak seasons, to get better rates. Consider budget options like hostels or short-term rentals.
• Transportation : Use public transport and consider getting a day pass for unlimited travel. Walking is also a cost-effective way to explore the city.
• Meals : To save on food, look for budget-friendly cafes, street food, and food markets. Many pubs offer affordable meals and traditional dishes.
• Attractions : Some attractions offer discounted rates if you book online or visit during off-peak hours. Consider buying a city pass for bundled entry to multiple sites.

Safety Tips and Emergency Contacts

Edinburgh is generally safe, but it’s always good to be cautious. Here are some safety tips and important emergency contacts:

• General Safety : Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded areas. Avoid poorly lit streets at night and use well-known taxi services if needed.
• Emergency Contacts : In case of emergencies, dial 999 for police, fire, or medical assistance. For non-emergency police matters, dial 101.
• Travel Insurance : Consider purchasing travel insurance to cover unexpected events, medical emergencies, or trip cancellations.

Packing and Dressing for Edinburgh’s Climate

Edinburgh’s weather can be unpredictable, so pack smartly to stay comfortable:

• Clothing : Bring layers, including a light jacket, sweater, and waterproof raincoat. Comfortable shoes are essential for walking on cobblestone streets and hilly terrain.
• Accessories : Don’t forget a compact umbrella, gloves, and a scarf for colder weather. Sunscreen is also useful, especially in summer.
• Electronics : If you’re bringing electronic devices, remember that the UK uses a different plug type (Type G), so carry a travel adapter.

Day Trips and Excursions

Edinburgh is a great base for exploring nearby attractions and natural beauty. Consider these day trips and excursions:

• Rosslyn Chapel : Located about 7 miles from Edinburgh, this historic chapel is famous for its intricate stone carvings and connection to the Knights Templar.
• The Highlands : Take a day trip to the Scottish Highlands to experience stunning landscapes, lochs, and castles. Popular destinations include Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Inverness.
• St. Andrews : Known for its golf courses and historic university, St. Andrews is a charming town about 1.5 hours from Edinburgh by train.

Accessibility in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is committed to being an inclusive city, with efforts to improve accessibility for visitors with mobility challenges.

Here’s what you need to know about accessibility in Edinburgh, including transportation, accommodations, and attractions.

Accessible Transportation

• Buses and Trams : Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams are equipped with low-floor access and designated spaces for wheelchairs. Trams have level boarding at all stops, and many buses are designed to accommodate mobility aids
• Taxi Services : Several taxi companies offer accessible vehicles with ramps or lifts for wheelchair users. Consider using a trusted taxi service for convenient transportation
• Parking : Blue Badge holders can park in designated spaces throughout the city and use park-and-ride facilities for easy access to public transport

Accessible Attractions

Many of Edinburgh’s attractions are accessible, but some historic sites may have limited access due to their age. Here are some accessible attractions to consider:

• Edinburgh Castle : While the castle has steep terrain, it offers shuttle services and accessible routes to key areas.
• The National Museum of Scotland : This museum has ramps, lifts, and accessible restrooms, ensuring a smooth experience for visitors with mobility challenges.
• Holyrood Palace : The palace provides accessible tours and has facilities to support visitors with disabilities.

Accessible Accommodations

Several hotels and accommodations in Edinburgh cater to accessibility needs. Consider these options when booking your stay:

• Apex Grassmarket Hotel : Offers accessible rooms and is located near Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile.
• Novotel Edinburgh Centre : This hotel features accessible rooms, elevators, and facilities designed for wheelchair users.

Shopping in Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers a wide range of shopping experiences, from high-end boutiques to traditional Scottish goods. Here’s an overview of popular shopping districts and tips for finding unique souvenirs.

Popular Shopping Districts

• Princes Street : This bustling street is home to major department stores, including Marks and Spencer and House of Fraser. It’s ideal for high-street shopping and has stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.
• George Street : Known for its elegant Georgian architecture, George Street features upscale boutiques, fashion brands, and stylish cafes.
• The Royal Mile : Along this historic street, you’ll find shops selling Scottish goods, tartan, and souvenirs. It’s a great place to pick up unique gifts.

Local Shops and Boutiques

If you’re looking for a more unique shopping experience, check out these local shops and boutiques:

• Cranachan & Crowdie : A specialty shop on The Royal Mile offering Scottish food products, gifts, and crafts
• Armstrongs Vintage Emporium : This vintage clothing store in the Grassmarket is a treasure trove of unique finds from various eras
• The Red Door Gallery : A small gallery in the Old Town featuring art prints, ceramics, and handmade gifts by local artists

Tips for Buying Souvenirs and Unique Gifts

• Scottish Goods : Look for traditional Scottish items like tartan scarves, cashmere sweaters, and tweed accessories
• Local Crafts : Consider buying handmade crafts and artwork from local artists to support the community
• Avoid Mass-Produced Souvenirs : Instead of generic souvenirs, seek out unique items that reflect Edinburgh’s culture and history

Technology and Connectivity

Staying connected in Edinburgh is easy with the right technology. Here’s how to ensure you have reliable Wi-Fi, mobile data, and useful travel apps during your visit.

Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

• Free Wi-Fi : Many cafes, restaurants, and public spaces offer free Wi-Fi. The Edinburgh Airport also provides complimentary Wi-Fi for travelers.
• Mobile Data : Check with your mobile provider about international roaming options or purchase a local SIM card for data during your stay. Most major carriers offer prepaid plans with ample data for tourists.

Useful Travel Apps

To navigate Edinburgh and make the most of your trip, these apps can be invaluable:

• Transport for Edinburgh : This app provides real-time information on Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, including route planning and ticket purchasing
• Google Maps : Ideal for navigation and finding local attractions, restaurants, and transportation options
• TripAdvisor : Use this app to find restaurant reviews, attractions, and user-generated tips

Camera Gear and Accessories

For photography enthusiasts, Edinburgh offers endless photo opportunities. Consider these tips for capturing the city’s beauty:

• Camera Gear : If you’re traveling with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, bring a versatile lens for cityscapes and portraits. A lightweight tripod can be useful for low-light shots and long exposures
• Smartphone Accessories : For smartphone photography, consider a clip-on lens for wide-angle or macro shots. A portable power bank ensures your phone stays charged throughout the day.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Travel

If you’re conscious of your environmental impact while traveling, Edinburgh has plenty of options for sustainable and eco-friendly experiences. Here’s how you can reduce your carbon footprint during your visit.

Eco-Friendly Accommodations and Activities

• Green Hotels : Some hotels in Edinburgh have eco-friendly practices, such as energy-efficient lighting and recycling programs. Check for Green Tourism accreditation when choosing accommodations.
• Outdoor Activities : Instead of car rentals, opt for walking, cycling, or using public transportation to explore the city. Edinburgh’s compact layout makes it easy to get around without a car.

Sustainable Transportation and Dining

• Public Transport : Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams are environmentally conscious, reducing carbon emissions with electric and low-emission vehicles.
• Sustainable Dining : Seek out restaurants that focus on locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. “The Gardener’s Cottage” and “Hendersons” are great examples of eco-friendly dining in Edinburgh.

Tips for Reducing Environmental Impact

• Reusable Items : Bring a reusable water bottle and shopping bag to minimize single-use plastic waste.
• Conserve Energy : Turn off lights and unplug chargers when not in use. Participate in hotel recycling programs if available.
• Support Local : Buy from local shops and artisans to support the community and reduce the carbon footprint associated with mass-produced goods.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Edinburgh has a vibrant nightlife scene with something for everyone, from lively pubs and clubs to quieter theaters and live music venues. Here’s where to find the best nightlife and entertainment options in the city.

Pubs and Bars

Edinburgh is famous for its historic pubs and lively bars. Check out these spots for a great night out:

• The Last Drop : Located in the Grassmarket, this historic pub has a relaxed atmosphere and a great selection of drinks
• The Bow Bar : Known for its extensive whisky selection, The Bow Bar is a must-visit for whisky lovers
• BrewDog Edinburgh : If you’re into craft beer, this bar on Lothian Road offers a variety of unique and experimental brews

Clubs and Late-Night Venues

For those who prefer a more energetic night out, Edinburgh has plenty of clubs and late-night venues:

• Cabaret Voltaire : A popular nightclub in the Old Town, offering live music and DJ sets in a historic underground setting
• The Bongo Club : Known for its eclectic mix of music and events, The Bongo Club is a great place for dancing and live performances
• Why Not Nightclub : Located in the New Town, this club is a favorite for those looking to party late into the night.

Quieter Evening Activities

If you prefer a more relaxed evening, consider these options for quieter entertainment:

• The Lyceum Theatre : This historic theater hosts a variety of plays and performances, perfect for a cultured night out
• The Queen’s Hall : Known for its classical music concerts and intimate performances, The Queen’s Hall offers a more refined evening experience
• Jazz Bar : Located on Chambers Street, the Jazz Bar is ideal for those who enjoy live jazz music in a cozy setting.

FAQs: Edinburgh Travel Guide

What is the best time of year to visit edinburgh.

A: Summer is popular for its festivals, but spring and autumn offer milder weather and fewer crowds.

Is Edinburgh a walkable city?

Yes, most attractions are within walking distance, but be prepared for hilly terrain.

What public transportation options are available in Edinburgh?

Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams are the primary public transit systems.

Can I use contactless payment methods in Edinburgh?

Yes, most places accept contactless payments, including public transportation.

Are there vegetarian or vegan food options in Edinburgh?

Yes, Edinburgh has many vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants.

Final Thoughts:

Exploring Edinburgh is a journey through history, culture, and natural beauty. From its iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile to its vibrant food scene and diverse cultural experiences, there’s something for everyone in this captivating city.

By following this guide, you’ll have a comprehensive resource for planning your visit, complete with tips on transportation, accommodation, attractions, and more.

To ensure your trip to Edinburgh is as enjoyable as possible, take advantage of the practical advice provided in this guide.

Whether you’re interested in exploring the top attractions, discovering hidden gems, or experiencing the city’s rich cultural scene, you’re well-prepared for an unforgettable visit.

As you plan your trip, one of the biggest challenges is managing your budget. To help you estimate your expenses and make informed decisions, we’ve created the Edinburgh Trip Budget Calculator.

Use this tool to break down your costs, from accommodation and transportation to food and attractions. It will help you set a realistic budget and make the most of your time in Edinburgh.

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Yes, Edinburgh is a major city, and you can drink tap water. However, I would not drink from the toilets on public transport. ( Read more )

🚙💨  Is it safe to rent a car in Edinburgh?

Yes , Renting a car is safe in Edinburgh! If you want to go on road trips or explore more off-the-beaten-path adventures outside of the city, you might want to consider renting a car.

📲  Will my phone work in Edinburgh?

Depends — Some American companies will work in Edinburgh, but many will not. If your phone doesn’t work in Edinburgh, I recommend getting a Giff Gaff sim card so you can still access Google Maps, phone calls, texts, etc. However, you will find many places around Edinburgh that have free WiFi, so you can check your Google Maps as you go.

🏩  What’s the best way to book my accommodation in Edinburgh?

In my opinion,  Booking.com is the best option for hotels. For hostels, I recommend Hostel World . If you want an apartment, check out  VRBO  (which is cheaper than Airbnb). If you are planning on staying in

✈️  What’s the best site to buy flights to Edinburgh?

To find cheap flights to Edinburgh, I recommend  Skyscanner .

🎫  Do I need a visa for Edinburgh?

Probably not—US , Canadian, Australian, and EU passport holders don’t need a visa for stays under 6 months. However, some other countries do (check here!). If you plan to stay more than 6 months, you must look into visas.

Fiona is the founder of Discovering Edinburgh. Fiona has travelled to over 35 countries and fell in love with Edinburgh. After visiting Edinburgh on a day trip, she lived there for three years. Discovering Edinburgh is your go-to resource for everything Edinburgh. Whether you're a local or tourist you are bound to find something new.

Planning a trip to Edinburgh? In Introducingedinburgh.com you’ll find all the necessary and up to date information on the best places to visit in the city, where to stay or the top neighbourhoods to go out for dinner and a night out , among a lot more interesting facts and figures. 

Edinburgh Travel Guide

• General Information
• Top Attractions
• Getting to Edinburgh
• Getting around Edinburgh
• Where to Eat
• Where to Stay
• 2-Day Edinburgh Itinerary

Why visit Edinburgh?

Scotland’s capital is one of the most unique and memorable cities in Europe . Edinburgh has a rare charm with narrow and cobbled passageways , called closes in Scots . The town is also known for its dark corners where terrifying events have taken place , its majestic buildings and gardens , countless fascinating museums , which are free to visit,  and, especially, the city's  kind and open locals . All the above-mentioned make this city a favorite among those who have seen it.

Edinburgh is fondly known as “Auld Reekie,”  which means “Old Smokey” in Scots. This is because of all the smoke and chimneys the city had in the past, creating smog over the city. The weather in Edinburgh is normally rainy and windy , but far from being an inconvenience, the bitter weather gives the town an extra charm, creating a mysterious and somber atmosphere.

The capital has a unique radiance when the rays of sun stream through the clouds, and when the night falls, the ghosts that refuse to leave Edinburgh  come out to haunt the streets and buildings while guides accompany curious tourists to see crypts, alleyways, and graveyards to discover the mysteries that besiege the heart of the city.

As well as countless ghost stories, Edinburgh also offers its visitors and locals a wide variety of attractions, including museums , most of which are free. Tourists can also visit a whisky distillery and learn how Scotland’s national drink is made in   the   Scotch Whisky Experience ,  discover how the Scottish people lived during the Middle Ages in the People’s Story Museum , or explore the evolution of medicine in the Surgeon’s Hall Museums .

The country’s hearty dishes combined with the traditional Scottish breakfast will probably mean you’ll go home a few pounds heavier but happy and full of extremely fond memories of the city.

With our guide, you’ll discover why Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK after London . Every year, over two million tourists visit Scotland’s capital city.

Need accommodation?

If you still don’t have a hotel, hostel, or apartment booked, we recommend checking out the link below, where you’ll find all types of accommodation with the best rates guaranteed. If you book in advance, you’ll be able to get up to 75% discount and pay once you get to your destination.

• Hotels in Edinburgh – Book online for the best rates guaranteed.

top activities

Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Highlands & Glencoe Day Trip Travel from Edinburgh to Loch Ness on this tour of some of the  Scottish Highlands ' most stunning attractions - an unforgettable day trip at the best price!

Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour Edinburgh Castle is the most visited monument in Scotland ; an unmissable sight in the Scottish capital. Don't miss this Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour!

Edinburgh Free Tour Discover Edinburgh's Old Town with this free walking tour of one of Scotland's most beloved cities. This tour is perfect for any first-visitors to Edinburgh!

Loch Ness & the Scottish Highlands: 2 Day Tour Delve deep into the delights of Scotland. Discover spectacular mountains, rivers and lochs as you immerse yourself in the legendary history of the Highlands.

Dinner and Traditional Scottish Show Looking for fun things to do in Edinburgh ? Spend a unique evening with this Scottish folk dinner and concert , complete with lively music and local dishes.

Edinburgh Outlander Tour Imposing castles, palaces and mythical mansions ... Discover a new side of Scotland by exploring the filming locations of the legendary TV series  Outlander .

Edinburgh Hop On Hop Off Bus Explore top Edinburgh attractions with our flexible hop-on hop-off bus tour without getting tired . Enjoy audio commentary in multiple languages!

Edinburgh Underground Ghost Tour Embark on a haunting journey into Edinburgh's eerie depths . Uncover the secrets within the haunted underground vaults and Greyfriars Kirkyard by night !

Full Day Edinburgh Walking Tour + Entry Tickets On this  tour of Edinburgh , you'll visit the most important places in the city , such as the Castle and the Scotland National Gallery . 

Holy Island & Alnwick Castle Day Trip Discover the Medieval Kingdom of Northumbria: explore the ruined castles, quaint villages and wild coastline of North-East England on this tour from Edinburgh.

Holyrood Palace Tickets Coronations, weddings, betrayal, assassination... discover the secrets of Holyrood Palace: the official residence of the queen of England and Scotland .

Day Trip: Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Get a slice of Highland life on this day trip to western Scotland, witht scenic lochs, the old capital of Stirling, and the Trossachs: land of William Wallace.

Get lost in the lively Scottish nightlife with this route across five of the capital's best pubs . Pints of beer, live music... let's get this party started!

Outlander Tour While in the Scottish capital , take a page from Jamie Fraser 's book and embark on our Outlander tour through Edinburgh to see iconic sites from the hit series !

Explore Edinburgh’s eerie past! Discover tales of witches, visit "The Lost Close" vault , and uncover spooky secrets on this Witches tour of Scotland's capital !

West Highland Lochs, Mountains & Castles Day Trip This day trip lets you enjoy a taste of all things Scottish , as we take you on a fascinating journey through the Highlands. Lochs, castles and mountains await.

Royal Edinburgh Ticket Book this Royal Edinburgh Ticket and enjoy the best of the Scottish capital city for 48 hours. Visit the Castle, the Royal Yacht and the Palace .

Ghost Tour of Edinburgh The Scottish capital is famously haunted and there have been countless sightings of phantoms. Are you brave enough to take our ghost tour of Edinburgh ?

Rosslyn Chapel and the Borders Day Trip On this trip, you'll explore the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel and the border town of Melrose & its Abbey , plus a tour of a malt whisky distillery .

Edinburgh Food Tour On this Edinburgh Food Tour, you'll explore the Scottish capital through its gastronomy. You'll try traditional dishes such as haggis, neeps and tatties!

Forth Boat Tour Make the most of your time in Edinburgh admiring one of the most emblematic feats of civil engineering on this boat tour of three Forth bridges .

Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & The Kelpies Explore the Scottish Highlands on this day trip from Edinburgh to Stirling, Loch Lomond and the Kelpies! You'll discover history and nature!

Scottish Highlands Tour Explore the Scottish Highlands on this excursion from Edinburgh and discover natural landscapes, a whisky distillery and historical monuments!

Harry Potter Train Tour Want to travel on the Hogwarts Express ? Travel through Scotland's breathtaking scenery on board the Jacobite with this  Harry Potter Train Tour .

St. Andrews & Fife's Fishing Villages Day Trip Make the most of your stay in Edinburgh with this St. Andrews & Fife's Fishing Villages Day Trip. Explore the famous golfing town and quaint coastal towns.

3-Day Tour of Skye and the Highlands See the very north of Scotland , where the winds whip the wild edge of the United Kingdom. We'll see highlands highlights such as Loch Ness, Ben Nevis  and more.

Blackness Castle & Forth Bridges Cruise Enjoy a cruise to the three famous Forth bridges and the historic Blackness Castle on this  boat tour on the Firth of Forth .

Whisky Distillery Tour Discover the secrets of Scotch whisky on this  tour of the Dewar's and Glenturret distilleries from Edinburgh ​. The ideal excursion for any whisky lover!

Edinburgh Private Tour Discover the architecture, history & everyday life of Edinburgh accompanied by a private tour guide . The best way to explore Scotland's capital city!

Edinburgh Shore Excursion If you're arriving in the Scottish capital by cruise, don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the city's history with this Edinburgh Shore Excursion.

Skip-the-Line Ticket to the Hard Rock Café Enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner at Edinburgh's Hard Rock Cafe, a restaurant full of rock and roll. Choose your menu and enjoy a fun dining experience!

Edinburgh Christmas Tour We'll admire Christmas markets and dreamy lights  on this Christmas Tour in Edinburgh . Explore the Scottish capital at this magical time of year!

This guide has been made by exploring each street, taking photos of every nook and cranny, and paying attention to each and every little detail to help you prepare your trip in the best way possible .

All the information in this guide was updated in March 2023 . If you see any errors or anything we should change, we would be delighted to hear from you .

Our travel guides

• top attractions
• where to stay
• and much more

32 Edinburgh Travel Tips for First Timers & Must Knows Before You Go

Last Updated: October 19, 2023

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Steeped in magic, museums, and deep fried pizza, Edinburgh is the dreamy capital of Scotland that stars in many a Pinterest board and book nerd daydream.

The reasons why are numerous. Not only is Edinburgh an aesthetic wonderland (with a main road flanked by royal digs on each end), it’s also rich in culture, history and a gloomy charm that’s pure Kryptonite for nerds. Check out my full list of things to do in Edinburgh to see what I mean.

Little wonder why I (chief nerd) recently spent a month there, gallivanting through its mysterious stone streets, soaking up as much of its glory as possible… while taking meticulous notes (as all nerds do) on the must-knows about travelling there for the first time.

So, in this post, I’ll be sharing all my best Edinburgh travel tips and must-knows, from dodge-worthy tourist traps to confusing quirks that trip up most visitors. I hope you find it all helpful!

If not, maybe I have to go back for further research (oh noooo…)

Save this list of Edinburgh Travel Tips for Later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

1. Learn how to properly pronounce ‘Edinburgh’

First thing’s first, we have to tackle the pronunciation of “Edinburgh” because an agonizing number of first time visitors get it wrong. 

Just to test: how do YOU think it’s pronounced?

If you said any variation of Edin-burg or Edin-borrow, unfortunately you’d fall into the large club of people who get it wrong.

To the surprise of many – the city known as Edinburgh is actually pronounced Ed-in- bruh.

So, keep that pronunciation in mind as you scroll through the rest of my (very lengthy) Edin-bruh tips.

2. Book ahead

Perhaps more shocking even than Edinburgh’s proper pronunciation is its prices.

Accommodation in Edinburgh (for both locals and tourists alike) can be incredibly expensive, especially so during peak periods, so your best defense against sky high prices is simply booking early.

You might find my step by step guide on how to book the best accommodation every time helpful for this.

On that note, it’s helpful to…

3. Know when peak seasons are 

As I mention in my general Scotland travel tips post, peak season in Edinburgh coincides with the city’s festival seasons so you can expect crowds to be at their most suffocating in August and around Christmas/New Year.

August is an especially busy time because Edinburgh hosts a bunch of different festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which is the largest performing arts festival in the entire world. 

During this time, it’s not uncommon for prices to skyrocket, and for performers to be sharing dorm rooms, camping out, and squeezing ten people into tiny spaces. So needless to say, supply for accommodation is very very limited.

Now if you’re really interested in experiencing in the chaos of festival season, I can highly recommend it, it’s so much fun, but planning ahead and booking something far in advance really is key. 

On the other hand if you’re not too bothered with attending any of these events, then I would really plan my trip for shoulder seasons like Spring and Fall to avoid the crowds.

If my gentle warning wasn’t sufficient, here’s a look at the Royal Mile on an average August day:

4. Don’t feel pressured to stay in the very city centre

Compared to many other European capitals, Edinburgh is fairly compact and small, as well as VERY well connected with public transport, so staying anywhere within city limits will mean being relatively close (i.e within 30 minutes) to the main sights.

So, when looking for accommodation I would say staying somewhere right in the centre is somewhat less important than in other cities, so if you find something that’s a really good deal with the main drawback being location, don’t worry too much so long as there’s a bus or tram stop near by.

During my month in Edinburgh, I lived in an apartment that by many standards was “really far out” from the centre (by the local prison, if I’m being honest) but it was only a 15 minute bus ride to reach the Princes Street Gardens and all the main sights around it, so not too shabby at all.

5. Beware of staying in Old Town unless you like hills

Of course, if your budget allows for it, staying in the city centre would be ideal, but just take note that Old Town is very very hilly with a surplus of leg-melting steps and puzzling turns, so staying here might mean a lot of huffing and puffing to get home at the end of the day.

Now let’s move onto Edinburgh transport tips and how to get around.

6. Know that there’s two train stations in Edinburgh

In Edinburgh, you’ll find two main train stations: Waverley and Haymarket.

Waverley is the larger one right in the middle of the city, with 20 platforms and connections to places all across Scotland.

It’s also connected to a shopping centre so definitely arrive well in advance because it can be tough for a first timer to actually find where the train station bit is.

Haymarket is a lot more manageable and small but it’s slightly southwest of Waverley and the city centre, so depending on where you’re staying that might be a good option to book for. 

In any case, keep in mind that there’s two stations so always book the one closer to where you’re staying.

7. Take advantage of Edinburgh’s excellent public transport

In terms of getting around the city, your main options are buses, trams and taxis. 

With the bus system, you should know that there are a few different bus companies in Edinburgh, all of which have their own tickets routes and fares.

Hop on hop off buses are also common in Edinburgh, but honestly the local buses are way cheaper and more efficient. The only time I would do the hop on/hop off is if it came included with some kind of sightseeing pass, but more on that later.

8. Use contactless cards for easy travel on Edinburgh buses

With the local bus network, buses run 24 hours a day, with Lothian being the most popular operator, boasting 50+ routes across the city. First is also a big one you’ll see a lot.

These different companies run buses on the same routes but with different bus numbers and tickets.

This can seem confusing but it’s easy to simplify, because the main way to pay now is by contactless card, so you can just walk on the bus, tap in and you’re automatically charged without you needing to worry about which ticket you’re buying.

These bus companies also have daily and weekly caps in place when you make contactless payments.

Lothian for instance has a program called TapTapCap and ensures you won’t pay more than £4.80 per day and £22 per week. First has Tap&Cap as well. 

But to take advantage of these caps, you need to make sure you’re using the same card each time and also sticking to one company once you tap in.

An easy way to do this is just searching bus times on that company’s website rather than on Google Maps where they show you all the potential buses from across companies.

I would really recommend paying for buses with contactless cards just for the ease of it, but just know that you can also pay with cash on board, but it has to be the exact amount as they don’t give change.

I noticed with some companies like East Coast Buses as well that you have to tell the driver where you’re going before you pay because that can affect your rate.

In any case, bus drivers in Edinburgh tend to be super nice (at least in my experience) so when in doubt, ask.

9. Buy tickets in advance for trams and don’t forget to validate them

Trams in Edinburgh are a bit more complicated.

Unlike buses, they only run from around 5:30am until 11:30pm, and the ticketing system is less straightforward.

With Edinburgh trams, you need to buy a ticket in advance either through machines at the platforms, online or through their app and THEN you need to validate the ticket once you’re on board.

Ticket prices depend on whether you’re buying a single or roundtrip and also how far you’re going.

So overall it is a bit more confusing, but the benefit is you don’t get stuck in traffic, so it does have its upsides!

10. Know that Day Tickets & Ridacard Are Valid on Both Lothian Buses & Edinburgh Trams

Lastly on the transport front, if you plan to combine bus and tram travel during your time in Edinburgh, know that you can get day tickets or 4 week Ridacard passes which work for both Edinburgh Trams, Lothian buses & a few other companies.

So to summarize: if you’re taking buses, just use a contactless card to tap in and you’re good, making sure to stay loyal to one card and one bus company to automatically get the best deal.

If you’re taking trams, get tickets in advance and validate them.

If you plan to take both, consider getting a day ticket which will cover both Lothian buses and trams.

11. But be sure to prioritize travelling on foot within the city centre

All that said, once you’re in the centre, I find the best way to get around is on foot. 

Edinburgh is mindbogglingly pretty, and the best way to take it all in is by strolling around at your own pace, romanticizing every cobblestone.

On a practical note, sometimes it’s even faster to walk vs. taking the bus or taxi because of traffic, so yes, get those steps in!

12. Plan your walks strategically to avoid too many hills

If you plan to do a lot of walking though, here is a pro Edinburgh tip: be mindful that some parts of the city (e.g Old Town) can be shockingly hilly, with lots of stairs and little lanes, so do plan your walking route to minimize going up and down too much, because it can get pretty exhausting. 

To minimize the physical labour and turmoil, I would recommend taking public transport as high up as you can, then making your way downhill. 

13. Always book attraction tickets ahead of time

These days, you can buy admission tickets for almost every major Edinburgh attraction online, which saves you from wasting time lining up on the day of.

If you’re visiting during peak season like August, it’s also important you book big sights well in advance, as spots like Edinburgh Castle tend to sell out.

Here are some quick booking links:

• Edinburgh Castle: Buy Skip the Line Tickets + a Tour
• Palace of Holyroofhouse: Buy Tickets
• Johnnie Walker Experience: Buy Tickets
• Scottish Whisky Experience: Buy Tickets

14. Be realistic about your interests and plan your itinerary around them

The truth is, Edinburgh is filled with many different attractions and if you just sightsee according to what the big sights are meant to be, then you’re not likely to have a good time. 

Edinburgh Castle for instance CAN be boring for some people if they’re not at all interested in history or anything military-related, as many of the on-site attractions relate to war history.

I for instance thought it was quite boring the first time, but I enjoyed it a lot more on my second visit after I learned more about the castle’s history and context. (Check out my full Edinburgh Castle guide if you need help with this!)

So, yes, definitely prioritize sights according to what YOU personally enjoy and don’t worry about skipping “major attractions” if they just don’t interest you, especially since many of them can be quite expensive.

15. Beware that not all Edinburgh sightseeing passes are made equal

When it comes to trying to save money on Edinburgh attractions, make sure you do proper research on sightseeing passes rather than assume they’ll automatically save you money.

The Edinburgh City Pass for instance doesn’t include any of the main sights like Edinburgh Castle or Holyrood Palace.

Instead, if you’re hoping to hit up the trio of Edinburgh’s royal attractions, meaning Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace & the Royal Yacht Britannia, then the ticket to get would be either…

• The Edinburgh Pass: Includes all three main sights, plus 10% discounts on others
• The Royal Edinburgh Ticket: Includes all three, plus a hop on/hop off bus tour

This would honestly only be worth it if you wanted to do all three of those attractions and a bus tour, otherwise you’d be better off just booking the one or two things you wanted to see.

16. Take advantage of Edinburgh’s many free attractions

Now, while Edinburgh’s main attractions can be pricey, the city does make up for it with a wealth of free museums and attractions.

Some of my favourites include…

• The Scottish National Museum which is a beautiful museum home to a lovely terrace view and a huge collection of interesting items including Dolly the Sheep
• The Scottish National Portrait Gallery which is housed in a stunning building and includes portraits and write-ups on prominent historical figures from Scotland’s history 

There’s also the Scottish Parliament, which is a controversial building that you can book free tours of so long as you do some well in advance.

Some parts of the building (like the debating chamber and exhibition space) are also open to the general public without a tour booking so long as the facilities aren’t in use.

There was a really amazing press photography exhibition during our visit, so I would definitely recommend stopping by.

… the cafe is also a hidden gem of super affordable and tasty items.

Besides those main sights, there are also some smaller museums run by the City of Edinburgh Council which might be worth looking into if you’re interested in those particular topics.

I’ll be honest, these museums are pretty dated and not super exciting compared to some of the other attractions in the city but they are free and many are close together so if you’re interested in the topics, go for it.

For example, there’s …

• The Museum of Edinburgh, which is about the history of the city 
• The Writer’s Museum, which chronicles the stories of Edinburgh’s most famous writers
• The People’ Story Museum, which showcases city history through the lens of its people and 
• The Museum of Childhood which a museum dedicated entirely to the idea of childhood

17. Prioritize uniquely Edinburgh attractions

That said, another important attractions related must know is when you are planning your itinerary, do make an effort to prioritize uniquely Edinburgh attractions.

There’s so much to see here and I think it’d be a shame to spend time doing things you could be doing in any other city, so for that reason I wouldn’t necessarily prioritize attractions like the Camera Obscura, Dynamic Earth or Chocolatarium, unless of course you’re travelling with kids, or those things particularly interest you.

18. Don’t rub Greyfriar Bobby’s nose

The story of Greyfriars Bobby is one of Edinburgh’s most moving tales… but unfortunately, rubbing the statue erected in his honour is actually considered a faux pas by many locals.

Despite most travel guides advising to do it, rubbing Bobby’s nose is actually frowned upon these days by locals who believe the act is ruining the statue.

So, take note and go for the air pat instead.

19. Beware of “Harry Potter attractions” in Edinburgh

Now, let’s a have a brief chat about all things Harry Potter.

If you’ve been on this blog before, you’ll know that I’m no stranger to HP locations. I’ve written about all the Harry Potter filming locations you can visit in real life, all the best Harry Potter things to do in London , where to find Hogwarts , and all the little links between HP and Gloucester Cathedral , Durham Cathedral , and Lacock .

So when I see all the ‘Harry Potter walking tours’ and shops in Edinburgh, I get irrationally irate.

Just to clear things up then: Harry Potter never filmed in Edinburgh so there are no filming locations to visit.

And while JK Rowling did live in Edinburgh while she wrote the books, a lot of the connections shared on walking tours have been debunked by the author herself. For instance that Victoria St inspired Diagon Alley , or that the Elephant House is the official birthplace of Harry Potter.

So, take what you hear with a grain of salt, and know that there is a LOT more to Edinburgh than just Harry Potter stuff. Although those vaguely magic-themed gift shops are definitely taking over the city, for better or for worse…

20. Make sure you’re prepared before going up to Arthur’s Seat

Now another important Edinburgh must-know is that despite being considered one of THE top must-dos in Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat is a pretty steep uphill hike so if you’re short on time or don’t really like hiking, I would skip this one.

The view is incredible but I saw many unprepared tourists who had to turn back because they didn’t realize what a big hike it’d be, so just keep that in mind to save your legs and lungs.

If you do end up doing it though, I propose walking down and heading southeast instead of going back to the city centre because then you reward yourself with a visit to the Sheep Heid Inn, a super cozy spot considered one of the oldest pubs in Scotland.

21. Explore beyond the very city centre

Lastly on the Edinburgh sightseeing front, don’t be afraid to expand your tourist exploits beyond the central core of Old Town and New Town.

There are many lovely areas to explore in Edinburgh, like Stockbridge for instance which is densely packed with cute boutiques, cafes and bookshops.

Or, for a different vibe, you can check out Leith, which was historically a rougher part of town but today has a few pockets of really cool food and drink spots.

22. Enjoy Edinburgh’s diverse food scene

Speaking of food and drink, let’s now talk about Edinburgh food and drink tips!

First – know that the Edinburgh food scene is very diverse. On the Scottish front, you have everything from chippys selling deep fried pizza and Mars Bars all the way to refined spots with mouthwatering seafood. On the international front, you have lots of culturally diverse spots serving up mouthwatering eats from around the world.

So definitely make the most of exploring the food scene while you’re here.

23. Try some Scottish classics

At some point during your trip of course, you should make sure to enjoy some Scottish classics like Haggis with Neeps and Tatties and Cullen Skink which is a creamy fish soup.

There are a number of pubs serving these if you’re looking for a more causal experience, but as I mentioned, there’s more elevated places to try them too if that’s more your speed.

24. Find recommendations from local Edinburgh creators

If you’re looking for Edinburgh food recommendations, I would definitely seek out local Edinburgh foodie blogs or social media pages.

Why? Quite simply, people who live there will be able to give you better tips than random gremlins like me who just lunged at a select few spots during my short stay.

So, some pages I really liked while I was in Edinburgh were…

• @fedinburgh
• @topscottishscran
• @hannahscranz

25. Book ahead for restaurants

One Edinburgh food tip I CAN give you though is to book ahead whenever possible.

Some of the most popular spots in Edinburgh can book out far in advance so if there are any places you have your heart set on, then make sure you make a reservation. 

NOTE: If you are visiting during a busy period like festival season though, beware that many restaurants won’t take bookings during this time and instead enforce a first come/first serve policy.

26. Make sure to try a whisky experience of some kind

While in Edinburgh, I would also highly recommend booking some kind of whisky experience as well, because frankly, it just feels wrong not to.

For those new to whisky, I would recommend booking an experience over a tasting because then you can learn more about how to appreciate whisky before you’re thrown into the deep end.

In Edinburgh, there are two main whisky experiences that are both quite popular, the Scottish Whisky Experience right by Edinburgh Castle and the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street.

I opted to try the latter and it was cheesy, but I loved it. As someone who didn’t know much about whisky, I found it to be a fun, dynamic and engaging introduction. I definitely walked out of there a brainwashed Johnnie Walker enthusiast.

But if you want something more low key, there are tons of tastings and tours you can book as well, like…

• Tour a distillery: Holyrood Distillery is a really popular one
• Do a tasting tour: This one includes history and storytelling

27. Or enjoy a gin experience

There’s more to the local booze scene than just whisky though – gin around here is also very good. 

You can even book distillery tours and gin experiences if that’s more your line of thing, like…

• This distillery and tasting tour
• This distillation workshop and tasting
• This underground gin tasting
• This guided tasting

28. Learn how to pronounce commonly mispronounced place names

As we near the end of this list of Edinburgh travel tips, I’d like to revisit the whole pronunciation thing, because it’s not just “Edinburgh” that first timers struggle with.

So, in case you need to ask for directions or think you may be saying these names out loud, here are some other commonly mispronounced names in Edinburgh:

• Holyrood = Holly-rude
• Cockburn = Co burn
• Leith = Leeth (rhymes with teeth)
• Lothian = LOW-thee-in

There are also common words you might across that are unfamiliar, like for instance…

• Kirk = church 
• Aye = yes 
• Scran = food
• Tattie = potato 
• Dram = a small portion of strong alcohol, often whisky

And my personal favourite, coo which is cow.

29. Know that jaywalking is very widespread

There’s a common joke that you can tell how local someone is to Edinburgh based on how impatient they are at crosswalks.

… and this couldn’t be more true.

Jaywalking isn’t illegal in Scotland, so most locals will just wait until there’s a clear path to cross, and just go at their own leisure regardless of what the little red man says.

So I say, when in doubt, follow people who know what they’re doing. 

30. Always have a rain/windproof jacket

Ah, Edinburgh weather.

The ever-present gloom makes for wonderfully dramatic photos. It does not however make for a stress-free packing experience.

The truth is, Edinburgh weather can be annoyingly random – sun one second, rain the next, and then random bouts of wind throughout.

So, to ensure you’re properly prepared, make sure you bring a good rain/windproof jacket, and have it with you whenever you head out.

NOTE: A waterproof hooded jacket is more important than an umbrella because that Edinburgh wind is no joke. Your umbrella will definitely be struggling.

31. Pack comfortable shoes

Aside from a good jacket, another thing you should pack for your Edinburgh trip is comfy shoes.

As I’ve mentioned ad nauseum, you’ll be walking a LOT during your time in Edinburgh, so ditch the heels and make sure you have comfortable stomping shoes.

32. Support independent makers over cheap souvenir shops

Lastly, when shopping for souvenirs, be wary of the big tourist shops on the Royal Mile. Often these shops are selling cheaper quality goods, with polyester Tartan wear for instance that’s made to look like the real deal.

Instead, you should find local independent makers to support, like at the Tron Kirk market (conveniently also located on the Royal Mile).

I hope you enjoyed those Edinburgh travel tips! 

Let me know in the comments if you have any more Edinburgh must-knows to add. Safe and happy travels! 🙂

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

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🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

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🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

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View of Edinburgh skyline from Holyrood Park

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital; a city filled with history, culture, engaging attractions and beautiful architecture. Spend your time exploring its cobbled streets, hidden closes, world-class festivals and lively food and drink scene. Find out what makes Edinburgh so special, from its status as a UNESCO City of Literature and UNESCO World Heritage Site, to being named one of Time Out's top cities in the world. 

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Things to do in Edinburgh

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Discover what makes Leith one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, from Michelin star restaurants to quirky pubs and festivals!

Museums & galleries in Edinburgh

From science to medicine museums to portrait galleries, there's sure to be a place that will thrill you.

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Find free things to do and places to go in Edinburgh, including the National Museum of Scotland, Botanic Gardens and more.

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The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh

Places to stay

Whether you’re looking for an elegant 5-star hotel, a quirky B&B, a self-catering apartment or a budget friendly hostel, there are lots of accommodation options throughout Edinburgh.

Salisbury Crags by Arthur's Seat

Tours, Routes & Trails

Edinburgh offers a fantastic range of tours, including walking, ghost and history tours around the city centre. Get ideas for how to spend your time here with our itineraries, or head out for a city walk to soak up the sights.

Unique experiences in Edinburgh

There's always something new to discover in Edinburgh, but it's pretty special to be able to explore three UNESCO sites in the city which celebrate its architectural, engineering and cultural heritage.

Forth Bridges Trail walk

Follow this new walk to see the bridges, magnificent views over the Firth of Forth and the historic settlements of North and South Queensferry.

Edinburgh, UNESCO City of Literature

Storytelling and writing is the beating heart of Edinburgh's art and culture scene. Discover the home of many literary superstars past and present.

Edinburgh Old & New Towns

Its historic heart is one of the most striking and architecturally significant in the world.

Map of Edinburgh

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How to Travel to and around Edinburgh

Edinburgh is linked to by an extensive network of roads, rail services and flights which makes travel to the city possible from every corner of the world, while the city's compact size makes exploring easy.

Bus and coach

There are many frequent and affordable bus services that travel from various main cities to Edinburgh daily. Most buses to Edinburgh arrive at the Edinburgh Bus Station that is located on St Andrew Square in the city centre.

• National Express to Edinburgh
• Megabus to Edinburgh
• Scottish Citylink to Edinburgh
• Flixbus to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport is directly linked through the west of the city, into the city centre and north and east down to Leith and Newhaven via a quick and convenient tram network.

Pre-book your tram ticket online via the Edinburgh Tram Ticket website so you’re ready to go as soon as you arrive. You can access lots of offers and money saving discounts by showing your Edinburgh Ticket at a range of attractions too.

Find out more on travel from the airport by tram

There are fast and frequent services to Edinburgh from major UK cities. LNER trains run along the east coast from London, York and Newcastle, while Avanti West Coast run along the west coast from London, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Carlisle. Transpennine Express run from Manchester to Edinburgh.

There are two stations - Edinburgh Haymarket to the west of the city centre, and Edinburgh Waverley sits at the east end of Princes Street.

Book with LNER

Book with Avanti West Coast

Book with Transpennine Express

Travel overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper

ScotRail provides an express rail service direct to Edinburgh from many major Scottish cities.

Check ScotRail timetables

Edinburgh Airport is situated only 5 miles (8 km) to the west of Edinburgh. You can travel from the airport to the city centre in around 30 minutes by bus, tram, taxi or car.

• Find out more on airport buses to Edinburgh
• Book a taxi to and from the airport
• Hire a car from Edinburgh airport
• Cycle back to Edinburgh from the airport

Edinburgh is well linked to the rest of Scotland and UK through an extensive road network, making access to the capital easy by car.

• From Newcastle - 2.5 hours
• From Manchester - 4 hours
• From Birmingham - 6 hours

Plan your trip with Traveline

Getting around

Edinburgh is easily explored on foot with most key attractions within walking distance of each other. Attractions beyond the city centre can be reached cost effectively by public transport and again explored further by foot.

Find walks in and around Edinburgh

Lothian Buses run a service across the city 24 hours a day, while First Buses connect Edinburgh with towns and villages in the Lothians.

Plan your journey within Edinburgh with Lothian Buses  

Plan your journey further afield with First Group

New self-driving bus route to Fife

Sit back and take in the views across the Firth of Forth on a self-driving bus! Having launched in 2023, you can travel between two transport exchanges across the Forth Road Bridge.

It’s the most ambitious and complex autonomous bus pilot in the world!

Find out more and book your journey

Trams run from Newhaven through Leith to York Place in the city centre and onto Edinburgh Airport which takes just under an hour.

Find ticket prices and plan your journey with Edinburgh Trams

Want to relax and let someone else drive?

Book a tour and hear from a knowledgeable local tour guide as they highlight points of interest, stop off at the best hidden gems and visit the iconic landmarks you’ve heard all about.

Search for tours in Edinburgh

There are over 1,000 cabs circulating around the city. You can hail one in the street or pick it up from one of the taxi ranks within the city centre. 

Find out more on getting around Edinburgh

Princes Street Gardens

Low Emission Zones (LEZ)

If you’re travelling by car to Edinburgh, your vehicle must comply with emission standards. You may be fined if you drive through an LEZ zone. This mostly impacts diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006.

What's On in Edinburgh

Edinburgh International Festival closing fireworks

Events in Edinburgh

Soak up the incredible atmosphere of the capital with a range of events and festivals to get involved in. Whether theatre, art, comedy, circus, literature or culture is your thing, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy. 

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Explore further

Dunbar Cliff Top Trail

© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Edinburgh & The Lothians

It's really simple to take time out of Edinburgh and explore the nearby Lothians. Head to the beach or forest parks, discover more about the heritage of the area, or enjoy some incredible outdoor activities.

St Monans Breakwater in the East Neuk of Fife

Nearby regions

Edinburgh & The Lothians are surrounded by other unique and fascinating regions to explore. Extend your trip and take the chance to slow down and really connect with Scotland. Head to the coastal towns of Fife, soak up the colourful history of the Scottish Borders, or enjoy the scenery around Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. You can easily pop over to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, too.

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Edinburgh Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 1, 2023

As the capital of Scotland since the 15th century, Edinburgh has a rich history (especially literary history; the city was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2004). Both the Old Town and New Town are also UNESCO World Heritage sites and there are centuries of myths and legends about the spooky underbelly of the city ( which you can learn about on a haunted ghost tour .

As the second-most visited city in the UK, there are tons of things to see and do here no matter what your interests are. There are beautiful walks, historic buildings, lively pubs, huge festivals (such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Hogmanay), a castle, Harry Potter tours, and much, much more.

This travel guide to Edinburgh can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this historic and picturesque city!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Edinburgh

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Edinburgh

1. Visit Edinburgh Castle

Built in the 12th century, Edinburgh Castle sits on a hill overlooking the city’s Old Town. It’s the most besieged place in Great Britain and you can easily spend hours here exploring and learning the castle’s history (the Crown Jewel exhibit is worth the price alone). Admission is 15.50 GBP.

2. Hike to Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano on the outskirts of Edinburgh. With a height of 251 meters (823 feet), it provides hikers with a picturesque panorama of the city. The hike takes an hour each way. If the weather is nice, bring a picnic and spend an afternoon looking out over the city.

3. Walk the Royal Mile

This pedestrian road is lined with pubs, restaurants, and shops. While touristy (it can get crowded in the summer), it’s also incredibly beautiful and historic. There are many historical monuments and buildings to check out nearby, such as the medieval St. Giles’ Cathedral.

4. Tour Rosslyn Chapel

Founded in 1446, this historic chapel near Edinburgh was made famous in The Da Vinci Code . The chapel is ripe with intricate artwork and symbolism that has spawned many conspiracy theories. Located just an hour from Edinburgh, admission is 9.50 GBP.

5. See the Scott Monument

Other things to see and do in edinburgh, 1. take a free walking tour.

The best way to get the lay of the land is to take a walking tour. You get a feel for the city and get to see the main sights while also having a local expert on hand to answer your questions. I always take a free walking tour when I arrive at a new destination. It’s the best way to get situated. New Europe has a great free tour that lasts a couple of hours — just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Hang out in Calton Hill

Calton Hill is a quiet place to escape the noise of the city and admire the view. Take a hike to the top of the hill where you can sit and relax in a peaceful park-like setting. The National Monument of Scotland (a memorial to the soldiers who fought in the Napoleonic Wars between 1803-1815) and the Nelson Monument, dedicated to Horatio Nelson (a famous 18th-century British Admiral) are located here.

3. Explore Princes Street Gardens

For another free outing, spend an afternoon at Princes Street Gardens, which boasts a beautiful view of Edinburgh Castle. The garden is composed of two main parks and dates to the 1770s, when Edinburgh’s largest lake, Nor Loch, was drained to create the park. Today, the park is beloved by tourists and visitors alike, with vendors selling food and souvenirs here. At Christmas, the Garden turns into a German-style winter fair, full of stalls selling food, mulled wine, toys, and rides (the Christmas markets usually open mid-November).

4. Tour the Museum of Edinburgh

This museum is in the 16th-century Huntly House (one of the historic buildings on the Royal Mile) and offers insight into the city and its past. The museum is home to the National Covenant (an important Scottish Presbyterian document from 1638) as well as some original city plans and a miniature of the Old Town. There are also works of art, silverware, weapons, and more. The museum is free.

5. Visit the National Gallery of Scotland

This impressive gallery is home to works by Monet, Rembrandt, Degas, Vermeer, and Van Gogh, as well as works by famous Scottish painters like Allan Ramsay, David Wilkie, and William McTaggart. Opened in 1859, the gallery was designed in the Neoclassical style to look like an ancient Greek temple. Works span the centuries from the Renaissance to the 20th century and the gallery is free to enter (some temporary exhibits have a fee).

6. Attend a summer festival

During the summer, Edinburgh is home to several huge festivals. The most popular is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Held in August, this festival brings in performers and entertainers of all kinds — actors, musicians, buskers, and more. The festival lasts three weeks and is the biggest festival of its kind in the world. Keep in mind that during this time, accommodation prices skyrocket and the city floods with people. If you plan to attend, make sure you book your accommodation in advance. The Edinburgh International Film Festival in June and the Edinburgh Jazz Festival in July are two other big festivals worth attending in the summer.

7. Take a ghost tour

Edinburgh has a spooky history and there are many tours that illuminate the city’s eerie past by taking you around to graveyards and through underground tunnels. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the tours take you to some old and interesting parts of Edinburgh. Don’t miss the Ghost Bus tour as well as a tour of the Vaults (the underground tunnels below the city) — both of which you do at night!

8. Drink some scotch

Learn how scotch is made by touring the Scotch Whisky Experience. It’s part museum, part interactive attraction (there’s even a barrel ride where you sit in a fake barrel and learn about the whisky-making process). There are also exhibits to show you the history of Scotland’s famous drink and how it came to hold such a revered place in the culture. Prices vary depending on what type of tour you want but begin at 17 GBP.

9. Celebrate Hogmanay

Hogmanay is one of the world’s biggest and most famous New Year’s Eve celebrations . Tens of thousands of people gather in the city streets to celebrate with torchlight processions, concerts, and fireworks. Prepare yourself for lots of drinking, holiday festivities, live music, and huge crowds. Book your accommodation far in advance as tens of thousands of people attend the festival.

10. Have fun at Camera Obscura

Founded in 1835, Camera Obscura is a fun and educational interactive museum. It’s home to over 100 exhibits that use light, mirrors, and technology to create stunning optical illusions. It’s located right in the heart of the Old Town making it easily accessible for anyone traveling with kids (or anyone who wants to indulge their inner child). It’s part science, part illusion, and all fun. Admission is 18 GBP.

11. Take a Harry Potter tour

If you’re a fan of J.K. Rowling’s epic fantasy series, be sure to book a spot on The Potter Trail, Edinburgh’s original Harry Potter tour. Tours are held daily and cover all the main sites in the city that relate to the books. The tour lasts 90 minutes and is accessible for both casual enthusiasts as well as die-hard fans. The tour is free, though make sure to tip your guides as well.

12. Visit St. Giles’ Cathedral

Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, St. Giles’ Cathedral is located on the Royal Mile and was originally built in the 12th century. The current building dates to the 14th century and was formerly a Roman Catholic Cathedral (St. Giles is now part of the Church of Scotland). In addition to the beautiful and austere interior, the cathedral is home to some noteworthy monuments, including one to famed Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . Admission is free. Remember that this is a place of worship, so dress respectfully.

  For more information on other cities in Scotland, check out these guides:

• Glasgow Travel Guide

Edinburgh Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Most 4-8-bed dorms cost 16-22 GBP, while a bed in a dorm with 10 or more beds costs 12-14 GBP per night. Prices tend to rise a few pounds in the summer and drop a few in the winter. Private double rooms cost 50-75 GBP per night.

Free Wi-Fi and lockers are standard and most hostels also have self-catering facilities. Free breakfast is rare, but a few hostels in the city do offer it. Be sure to book those hostels in advance if it’s a priority.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels cost around 50-65 GBP per night. These usually include free Wi-Fi and some offer free breakfast.

A private Airbnb room costs 30 GBP per night while entire homes/apartments start at 55 GBP per night (though most cost 70 GBP per night or more).

For those traveling with a tent, camping is another option here — especially if you head out to the nearby Loch Lomond National Park. Expect to pay around 17 GBP per night for a basic plot (which is just a flat space for a tent; electricity is generally not included). Most parks close for the winter, so availability is limited come late October/early November. If you’re in a car or campervan, you can use the app ‘park4night’ to find paid overnight parking, free overnight parking, and campgrounds.

Food – Scottish food is hearty, heavy, and filling. Seafood is abundant, and popular traditional dishes include blood pudding, minced beef, fish and chips, smoked herring, neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes), and of course haggis (a dish composed of minced sheep’s organs and spices inside a sheep’s stomach casing). Porridge is a common breakfast choice, though a larger breakfast of sausage, eggs, beans, and bread is not uncommon either. Sticky toffee pudding is a favorite dessert, and of course, you can’t visit Scotland without sampling some scotch.

Expect to pay around 10-12 GBP for a basic meal like a Scottish breakfast or haggis. For pub food like fish and chips or a burger, prices are usually between 15-25 GBP. For a full three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant, prices begin around 30 GBP.

A pint of beer is 4 GBP while a glass of wine is around 5.50 GBP. A latte or cappuccino is around 2.70 GBP.

A classic fish and chips from a no-frills takeaway spot is around 6 GBP. Chinese takeout is around 8-10 GBP, while a basic fast food combo meal (think McDonald’s) costs around 6 GBP. Street food (like from a food truck) costs around 6-8 GBP.

The Mosque Kitchen is one of the cheapest restaurants in the entire city. You can get an excellent meal there for 6-8 GBP.

For a week’s worth of groceries, expect to pay 40-60 GBP. This covers basic staples like pasta, rice, seasonal produce, and some meat. The cheapest supermarkets to look out for are Aldi, Lidl, Asda, and Tesco.

Backpacking Edinburgh Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Edinburgh for about 55 GBP per day. This means staying in a dorm room or camping, cooking all of your meals, limiting your drinking, sticking to mostly free activities like hiking and free walking tours, and using public transportation to get around.

On a mid-range budget of about 100 GBP per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb room, eat out for most of your meals (sticking to a lot of pub foods), do more paid activities like visiting museums or galleries, enjoying a couple of drinks at the bar, and taking the occasional taxi to get around. You’re not going to live large, but you can get by without worrying too much about your spending.

On a “luxury” budget of 200 GBP or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for every meal, drink what you want, and visit as many museums and attractions as you’d like, take taxis, and do whatever else you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though — you can easily spend more if you really want to splash out!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in GBP.

Edinburgh Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Like the rest of the UK, Edinburgh can be expensive. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to lower your costs and save money here. Here are some quick tips to help you save money in Edinburgh:

• Get the Edinburgh City Pass – If you’re planning to explore Edinburgh, get the City Pass. For 45 GBP, you’ll get access to 22 attractions as well as free transportation to and from the airport. There is also a two-day pass for 55 GBP and a three-day pass for 65 GBP. It’s a good choice for anyone planning to see a lot.
• Eat in a pub – The best food is often in the pubs and at a fraction of the price when compared to a sit-down restaurant. If you’re going to eat out, eat here.
• Eat during lunch – Many cafes, bakeries, nd chains offer lunch deals for as little as 3-5 GBP.
• Use apps to get discounted food – The app Too Good to Go, (on which participating eateries sell severely discounted meals/groceries/baked goods at the end of the day) has good coverage all across Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh. For discounts on takeout try the app Secret Takeaways which supports local restaurants by cutting out the delivery app middlemen (and their high fees).
• Visit the free museums – The public museums in Scotland are free — so take advantage! Free attractions include The National Museum of Scotland, Scottish National Gallery, St. Giles Cathedral, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
• Avoid eating and shopping in the city centers – Edinburgh is significantly more expensive the closer you get to the city center/Old Town. There are plenty of good restaurants and quirky shops outside of the center, so go for those. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing is the best way to save on accommodation as it’s free! You’ll not only save money but have access to a knowledgeable local who can help point you to some of the city’s hidden gems.
• Take a free walking tour – If you want to learn more about the history, architecture, and people of Scotland then be sure to take a free walking tour. They usually last a couple of hours and are a great introduction to the city.
• Cook your own meals – Food in the UK isn’t cheap. Save yourself some money and cook a few meals for yourself. It may not be as fancy as eating out, but your wallet will thank you!
• Use discount websites – Groupon, Wowcher and Living Social have good deals on accommodation, attractions, and dining out.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has plenty of hostels and they’re all pretty comfortable and sociable. These are my favorite places to stay in Edinburgh:

• Castle Rock
• Edinburgh Backpackers
• A&O Edinburgh
• Kick Ass Grassmarket

How to Get Around Edinburgh

Public transportation – Buses and trams are the most common forms of public transportation in the city. A single ticket costs 1.80 GBP and goes up from there depending on how far you go. Buses take only exact change so you may want to download the “Transport for Edinburgh” app to pay for tickets on your phone instead. You can even use it to buy tram tickets to/from the airport.

Day passes can be purchased for 4.40 GBP and a one-week ticket costs 20 GBP (does include the airport).

The Airlink bus to the airport costs 4.50 GBP for the 30-minute journey, while the tram costs 6 GBP.

Taxi – Taxis aren’t cheap here so I would avoid them as much as possible. Rates start at 3 GBP and go up by 1.40 GBP per kilometer. Stick to public transportation if you’re on a budget unless you are splitting the ride with someone.

Gett and Free Now are the two most common platforms used for taxis (they are linked to the Google Maps app so you can use that to get price estimates if you’re comparing modes of transportation). That being said, Edinburgh has safe and reliable public transportation, so I’d avoid taxis and ridesharing unless you have no other options.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Edinburgh, but it’s not always cheaper than taxis.

Car rental – Scotland is a great road trip destination, though I would only rent a car if you’re leaving the city (or if you need it for a specific reason in the city). Getting around the city is easier without a vehicle as public transportation is reliable. I would avoid renting a car unless you’re leaving the city.

You can find rentals for 25 GBP per day and campers for as little as 30 GBP per day. Just remember that traffic flows on the left. Most vehicles are manual transmissions as well.

When to Go to Edinburgh

Summer is the most popular time to visit Edinburgh. In July and August, there’s warm weather and minimal rain, with temperatures reaching highs of around 20°C (68°F). This is also the busiest time of the year, so expect crowds in the cities and lots of people out enjoying the nearby national parks. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes place in August, which is a huge multi-week festival. Be sure to book your accommodation in advance if you’re visiting during this time.

September is a rather wet month, though October offers incredible fall foliage. It’s a good month for road trips — especially if you plan on renting a car or camper and heading into the Cairngorms (Scotland’s biggest national park, which is only a couple of hours from the city). Seasonal businesses and accommodations start to close in mid-October so be sure to keep that in mind when planning. Expect October temperatures to hover around 12°C (55°F) during the day.

The spring is a great time to visit, with April and May offering minimal rain and no crowds. There’s snow and cool temperatures in the highlands, but the city is lively without being crowded.

Winters in Scotland are cold and dark. December is relatively dry but the temperatures dip close to 0°C (32°F). It’s nevertheless a popular time to visit, with many tourists coming to Edinburgh for the huge Hogmanay New Year’s Eve celebration (one of the biggest New Year’s festivals in the world).

By February, snow is common so keep that in mind if you plan on renting a vehicle. Unless you’re coming to engage in winter sports, I’d avoid a winter visit unless you don’t mind the grim and grey atmosphere of the country.

How to Stay Safe in Edinburgh

Scotland is a safe country, and you won’t need to worry about crime while you’re here. Edinburgh is safe for solo travelers — including female travelers — though women should take the standard precautions when traveling alone at night (don’t travel alone intoxicated, keep an eye on your drink, etc.).

As in all cities, stay vigilant when you’re in crowded tourist areas and on public transportation as that is when pickpockets usually strike. Always keep your valuables secure and out of reach just to be safe.

If you are hiking nearby (for example, in the Cairngorms a few hours north) make sure you have the appropriate equipment and that you notify your accommodation of your plans just in case. And if you’re hiking Arthur’s Seat, expect windy conditions at the summit.

While scams here are rare, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here if you’re concerned.

If you experience an emergency, dial 999 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Edinburgh Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Edinburgh Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Scotland and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hostels in Edinburgh

10 Scotland Road Trip Tips You Need to Know Before You Go

The 6 Best Hotels in Edinburgh

The Best Walking Tours in Edinburgh

Where to Stay in Edinburgh: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

18 things you should know before visiting Edinburgh

Aug 16, 2024 • 7 min read

Here’s what you need to know before you dive into Edinburgh © matthi / Shutterstock

With its grand castle and famous festival, Edinburgh is a tourist magnet. But Scotland ’s capital isn’t just a collection of big-ticket sights. Set on a series of extinct volcanoes and blessed with chasm-like medieval alleys and grand civic squares, Edinburgh is a stunner with substance .

There’s history around every sandstone-hewn corner, of course, but you’ll also find vibrant life in its parks, pubs and suburbs. Edinburgh isn’t just worth visiting, it’s worth throwing yourself into. Here’s what you need to know before you dive in: when to go, what to pack, the slang, the smells and the banknotes.

Planning your trip to Edinburgh

1. arriving in edinburgh.

Edinburgh's airport is 8 miles (13km) away. Buses (cheaper), trams (quicker when the roads are busy) and taxis (good for door-to-door drop-offs) connect the terminal with the city center. 

Train passengers roll into Edinburgh Waverley – travelers coming from England will get gorgeous coastal views on the way up. Buses arrive at St Andrew’s Square in the New Town, just north of the center.

2. Come in summer for a chance of sunshine

Summer, when the days are long and bright and the winds are generally docile, will suit most visitors best. But if you don’t mind a spot of dreich (dismal) weather, come in the colder months, when you can mix warm pubs and museums with bracing strolls along atmospheric streets.

3. Dodge the Festival (unless you’re here for the Festival)

The world’s biggest arts festival , the Edinburgh International Festival, takes over the city every August. If you’re going, book your accommodation months in advance and be ready to book the biggest shows early too. If you’re not, avoid August. Things also get pretty busy around Hogmanay (the run-up to New Year), but the madness is shorter-lived.

4. Booking in advance can be worth it

The earlier you book your accommodation the better, especially during festival time. The biggest shows, including the Tattoo , should be booked well in advance too. The Edinburgh City Pass is worth a look if you’re also going to hit attractions such as the Castle and Leith’s Royal Yacht Britannia – it includes access to the fun city bus tours too.

Beyond that, booking online a day or so before you go is a good idea for the castle – you can save money and waiting time. 

5. Pack waterproof gear

You’ll need a jacket whenever you’re visiting. Edinburgh rarely gets that cold, but it can change from bright sunshine to rain-lashed darkness in a heartbeat. You’re likely to do a fair bit of walking, so a pair of comfy shoes is important. There’s no need to pack anything particularly formal.

6. Why are there two towns?

Central Edinburgh is a city divided. But it’s not any ill feeling that keeps the city apart – instead a valley containing the elegant Princes Street Gardens and Waverly Station separates the Old and New Towns. The Old Town is the medieval quarter, where packed tenements rise high and cobbled streets and wynds (alleys) stretch down from the famous Royal Mile. The New Town (around 250 years old, everything being relative) has airy boulevards and clipped squares along an orderly grid.

Further out are districts including the West End (fairly smart), Leith (the rough-cut setting of Trainspotting , now steadily gentrifying) and the Southside (low-key and studenty).

7. How long do you need in Edinburgh?

Take a day for a whistle-stop tour of the Royal Mile and a ramble around the Castle, or take two to get a sense of what the Old and New Towns have to offer. Four days or more will give you a proper feel for the city, heading north to the former port of Leith and west to the Gallery of Modern Art , as well as ticking off all the big sights in the center.

Spending time in Edinburgh

8. what kind of currency do you need .

Scotland has its own banknotes, but English notes are accepted everywhere in Scotland. (You’ll find a few shops in England that don’t repay the favor.) Card and contactless payments are now more common than cash, and they're the easiest way to pay on public transport too – if you use cash on a bus, you’ll need exact change, or a pass is a good alternative.

9. The Pink Triangle is where to find LGBTQ+ Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s gay scene is centered on the “Pink Triangle,” just northeast of Princes Street. CC Blooms is the mainstay, with (fairly expensive) food in the day and cabaret and DJs at night. Down the road in Abbeyhill, the Regent is a laid-back alternative. Same-sex marriage was legalized in Scotland in 2014. 

10. Sniffing out Old Reekie

“Old Reekie” is one of Edinburgh’s most enduring nicknames. It dates from the 17th century, when the Old Town’s narrow, tall streets, combined with the Nor Loch (a stagnant pool where Princes Street Gardens now sits) created a notorious odor that mixed smoke and effluent. These days, Edinburgh smells much like any other city, although the West End sometimes has a slight boozy fug from the brewery.

11. How to travel around Edinburgh

It's hilly, but walking is the best way to get around Edinburgh  – you’ll pass unexpected views and get a feel for the city’s rhythms. If you’re heading right across town, a cab (try Central Taxis) or ride-sharing app (Uber is the big one) isn’t a bad bet. There’s no subway, but trams connect the city center and West End with the airport, and buses are also helpful for heading to Leith or the Southside.

Etiquette in Edinburgh

12. don't offend the locals.

If you meet someone in a social setting, an informal “hi” or a handshake are the usual greetings. You’re unlikely to inadvertently cause offense, though subjects like politics and religion are generally avoided in small talk. Scottish independence and Brexit can inspire passionate responses too.

Remember that Edinburgh is in Scotland, which is a part of Britain, but you’re definitely not in England – while lots of English people happily make Edinburgh their home, the England football team is traditionally booed with enthusiasm.

13. Mind your tongue!

As a cosmopolitan city, Edinburgh is used to a range of accents. But you may not recognize every word you hear – take, for example, haar (a sea fog), Jambos (supporters of local club Hearts), Hibbies (hy-bees, supporters of city rivals Hibernian), Weegies (Glaswegians) and salt ‘n sauce (a vinegary and delicious condiment for chips). And you should ken (know) that Cockburn Street is pronounced “Coe-burn” and Edinburgh itself is “Edin-bru,” or even “Embra.”

14. Buy your round in the pub

Rules here are the same as elsewhere in Britain and Ireland – one person usually orders for your group at the bar, paying for the “round” of drinks and bringing them back to the table. Everyone else then takes turns to get the round. Smarter bars may have table service, and almost everywhere will be able to offer a tray if you’ve lots of drinks to carry.

Most places take cash, although card or phone payments are more common. Pubs stay open later than south of the border – usually until midnight or 1am.

15. When should you tip, and how much? 

Tipping is only really required for table service in a restaurant (10% to 15%), although locals often round up taxi fares. If a hotel porter helps with your luggage, a tip of a pound or two per bag is standard.

Health and safety in Edinburgh

16. it’s a safe city – but watch your step.

Edinburgh is relatively safe. Pub-packed areas like the Cowgate (Old Town), Rose Street (New Town) and Lothian Road (West End) get lively on Friday and Saturday nights, but serious trouble is rare. Calton Hill offers good views during the day but is best avoided at night. Take usual precautions for a city, and use recognized ride-sharing apps or black cabs if in doubt at night.

Street scams are also uncommon, but watch your step as you explore: The sloping cobbles of the Old Town are slippery when wet. And when crossing roads, remember that traffic drives on the left.

17. Attractions are mostly accessible

Most modern hotels and attractions are accessible for travelers with disabilities, but many older buildings – including guesthouses and some pubs and restaurants – lack ramps and lifts. The New Town, with its wide streets, is more straightforward for wheelchair users than the steep, sometimes cobbled streets of the Old Town. Tourism body VisitScotland has a useful guide to accessible accommodation.

18. Can you drink the water?

Oh yes. Edinburgh tap water is safe to drink ,and you can request it for free with your meal in a restaurant. The region’s water is soft (low in dissolved minerals), giving it a fresher taste than water from much of the UK.  

This article was first published Jan 3, 2022 and updated Aug 16, 2024.

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Edinburgh Travel Guide (including essential tips, itinerary & map)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: June 22, 2024

Our  Edinburgh Travel Guide  includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for the beautiful Scottish capital. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Edinburgh!

Plan your visit to Edinburgh

The Scottish capital of Edinburgh is one of the most visited and beautiful cities to visit in the United Kingdom (in fact it is the second most visited city in the UK after London).

The winding cobblestone streets of its Old Town offer quaint medieval charm which is contrasted by the New Town, the very epitome of Georgian style. There is culture and history around every corner, and the list of Edinburgh attractions is a long one.

A visit to Edinburgh is one of the highlights of any UK itinerary and features in our recommended top 19 attractions, sights and landmarks to see in Scotland.

First-time visitor? Read our practical tips and make the most of your Edinburgh adventure

What you will find in this complete Edinburgh Travel Guide

Map of Edinburgh

When is the best time of year to visit edinburgh, how many days do you need in edinburgh, public transport options, alternative transport options (including tours), 🚆 by train from london, 🚗 by car (road trip option), ✈️ fly to edinburgh airport, attractions and things to do in edinburgh (and scotland), uktp podcasts about visiting edinburgh, quick picks, luxury/boutique hotels, mid-range hotels (including well-known chains), guest houses, edinburgh travel guide -tickets, tours & attractions, best day trips from edinburgh, best multi-day tours from edinburgh, best pubs, cafes and restaurants in edinburgh, books to read before visiting edinburgh, enjoy your visit to edinburgh.

Edinburgh travel guide – Visiting Edinburgh FAQ’s

Edinburgh is a popular destination to visit throughout the year. In fact, there are some months of the year it is best to avoid Edinburgh unless you are specifically visiting to attend an event such as

• Hogmanay (December 30/31)
• The Edinburgh Festival (August)
• The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August)

Weather-wise the summer months are the perfect time to visit Edinburgh. The days are long and expect sunny, warm and drier weather.

Winter can be brutal in Scotland. Expect rain, freezing fog and even snow especially in January or February. Read more about visiting the UK in winter .

Make sure to pack for the weather – layers are always recommended (and waterproofs too) whatever time of year you plan to visit.

Read more about the best time to visit the UK in my detailed guide.

We recommend spending at least 2 days in Edinburgh. This will give you enough time to see the main sights, landmarks and attractions. Edinburgh is also the perfect base for exploring Scotland with many organised tours departing from the city.

There are many attractions to visit on days trips from Edinburgh (by train, car or tour) such as the Kelpies, Stirling, and St Andrews. Although it is possible to take a day trip tour to the Scottish Highlands we recommend planning your own multi-day itinerary or joining an organised multi-day tour.

Include Edinburgh in your train trip itinerary of the UK . It can be easily reached by train from London in just a few hours.

Catching the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh (or Fort William or Inverness ) is a fantastic experience and if you enjoy train travel we recommend including it in your travel plans.

What is the best way to explore Edinburgh?

Many of the sights are close to each other (Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile , Holyrood House, the monument to Sir Walter Scott, Princes Street ) and are within walkable distance of one another.

The city has a modern public transport network which includes buses, trams and trains.

There is a city-wide network of buses operating 24 hours a day. The Airlink bus runs between the airport and Waverley Station (Edinburgh’s train station) 24 hours a day. The journey takes around 25 minutes and leaves every 10 mins (approx) An adult single costs £4.50 and an open return £7.50.

The tram is a great way of travelling from one end of the city to the other. With regular stops along Princes Street jumping on and off the tram is one way to get around. The tram runs 14 km from Edinburgh Airport to York Place in the east end of the city centre. 

Buy tickets from the ticket vending machines at each tram stop. The machines accept credit and debit cards including cash (but give no change)

If you are travelling into  Edinburgh from the airport  via the tram network the cost is £6.50 for an adult and £3.30 for a child (single). Return tickets are £9.00 for adults and £4.80 for children.

Airport transfers are also included in the Edinburgh Pass. It is also possible to book an  Airlink Bus Transfer  or  private car transfer  to and from the airport into Edinburgh.

• Trains  

If you want to travel further afield for the day there are regular services from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station to Glasgow, Falkirk ( for the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel) and Stirling. 

There are a number of hop-on and hop-off bus services operating in the city. If you purchase an  Edinburgh Pass  (these can be purchased for one, two or three days in Edinburgh) the Hop-on Hop-off Bright Bus Tour is included in the cost as well as a City Bus Tour.

Other bus tours include 

• City Sightseeing Edinburgh: 24-Hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Travel on an open-top, double-decker bus with panoramic views of the city.

• Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass with 3 City Tours

Tour Edinburgh on 3 different hop-on and hop-off bus routes with 24 or 48 hours unlimited travel. Enjoy live guidance in English during the City Sightseeing Tour and the Majestic Tours.

• Royal Attractions with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

See all of Edinburgh’s attractions from the comfort of a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus which includes free entry to 3 royal attractions with a 48-hour Royal Edinburgh Ticket.

Visit the Castle, climb aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, and tour Holyroodhouse.

What is the best way to travel to Edinburgh from London?

For timetables and tickets, we recommend the trainline. Take the train to Edinburgh for a short break or incorporate it into your UK train travel itinerary.

Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.

🔀 Distance from London (via transport): 600 km (400 miles)

🕐 Time taken by train: 5 hours

📍 Leave from London Euston or London King’s Cross

If you are taking a road trip around the UK and plan to include Edinburgh in your itinerary make sure you book a hotel/ accommodation with free parking.

Many of the hotels and guest houses don’t offer parking at all so do check before you book. 

If you plan to start your road trip in Edinburgh I would see all the main city sights before picking up your car and continuing your trip.

I recommend checking car hire options through Discover Cars  who compare the prices from a number of companies to secure the best deal for you.

If you want to fly directly to Edinburgh you will find options from many destinations across the world. We recommend Skyscanner for flights,

If there is no direct flight available take a connecting flight from London. Edinburgh airport is close to the city and there are many ways to transfer to your accommodation including bus, taxi and tram.

Click here for transfers from Edinburgh airport

Read more – How to get from London to Edinburgh

BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN EDINBURGH

21 BEST DAY TRIPS FROM EDINBURGH

SCOTTISH ISLANDS TRAVEL GUIDE

ISLE OF SKYE TRAVEL GUIDE

INVERNESS TRAVEL GUIDE

19 PLACES TO VISIT IN SCOTLAND

NORTHUMBERLAND TRAVEL GUIDE

Accommodation in Edinburgh

Best hotels in edinburgh for sightseeing.

There are lots of accommodation options in Edinburgh to suit every budget. These are my choices of some of the best hotels in the city based on location and customer reviews.

The Balmoral

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5* luxury with a Michelin starred restaurant

Holiday Inn Express City Centre

⭐️⭐️⭐️

3* hotel located in the New Town

Elder York Guest House

Excellent location & good breakfast included.

• The Balmoral  – 5* luxury, a Michelin starred restaurant, amazing afternoon teas, a spa and located right next to Waverley train station. £35 per day for parking.
• The Witchery by the Castle  – a luxury boutique hotel with 9 themed suites. Boasting 4 poster canopied beds, spacious bathrooms and beautifully furnished and decorated the Witchery is the perfect choice for a special occasion. No parking available.
• Waldorf Astoria The Caledonian  – Another beautiful 5* luxury hotel offering rooms with some lovely views. Facilities include a spa and fitness centre, indoor pool, restaurant and bar. £25 per day for parking.
• Holiday Inn Express City Centre  – 3* hotel located in the New Town. A good breakfast, free WiFi, clean rooms and and comfy beds make this a great choice. With family rooms available it is a popular option for those traveling with children. No parking available.
• Radisson Blu Hotel Edinburgh City Centre   – A very good hotel at a good price the Radisson Blu is centrally located. Facilities include a spa and gym. Parking is £12.50 per day. 
• Motel One Edinburgh Royal  – Centrally located and affordable yet stylish hotel with clean and comfortable rooms. Adults only. No parking.
• Elder York Guest House  – perfectly located a few minutes walk to Princes Street this is where we stay when we visit the city. Breakfast is good and the rooms comfortable. Note there is no lift so you have to climb a few sets of stairs to get to the guest house. No parking.

➡️ WHERE TO STAY IN EDINBURGH – LOCATION AND ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

Find more special stays in my Accommodation Guide for Scotland.

This is our selection of the best tours and attractions available in Edinburgh (if you fancy a ghost tour check out our guide to 9 of the spookiest, scariest and best ghost tours of Edinburgh !)

• Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour – Take a magical 2-hour walking tour of Edinburgh and discover the city where the world of Harry Potter was conceived.
• Underground Vaults Tour – Visit the vaults beneath Old Town which date back to the early 18th century
• Holyrood Distillery Gin and Whisky Guided Tour – Enjoy a guided flavour-forward experience, learn how gin and whisky are made, and explore the craft distilling methods at Holyrood Distillery.
• Firth of Forth: 90-Minute Three Bridges Cruise – A 90-minute sightseeing cruise with views of the “three bridges”, including the UNESCO World Heritage Forth Bridge, Inchcolm Island and medieval abbey. Enjoy incredible views of the Edinburgh skyline during your cruise.
• History of Whisky with Tasting and Storytelling – Visit an outstanding whisky venue where you will be served four classic single malt scotch whiskys and immerse yourself in the great cultural importance of whisky and storytelling in Scotland.

Click here for great tickets, tours and attractions for Edinburgh

Best day & multi-day trips from Edinburgh

I have handpicked the best tours available from Edinburgh through Get Your Guide (we book most of our day tours and organised activities through Get Your Guide due to their great customer service and cancellation policy) and Viator (another tour company we have used during our travels).

You will find even more options to choose from in our guide to the best day trips and multi-day tours from Edinburgh here.

• Loch Ness, Glencoe, & the Highlands Day Tour – See the best of Scotland, all in one day with this 12 hour day tour.
• Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour – Ride the world-famous Jacobite Steam Train and explore Glen Coe
• Loch Lomond, Trossachs & Stirling Castle Tour – Experience the natural beauty of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
• 3-Day Isle of Skye, Highlands & Loch Ness – Stay overnight in the island village of Portree, visit haunting Glencoe & explore Eilean Donan Castle.
• Outlander Experience 2-Day Tour – Follow in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie during this Outlander themed 2-day tour.
• Iona, Mull, and Isle of Skye – Explore the famous Scottish Highlands and discover the unspoiled beauty of its westerly islands, including Mull, Iona, Staffa, and the famous Isle of Skye.

Are you an Outlander fan? Read our guide to the best Outlander tours available in 2022 and beyond

There are so many fantastic places to eat in Edinburgh you are spoilt for choice. These are our top picks:

• Makar’s Gourmet Mash Bar – for haggis, neeps & tatties
• Biddy Mulligans (pub)
• Maggie Dicksons (pub)
• The World’s End (pub)
• Toast (brunch and lunch)
• The Dome – dine in stunning surroundings (bookings essential)

For more Scottish literary inspiration check out my selection of 25 of the best books to read before you visit Scotland.

This guide will have provided inspiration plus practical information to help plan your visit to Edinburgh. You will find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your travels around Scotland in these travel guides:

• Best castle hotels in Scotland
• Northumberland Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)
• 10 virtual tours of famous landmarks in the UK

Find more inspiration for your travels in my Scotland Travel Guide which includes information about what to see, where to stay, how to get around, travel tips, recommended reading and more to make the most of your trip.

Tourist Advice for Visitors to Edinburgh

If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time, this article will help you find your feet with essential travel tips and advice from a local, including how to get to the city, how to travel around it, what to expect from the weather, and the top attractions to visit.

Getting to Edinburgh

There are a couple of options for getting to the city, depending on where you’re travelling from. If you’re visiting from overseas, then you’ll most likely be flying to Edinburgh Airport which lies 5 miles to the west of the city centre and has regular public transport links across the city and the surrounding areas.

Getting to and from the airport is easy thanks to a superb network of bus, tram, and taxi services, with the average journey taking around 30 minutes depending on the time of day. I would say the bus is the best option for travelling to and from the airport as the prices are reasonable (around £6 per adult) and the buses are modern and clean.

The airport bus service is operated by Lothian Buses ( Airlink 100 service ) and runs every 12 minutes during the day and 30 minutes at night, 24 hours a day, between the airport and St. Andrew’s Square in the city centre. Tickets can be bought at the airport information desk, at the bus stop, from the driver, or online. Full airport bus details are available to view on the  Edinburgh Airport website bus and coaches page .

Alternatively, you can fly into Glasgow Airport and take a train to Waverley Station, which might be preferable as flights to Glasgow are usually cheaper than those to Edinburgh. There’s a regular bus service ( First Glasgow Airport Express 500 ) between Glasgow Airport and Queen Street station which takes 15 minutes, with trains running every 30 minutes for a 75-minute journey to Edinburgh.

If you’re already in the UK, then your options for travelling to Edinburgh are limited to train, bus, plane, and car. Personally, I would advise against driving to Edinburgh if you’re coming for a weekend break as parking is limited and car parks are quite expensive – an example being the NCP Castle Terrace car park which will set you back around £80 for a weekend stay.

Likewise, I wouldn’t fly as the cost is often much more than driving, and the time taken to get through security plus travel time to the airport outweighs any advantage in the actual flight time.

Another option is taking a coach, and there are two main operators in the UK that travel to Edinburgh from most major cities. The first is Megabus, and the second is National Express. There are a few smaller operators, but the services aren’t as frequent, and Megabus and National Express tend to offer cheaper fares.

As an example, a coach journey from London to Edinburgh will take approximately 9 hours but it will only cost around £30 on Megabus, which is a significant saving on the £50 to £60 it will cost in petrol if you drive your own car.

Another option is to take the train, which is often the fastest method but will almost certainly be the most expensive. That being said, taking the train to Edinburgh is a doddle if you’re coming from London as the high-speed rail link will get you from Kings Cross to Waverley Station in just four and a half hours.

There are several train operators that run services between the main cities, so your best bet is to check The Trainline website and book your tickets in advance as they’re much cheaper than buying them at the station. You will also be able to compare prices at different times, as ticket prices can vary by up to 50% depending on the time of day.

I’ve included a table of distances and fuel costs for car and train travel to Edinburgh in the table below.

One-way times and costs from major UK cities to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Travel Tips

Edinburgh has a world-leading bus and tram network thanks to the services provided by Lothian Buses which offers cheap public transport in clean and well-maintained vehicles. The bus network extends right through Edinburgh and out to the surrounding areas, while the trams provide a fast mode of transport over 9 miles from the airport to the city centre.

Lothian buses provide over 50 routes through Edinburgh and day tickets are reasonably priced at around £5 for an adult all-day ticket. You can find timetables on the Lothian Bus website .

The tram system is a recent addition to Edinburgh and currently run every 15 minutes from 05.30 to 23:30 on a tram line that connects Edinburgh airport to the city centre, with the entire journey between the 16 stops taking 38 minutes.

Visit  Transport For Edinburgh  for more information on Edinburgh’s trams and buses, or download the  Transport for Edinburgh App .

If you want to take a taxi, you’ll find ranks at the Edinburgh Airport exit and along Waverley Bridge, but there are many more official taxi ranks located throughout the city. Here’s a link where you can download the Edinburgh Council list of official taxi ranks .

If taxis are looking a bit expensive, you could always book an Uber, although the service is currently somewhat limited and they are not as readily available as buses or taxis. Uber rides are also very expensive if you want to travel outside of Edinburgh.

My advice for walking is to make sure you have Google Maps installed on your phone and download the city centre map to your device. That way, if you ever lose your signal (which you shouldn’t, as Edinburgh has excellent phone coverage), you’ll still be able to navigate. Alternatively, get a waterproof paper OS Map, which will prove invaluable when your phone battery is low. Buy OS Explorer Maps direct from Ordnance Survey.

If you’re planning to explore a little further afield, then I recommend purchasing a Central Scotland Rover travel pass, which lets you make unlimited train journeys between Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the surrounding area for around £60. The pass lasts for three days and is valid for standard-class journeys on ScotRail trains, but unfortunately, you can’t use it on the new Borders railway line.

Tips for the Best Time to Visit Edinburgh

Although Scotland’s warmest and driest months are between May and September, the weather can be extraordinarily fickle, so I don’t think there’s a ‘best’ time to visit. The fact is, you’ll find things to do in Edinburgh at any time of the year, which I explain in my articles, The Best Things to do In Edinburgh on a Rainy Day and The 10 Best Places to Go in Scotland in January .

Although Britain as a whole is becoming more temperate with fewer extremes in temperature than in years gone by, you can still expect quite a difference between the amount of rainfall and the number of daylight hours between winter and summer.

The table below lists the weather averages for Edinburgh for each month of the year.

Edinburgh’s winters are cold and dark, with mostly overcast skies between October and March. You can realistically expect half the days to have rain showers, along with a few inches of snowfall from January to February.

Summer in Scotland is from June to August with July and August generally having the highest temperatures and the least amount of rainfall – although bear in mind that ‘highest temperatures’ in Edinburgh hover around 20 °C unless there’s a heatwave like we had in 2018 which saw 30 °C.

Aside from the weather, other deciding factors that could make you choose a summer or winter break in Edinburgh are the festivals, and the city is proud to host two of Europe’s finest festivals in December and August.

If you’re intending to come here in winter, you might as well book your trip during December, when the Edinburgh Christmas Festival is in full swing. This annual festive experience runs throughout the month and into the early new year, and it features a huge amount of fun things to see and do.

There’s a superb Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens where you’ll find lots of Christmas gifts and delicious food and drink; a funfair that’s sprawled over several locations in the city; and lots of Christmas-themed events, including the ever-popular Kings Theatre panto and the famous Spiegeltent circus.

I recommend timing your visit for the week after Christmas, as you’ll be able to make the most of the Christmas markets and funfair as well as Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Hogmanay is Scotland’s celebration of the new year, and it’s an even bigger celebration than Christmas.

The highlights are the street party on Princes Street (billed as the biggest street party in the world) and the torchlight procession through The Royal Mile to Holyrood Park .

So that’s Christmas wrapped up, but what about summer? Well, the height of Edinburgh’s tourist season is also the time you’ll find the city plays host to The Fringe Festival – the biggest multi-arts festival in the world. This incredibly popular event regularly draws in half a million visitors over three weeks in August, and it has to be the highlight of the entire Scottish events calendar.

Art in all its forms can be found at the festival including theatre, comedy, dance, circus, cabaret, music and opera performed by a variety of artists from complete amateurs to world-famous professionals.

There are in excess of 50,000 performances across 3,500 different venues during the three weeks that the festival is held, so it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re a first-time visitor, but you’ll be able to see who’s playing in which venue by browsing the official Edinburgh Fringe website .

Tips on What to Wear in Edinburgh

Unless you’re coming from a very hot country there’s no need to wrap yourself up in ten layers of thermals as despite what you might have heard Edinburgh’s actually not too bad on the weather front. Sure, we get a lot of grey, rainy days, but Scotland’s (and I guess Britain’s) weather is becoming increasingly temperate, and the days of sub-zero temperatures every winter seem to be long behind us.

In winter, you won’t go far wrong with jeans, a T-shirt, a jumper, and a thick jacket, but don’t forget to always pack a hat, gloves, and a scarf, as the cold wind can pick up and whip in from the Firth of Forth in an instant, which makes temperatures drop significantly. Prepare for an average temperature of 0–5 °C in winter, and you’ll be fine, though there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

First, the drains can get clogged up after a snowfall, so make sure you’re wearing semi-waterproof shoes. Second, Edinburgh is one of the greenest cities in Europe, so there’s a good chance you’ll end up romping through a park (most likely Holyrood Park ) which can get very muddy, so I’d advise you to take walking boots with you, which will come into their own if you decide to climb Arthur’s Seat .

Third, you’re going to get caught in a lot of rain showers, which is just a fact of life in Scotland. If you don’t like wearing bulky jackets, consider chucking a pac-a-mac (this and the following are Amazon links to products I recommend) in your bag, as it’ll save you sitting in wet clothes for the remainder of the day.

In summer, Edinburgh really brightens up, and you’ll frequently find blue skies for days on end, although there will be just as many overcast days alongside them. With that in mind, you might consider taking a backpack (see my recommended backpacks ) and throwing in a thin top or two along with the pac-a-mac I already mentioned.

With regards to fashion, we’re a pretty relaxed bunch in Edinburgh and you won’t see many eyebrows raised no matter what you wear (this is the home of the Fringe after all) but if you’re eating in public places be considerate and wear a shirt indoors. Likewise, it’s considered polite to cover your feet in restaurants and take your hat off. But other than that, wear what you like!

Tips on Where to Stay in Edinburgh

Accommodation costs will depend on a number of factors including the location, type of hotel and the time of year, but generally, you can expect hotels to raise their prices in the summer months by 50% to 150%. The cheapest time of year to visit Edinburgh is January, when hotel bookings are at their lowest after the hectic Christmas and New Year festivities, which leave most tourists with lighter wallets and heavier waistlines.

The most expensive time is August during the Fringe festival as virtually all hotels and B&Bs are fully booked. However, there are ways to save money on hotels which might be useful if you don’t mind a little extra effort.

The first tip is obvious enough, which is to book out of season. That’s basically any time from September to May, although you will see an increase in room prices during school holidays. A second suggestion is to pre-book several months in advance.

Hotels and B&Bs will slowly ramp up their prices prior to any big events in Edinburgh, but booking 2 or 3 months before the event happens will keep costs low, especially if you use Booking.com which offers a couple of money-saving options for tourists.

First, their Genius programme gives you increasing levels of rewards after you book a certain number of times. Genius level 1 often saves 10% on the room cost, while level 2 saves up to 25% on the room cost, and some hotels offer additional free upgrades like a complimentary breakfast.

The second tip with using Booking.com is to make the reservation on your mobile phone rather than your desktop computer, as the Booking.com app sometimes gives an additional 10% off the total cost on top of the savings made with the Genius programme.

Take a look at the examples below for an idea of typical Edinburgh hotel prices in January and August.

Tips to Save Money in Edinburgh

Scotland’s tourist attractions are often quite pricey, especially the big venues like Edinburgh Castle and The Scotch Whisky Experience, which cost around £20 per adult, but you can save some money with the following tips.

If you buy your tickets online in advance it’s usually possible to save a few pounds compared to buying tickets on the gate so I recommend keeping your phone with you and checking the attraction’s website booking page before heading to the turnstiles.

If you intend to visit historic attractions in Edinburgh I definitely recommend the Historic Environment Scotland Explorer Pass which allows entry to over 70 of Scotland’s top historic attractions over 5 or 14 consecutive days with as many repeat visits as you like.

In Edinburgh, the pass is valid for Edinburgh Castle , Holyrood Palace , Craigmillar Castle and many sites in the surrounding area, and it’s worth purchasing for Edinburgh Castle alone as the pass allows repeat visits to the excellent café with its panoramic city views. In addition, you can skip the enormous queues by presenting your pass in the gift shop instead of waiting in line at the ticket office, potentially saving 30 minutes to an hour of queueing.

Another tip is to keep hold of your Lothian Bus ticket as there’s usually a 2-for-1 deal for Edinburgh’s top attractions printed on the back. The offers change frequently, so there’s a chance you’ll be offered different discounts during your time in Edinburgh.

If you want an all-in-one discount, head to the official Edinburgh City Pass website  where you can buy an adult two-day pass for around £60, which allows entry into 15 of the city’s top attractions including Dynamic Earth, John Knox House , The Edinburgh Dungeon, The Georgian House, and many more.

If you’re intending to take a tour around Edinburgh, you won’t go wrong by getting a ticket for the City Sightseeing buses which feature an open-top upper deck and a recorded audio tour that will tell you about each place you drive past. The buses stop at nearly all the top attractions in the city, and tickets allow you to hop on and hop off over 24 hours, so you could even save money by using them instead of Lothian Buses.

The tour bus circles around a single route with 14 stops, and you’ll almost certainly see them on Waverley Bridge, opposite the train station. You can purchase tickets on the bus, or you can download a voucher onto your mobile phone.

And finally, if you really want to save money, you can’t get much better than free, and thankfully, Edinburgh is home to lots of free places to visit, and in fact, I’d go so far as to say the majority of the best attractions don’t cost a single penny to enter. I’ve compiled a few of my favourites in my Free Attractions in Edinburgh Guide .

Bonus Edinburgh Travel Tips

1: Edinburgh’s weather is as changeable as the rest of Scotland so you’ll need to prepare for the elements no matter the time of year. Due to its proximity to the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh is frequently submerged below a thick layer of sea mist known as the haar.

The haar can roll in at a moment’s notice, and it’s most prevalent in autumn and winter, but you’ll also see it at the end of warm, muggy days in summer. My advice to combat the haar is to pack an extra insulated fleece in your backpack (see my recommended backpacks ) and always keep gloves and a hat in there along with a pac-a-mac (Amazon links to products I recommend).

2: If you’re looking for free things to do in Edinburgh, you’re in luck, as most of the city’s national museums and public places have completely free admission. If the thought of spending £20 to get into Edinburgh Castle is giving you hot flushes, just add a few of these suggestions to your itinerary to reduce your overall costs:

The National Museum of Scotland , The National Portrait Gallery , The National Gallery of Modern Art , Greyfriars Kirk , The Royal Botanic Gardens , Calton Hill , Holyrood Park , The Museum of Childhood , The People’s Story Museum and The Museum on the Mound .

3: Edinburgh is one of the top foodie destinations in Britain, but as it’s such a tourist hotspot there are many restaurants that are more concerned with making money than making good food. Basically, I’d advise against eating anywhere on The Royal Mile as the food in the majority of the pubs is average at best, with prices that are inflated to cash in on tourists.

If you want reasonably priced food head to The Shore in Leith which features several superb restaurants or take a look at the traditional pubs in Rose Street.

4: Edinburgh has a fascinating thousand-year history , but learning about it in one visit is pretty much impossible without booking yourself onto a tour with a knowledgeable guide. You have several options, but I recommend Mary King’s Close midway on The Royal Mile, which takes visitors beneath the city streets to see how people lived at the time of the black plague.

Other good tours are the ones organised by Mercat Tours – especially the spooky ghost tours that will take you underground through the Edinburgh Vaults (one of the most haunted places in Britain). You can sign up for Mercat Tours either online or via the tour guides that stand near the Mercat Cross outside St. Giles Cathedral .

5: One thing I would definitely suggest you do if you’re staying in Edinburgh for a few days is to check out all the unusual attractions that are off the standard crowded tourist trails. There’s so much more to the city than the castle and the palace, so consider adding these attractions to your itinerary as well (note that some attractions are located outside the city): Gilmerton Cove , The Water of Leith , Leith , Rosslyn Chapel , The Pentland Hills , Cramond Island , and Craigmillar Castle .

6: A visit to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without taking home a souvenir or two, whether it’s clothing, whisky, or a novelty gift, but there are a few things you should bear in mind before you get your bank card out.

I would advise against purchasing any gifts from the souvenir shops on The Royal Mile as the prices are inflated and many items are on the verge of being fake – like the cashmere jumpers and scarves that only have a tiny percentage of cashmere wool in them.

Instead, I recommend heading to Edinburgh Castle or Holyrood Palace which have quality souvenirs that are genuinely from Scottish manufacturers. A Historic Environment Scotland membership gives you a 10% discount in their shops.

7: If you’ve not tried Scotch whisky before and you’re in Edinburgh for the first time you almost have to try a sample or two before heading home. My recommendations are the Whiski Rooms on North Bank Street and the Scotch Whisky Experience near the castle esplanade.

The Whiski Rooms has a superb collection of Scotch from across the country and the food is first class. The Whisky Experience is more geared towards first-time whisky drinkers and in addition to the fun tours they have a very good whisky bar and café.

If you want to take a bottle home with you, you’ll find the shops on The Royal Mile are quite expensive, but Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop in Canongate is one of the best in the city. Alternatively, take a tour around Glenkinchie which is Edinburgh’s only whisky distillery (it’s located 15 miles southeast from the city centre).

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time of year to visit edinburgh.

December for Edinburgh’s Christmas festival and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival. August for the Edinburgh Fringe and the International Book Festival. June to August for the best weather. January to March for the cheapest hotel prices. May and September for the least number of visitors with moderate temperatures.

What should I not miss in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Holyrood Park, The Scotch Whisky Experience, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, ghost tours around The Royal Mile and in the Edinburgh Vaults, The National Museum of Scotland, The National Gallery of Modern Art, The National Portrait Gallery, The National Gallery of Scotland.

How many days in Edinburgh is enough?

If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time you should aim for 2 to 3 days to see the majority of the main tourist attractions.

If you would like to see everything the city has to offer plan for a week which will allow you to include tours in the surrounding area (e.g. to Glenkinchie Distillery and Rosslyn Chapel).

Is Edinburgh expensive to visit?

Edinburgh is the 21st most expensive city to visit in the world due to major attractions like Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace costing around £20 per adult ticket.

Summer hotel prices increase by up to 150% over winter prices but can increase by 200% during the Edinburgh Fringe.

Average prices in the city centre are; taxi fares – £8 for 2 miles, coffee – £3 per cup, pint of beer – £4.50, pub main course meal – £15.

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Craig Neil is the author, photographer, admin, and pretty much everything else behind Out About Scotland. He lives near Edinburgh and spends his free time exploring Scotland and writing about his experiences. Follow him on Pinterest , Facebook , and YouTube .

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Edinburgh Is the Perfect Mix of Old and New — With Luxury Hotels, Gothic Architecture, and a Surprising Food Scene

Though the romance of Edinburgh has long been rooted in the past, the Scottish capital is now a destination for the modern age.

From the air, Edinburgh looks horizontally expansive and vertically modest. It blends greenly with the surrounding countryside, thanks to its profusion of parks and gardens. As my plane circled the city on a June morning, I could spot the famous hills — which look more like craggy eruptions — around which the Scottish capital was built. There are no skyscrapers of the kind you’ll find in London or New York City. Edinburgh’s tallest building, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, measures 295 feet. 

I was all the more surprised, then, to discover that this is a city of panoramic vistas. Over the next five days, my husband, Caleb, and I repeatedly found ourselves surveying the Scottish capital from on high. We saw its full, broad sweep from the top of Arthur’s Seat, the massive (and extinct) volcano that dominates Holyrood Park. We descended the steep hillside staircase that links the medieval warren of Old Town with the neat Georgian grid of New Town. At the Lookout, a glass-box restaurant at the summit of Calton Hill, I ate a plate of late-spring asparagus, leeks, and cannellini beans while taking in a bird’s-eye view of the Firth of Forth, the estuary on which the city sits. 

Hayley Benoit

Still, for all their drama, none of these pinnacles is quite as plush as the rooftop lounge of the Gleneagles Townhouse. This hotel and members’ club, which opened only weeks before our visit, occupies a building that was, in the 19th century, the headquarters of the British Linen Bank, on the east side of St. Andrew Square. One evening I sat with Caleb and drank a frothy, citrusy mocktail while taking stock of the skyline from behind the robe-clad statues — allegorical figures representing Architecture, Science, Navigation, and other trades — that crown the hotel façade. The bar is open only to members and hotel guests, and is just subdued enough for conversation. 

Dessert is my love language, and at the Spence, it’s an occasion in itself. A waiter wheeled a multilayered cart to our table and invited us to choose from an array of cheeses, cookies, truffles, and other confections.

A week earlier, the 10-day forecast had predicted day upon day of the windy, rainy weather for which the region is famous — “one of the vilest climates under heaven,” according to the Edinburgh-born Robert Louis Stevenson. Now each of those days was turning out to be bright and balmy, and there seemed to be no better place to watch a mellow evening descend over the city than this cheerful, compact lounge — appropriately named Lamplighters, after Stevenson’s poem about the man who kindles the streetlamps when dusk falls. 

If you’re at all familiar with Gleneagles, the century-old resort an hour’s drive from Edinburgh in rural Perthshire, you might associate the name with gundogs and golf clubs, hawks and hunter green. In 2015, Gleneagles was purchased by the English hospitality firm Ennismore, which gave the property a significant refresh. Gleneagles Townhouse takes one step further in the direction of urbanity. True, there was green tile and pointer-dog wallpaper in our bathroom — but they felt like a knowing wink as much as a bow to tradition. More characteristic of Gleneagles 2.0 were the blush-pink chairs and celadon banquettes at the Spence, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, and, in the conference room, a childlike painting of a pig perched on its hind legs by the absurdist artist David Shrigley.

More Trip Ideas : 8 Best Small Towns in Scotland

“I imagine that Gleneagles Townhouse is the younger sibling who left the country, went to New York City, did some traveling, and then moved back,” Mike Ellis, the property’s resident manager, told me when we met at the Spence one morning. Ellis used to work at London’s Soho House, and wants the Townhouse to attract a similarly diverse clientele. “We’re not going for middle-aged blokes in suits and ties,” he said. (Ellis himself was dressed neatly but casually in chinos and white sneakers.) The average age of the Townhouse staff, he pointed out, is 29. Indeed, a team of fresh-faced young women and men greeted Caleb and me whenever we returned from exploring the city, and were so friendly that I felt compelled to recount our day’s activities to them all. 

Our room was a cocoon, decorated with rich colors and plush upholstery, Persian rugs, and a deep bathtub. But the 33 guest rooms — and almost everything else about the hotel — can’t help taking a back seat to the Spence, which occupies what was the grand central hall of the original bank, earning it a place with the great dining rooms of the world. A glass cupola soars high overhead, while carved portraits protrude from the ceiling. Marble columns support wedding-cake layers of molding. The counter in the center of the room where tellers once doled out bills is now a large, canopied bar. 

As it happened, we planned to have dinner at the Spence on my birthday. Dessert is my love language, and at the Spence, it’s an occasion in itself. A waiter wheeled a multilayered cart to our table and invited us to choose from an array of cheeses, cookies, truffles, and other confections. But the menu’s Valrhona chocolate “Nemesis,” a wedge of dense, fudgy goodness, beckoned. I paired it with — did I mention it was my birthday? — a side of salted-caramel ice cream. (After this decadence I swore off sweets for the foreseeable future, my vow lasting until I was back at the Spence for breakfast the next morning and encountered a bostock — a slice of brioche topped with almond cream — that looked too good to pass up, and was.) 

While the city already has its share of world-class hotels , new places to stay are opening in Edinburgh all the time. This past year saw the arrival of a Virgin Hotel , and 100 Princes Street , part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, will open in spring 2023. But Gleneagles Townhouse has been something of an event. That’s partly because of the esteem in which the original Gleneagles is held, but it’s also, I think, due to the glamour and fizz it brings to this classical city. That said, we were traveling in June, and missed out on the spectacle that arrives each August, when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe all but takes over the streets.

