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Language I CurrencyDiscover the best things to do in Edinburgh, from historic streets and fascinating museums to art, Scotch-making, festivals, literary landmarks, and breathtaking city views.
By Admin
Though it is the capital of Scotland, we would prefer to call it the City of Inspiration for its habit of inspiring all who visit. Learn about evolution, the art of chocolate-making, impactful stories, and the power of history. Enjoy this city that has enjoyed confusions of illusions since 1835, celebrated its Edinburgh Festival internationally, and now hosts some of the greatest works of Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Vuillard, and such great names within its borders.
Discover the best things to do in Edinburgh on your first trip and how to go about it in this article, besides watching a beautiful mixture of pink, golden, and blue in the sky, exploring brilliant museums, and walking on stone-paved streets. By walking or bus, roam around the city where childhood has a museum, where Scotch-making is a centuries-old art, where great artists and writers were once inspired to create their greatest work, like JK Rowling, and find your own calling.
Explore the monuments of Calton Hill, enjoy the view from Arthur’s Seat, discover the museums of art, history and creativity, walk through millions of years of evolution, visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle, and admire the beautiful gardens in between, with a flexible schedule.
Though small in size, there are plenty of things to do in Edinburgh. Dive into the underground tunnels and grim history, or watch the fruits become alcohol in distilleries, or go on a self-guided tour to explore the city’s rich culture. You can travel along the peaceful Water of Leith Walkway as you tour on a hop-on hop-off bus around one of the world’s most beautiful cities while enjoying the cuisine and culture of Scotland.
Touring Edinburgh Castle is one of the most important activities you must do during your first trip. Perched upon an inactive volcano, essentially an extinct volcanic plug, is this iconic attraction that you must visit, even if only for the view.
With much to experience inside, set aside 2 hours to truly explore the great hall, rooftops, and courtyard, while taking your time to admire Scotland’s oldest jewels and museum exhibits.
Catch a glimpse of the strong military hold, pay your respects to the soldiers who fought in both World Wars and to St. Margaret’s Chapel, as well as see the vaults where Caribbean pirates were kept after being captured alongside the prisoners of war.
Navigate the 1.13-mile-long road connecting the two royal residences (the Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse) among the medieval architectural vibe, with multiple museums along the way for you to explore.
Discover the love of chocolate at Edinburgh’s Chocolatarium again, or join the gin pioneers at Edinburgh Gin Distillery. Enjoy the wonder of stories at the world’s first purpose-built centre for oral storytelling and the memorabilia of children’s toys that take you down memory lane.
Explore the preserved underground streets at the Real Mary King’s Close, fall in fantasy at Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, as well as commemorate the innocents accused of witchcraft at Witch’s Well.
If you are a history fan, you cannot miss this. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the royal family, where their children grew up. Although the palace requires entry tickets to tour, by all means, the tour is worth the money you put in, as you get some insights into the royal perspective and how much our daily lives differ from theirs.
Nearby, you can learn about the creation and evolution of past, present and future at Dynamic Earth, after which you may traverse the Canongate to find the Scottish Parliament, The King’s Gallery and Museum of Edinburgh.
Named after King Arthur from legends, Arthur’s Seat is said to be the exact location of the Camelot Castle in Arthurian Myths. Formed somewhat 350 million years ago, this hill holds the highest peak in Edinburgh, at 251 meters above sea level, retaining a fantastic view of the city.
So, trek-lovers can either complete this 90-minute climb or they can go visit a more central location, Calton Hill.
Whereas Arthur’s Seat is shrouded in myths, Calton Hill is festooned with monuments and stories, while also believed to have held the entrance to the faerie kingdom once upon a time.
Steeped in creativity, wander between tombs while hearing the haunted tales, such as the notorious Mackenzie Poltergeist. Involved in the history of Covenanters, this graveyard is located at the southern edge of Old Town.
Adjacent to it stood the Covenanters Prison, where, after the Battle of Bothwell Brig, around 1200 Covenanter prisoners were held exposed to rain, cold, and hunger. Many lost souls were buried without markers within the yard, lost to history and memory.
Today, as an act of remembrance, only the paid ghost tours are allowed entry inside the Inner Greyfriars Yard, alongside the haunting stories of poltergeists and such, to begin to understand what was lost then.
Some old, some new, there are many museums and showcases you can enjoy your time in and learn from at the same time. Stroll Old Town with a guide who will tell you stories of old, of Mary Queen of Scots, of the grim history of Edinburgh.
Writer’s Museum: Follow Scotland’s literary legends and writers whose influence shaped the nation’s cultural identity.
National Museum of Scotland: Jack of all trades, it holds over 8000 stories of culture, science, art and technology.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions: Weave your way through over 100 hands-on exhibits and illusions.
St. Giles Cathedral: The city’s most iconic medieval building and a place of history.
Museum of the Mound: Deepen your understanding of money and banking by learning its history.
National Mining Museum: Be amazed by the brilliance of engineering behind all the machinery as you retrace the growth.
