With its cobbled streets and friendly residents, you will fall in love with Scotland’s capital city. Edinburgh is filled with such rich history. Everywhere you look, there is a story just waiting to be told. In this travel guide, you will find all the best things to do and see in Edinburgh.
What to see and Do
Edinburgh Castle
Before becoming a major Scotland tourist attraction, Edinburgh Castle has a long history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison, and fortress. The castle sits on a massive rock, which is really a dormant volcano and is an impressive sight to see. Visitors can take a self-guided tour around the castle grounds. A thorough audio guide is available for an additional charge. Highlights include the Royal Palace, Stone of Destiny, Honours of Scotland, Prisons of War, Scottish National War Memorial, and the Great Hall. You definitely want to experience this attraction during your visit to Edinburgh. Just make sure to book your tickets in advance as this attraction often sells out.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is an interactive, fun, and quirky attraction that has been around since 1853, making it one of Edinburgh’s oldest tourist spots With five floors and over 100 hands-on exhibits, visitors of all ages will surely find something entertaining in this attraction. We were a little concerned that this attraction would be more geared toward children but we were so wrong. We had a blast! Visitors should purchase tickets ahead of time as they often sell out.
Real Mary King’s Close
During your visit to Edinburgh, you will hear all about the alleyways (called closes) that connect to the Royal Mile. Undoubtedly, the most famous of them all is Mary King’s Close, which was buried under the 18th-century Edinburgh City Chambers as the city grew. Present-day Mary King’s Close is a wonderfully preserved labyrinth of alleys and townhouses that gives insight into the everyday life of 17th-century Edinburgh. Costumed characters lead hour-long tours through the alleys and some of the townhomes while giving fascinating details about the daily lives of the people who once lived there. You will also hear tales about the ghosts that still reside there. One such tale is the story of Annie and the room that she supposedly haunts. It is a harrowing experience hearing the story of Annie and seeing the heap of dolls left by sympathetic visitors. Be sure to book your tickets in advance as it is one of the most popular attractions in Edinburgh.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the royal family’s official residence in Scotland. Most notably though, it was the 16th-century home of Mary, Queen of Scots. A highlight of the visit is Mary’s Bedchamber, home to the queen from 1561 to 1567. The self-guided audio tour leads visitors through several spectacular royal apartments. The tour also includes the impressive ruins of the Holyrood Abbey and the regularly changing exhibits from the Queen’s Gallery. Be sure to check the website before your visit as the palace closes occasionally for royal visits.
Arthur’s Seat
At the end of the Royal Mile sits Holyrood Park and more notably, Arthur’s Seat, the park’s highest point. Carved by ice sheets from an eroded stump of an extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat is a distinguishing feature of the Edinburgh skyline. There are several routes to the summit. The view from the top provides an excellent panorama of the city. It’s a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can find an official map and guide of the park by visiting Historic Environment Scotland’s website. Alternatively, you can use All Trails to plan your route.
National Museum of Scotland
You can easily spend an entire day at the National Museum of Scotland with over five floors featuring comprehensive exhibits relating to Scottish culture and history, science and technology, natural history, and world culture. Audio guides are available in several languages. The museum’s official website has a top 10 list of things to see during your visit. You will also find museum maps and suggested trail routes to navigate during your visit depending on your interest.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Many famous Edinburgh names are buried at Greyfriars Kirkyard, including poet Allan Ramsay, architect William Adam, and William Smellie, editor of the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Another wildly popular gravesite is the one of Thomas Riddell, a man who died in 1806 at the age of 72. This gravesite is widely believed to be the inspiration behind JK Rowling’s famous villain, Voldemort. The beloved Greyfriars Bobby monument is also inside the cemetery. Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye terrier who captured the hearts of Edinburgh in the late 19th century. After his owner passed away, the sweet pup guarded the gravesite from 1858 to 1872. The heartwarming tale was made into a novel in 1912, followed by a Disney movie in 1961.
For a delightfully spooky experience, go on a City of the Dead guided tour. Not only do you get to experience the cemetery at night, but the tour also includes a visit inside one of the burial vaults. Another excellent way to visit the cemetery is through a daytime tour with Cadies & Witchery Tours. On this tour, you hear historical tales about Greyfriars Kirkyard and the people who are buried there.
Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is one of the most iconic Edinburgh landmarks. At over 200 feet tall, this massive gothic spire was built in memory of novelist Sir Walter Scott. It is the largest memorial to a writer in the world. The exterior is decorated with carved figures of characters from his novels. Inside there is a small museum where you can learn more about Scott’s life and work. You can also climb the 287 steps to the top for spectacular views of the city. For more information, visit the monument’s website.
The Royal Yacht Britannia
First launched in 1953, the Royal Yacht Britannia served the Royal Family for over 44 years and traveled more than a million nautical miles for state visits, official receptions, royal honeymoons, and family holidays. The Queen adored the Royal Yacht and once said, “Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax.” A well-organized self-guided audio tour leads visitors around the Royal Yacht. Not only will you hear fascinating stories about the Royal Family’s time on the yacht but you also get to witness what their daily life looked like. The Royal Yacht Britannia is a must-see attraction during your visit to Edinburgh. Especially if you are a big fan of the Royal Family or the wildly popular show, The Crown.
Ghost Tours
It is no secret that Edinburgh is one of the most haunted cities in the world. Ghost tours are incredibly popular in Edinburgh. Once it turns dark, ghost tours seem to pop up on every street corner with guides dressed up in some outrageous costume. During our short stay in Edinburgh, we tried out three ghost tour operators.
First on the list is City of the Dead Tours. This was probably our favorite and the scariest of the three. According to their website, they have received several accolades including ‘Edinburgh’s Best Ghost Tour’ by Lonely Planet. They have several tours to choose from. We chose the Double Dead tour which includes two of the most haunted places in Edinburgh – the South Bridge Vaults and Greyfriars Kirkyard. The tour guide was an amazing storyteller as she guided our group through the eerie locations. It was an incredibly spooky and hair-raising experience.
For a more humorous take on scary ghost stories, Cadies & Witchery Tours offers a suspenseful walk around Edinburgh’s Old Town. The Ghosts & Gore tour is led by the very amusing Alexander Clapperton (deceased) and company through the streets and alleys of Old Town. This tour is more funny than scary. It is a nice break from the usual scary haunts that you find with other tour companies.
Mercat Tours offers a wide range of ghost tours and history walks to choose from. During our visit, we chose the Ghostly Underground tour, which includes the Blair Street Underground Vaults, one of the most haunted vaults in Edinburgh. Our theatrical tour guide led us through the different rooms in the vault and told us hair-raising stories about the ghost that dwell in the vault. It was a spooky experience.
Where to eat
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar – With over 8,000 five-star reviews on Google and Tripadvisor, Makars Gourmet Mash Bar is known for world-renowned Scottish food right in the heart of the city. The restaurant has won Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best award for the last five years. The menu is vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free friendly. They recently opened Makars Mushroom Emporium where visitors can see where they grow their own Lion’s Mane and Oyster Mushrooms.
New Chapter – This award-winning and highly-rated family-run restaurant is located in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town. Offering a modern menu of delicious and beautifully presented Scottish food paired with excellent service. Reservations can be made in advance by visiting New Chapter’s website.
L’escargot Bleu is a charming French bistro known for serving classic dishes with quality ingredients. Reviews rave about the overall experience at L’escargot Bleu from the delicious food to the attentive staff to the relaxing atmosphere. They even have a garden to grow their own vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Reservations can be made in advance by visiting L’escargot Bleu’s website.
Forage and Chatter – With multiple awards and close to two thousand five-star reviews on Trip Advisor, Forage and Chatter is known for having a fantastic menu of Scottish cuisine. The reviews not only praise the amazing food but also the attentive and friendly service. Reservations can be made in advance by visiting Forage and Chatter’s website.
Pizza Posto – We love pizza. We especially love authentic Neapolitan pizza and Pizza Posto delivered. Known for delicious and authentic Naples-style pizza served in a lively ambiance with friendly and attentive service. The food was so delicious that we went twice during our short stay in Edinburgh. Reservations can be made in advance by visiting Pizza Posto’s website.
edinburgh travel itinerary
Like all of our travel itinerary samples, this one is full of things to do while in Edinburgh. It can be easily modified to better fit your schedule or time. Just download the sample itinerary, save it to your computer, and it is all yours!