Like English food, Scotland’s national cuisine has historically been ripe for parody. When we told friends about our trip, they jokingly asked if we were going to eat haggis, the legendary boiled pudding stuffed with sheep offal. Little did my inquisitors know, Edinburgh is a great dining city. Over five days, Caleb and I were presented with one creative dish after another, all showcasing local produce and seafood.

Related: How Fife Became Scotland's Most Exciting Food Destination

Hours after landing, we had a late lunch at Eleanore, two postage-stamp rooms on a relatively nondescript block of Leith Walk, the road that runs from the center of town to the waterfront. Eleanore is the overnight success story of Edinburgh restaurants; an offshoot of the beloved Little Chartroom, it opened last December and only months later won the city’s 2022 Restaurant of the Year Award. It was easy to see why as we revived ourselves with chunks of cured mackerel and yuzu wrapped in nasturtium leaves, fat Jersey Royal potatoes and king oyster mushrooms smothered in hollandaise sauce, and a slab of trout in a frothy crab bisque.

Later in our trip, the warm, pub atmosphere of Tom Kitchin’s Scran & Scallie, in the neighborhood of Stockbridge, was the perfect backdrop for an exemplary pie: chunks of smoked haddock, salmon, and shrimp in a thick cream sauce, topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. At Fhior, a serene series of rooms on the ground floor of a town house, we ate a gut-busting 10-course tasting menu that delivered a particularly Scottish version of molecular gastronomy. While seafood was the focal point, my favorite part was a tiny cheese tart filled with custard and pickled onions. I could have put away a dozen. 

Holyrood is unlike any city park I’ve ever seen — one with ruins and cliffs and a mountain in the middle of it. I looked up to its peaks and felt like I had landed in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

It must be said: parts of Edinburgh are touristy. The carnivalesque atmosphere of Old Town’s Royal Mile — the street that runs between Edinburgh Castle , an important military fortress and the city’s most famous landmark, and the Palace of Holyrood, the King’s residence in the city — can be headache-inducing, with pubs and souvenir shops and tour leaders shouting over one another. Down in New Town, Princes Street, a main shopping thoroughfare, is also crowded and hectic. (Like many major commercial streets these days, it has a lot of shuttered storefronts.) The new St. James Quarter, a grand mall complex behind Gleneagles Townhouse, includes a bright, bronze-colored, spiral-shaped building — soon to be a W Hotel — that has attracted unfavorable attention for its architecture, which critics have compared to something a dog might deposit on the sidewalk. 

But it’s not difficult to step away from the scrum. The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel, is a grand Victorian with 187 rooms and suites that stands at the east end of Princes Street, a short distance from Calton Hill. Inside, all is cool and calm — an elegant counterpart to Gleneagles Townhouse’s buzzy fun. We stayed at the Balmoral for two nights, in a corner suite with windows that looked out over the activity of the main avenue but kept out all the sound. The hotel is full of crowd-pleasing nods to Scottish customs, from the doormen in their tartan uniforms to the plaid accents in our living room, including a couch so comfortable that I fell asleep every time I sat down on it. 

A short walk in almost any direction brings you to those green spaces that make the city look so inviting from the air. The Water of Leith is a meandering river that flows through Edinburgh, and one of the highlights of our stay was a walk along its shady banks. Starting west of the city, it runs for 22 miles. We bit off a more manageable chunk, slipping through a gate behind the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and into what looked like deep countryside. 

We followed the water through Dean Village, a quaint residential area with appealing Tudor-style architecture, and into Stockbridge. (It’s worth your while to hop off the path here for a pistachio mazarin — a marzipan pastry topped with pistachio icing — at Söderberg, a Swedish bakery.) Time your stroll just right and you can arrive in the waterfront neighborhood of Leith in time for dinner at Borough, a subdued restaurant that does everything right, from its pared-down décor to its unfussy dishes that highlight Scottish produce, like Musselburgh leeks and raspberries grown just across the Firth of Forth. 

With its sloping streets and lack of discrete bike lanes, Edinburgh is not an obviously cyclist-friendly city.

But the traffic is respectful enough that you’re unlikely to get mowed down, and there’s no easier way to cover short distances. One afternoon Caleb and I rented bikes and pedaled to the used bookstores that dot the streets around the University of Edinburgh; then on to the Meadows, the long, pretty park where the students cluster; and to the foot of Holyrood Park. Holyrood is unlike any city park I’ve ever seen — one with ruins and cliffs and a mountain in the middle of it. I looked up to its peaks and felt like I had landed in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

The next day we returned to Arthur’s Seat, this time to hike to the top. Within minutes, the city fell away. The elevation requires a bit of stamina, so the main path wasn’t too crowded. About midway up, Caleb, a bird-watcher, wandered off to look for chaffinches and dunnocks. I found myself walking in a kind of hollow. The land gently rose around me, and all I could hear was the wind. Space and time took on new proportions.

A notification popped up on my phone — a DM from a friend back in the States. “Can I write you a little later?” I replied. “I’m cupped in the world’s palm right now.” 

Where to Stay

The Balmoral : Edinburgh’s grande dame is celebrating its 120th anniversary. Don’t be put off by the busy location — inside, all is calm and collected.

Gleneagles Townhouse : This private club and plush 33-room hotel, the sister property of the original Gleneagles in Perthshire, brings urban panache to a historic brand.

Where to Eat

Borough : A low-key restaurant in Leith that confidently serves some of the best food in the city.

Eleanore : Shareable dishes that pack a wallop.

Fhior : Strap in for an adventurous multicourse meal that takes a creative approach to Scottish seafood.

The Lookout : The views are the only thing better than the food at this restaurant on top of Calton Hill.

Scran & Scallie : A cozy gastropub serving souped-up versions of traditional Anglo-Scottish fare, such as fish-and-chips and steak pie.

Söderberg : Pick up cardamom buns, almond tarts, and other treats at this Swedish coffee shop and bakery.

Cycle Scotland : This shop rents sturdy mountain bikes and e-bikes by the day or week.

Holyrood Park : Climb to the top of the 823-foot Arthur’s Seat for the best view in the city.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art : A superb collection of 20th-century works. Set aside time to wander the art-filled grounds.

Topping & Co.: Two comprehensively stocked floors, with tall wooden shelves and rolling ladders — what a bookstore should look like.

Water of Leith : Stroll the 13-mile walkway that runs through picturesque Dean Village and Stockbridge.

How to Book

T+L A-List advisor Jonathan Epstein can design a classic itinerary to Edinburgh and beyond. Email: jonathan@celebrated​experiences.com.

A version of this story first appeared in the December 2022/ January 2023 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "Great Scot ."

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2 Days In Edinburgh Itinerary For First Time Visitors

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Wondering what to do when spending 2 days in Edinburgh ? This itinerary shows you the best spots in a super-efficient way, perfect for first-time visitors.

Edinburgh was my first impression of Scotland. A few years back, we took a little two-day trip from Manchester with Richard’s best friends. And I have to say; it set the bar pretty high for the rest of the country. Edinburgh is by far one of the prettiest cities in the UK I’ve visited, and I’ve been dying to get back ever since.

As I loved reading Harry Potter when growing up (one of the books that got me interested in English Literature in the first place. Yes, yes, very original, I know ), spending time in Edinburgh was a dream come true. It’s not hard to see where Hogward’s inspiration came from 😉

The cobblestone roads, the historic buildings, and Gothic towers give Edinburgh a wonderful atmosphere. And there is so much to do! Two days may not be quite enough to see everything, but it’s more than enough time to dip your toes into all it has got to offer. My two day Edinburgh itinerary gives you a quick and efficient way to see all the city’s hotspots.

Let’s take a look!

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Edinburgh Itinerary Map

Day 1 = Red Day 2 = Yellow

2 Day Edinburgh Itinerary

Edinburgh makes for one of the best city breaks in the UK . The city centre is very walkable, and there is so much to see. While two days may not seem like a lot, this itinerary shows you how to see all the best highlights and get a great first impression of Scotland’s capital city.

Day 1: Edinburgh’s Old Town

The thing I love most about Edinburgh is its charm. It’s by far one of the most beautiful cities in the UK, especially since it’s filled with historic buildings, gorgeous architecture, and impressive towers. On the first day of this 2 day Edinburgh itinerary, we explore the old town and Edinburgh’s castle.

Edinburgh Castle

What better place to start your trip to Edinburgh than at the city’s iconic castle? It’s a must-go when you’re visiting for the first time. Some parts of the castle date back to the 12th century, and it stands proudly over Edinburgh from Castle Rock, the plug of an extinct volcano. (Yes, you read that correctly – and it isn’t the only volcanic spot in the city!)

I recommend starting at the castle, because it’s quite a popular tourist attraction, and queues tend to get pretty long. Ideally, you’ll get there before 10 AM. Inside,  you can find Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.

Keep in mind that Edinburgh castle is not included in the Edinburgh City Pass, only in the Royal Edinburgh Ticket. If you want to save time, make sure to book your skip the line tickets here .

After visiting the castle, you can stroll down the Royal Mile. This is the heart of Edinburgh’s old town, and the historic buildings give it the exact atmosphere you’d expect from a city like Edinburgh. It is located between the castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and it used to be the road the kings and queens take (this is where the name comes from).

On the Royal Mile today, you’ll find tons of shops, restaurants, tourist attractions, and tours. Even though it’s only a mile, take your time to walk down the streets – it is a wonderful experience, and there is so much to see!

Victoria Street & Candlemaker Row

The Royal Mile may already give you hints that Edinburgh played a crucial role in creating Harry Potter. To dive even deeper, make sure to stop by Victoria Street and the Candlemaker Row. These locations are said to be the main inspiration for Diagon Alley – and you can see why. On Candlemaker Row, you can find a Diagon Alley plaque.

But even if you’re not a fan of the wizarding world of Harry Potter, the colourful buildings along a winding cobblestone road is a beautiful sight. An excellent spot for some photos!

Calton Hill

Edinburgh is filled with stunning historical monuments. And if you want to combine that with a view, Calton Hill should be on your Edinburgh itinerary. It only takes a few minutes to climb up the hill. On top, you will find one of the city’s best views, along with the National Monument (which faintly resembles Athens’ Parthenon) and the Nelson Monument.

If you’re visiting in August for any of Edinburgh’s festivals, Calton Hill is usually the place to be. You can also find the Beltane Fire Festival here, which is held at the end of April.

Whisky Tour

A visit to Scotland’s capital won’t be complete without some Scottish whisky. Being one of the country’s main exports, whisky is one of Scotland’s points of pride. That’s why it comes as no surprise that there are many whisky tours and tasting opportunities across Edinburgh.

One of the best ones available in the city can be found on the Royal Mile. The Scotch Whisky Experience offers different packages, but all give you the opportunity to taste different types of whisky (single malt and blended) and learn about the drink.

Day 2: Dean Village, Museums, and Arthur’s Seat

When spending 2 days in Edinburgh, you can easily tick off all the highlights. But I always like to include a few “lesser-known” spots. Dean Village is one of them, which is where we start our second day.

Dean Village

Dean Village isn’t often included in Edinburgh itineraries, but it’s one of the prettiest spots in the city ! While this quiet residential area doesn’t have a lot of “highlight” to offer, the surroundings are stunning. It’s heaven for photography lovers, and strolling around this area is a real treat. You can find some of the best views near Hawthornbank lane. 

It takes around 15–20 minutes to walk to Dean Village from Edinburgh Castle, but you can also take a taxi (which will take 10 minutes). I recommend taking at least one hour to explore this area – you won’t regret it!

National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh isn’t shy of museums and galleries – and best of all, most of them are free to visit. Some to consider include The Writers’ Museum, The People’s Story Museum, the Museum of Edinburgh, and the National Museum of Scotland.

In this Edinburgh itinerary, I included the National Museum of Scotland, because I think it’s the best one. Inside, you can find anything from dinosaurs to Scottish artefacts. It makes for a great few hours of exploring.

Hike Up Arthur’s Seat

As you now know, Edinburgh Castle stands atop Castle Rock, which is the plug of an extinct volcano. But that’s not the only volcanic spot in the city. Arthur’s Seat is the highest hill in the city, and it’s a volcano that erupted 340 million years ago.

On our last afternoon in Edinburgh, we’re walking up Arthur’s Seat to find the best panoramic view. The hill is around 250 meters high, and it takes about two hours to walk up and down. 

Dinner at a Scottish Pub

End your 2 days in Edinburgh by dining at a traditional pub. While I’m always a fan of visiting the pub, it’s a must in Edinburgh. The cosy atmosphere, especially in a city that’s prone to rain, it’s the perfect ending to a lovely city break. If you’re unsure where to go, Two Scots Abroad have a great article on the best pubs in Edinburgh.

Where To Stay In Edinburgh

When spending two days in Edinburgh, you want to make sure you stay in a good location. While Edinburgh’s city centre isn’t super big, some areas are better for tourists. Of course, you can find hotels and other accommodation in any price range. 

When visiting Edinburgh for the first time, I highly recommend staying in the Old Town because of the atmosphere. Especially if you’re only in Edinburgh for two days, staying in the Old Town gives you easy access to all the main touristy spots. Here are my recommendations:

Royal Mile Suites by the Castle (5*)

Located on the Royal Mile and within walking distance from the train station, the Royal Mile Suites are the perfect place to stay in Edinburgh. The rooms have a modern design but with stunning historic stone walls. As the hotel is inside one of the historic buildings on the Royal Mile, you really get to experience that old-town vibe.

F raser Suites Edinburgh (4*)

Near Edinburgh Castle and just off the Royal Mile, the Fraser Suites have a pretty unbeatable location. The modern rooms can be found in a stunning historic building that dates back to the 1800s! Very comfortable and great value for your money.

Ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile (3*)

You don’t have to break the bank when visiting Edinburgh – even if you want to stay near the Royal Mile! The Ibis in the centre of Edinburgh makes for the perfect stay close to all the sights for an affordable price.

Things To Know Before Travelling To Edinburgh

And, of course, I won’t leave you without some extra travel tips to make your Edinburgh city break even more comfortable. Below, you’ll find everything you should know before visiting the city.

Best Times To Visit

Edinburgh is a great city to visit all year round. But like most other city breaks, I recommend visiting in spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October) because temperatures are mild and you’ll avoid the big summer crowds. That being said, August is a great month to visit Edinburgh because the city hosts many festivals during the summer months. 

How To Get To Edinburgh

Depending on where you’re coming from, there are multiple ways to make your way to Scotland’s capital city. The two main ways of getting to Edinburgh are by plane and by train.

How To Get To Edinburgh By Plane

Edinburgh’s very own airport is only located eight short miles from the city centre. Despite only having one terminal, it’s one of the busiest in the UK. Unfortunately, there are no trains from the airport to the city, but you can take the tram, bus, or taxi.

Taking the bus from the airport to Edinburgh’s city centre is the most cost-effective option at only £4.50 for a single journey. Busses depart every 10 minutes, and it takes 25–30 minutes. You can pre-book your bus transfer here . Taking the tram takes around the same time and will cost you £5.50 for a single journey.

Alternatively, you can hire a private pick up from the airport . These are a bit more expensive, but it’ll save you the hassle of public transport.

How To Get To Edinburgh By Train

If you’re visiting Edinburgh from within the UK, it may be possible to take the train. My first trip to Edinburgh involved a four-hour train journey from Manchester. While that may seem quite long, the journey is very scenic as it takes you through the lake district. Plus, if you book an early train , it doesn’t interfere with your trip too much.

From London, this journey will take around five and a half hours. If you book in advance , you can get pretty good prices!

How To Get Around Edinburgh

While packed with sights, Edinburgh’s city centre isn’t very large. You can easily spend your weekend in Edinburgh on foot. Especially since it’s such a beautiful city, it’s very enjoyable to walk around the city. Alternatively, you can use the busses, trams, and taxis. 

Conclusion – 2 Days in Edinburgh

So, that’s my guide to visiting Edinburgh for two days! Writing this makes me super excited to get back to the city soon. I hope the itinerary has helped you plan your next trip – I’d love to hear if I missed any of your favourite spots that I should check out next time I’m there. Happy travelling!

What is the best month to visit Scotland?

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the best times to visit Scotland. The temperatures are mild and you’ll avoid the busy summer months. Especially if you’re planning on visiting cities like Edinburgh, May and September are the best months.

Is Scotland an expensive place to visit?

Scotland isn’t a costly place to visit compared to other UK cities. You should budget around £70-£100/person/day. You can make a trip as cheap or expensive as you want, but these numbers are a good mid-range indication. Prices also vary depending on what time of year you visit, the places you want to see, the type of accommodation you want to stay in, and the activities you’re planning to do.

Is 2 days in Edinburgh enough?

Two days is enough to see all the highlights of Edinburgh. While there is a lot more to see and do, spending two days in Edinburgh gives you a great introduction to the city and a chance to tick the most main attractions off your bucket list. If you want to soak in some more of the culture, I recommend staying for three or four days.

Nele (Nay-la) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with an English and Creative Writing Degree and has lived in the UK for nearly 10 years. She has had an interest in Japan and its culture for as long as she can remember. Since her first trip in 2018 surpassed all expectations, she has continued to return to Japan to explore more of all it has got to offer. You can read her full story here .

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Visiting Edinburgh for the First Time: 17 Tips & Tricks

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: June 21, 2024

Traveling to Edinburgh in Scotland for the first time and not sure where to start? Planning a trip to Edinburgh might be overwhelming indeed and especially so if this is your first time in the city!

With its rich, fascinating history, culture, and ancient architecture coupled with its modern arts scene and world-famous festivals, Edinburgh is a city with something for everyone.

But if you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time, there are so many options that deciding where to stay and what to do can be difficult… When to visit Edinburgh? What are the best places to stay? How to save time and money and still see the best that the city has to offer?

So to help you plan your first trip to Edinburgh, we selected some of the best tips for visiting Edinburgh . This practical guide will help you get the very most from your stay, with advice on getting around the city, how to save money, the best time to visit, and lots more! Take a look!

1. Book in advance

When it comes to visiting Edinburgh, planning is key! This Scottish capital is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities and attracts more than 3 million visitors per year. For a relatively small city, that’s a lot of people!

The result, of course, is crowds – particularly in the summer – and long lines to visit Edinburgh’s main attractions .

For this reason, it’s essential to plan ahead . This includes booking your accommodation, your tickets to attractions, and – if you want to dine at a specific restaurant – even making reservations for dinner. Some of Edinburgh’s best restaurants are highly popular and can be booked for weeks in advance.

Another advantage of booking online ahead of time is that it drastically cuts down on queuing! It’s not uncommon to wait in line for well in excess of an hour to buy tickets for Edinburgh Castle, for example.

TIP: If you feel overwhelmed, join a guided tour (tours include skip-the-line tickets for the castle). And if you don’t feel like joining the masses at Edinburgh Castle, a great alternative is to visit Holyrood Palace instead . Not only is it quieter, but some people even argue that it’s even more interesting, with State apartments, a Throne Room, the Great Gallery, and its beautiful Palace Gardens to explore!

Holyrood Palace – which had connections with Bonnie Prince Charlie and Mary Queen of Scots – is today used by the Queen when she has official engagements in Scotland. The palace is also open to visitors the whole year round.

2. Stay close to Waverly

If you want to make the most of your trip to Edinburgh, stay in the city center ! Any accommodation within walking distance of Waverley railway station will be in the heart of the city, with all the main sights and attractions right on your doorstep!

Here are some of the most popular and best-rated centrally-located Edinburgh hotels:

£££££+ The Balmoral – one of the most luxurious 5* hotels in Edinburgh. £££££ The Scotsman – luxury 4* hotel in the Old Town. ££££ Hilton Edinburgh Carlton – a more affordable luxury. £££ Old Waverley Hotel – a very popular 3* hotel. ££+ Fraser Suites Edinburgh – a beautiful mid-budget hotel in the Old Town.

In addition to the major hotels, you will find many B&Bs sprinkled throughout the city. Staying in a bed and breakfast will often give you the opportunity to get to know a local family as well. You’ll find the Scots extremely friendly and more than happy to share information about the city of which they’re so rightly proud.

The best budget hotels are Motel One – Royal and Motel One – Princes .

If you’re on an even lower budget , there are some great options in Edinburgh too. For hostels, try the High Street Hostel or the Castle Rock Hostel .

TIP: Using the map below, you can also compare hotels, apartments, and privately rented accommodations in Edinburgh. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!

3. Explore Edinburgh on foot

One of the most wonderful things about visiting Edinburgh – particularly if you only have time for a brief visit – is its small size. It’s easy to explore the nicest areas of the city center on foot.

In fact, walking is absolutely the best way to see the Old Town , with all its little secret courtyards, mysterious staircases, and tiny side streets concealing vintage shops and independent boutiques.

All the main attractions are within walking distance of each other. Only the Botanic Gardens are located outside the main part of the city and the Royal Yacht Britannia. For these places, you could either take a hop-on hop-off bus or rent a bike.

Cycling is a really good option for places that are located a bit further away. In the past, Edinburgh had a convenient cycle-sharing system, but it has now stopped due to vandalism. So if you want to explore the highlights of the city by bike, you can look for a cycle hire or opt for a bike tour .

If you decide to take public transport , be sure to have the correct money for your fare – change will not be given on the bus. Alternatively, pay using a contactless card or smartphone, or buy unlimited adult, child, or family travel tickets using the Transport for Edinburgh bus app . This app also provides a real-time schedule and useful route maps. It’s also a good idea to let your driver know your destination as you board and sit close by, so that you can check if you are close to your stop. Most stops are not announced and it’s very easy to miss your destination!

Good to know: Edinburgh’s traffic is heavy, so it can often take longer to reach a destination by bus or taxi than it would on foot. Not to mention the fact that taxis – and even Ubers – are expensive.

We don’t recommend hiring a car either. Many of the best areas are inaccessible by car and parking is hard to find and expensive. If you hire a car, do it only for the days when you are exploring outside of the city. Remember that they drive on the left in the UK and the majority of cars in Scotland use manual transmission, with the gear shift located on the left.

TIP: For the airport transfer to the city, you can take this convenient (and cheap) bus .

4. Enjoy Edinburgh’s FREE attractions

Edinburgh has a lot of amazing free attractions. There are some really nice things to do at absolutely no cost whatsoever (although donations are always welcome).

The National Museum of Scotland is not to be missed, with exhibits that celebrate the natural world, art and design, science and technology, world cultures, and Scottish history. It’s one of the musts in Edinburgh!

There are also free guided tours of the Scottish Parliament .

Other free attractions include the Museum of Edinburgh , the Peoples’ Story Museum , the Museum of Childhood , the Writers’ Museum , and the stunning Botanic Gardens and the Princes Street Gardens.

There are many free walking tours available , which give you a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the city from someone who knows it well! We recommend taking a walking tour at the start of your visit. That way you can go back and explore the things that interest you most later on. Although the tours are free, it is customary to tip your guide.

You might also want to take a stroll through some of Edinburgh’s fascinating graveyards ( kirkyards ), where you’ll find interesting monuments and burial sites. These include a statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Old Calton Burial Ground, the grave of Adam Smith in the Canongate Kirkyard, and a memorial for Robert Louis Stevenson in Princes Street Gardens.

5. Save money with the Royal Edinburgh Ticket

Once you’ve exhausted all the free attractions, another good way to save money is to purchase an Edinburgh Royal Ticket .

This ticket includes top-3 of Edinburgh’s Royal sights (Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia, and Holyroodhouse) and unlimited travel on a hop-on-hop-off bus. It’s valid for 48 hours and – if you are planning on visiting all these attractions – offers really good value.

6. View the city from above

Some of the best views of Edinburgh are those from a higher ground, where you can enjoy a sweeping panorama encompassing both a modern cityscape and a historic skyline.

Some of the most popular spots that offer an excellent vantage point include Calton Hill , the top of the Scott Monument, and the rooftop terrace of the National Museum . Or you can also book a rooftop tour of St Giles Cathedral .

Alternatively, go to the top of the Camera Obscura attraction, where you’ll find telescopes for an even closer view out to the horizon.

If you feel like hiking, the views from Arthur’s Seat are incredible. From here, you can see the Firth of Forth estuary, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace. Whilst not overly strenuous, this is a 2-hour hike up the remnants of an extinct volcano and requires a reasonable level of fitness (and plenty of water!). But the reward when you get to the top is definitely worth the effort!

TIP: Edinburgh’s sunsets are gorgeous! If possible, try to get to a high point during the golden hour in order to take some truly stunning photographs.

7. Dress for Edinburgh’s weather!

Edinburgh is a curious place where it’s almost possible to experience all four seasons in one day! The rule of thumb is to expect the unexpected and dress accordingly .

Ideally, you should dress in layers. Sometimes, you may leave your hotel on a sunny morning in just a T-shirt, only to find the temperatures plummeting as soon as the sun disappears an hour later!

And the city is, of course, notorious for its rain which comes down often… and heavily!

Waterproof clothing is a must, but umbrellas aren’t always the best solution. Not only will negotiating Edinburgh’s crowded streets with an umbrella make you unpopular with other pedestrians, but the wind will likely turn it inside out within minutes! On the other hand, when it pours and you have nowhere to hide, it can be a lifesaver!

Make sure you wear comfortable, waterproof footwear. You will be doing lots of exploring on foot and many of the streets and walkways in the Old Town are cobbled. You might even want to consider lightweight walking boots which will give extra support to your ankles when walking on uneven surfaces.

8. Visit in May-June or September-early October

Late spring and early fall is a great time to visit Edinburgh. The weather is (generally) relatively warm and it is light until around 9 to 10 pm, giving you extra time to enjoy the sights. I say generally because we once visited in June and it was quite cold and pouring all the time. You just really never know in Edinburgh.

Another good thing about visiting in the shoulder season is that it’s far less busy than in the peak months of July and August. Accommodation is also (usually) more affordable. I say usually because all the affordable hotels were booked when we visited in June (yes, that same cold and wet visit I talked about above :)) and it was practically impossible to find anything decent under £350 for 2 people per night.

Good to know: October can be particularly beautiful, with the striking colors of the autumnal foliage. But do bear in mind that many seasonal businesses and accommodation providers close around the middle of the month.

9. Avoid festival season (unless you want to visit a festival, of course!)

The population of Edinburgh virtually doubles in August, when the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Edinburgh Military Tattoo all take place. Celebrating a mixture of music, theatre, comedy, and dance, these events are globally famous and attract visitors from all over the world.

They are also incredibly cool and well worth a visit should you be willing to face the crowds. As an extra bonus, the weather in August should be the best of the year, with pleasant temperatures and (usually) less rain.

However, the streets are packed with people, accommodation is hard to find, restaurant reservations are like gold dust, and the price of EVERYTHING goes up. So unless you plan to attend the festivals or related events, we would strongly recommend avoiding the city center throughout the entire month of August.

You can, however, take advantage of August’s better weather by staying outside the more popular areas. Stockbridge – with its quaint cafes and trendy pubs – is within walking distance of the city center, as is Leith, the vibrant port district with its waterfront seafood bistros. Both are also well connected to the center of Edinburgh by bus.

Another busy time for Edinburgh is Hogmanay – Scotland’s famous celebration of the New Year. It’s one of the world’s largest New Year’s parties in the world. Tens of thousands of people pack the streets to enjoy live music, torch-lit processions, and fireworks. Unless you plan to take part in the festivities, it’s not an ideal time to visit Edinburgh!

10. Try local food

No visit to Scotland would be complete without a taste of its national dish – haggis .

Traditionally made with a mixture of sheep offal (heart, liver, and lungs), onions, spices, oats, and fat – all stuffed into a sheep’s stomach – it is served with ‘neeps and tatties’ (mashed turnips and mashed potatoes). You can find it on menus across the city, although modern-day recipes are rarely traditional (and the sheep’s stomach is often omitted!). Nevertheless, this is a tasty dish and perfect for giving you a warm glow to face the Edinburgh chill!

Other traditional foods to look out for are stovies (a potato dish), black pudding , and Scottish salmon . Cullen skink , a delicious soup made with smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions is also a must-try!

A less well-known Scottish delicacy is the battered sausage – a regular sausage deep-fried in crispy batter! Head over to the City Restaurant on Nicholson Street for the best-battered sausage in town. They also serve excellent fish & chips and you can also try another one of the region’s specialties – deep-fried, battered Mars Bar !

TIP: Save money by dining at pubs rather than restaurants. Many pubs sell exceptionally good food, often providing a more authentic taste of Scottish culture than many restaurants. And at a far lower cost!

If you forget to book a table for dinner, it’s still worth a visit to see if the restaurant can accommodate you. Some restaurants set aside tables specifically for walk-ins (the most notable is Dishoom, the famous Indian restaurant that originated in London) and you may also find some that will take your number and be happy to give you a call when a table becomes free.

READ ALSO: Best Traditional Dishes to Try in the UK

11. Try Scotch whisky

Not all Scottish delicacies are the edible kind – the country has two famous drinks too!

The first, of course, is Scotch whisky , for which the country is known across the world. You can learn more about its history and how it’s made at The Scotch Whisky Experience , which also includes a tasting session. Alternatively, try one of Edinburgh’s many pubs on a quiet afternoon and ask for recommendations. Most bartenders are happy to chat with you about their favorite whiskies and share a little of their history!

But there’s another Scottish beverage that you may not be quite as familiar with, and that’s Irn Bru . This carbonated soft drink contains caffeine, sugar, and 32 secret flavors. It was invented at the start of the 20th century as a replacement for beer for Glaswegian Steel Workers.

It was originally called ‘Iron Brew’ and became famous across the UK following an ad campaign that used the slogan ‘Made in Scotland, from girders’. Its name changed to Irn Bru after advertising watchdogs decided it couldn’t be called Iron Brew because it wasn’t actually brewed from iron! Nevertheless, it remains an important part of Scottish culture and is offered to children as an alternative to whisky on tours of distilleries!

TIP: If you are a whisky enthusiast, take a look at this 3-day tour leaving from Edinburgh . My husband did it a few years ago and is still talking about it as one of the best experiences ever.

READ ALSO: Scotland Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

12. Be souvenir savvy!

The most popular area for souvenir shopping is the Royal Mile , which runs from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament. But the shops here are expensive. And whilst you may think you are buying genuine Scottish tartan and locally made arts and crafts, chances are you are actually taking home imported goods, mass-produced for the tourist market.

There are a couple of notable exceptions. Ragamuffin – a store situated on a corner around halfway along the Royal Mile – sells the finest quality Scottish knitwear. It’s the perfect place to buy a lasting memento of your Edinburgh visit. And for fine, authentic Scottish whisky, visit Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop . This is Scotland’s oldest independent bottler and is located just a couple of minutes further along the Royal Mile as you approach the Castle.

Alternatively, break away from the Royal Mile and check out the independent boutiques and galleries at The Arches , which can be accessed from East Market Street. You can also find cheap but high-quality woolen items and kilts at Armstrongs Vintage , a second-hand shop in the Grassmarket.

If you are visiting Edinburgh on a Sunday morning, check out Stockbridge Market . Located next to the bridge over the Water of Leith – just a 20-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle – this market sells a variety of locally made items including jewelry and hand-made soap. It’s open from 10 am to 4 pm.

13. Be smart when exchanging your money

If you need to use an ATM during your stay, opt to be charged in local currency and do not allow the machine to convert the charge to your home currency. This is because it allows the ATM provider or bank to set the exchange rate, pushing up your fees considerably.

Keep this in mind when paying by credit card as well. Every time you pay, you’ll be presented with two choices – pay in your currency or in pounds sterling. Always – ALWAYS – choose to pay in pound sterling.

This is one of those common – and sadly, legal – scams that can cost you a lot of money. I once lost about 16% in currency exchange at an ATM in London by choosing my own currency. Lesson learned.

Good to know: Scottish banknotes are quite distinctive and feature Scottish heroes such as poet Robert Burns and famous writer Sir Walter Scott. But don’t be surprised to be given English money during your stay in Edinburgh. Scottish and English money may look different, but they all represent the same currency, which is pounds sterling. You can use either note in both England and Scotland.

14. Be prepared for men in skirts (or kilts, to be precise)!

Originating from the plaid cloaks historically worn in highland Scotland, the modern kilt dates back to the 19th century. Also today, the kilt is sometimes worn by Scottish men.

Accompanied by a frilled shirt and pouch called a ‘sporran’ that hangs in front to replace pockets, kilts are thick pleated skirts made of wool. They usually have a tartan pattern, which traditionally represented a particular ‘clan’ or family.

These days, Scottish kilts are mainly worn for special occasions like weddings, or by busking bagpipers near the Castle. But if you’d like to take home an authentic kilt as a very special memento of your stay, head to Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers near the Royal Mile. They’ll even show you how to wear it properly!

15. Explore the areas outside the city

Whilst Edinburgh offers plenty to do, there are also a couple of attractions a short distance from the city that are well worth a visit as well. In addition, there are lots of spectacular places in Scotland that you can visit as a day trip from Edinburgh .

TIP: This highly-rated Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour is the most popular day tour from Edinburgh and is well worth your time! There are also some really nice multi-day tours that allow you to see more of Scotland without having to plan much.

Just near Edinburgh are the 3 bridges of Firth of Forth : the Forth Road Bridge, The Forth Bridge, and the new Queensferry Crossing. There are various boat cruises that allow you to enjoy magnificent views of Edinburgh and Fife’s coastlines and the iconic bridges.

Alternatively, visit Rosslyn Chapel , just 7 miles south of the city. Founded in 1446, this chapel was made famous by Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code”, which explored its mysteries. The building is filled with strange geometric patterns which many insist are otherworldly – or alien – in design. Bizarre carvings are everywhere, believed to be symbolic in nature and giving rise to various myths and legends.

The building itself is surrounded by gorgeous scenery, making this a great and quirky place to visit away from the bustle of the capital’s center. There are also quite a few tours that visit here .

Gilmerton Cove is another interesting place near Edinburgh. It’s a very unique, 300-year-old subterranean attraction consisting of 7 underground rooms, a well, a fireplace, a blacksmith’s forge, tunnels, and even a chapel. The rooms feature furniture hewn from rocks. And the strange thing is that no one has any idea who created them, or why! Just be sure to check if it’s open because there have been talks about renovating the place.

16. Learn some local words

In addition to the very strong Scottish accent, some of the local terminology may leave you scratching your head!

Here are a few great words to learn when visiting Edinburgh:

• Haar = the chilly fog that sometimes blankets the city.
• Scran = food.
• Loch = lake.
• Law = hill.
• Burn = stream.
• Greet = cry (not say hello!).
• Kirk = church (which is why you will see kirkyards rather than churchyards throughout the city).
• Dram = a shot of whisky (or other spirit).

17. Bonus tips

• If you want to hear the sound of real bagpipes , head to the Royal Mile, particularly the end nearest the Castle. There will invariably be a busker or two in full Scottish dress entertaining the crowds. They are usually happy to pose for photos too (just remember to put a donation in the bucket or hat).
• Visiting Edinburgh Castle? Get there early and head straight to the Honours of Scotland (the crown jewels) before visiting anything else. They are the most popular part of the Castle and the queues to see them become very long throughout the day.
• Don’t offend the locals by suggesting that Scotland is part of England – they are two distinct countries. Both are, however, part of the United Kingdom, which also encompasses Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Looking for a fun night out in true Scottish style? Then find yourself a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee)! Traditionally a highland Gaelic form of entertainment, a ceilidh is basically an evening of fiddle music, dancing, singing, and storytelling. There are opportunities to experience them all over Edinburgh.
• Use public free wifi throughout the city, with no restrictions on time. Just look for ‘EdiFreeWifi’ in your available networks and log in using either Facebook or by providing basic details.
• Whilst many hotels and attractions of Edinburgh are well equipped to accommodate wheelchairs , the cobbled streets, narrow roads, inclines, and winding staircases of the Old Town would make a visit challenging for someone with limited mobility.

So, these are some of the most important practical tips you should know when traveling to Edinburgh for the first time.

T IP: If you are wondering what to see and do in the city or how to plan a short first visit to Edinburgh , take a look at our detailed guides via the links below:

• What to see: Best things to do in Edinburgh
• With just 1 day: How to see the best of Edinburgh in one day

More travel inspiration for the UK:

• Glasgow: One Day in Glasgow
• Isle of Skye: Isle of Skye Itinerary
• Liverpool: Best Things to Do in Liverpool & Liverpool Beatles Attractions & Liverpool Day Trip from London
• Yorkshire: Best Day Trips in Yorkshire
• Manchester: Best Things to Do in Manchester & Manchester 1-Day Itinerary
• Cornwall: Best Places to Visit in Cornwall & Where to Stay in Cornwall
• Blackpool: Best Things to Do in Blackpool & Where to Stay in Blackpool

London travel inspiration:

• Tips for Visiting London
• Best Tourist Attractions in London
• Hidden Gems of London
• Best Day Trips from London
• 1 Day in London
• 2 Days in London
• Best London Views & Viewpoints
• Things to Do in Greenwich
• London with Kids
• London with Teens
• Camden Market

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

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Home » Travel » Destinations » 2 Days in Edinburgh: Itinerary for First Time Visitors

2 Days in Edinburgh: Itinerary for First Time Visitors

From historic buildings to Harry Potter, there are so many amazing things to discover during a 2 day Edinburgh itinerary. Gothic towers, cobblestone alleys, and a hilltop castle lend the city a fantasy-like atmosphere. And with a vibrant arts scene and diverse restaurants, there’s no shortage of things to do in Edinburgh.

This itinerary for 2 days in Edinburgh is geared towards first-time visitors to the city, with a blend of popular attractions and some lesser-known gems.

This travel guide is part of my  UK road trip itinerary itinerary, which includes over a dozen destinations from London to Edinburgh!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, click here .

How to Spend 2 Days in Edinburgh

— Know Before You Go — Where to Stay in Edinburgh — The Best Time to Spend 2 Days in Edinburgh — 2 Day Edinburgh Itinerary — Day 1: Castles, Cafes, Famous Streets, and Ghosts — Day 2: Hiking, Holyrood, Museums, and The Royal Mile — Map of 2 Days in Edinburgh Itinerary — Adding Day Trips to This Edinburgh Itinerary — Where to Go After Spending 2 Days in Edinburgh

Know Before You Go

Estimated Itinerary Budget (excluding transport & accommodation) : £140/person

Edinburgh uses the British Pound Sterling (£). ATMs–also known as “cash points”–are abundant, and most places in the city take card payments. However, I always recommend carrying a bit of cash for tips and the occasional cash-only place.

Like the rest of the UK, tips are sometimes included in restaurant bills. Check the bottom of your receipt for the “service” charge before you leave a tip. 10-12% is customary, though if you’re at a pub and ordering at the bar, tips aren’t expected.

Edinburgh is mainly connected by buses that criss-cross the city. However, the city is very walkable, making exploring Edinburgh on foot the most practical way to get around. Uber also operates here, in the event you need car service.

Getting to Edinburgh from the Airport

There are several options to get into the city from Edinburgh Airport. The cheapest option is to take the Airlink bus to Waverly Station, which runs every 10 minutes 24 hours a day.

The fare is £4.50 per adult, and the travel time is about 30 minutes. The Airlink buses accept contactless card payments and cash; exact change is not required.

A tram also runs from the airport to several stations in the city, including Edinburgh Park, Haymarket, and Princes Street. Tickets are £6.50 per adult, and the journey time to Princes Street is 30 minutes.

Getting to Edinburgh by Train

Edinburgh Waverly station is the city’s main train hub.

If you’re arriving in Edinburgh via the Caledonian Express, LNER, or Scot Rail, you’ll be pleased that Waverly is centrally located. You can easily walk from the station to anywhere in central Edinburgh, meaning you can save on bus and car fare.

Edinburgh has a surprisingly diverse food scene. Whether you want Japanese bento or Mexican fusion, there’s an Edinburgh restaurant for you.

This 2 day Edinburgh itinerary has a few recommendations, but I’ve published an entire list of the best places to eat in Edinburgh for first time visitors .

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

To make the most of your 2 days in Edinburgh, I recommend staying fairly central. You can find a well-priced apartment or hotel near the University of Edinburgh campus, which is walkable to everything in this itinerary.

We stayed in a wonderful and spacious VRBO apartment in the heart of the Old Town, and it was perfectly located for exploring and shopping.

The Best Time to Spend 2 Days in Edinburgh

If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, I highly recommend visiting Edinburgh in October .

The vibrant foliage decorates the city’s sidewalks and parks, and the off-season means crowds are thinner. There are also several fall festivals to enjoy, including the nighttime Samhuin Fire Festival on Calton Hill.

August in Edinburgh sees the city transformed by the Fringe Festival , with musicians, street performers, and artists taking over the city. It’s the world’s largest arts festival, so expect massive crowds and expensive accommodation. For this 2 day Edinburgh itinerary, August is probably the worst month to visit.

If you’re looking for Europe winter travel destinations , Edinburgh is a great choice, especially during December. Between the Christmas Market, cozy pub fires, and holiday decorations at Holyroodhouse, there’s plenty of cheer to brighten your spirits in spite of the cold.