Surgeon’s Hall Museum: Ascertain the twists and turns of medical history and its development.
The People’s Story Museum: Determine the contemporary issues, events and opinions of the past.
St. Cecilia’s Hall & Music Museum: Oldest purpose-built concert hall holding 6000+ collections of musical instruments.
Scottish Galleries of Modern Art: View world-class art from across the world, from over 100 different artists of all ages.
This royal city is divided into two towns (New and Old) which for first-timers, feel as if travelling through time. With each unique experience, you learn the different tales pulsating beneath the city's veins as you are absorbed into their vibe.
The Old Town of Edinburgh is a testament to Scotland's violent history, holding most of the museums, galleries and attractions as well as castles, palaces and secret underground tunnels. You travel through the cobbled narrow alleys and street performers as the alluring and medieval architecture makes for a photo-worthy backdrop.
Whereas New Town holds many small monuments that make for a great treasure hunt. You can visit Prince Albert Memorial at Charlotte Square, or climb up to the Scott Monument, a tribute to the novelist Sir Walter Scott.
As for Calton Hill, resting at 130 meters above sea level, on top of a volcano, with several historic paintings and engravings alongside the most important Edinburgh attractions:
National Monument of Scotland
Dugald Stewart Monument
Nelson Monument
There are many places to visit in Edinburgh, many close, some far. Yet, even with easy access to rental vehicles and large roads, driving in Edinburgh is not recommended for first-timers and new drivers because it is hard to find parking spots near attractions.
Thus, travellers, especially first-time visitors, are always advised to use public transport. Here are your options:-
Walking: While a great option for nearby attractions, it will waste time and is impossible for far-away attractions.
Bus: You will need to research bus stops and plan out a route.
Tram: As with the bus, research the nearby stops and plan out a route.
Taxi: Inefficient and expensive for one-time travel, specifically when touring all over.
Hop-on Hop-off Bus: 360 panoramic view, one-time ticket, flexible and tailored to your needs, major attraction stops, live and audio-guided tour in multiple languages
Explore the three exceptional operator routes (Regal, City Sightseeing, and Edinburgh Bus Tour) with 24-hour or 48-hour ticket validity, on-board multilingual commentary, on-board WiFi, various discounts, and a 360° view of the open-top double-decker bus. Each starts from Waterloo Place, but you can board from any stop at any time till your ticket validity expires.
Enjoy the neo-classical architecture from above, as you take the one-trip all over to select your favourite spots and sightsee. Keep a flexible schedule as you hop off at your chosen stop to traverse the streets, museums, and attractions without care for time.
Make sure to compare prices and routes before purchasing a single ticket or combo with entry tickets to have the perfect city experience with Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off. Enjoy!
Always plan your trip for convenience. Combine bus travel with walking to take full advantage of nearby attractions and museums.
Many museums and attractions require entry tickets. Book them in advance to avoid paying extra and queues, especially during peak season.
Edinburgh has a maritime climate, so it does not necessarily get cold outside of season, yet light rain can happen at any moment; thus, always wear a waterproof outer layer.
Edinburgh streets are atmospheric, cobbled and stone-paved; thus, make sure to wear a sturdy pair of hiking boots or sneakers to avoid having blisters.
Prioritize 4-5 attractions to explore rather than rushing. Ride the hop-on hop-off bus full round, listening to the live and audio commentary before deciding your chosen stops.
Keep a small bag on you that must have a protein bar, water bottle, physical map, cash, and anything else you need. Keep it light for long travels.
Early morning gives you pedestrian-free streets. Perfect for photos! Catch the earliest bus around 09:00 AM.
Always check the schedule before departing, as it can change due to bad weather or heavy traffic.
Edinburgh Castle and Palace of Holyroodhouse are must-visits. Otherwise, you can climb Arthur’s Seat for an amazing view, or visit Calton Hill if you prefer history and stories more. Horror fans must join the Ghost Bus Tours to hear the many haunted stories and grim history of Edinburgh.
If you utilize your time well, then 2-3 days are enough to experience all the highlights of Edinburgh.
We suggest exploring Calton Hill first, as it contains everything from photogenic views to stories to monuments. Also, the hop-on hop-off Edinburgh bus tours start from there, so you can spend your early morning exploring and then tour Edinburgh afterward.
Yes, Edinburgh can easily be explored on foot. For the closer attractions, it is the preferred way of travel by locals, while farther locations are visited by public transport. For first-timers, a hop-on hop-off bus provides the best opportunity, as you will have flexibility and direct stops to attractions.
Yes, you can explore Edinburgh on a hop-on hop-off bus. There are three operators: Regal, City Sightseeing, and Edinburgh Tour; each offers different routes and focuses around Edinburgh. Purchase the ticket for your preferred route or all three and hop on.
Yes, Edinburgh is a city of stories. You can explore without a guide, but you will miss many tidbits and stories about this city that a guide will tell you. Whereas alone you will explore as a tourist, even an audio guide will make sure you explore as a traveler.
