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If you’re planning a first trip to Scotland’s capital or heading back for another wander through its cobbled streets, this guide to the best things to do in Edinburgh is for you. Every season is a little bit different, from windy winter weekends to packed August festival trips. I’ve hiked Arthur’s Seat in sideways rain, queued for the castle at opening time, and spent long evenings in Old Town pubs after the day-trippers had gone home.
This guide covers the essential things to do in Edinburgh, along with practical tips I’ve picked up from repeat visits. Whether you’re coming during the busy August festivals, the quieter seasons in between, or the festive winter period, you’ll find the right things to do in Edinburgh to match your pace and interests.
Quick Planning Tips Before You Go
Best time to visit
Late spring and early autumn are my personal favourites. May, June, and September usually bring decent weather without the festival chaos. August is insanely fun because of the festivals, but it is busy and accommodation prices jump, making it not for everyone. Winter is cold and dark, but for people who love the winter holidays, it is quite amazing around Christmas and Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve).
How long to stay
Two days is enough for the big highlights. Three days feels better. Any longer and you can slow down or take a day trip.
Is it expensive?
It can be. Hotels in the centre are rarely cheap, especially in peak months. Food prices are similar to other UK cities. Booking early helps a lot. You can really ball-out with a trip to somewhere like The Balmoral Hotel if budget is really no issue for you, but more affordable options for highly rated hotels can definitely be found. You can use Booking.com to look for highly rated, well priced options here.
Getting from the airport
Edinburgh Airport is about 30 minutes from the city centre by tram or bus. It’s straightforward and well signposted. You can do a super cheap bus transfer, or a more private arrival and departure pickup.
Getting Your Bearings
The city centre is split between the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town is where you’ll find the medieval streets, the castle, and the Royal Mile. The New Town has wide Georgian streets, elegant terraces, and better shopping. Princes Street sits between them.
Most of what you’ll want to see is within walking distance. Just be ready for hills! Edinburgh is not flat.
The Best Things to Do in Edinburgh
Visit Edinburgh Castle
You can’t ignore it. The castle dominates the skyline, and yes, it’s worth going inside at least once. The views alone make it worthwhile. I usually go early in the morning to avoid the heaviest crowds.
Give yourself a couple of hours. There’s more to see than you might expect.
You can find all kinds of different tours catered to how you like to travel. Whether it is a city sightseeing hop on and off bus tour, or full 2-hour guides tours.
Walk the Royal Mile
This stretch between the castle and Holyrood Palace is touristy, but I still enjoy walking it every visit. The trick is to duck down the closes. Those narrow alleyways are where you feel the age of the city. If you are already planning to go on a tour of the Edinburgh Castle, you can always snag a walking tour that also hits the Royal Mile!
If you are taking the trek without a tour, grab a coffee, wander slowly, and don’t rush it.
Explore Palace of Holyroodhouse
At the bottom of the Royal Mile, this palace is still used by the Royal Family when they’re in Scotland. The ruined abbey next door is one of my favourite quiet corners in the city.
Check opening times before you go, as it occasionally closes for official events or changes hours on specific days.
Climb Arthur’s Seat
If the weather is decent, do this. The climb takes under an hour and the views stretch far beyond the city. I’ve done it in sunshine and in wind that nearly knocked me sideways. Pick your day wisely!
Wear proper shoes. The paths can get muddy and slippery.
Spend Time at the National Museum of Scotland
This is one of the best free museums in the UK. Even if museums aren’t normally your thing, it’s worth stepping inside. The rooftop terrace has a great castle view. On rainy days, this is sometimes where I end up.
If you are more of a private tour kind of tourist, you could take one of these, although they can be pretty pricey.
Wander Victoria Street
It’s short and photogenic, and yes, it gets busy. Still, a lot of travelers find it worth the walk to pass through at least once. The curve of the street with the colourful shopfronts makes for a classic Edinburgh photo.
Catch the View from Calton Hill
If Arthur’s Seat feels like too much effort or if you have any physical limitations to completing it, Calton Hill is the easy alternative. It’s a short climb and the skyline views are excellent, especially at sunset.
The wind can be strong even on mild days, so bringing a jacket would be wise. Make sure you check the weather forecast before, as always.
Take a Walk Through Dean Village
Dean Village feels like a quiet reset button. It’s only a short walk from the busy centre, but it’s peaceful and residential. I like following the Water of Leith path for a relaxed afternoon stroll.
There are also very affordable staying locations around this area of the city as well:
Step Inside St Giles’ Cathedral
Right on the Royal Mile, St Giles’ is worth a look inside. The Thistle Chapel is beautifully detailed and often missed by people rushing past.
Go Underground at The Real Mary King’s Close
This guided tour takes you beneath the streets to preserved 17th-century spaces to the Real Mary King’s Close. It’s a good way to understand how the city developed vertically over time.
Book ahead during busy months – it gets booked up fast!
Relax in Princes Street Gardens
When the sun appears, locals head here. It’s a good place to sit with a takeaway coffee and look up at the castle towering above. In December, this area hosts Christmas markets and seasonal events.
Explore Leith
Leith feels different from the Old Town. It’s more local, more residential, and has some excellent restaurants. You can reach it easily by tram or bus. If you have time, it’s worth getting out of the central tourist zone for a few hours and having some time to breath.
Learn About Whisky at The Scotch Whisky Experience
If you’re new to Scotch, this is a structured introduction. If you’re already a fan, you might prefer finding a smaller whisky bar and chatting with the staff. Either way, trying a dram in Scotland feels appropriate.
Visit During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
As mentioned in the opening of this post, In August, the entire city becomes a performance space. Street performers fill the Royal Mile and shows run late into the night. It’s exciting and it’s intense.
If you are visiting around August and are into this kind of thing, you DEFINITELY want to check this out.
Free Things I Always Recommend
We’ve mentioned these above, but as a quick TL;DR, here are the ones that are free and always worth your time:
- Arthur’s Seat
- Calton Hill
- National Museum of Scotland
- A wander through the Old Town closes
- Dean Village
You can easily fill a day without spending much.
Evenings in Edinburgh
Nights here are relaxed rather than flashy. You can’t go wrong with ending up in a pub with live traditional music or trying a whisky flight somewhere in the Old Town.
Sunset from Calton Hill on a clear evening is one of my favourite simple pleasures in the city.
A Simple 2 to 3 Day Plan
Day 1: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, St Giles’, sunset at Calton Hill.
Day 2: Arthur’s Seat in the morning, National Museum, wander Dean Village, dinner in Leith.
Day 3: Day trip to Stirling, St Andrews, or into the Highlands.
That pace feels manageable without rushing from sight to sight. You’re not sprinting up and down the Royal Mile trying to tick boxes, and you’re not cramming every museum into one afternoon. There’s time to stop for a coffee when you find a place that looks good, to duck into a random close that catches your eye, or to sit in Princes Street Gardens for half an hour and just take in the castle views.
Edinburgh is best enjoyed when you leave a little breathing room in your schedule. The hills are real, the weather can change quickly, and some of the best moments happen when you slow down and let the city unfold naturally.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
If it’s your first time, stay in the Old Town or New Town so you can walk almost everywhere. If you prefer something quieter, Leith is a good alternative with easy public transport connections. Since August can be so busy, make sure you book early if you plan on visiting anywhere near this time of year.