Given the amount of walking involved in this guide, I’d also recommend visiting Edinburgh in spring. April has the occasional snow shower, but the weather is generally pleasant and crowds are minimal. May is warmer, though the month’s UK bank holidays see an influx of visitors from around the country.

My Favorite Scotland Travel Planning Books

These books win my travel blogger Seal of Approval for vacation planning:

• Fodor’s Essential Great Britain: with the Best of England, Scotland & Wales
• Rick Steves Scotland
• Lonely Planet Scotland

2 Day Edinburgh Itinerary

Day 1: castles, cafes, famous streets, and ghosts.

The Meadows and Bruntsfield

Instead of diving right into the typical city sightseeing in Edinburgh, get to know the city with a morning stroll through the Meadows. This expansive green space in southwest Edinburgh is a favorite hang out spot for university students, though you’ll see residents of all ages out for a morning jog on the paths.

If you’re visiting Edinburgh in October or November, the Meadows’ trees will be bursting with autumn color. And late April/early May visitors can walk under the lovely cherry blossom trees.

Walking west through the park, you’ll eventually exit into Bruntsfield, a residential area known for its shops and excellent restaurants. Bruntsfield’s village atmosphere and beautiful facades make it perfect for escaping the bustle of old town Edinburgh.

Brunch at Treehouse Cafe

If you love over-the-top pancakes and delicious coffee drinks, you’ll love Treehouse Cafe. Nestled in the cool Bruntsfield neighborhood, you’ll get to kick off your first of two days in Edinburgh with city locals.

Chocolate fans should go for the berry nutella pancakes with chocolate sauce. It’s the ultimate sweet start to a morning of exploring Edinburgh. And if dessert for breakfast isn’t your thing, you can always opt for a traditional meat and egg combo.

Candlemaker Row & Victoria Street

Harry Potter fans and photography enthusiasts will love the curving streets and colorful buildings of Candlemaker Row & Victoria Street. You’re sure to recognize these areas as popular Edinburgh Instagram spots, or as the setting for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films.

J.K. Rowling drew inspiration from several places here while writing her beloved series. A few tombstones in Greyfriars Kirkyard lent their names to book characters, and Rowling wrote parts of The Philosopher’s Stone  at the nearby Elephant House cafe.

You’ll also find a bit of Scottish lore on Candlemaker Row. At the intersection of George IV Bridge stands a black Skye Terrier statue known as Greyfriars Bobby, a loyal dog who guarded his deceased owner’s grave for 14 years.

The iconic memorial is a popular meeting place for friends and tour groups. And despite what you may have heard, please do not rub Bobby’s little nose for “good luck”. You’ll only damage the statue.

After you’ve explored this Edinburgh walking route, follow Candlemaker Row to Grassmarket, then turn left and go up Vennel. This elevated path offers some unique views of Edinburgh Castle as you head down the steps.

Edinburgh Castle

When I asked some acquaintances what to see in Edinburgh in two days, I was surprised to hear them suggest not going to Edinburgh Castle. They argued that it’s just a crowded, overpriced tourist attraction, and it wasn’t worth seeing.

Normally, I try to avoid touristy places when I travel, but in this case, I’m very glad I ignored their advice. In fact, the castle made my list of top UK bucket list ideas !

A rich history , interesting exhibits, and stunning panoramic views make Edinburgh Castle a must-see for any 2 days in Edinburgh itinerary. Here are a few tips for making the most of your visit:

• If you have the option to visit on a weekday, do so. The castle will be less crowded and more fun to explore.
• When heading towards the crown jewels exhibit, go through the regular entrance (not the “Jewels Only” one) to walk through a fascinating Scotland royal history exhibit, complete with music and full-size models.
• Take advantage of the amazing panoramic views of Edinburgh wherever you can. There are areas all around the castle walls where you can walk up and look out at the city. There are some unique photo options near the cannon holes as well.
• Day-of admission is £18.50, but you can save £1.50 and skip the queue if you buy your tickets in advance online

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Edinburgh Zoo

I know the zoo is considered a “touristy” thing to do, but the Edinburgh Zoo is truly fantastic.

It’s the most beautiful zoo I’ve been to, with tons of greenery and several viewpoints over the Pentland Hills. They are also highly involved in conservation and education work, which is reflected in every exhibit.

Penguin lovers will delight at the daily “penguin parade” and expansive swimming area. And if you’ve always wanted to see a real-life panda, Edinburgh Zoo is home to two! The zoo is pretty sizeable, so plan to spend at least 3 hours exploring the exhibits and gaining new knowledge.

Getting to the zoo is simple and cheap. Just take either the Lothian or Airlink airport bus for under £2. You can even pay via contactless card on Airlink. Both bus lines have stops around the city, but the easiest way is to catch the bus from outside Waverly station.

As of November 2021, tickets must be purchased online in advance unless you are an RZSS member. General admission is £19.95 for adults.

Despite the price, I think it’s one of the best Edinburgh day activities whether or not you’re traveling with children.

Dinner at a Traditional Scottish Pub

With only two days in Edinburgh, it would be crazy not to visit one of the city’s many traditional pubs. Leather furniture, wood paneling, and real fireplaces will transport you to times gone by. There’s nothing like sinking into a wingback chair with a glass of Scotch on a chilly evening.

Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar on Candlemaker Row is an excellent choice for dinner and old world atmosphere. It’s also far enough from the Royal Mile that it won’t be jam-packed with the dinner crowd.

Edinburgh Ghost Tour

With its brooding architecture and mysterious atmosphere, a late night ghost tour is the perfect way to cap off your first of two days in Edinburgh.

Several different tours operate across the city, but the best ones take you through the underground vaults .

Once the hub of Edinburgh’s criminal world, the multi-story vaults beneath Blair Street are a must-see. Legend has it that the vaults are still haunted by the ghosts of departed thieves, bootleggers, and ladies of the night.

The only way to access the underground vaults is with a tour, so book your tickets in advance!

Day 2: Hiking, Holyrood, Museums, and The Royal Mile

Calton hill.

Climbing Calton Hill for a glorious sunrise could be the highlight of your 2 days in Edinburgh itinerary. Depending on the time of year, you might even get to sleep in and still catch those first morning rays.

If early mornings aren’t your thing, don’t worry. The panoramic views over the city make Calton Hill an amazing destination no matter when you visit. After a somewhat steep 15 minute climb, you can see from Holyrood Palace all the way to the North Sea.

The hill itself also boasts several landmarks, including the Romanesque pillars of the National Monument and round Dugald Stewart Monument.

Holyrood Palace

From Calton Hill, it’s a short walk to Holyrood Palace, the royal residence of the British monarch in Scotland.

When the palace isn’t being used for royal ceremonies and engagements, visitors can pay £16.50 to explore inside, including the Royal and State apartments. Outside, take a stroll through the palace gardens and adjacent Holyrood Abbey.

As of November 2021, there are limited tickets available for same-day purchase, so it’s best to book online in advance .

If you’re visiting Edinburgh in December, you’ll get the added bonus of elegant decked halls for the Christmas season. I think I’d brave the Scottish cold just to see this resplendence in person!

Stretching from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile is home to hundreds of shops, restaurants, and popular spots for city sightseeing in Edinburgh. Even if you don’t plan to spend a penny in one of the stores, it’s still worth walking the entire length of the road (and stopping into side alleys).

Here are a few highlights on the Royal Mile:

• Just up the street from Holyrood Palace is Canongate Kirk, where famous Scots are entombed.
• The beautiful and iconic St. Giles Cathedral towers over the western end of the Mile. Its spire forms part of the city’s skyline, and weekend visitors can pay £6 for a rooftop tour with panoramic views of Edinburgh.
• Mimi’s Little Bakehouse is the perfect stop for a sweet pick-me-up. If you love chocolate, I highly recommend the decadent brownies.
• If you’re looking for quality tartan scarves, head inside Balmoral or Dunedin Cashmere for a variety of luxurious options. And if you have Scottish ancestry, you can ask them to look up your family pattern and direct you to the right tartan!
• For the best shortbread, skip the Royal Mile shops in favor of Pinnies & Poppy Seeds. This cozy bakery is just a block off the Mile, on St. Mary’s Street, and they have multiple shortbread flavors on offer.

Princes Street Gardens

Once you reach the castle end of the Royal Mile, head one block north to reach Princes Street Gardens. Located right in the middle of Edinburgh, the gardens offer a nice respite from the Royal Mile crowds

In the warmer months, you’ll find people sprawled out on the green lawn, relaxing with a good book. There’s also a tree-lined walkway that runs past the towering Scot Monument, and walking this way offers fantastic views of the city.

Lunch at El Cartel

If you’re wondering where to eat in Edinburgh for something other than traditional British fare, look no further. El Cartel dishes out Mexican street food so good, it filled the taco-shaped void in my heart that formed after I left Texas.

The Thistle Street location feels intimate and a bit funky, with classic margarita machines churning out rotating flavors. Once inside, start with a bowl of guacamole and opt for plantain chips for dipping. After that, you can’t really go wrong with any of the menu options, though I especially loved the Baja Cod tacos.

Scottish National Gallery

I always try to save money when traveling , and the Scottish National Gallery is a fantastic, free activity for this 2 days in Edinburgh itinerary. Of all the art galleries I’ve visited in Europe, it felt the coziest, especially the second floor.

Here, you’ll find famous works like Olive Trees  by Van Gogh and multiple Monet paintings, among other treasures.

Scotch Whisky Experience or Camera Obscura

It’s time for the choose-your-own-adventure portion of this Edinburgh itinerary. Personally, I visited both the Scotch Whiskey Experience and Camera Obscura, but I had more than two days in Edinburgh.

Read the summaries below to decide which activity is right for you (or try and squeeze in both)!

Scotch Whiskey Experience

Even if you aren’t a whiskey connoisseur, the Scotch Whiskey Experience is a fantastic activity for anyone over 18. Young kids can accompany their parents, but will probably get bored after the first portion of the tour.

The experience touches on all five senses and covers everything from how Scotch is made to how each region imbues its own flavor on the whiskey. I particularly enjoyed the IMAX theater-style tour of Scotland’s whiskey-producing regions, which comes with a scratch and sniff card!

There are multiple price tiers depending on how much Scotch you want to sample. And the tour ends at a beautiful whiskey bar and lounge, where you can fortify yourself with single malts and blends from all around Scotland.

Book your skip-the-line Scotch Whisky Experience tickets here!

Camera Obscura

With five floors of interactive mind games and colorful exhibits, Camera Obscura is a natural choice for anyone traveling with kids. From playing with plasma to navigating a mirror maze, the attraction is a fun contrast to the other popular attractions in Edinburgh.

But Camera Obscura does have a historical element: the actual “camera obscura” apparatus at the top of the building is nearly 200 years old. Visitors can experience a magical show just like the original Victorian guests did long ago.

Catch Some Live Music

In a city famous for live music, it’s only natural to round out this 2 days in Edinburgh itinerary with a rousing musical evening.

You’ll find plenty of opportunities for live music in Edinburgh any night of the week, from traditional folk at The Royal Oak to more modern tunes at Bannerman’s Bar . Grab a pint, take a seat, and relax after an action-packed two days in Edinburgh.

Map of 2 Days in Edinburgh Itinerary

The blue icons are for Day 1, and the yellow icons denote Day 2.

Click here to view the full interactive map!

Adding Day Trips to This Edinburgh Itinerary

If you’re looking for other Scotland destinations to visit from Edinburgh, here are a few ideas:

• North Berwick : This seaside town is a short 30 minute train ride from Edinburgh. Highlights include Tantallon Castle and several beautiful beaches.
• Scottish Highlands Tour : Plan a one or two day tour of the Scottish Highlands by coach or car, including stops at Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Loch Laggan.
• Stirling Castle:  A famous hilltop castle that’s been restored on the inside, offering visitors a glimpse into Renaissance Scottish life.
• Glasgow: Scotland’s biggest city and Edinburgh’s industrial neighbor. Popular attractions include the resplendent Glasgow Cathedral and ancient Necropolis.

Where to Go After Spending 2 Days in Edinburgh

• Inverness:  Explore the rugged landscapes and  famous castles of the Scottish Higlands from historic Inverness.
• Lake District:  Edinburgh’s short distance from norther England makes romantic Lake District breaks and stunning fell walks easily accessible.
• London:  Hop on a short flight or sleeper train, and you can spend 4 days in London exploring renowned museums, cathedrals, and restaurants.

Have you been to Edinburgh? Is there anything else you’d fit into this 2 day Edinburgh itinerary? Let me know in the comments!

2 thoughts on “2 Days in Edinburgh: Itinerary for First Time Visitors”

Wonderful post! I’ve been doing research for my trip coming up in November, and your post felt more “personal” and in line with the way I like to travel. Thank you so very much!

Thanks so much, Michele! I’m glad we have similar travel styles. Have a fantastic trip to Edinburgh 🙂

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Inside the abandoned Edinburgh tunnel stretching right under the city centre

Work began on the structure in the early 1840s, which would forge a link between Canal Street Station (now known as Waverley) and the north of Edinburgh.

• 10:06, 8 SEP 2024

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Images found online have shown inside the Scotland Street Tunnel, which has lain empty since the early '80s.

Work began on the structure in the early 1840s, which would forge a link between Canal Street Station (now known as Waverley) and the north of Edinburgh. It would run underneath Scotland Street, Dublin Street and St Andrew Square.

Urban explorer James Perry filmed his trip into the tunnel, which is never advised, and uploaded the experience to YouTube. In the footage, we see the now derelict passageway which once saw thousands of passengers a day travel from one end of the city to the other.

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Costing over £100,000, it opened in May 1847. Rail services then travelled between Waverley and Granton, hauled by a steel rope and winding engine due to the sharp incline.

It was highly difficult to construct, and cost a lot of money, but was abandoned by the rail service after just 21 years. The North British Railway company found a more efficient way of transporting passengers to the north of the city.

Soon after, an unlikely operation moved into the tunnel. The Scottish Mushroom Company moved in, and used one side of the tracks to set up 800 mushroom beds - each 12ft by 3ft.

According to records their output reached up to 500lbs in one day, and produce was on offer during all seasons. This continued until 1929, when a parasite infection led to bankruptcy.

By the time of the Second World War, a new purpose was found for the tunnel. The city needed suitable hubs in the event of an air raid attack, and a shelter was set up.

Capable of housing up to 3,000 people, the tunnel became Edinburgh's largest and 'most safe' bomb shelter. Sitting 50ft below street level, it was considered an ideal spot to wait out an attack.

Since the war, the space has gone mostly unused - apart from a few odd spells. In the late '40s, the University of Edinburgh attempted a series of radiation experiments down there.

In the '60s, Cochrane Garages stored up to 150 vehicles in the tunnel. It didn't take long for youths to make their way into the tunnel and start a fire, which caused severe damage.

The southern entrance was demolished to make way for the Waverley Market in 1983, and the hopes of breathing new life into the Scotland Street Tunnel crumbled along with it. The northern entrance can be seen today - though is fenced off to the public.

Some have suggested transforming the derelict site into an underground car park, though nothing has been done yet.

The tunnel will likely never return to its rail days, but Robert Louis Stevenson's description of it in his travel book Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes paints quite a picture.

He writes: "The Scotland Street Station, the sight of the train shooting out of its dark maw with two guards upon the brake, the thought of its length and the many ponderous edifices and thoroughfares above, were certainly things of paramount impressiveness to a young mind."

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Flying is a nightmare, especially if you have a 19th-century violin

A professional violinist said Ryanair refused to let her board with her priceless instrument, forcing her to book a last-minute flight with another carrier.

A lot of passengers bring equipment they need for work aboard flights — laptops, cellphones, notepads. But when professional musician Esther Abrami brings hers on an airplane — a violin made in the 19th century by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume — she’s carrying a precious artifact.

“The violin is a piece of art,” she told The Washington Post. “It’s as if I was traveling with a Picasso painting.”

Abrami, 27, tried and failed Tuesday to take her Vuillaume, which have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, aboard Ryanair Flight No. 3389 from her home in Marseille, France, to Berlin where she was scheduled to record her third studio album for Sony Classical. Despite having flown with Ryanair hundreds of times over more than a decade, nearly all of them with a violin, Abrami said a gate agent told her the instrument was too big to carry on and would need to be checked. After missing her flight, Abrami said she’s criticizing the airline in the hopes that not only Ryanair but the airline industry as a whole is more accommodating of professional musicians.

Ryanair did not respond to specific questions about the incident but said in an email to The Post that “violinists travelling with Ryanair have to obey the same rules as everyone else; if it fits it can go onboard, but if it doesn’t it goes in the hold.” Abrami’s violin is just over 22 inches long, about a half-inch beyond Ryanair’s limit for carry-on items.

Abrami is part of a small fraternity of professional musicians who make their living traveling with prized instruments that could double as museum exhibits.

In 2013 , a German cellist said airport workers abused his cello case, snapping his $20,000 bow in half. Two years later , a cello player from Tennessee checked his $45,000, 75-year-old instrument, which airport workers put under a set of golf clubs, snapping its neck. And in 2018 , a Brazilian-Israeli musician reluctantly allowed her viola da gamba to be put in the cargo hold on her flight from Rio de Janeiro to Tel Aviv only to find it had been had been broken into pieces.

Those kinds of horror stories have congealed into an unwritten rule in the industry: Never trust an airline with your instrument. At the same time, musicians find themselves forced to navigate myriad luggage rules that vary between airlines while trying to figure out how strictly each of those are enforced.

“We feel so misunderstood,” Abrami said.

Abrami has been playing the violin since she was 10. At 14, she moved from Marseille to Manchester to study at the Chetham’s School of Music for four years before attending the Royal College of Music in London .

Because she studied abroad for eight years and took up a solo career that’s taken her around the world, Abrami has flown with her violin hundreds of times over the course of 13 years. Most of those have been through Ryanair because it’s the only airline with direct flights from Marseille to Manchester and from Manchester to Berlin, home to Sony Classical’s European studios where Abrami records.

Abrami has to keep her violin on her person or at least close by, she said. It’s a delicate instrument that could break if thrown in the cargo hold and left to jostle with suitcases. If it does break, “you will never get a similar one,” because modern violin makers don’t know how to re-create those made by 19th-century masters.

“We don’t have the secrets to that today,” Abrami said.

Her instrument was created in 1857. It’s owned by an international society which loaned it to Abrami when she started her professional career on the condition that, among other things, she can’t put it in an airplane cargo hold.

“My violin is everything to me,” she said.

Abrami said she occasionally has to explain how delicate and precious her instrument is but has never had a problem until this week.

On Tuesday morning, Abrami arrived at the Marseille airport where a Ryanair employee at the check-in counter was “a little dubious” of her violin, warning her that she might have to buy an extra seat to bring it on board, she said. Abrami said she told the Ryanair employee she would if need be.

When she tried to board at the gate, Abrami was met with an agent who “straightaway talked quite aggressively,” scolding her for not buying an extra seat, she added. Abrami said she offered to do so but was told it was too late. Abrami said she offered to take the violin out of its case and hold it during the flight. The agent made her try to fit the violin in an apparatus for measuring luggage and when it came in one centimeter over the 55-centimeter limit, Abrami said, she was again told she would have to check it. Ultimately, she resorted to begging.

“This is the first time I have experienced such rudeness and public humiliation,” she said Tuesday in a post on Facebook, adding in an interview with The Post that she “really tried to find a solution.”

Abrami was told to stand aside to let other passengers board, and after an interaction lasting a total of about 10 minutes, she left the Ryanair gate defeated to book a last-minute flight with Lufthansa for 500 euros. She had no problem carrying her violin on board, but it cost her more than five hours since that trip had a layover in Frankfurt and didn’t arrive in Berlin until 4 p.m., allowing her to barely make her recording session.

“Not every musician can have this opportunity,” she said in the Facebook post. “Missing a flight often means losing a vital work opportunity, whether it’s a gig, a recording session, or an important meeting. In an industry where every opportunity counts, such an incident can have a ripple effect, impacting reputation and future prospects.”

Abrami said she won’t fly Ryanair again unless they let her bring her violin into the cabin. But she hopes she can talk with the airline higher-ups to work something out. She said she can wrangle her fellow classical musicians, who have all had problems flying with their instruments, to perform a private concert “to show the importance of what we do … and how important it is for culture to keep this music alive.”

Abrami’s first instinct was to keep quiet about what happened but reversed course at the prodding of other classical musicians who have “suffered in silence” to use the opportunity and her platform to try to make things better. Her goal is not to bad-mouth the airline per se, but to push the industry to create rules that are fair to classical musicians flying with expensive, delicate equipment on which their livelihoods depend.

“I’m just trying to make a positive change,” she said.