Things to Do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a compact city built on hills and old volcanoes, so the best things to do here are often a climb away: a castle on a rock, an extinct volcano in the middle of a royal park and a medieval Old Town stacked above a Georgian New Town. You can see a lot on foot in a couple of days, several of the big museums are free, and the Highlands start a few hours up the road.

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Our honest attraction reviews

Before you spend money on Edinburgh’s big-ticket sights, read our detailed verdicts on what’s worth it and what you can skip.

13 best things to do in Edinburgh

1. Edinburgh Castle

The fortress on Castle Rock is Edinburgh’s defining sight, home to the Honours of Scotland (the oldest crown jewels in Britain), tiny St Margaret’s Chapel and some of the best views in the city. Give it two to three hours. It’s paid, cheaper online, and tickets often sell out in summer, so book ahead and take an early slot to see the crown jewels before the queue builds. Be there at 13:00 (not on Sundays) for the One O’Clock Gun. Our full verdict: Is Edinburgh Castle worth it? If you’d like context, a Royal Mile walking tour that ends inside the castle works well on a first morning.

2. The Royal Mile and St Giles’ Cathedral

The Old Town’s main street runs downhill from the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with narrow closes (alleys) that drop steeply away on either side. Duck into a few of them: that’s where the Old Town’s character is. Halfway down, St Giles’ Cathedral, with its crown-shaped spire and the ornate Thistle Chapel, is well worth 30 minutes. Walking the street is free; allow two hours with stops. It’s packed in August, so go early. A guided walk past the main Old Town sights adds the stories you’d otherwise walk straight past.

3. Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park

An extinct volcano in the middle of a city is not something you see often. The climb to the summit of Arthur’s Seat takes most reasonably fit people 45 minutes to an hour from Holyrood, and the reward is a view over the whole city, the Firth of Forth and the hills of Fife. It’s free. The paths are uneven and the top gets windy and slippery, so wear proper shoes. The lower walk along Salisbury Crags gives you a great castle view with less effort.

4. Palace of Holyroodhouse

At the bottom of the Royal Mile, the monarch’s official residence in Scotland mixes state apartments with the rooms of Mary, Queen of Scots, where her secretary David Rizzio was murdered in 1566. The ruined Holyrood Abbey next door is the most atmospheric part. It’s paid and a visit takes about two hours. The palace closes when the royal family is in residence, usually for a week in early summer, so check the Royal Collection Trust website before you plan around it.

5. National Museum of Scotland

One of the best free museums in Britain, covering everything from Scottish history and the Lewis Chessmen to natural history, science and world cultures, with Dolly the cloned sheep on display. It’s large, so pick two or three galleries rather than trying to see everything; two hours is a good start. Don’t miss the rooftop terrace for a free view of the castle. It’s the obvious plan B on a rainy day, which means it’s busiest then.

6. Calton Hill

A short climb from the east end of Princes Street takes you to a hilltop scattered with monuments, including the unfinished National Monument that earned Edinburgh the nickname “Athens of the North”. The view along Princes Street to the castle and across to Arthur’s Seat is the classic Edinburgh skyline, and it’s free. Ten minutes up, then linger. Sunset is the favourite time, and it’s much easier than Arthur’s Seat if you’re short on time or energy.

7. The Real Mary King’s Close

Beneath the City Chambers on the Royal Mile lie the remains of 17th-century streets and houses that were built over and sealed off. Costumed guides lead you through them, telling stories of plague, overcrowding and daily life. It’s paid, runs to set times and sells out on busy days, so book ahead. It’s genuinely interesting rather than a scare show, and a good choice for older children. There are also other underground vault and ghost tours in the Old Town if you prefer something spookier.

8. Greyfriars Kirkyard and Victoria Street

Greyfriars Kirkyard, one of the city’s oldest graveyards, is famous for the loyal dog Greyfriars Bobby and for gravestone names that fans link to Harry Potter. It’s free and takes half an hour. From there, walk down to the curving, colourful Victoria Street and the Grassmarket below it, where the castle rises above the rooftops. This corner of town is at its best early in the day before the shops open and the crowds arrive.

9. Dean Village and the Water of Leith

Ten minutes’ walk from the West End, this former mill village sits in a steep, green valley along the Water of Leith, and feels far removed from the city centre above. It’s free and small, so the village itself takes 20 minutes. Continue on the riverside Water of Leith Walkway towards Stockbridge, with its independent cafés and Sunday market, for a relaxed half-day. Remember it’s a residential area and keep noise down.

10. Princes Street Gardens and the Scottish National Gallery

The gardens fill the valley between the Old Town and the New Town, right below the castle. The Scottish National Gallery sits at their eastern end on the Mound and holds an excellent, manageable collection, from Renaissance masters to Scottish painters like Raeburn. The gallery is free, and one to two hours is plenty. In December the gardens host the Christmas market and fairground, which is fun but crowded.

11. The Royal Yacht Britannia

Moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith, Queen Elizabeth II’s former royal yacht is a surprisingly personal look at royal life, from the state dining room to the crew’s cramped quarters. It’s paid, includes an audio guide and has lifts to each deck, which makes it one of the more accessible attractions in the city. Give it about two hours, and combine it with a walk along the Shore in Leith, where many of Edinburgh’s best restaurants are.

12. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

Next to the castle esplanade, five floors of optical illusions are topped by a Victorian camera obscura show and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views. It’s paid and aimed squarely at families, and children usually love it. Adults without kids may find it pricey for what it is. Allow about 90 minutes. Try to catch one of the first camera obscura shows of the day, which works best when the light is bright.

13. The Highlands and Loch Ness (day trip)

If you don’t have time for a longer trip north, a coach day tour is the most practical way to see the Highlands from Edinburgh. Typical routes cross Rannoch Moor and Glencoe on the way to Loch Ness, often with an optional cruise. It’s a very long day with many hours on the road, but the scenery on the way is the point. Book a Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands tour for a clear-weather day if you can, and sit on the side with the best views. Stirling Castle is a shorter alternative.

Practical tips for visiting Edinburgh

Best time to visit

May, June and September give you long days, reasonable weather and fewer crowds than high summer. August is festival month, when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo fill the city: brilliant atmosphere, but book accommodation months ahead and expect high prices. Winter is dark early and often wet, but December has the Christmas market and Hogmanay brings big New Year celebrations. Pack a waterproof jacket in any season.

How many days do you need?

Two full days cover the castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood, one museum and a hill. Three days lets you add Leith, Dean Village and a slower pace. Add a fourth day for a Highlands tour.

Getting around

The Old Town and New Town are walkable, but hilly, with lots of steps. For Leith, the airport and further afield, Lothian buses and the Edinburgh tram are frequent and easy; you can pay contactless on board or use the Lothian app. There’s no general city pass that makes sense for most visitors. If you plan to visit several Historic Environment Scotland sites, such as Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, check whether their Explorer Pass pays off. A car is more hassle than help in the centre.

Where to stay

• Old Town: right in the middle of the sights, atmospheric, but noisy and hilly, and very busy in August.
• New Town: elegant Georgian streets, flat by Edinburgh standards, and close to Waverley station and the airport tram.
• Stockbridge: village feel, good cafés and a pleasant walk into the centre.
• Leith: waterfront, great restaurants, often better value, with a tram into town.

Since summer 2026, overnight stays in Edinburgh are subject to a visitor levy charged by your accommodation, so check whether a quoted room price includes it.

Frequently asked questions

What is Edinburgh best known for?

Its castle on a volcanic rock, the medieval Royal Mile, its August festivals and a skyline that’s part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering both the Old and New Towns.

How many days do you need in Edinburgh?

Two days is enough for the highlights, three is comfortable. Four days gives you time for a day trip into the Highlands or to Stirling.

What can you do for free in Edinburgh?

Climb Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill, walk the Royal Mile and Victoria Street, explore Dean Village, and visit the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery, which are both free.

Do you need to book Edinburgh Castle in advance?

In practice, yes. Online tickets are cheaper than at the gate, and once a time slot sells out online there are no extra tickets on the day. That happens regularly in summer and during the festival.

Can you visit Loch Ness as a day trip from Edinburgh?

Yes, but it’s a long day, typically more than 12 hours, with most of it on a coach. It’s worthwhile for the Highland scenery on the way. If you have more time, a multi-day trip or an overnight stop in Inverness is far more relaxed.

Featured image: Photo: Jim Barton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons