Edinburgh is a historic and picturesque city. From stunning castles to breathtaking natural landscapes, there are plenty of things to see and do in this Scottish gem. Even if you visit Scotland for the scenery like we did, we recommend spending at least a couple days in this great city.
Things to Do
- Edinburgh Castle: This is a must-see attraction in Edinburgh. We recommend getting the best view of the castle exterior from the stairwell just across the street. You can also explore the castle’s interiors and learn about its fascinating history. It is well worth the price of admission.
- Free Walking Tour: Joining a free walking tour is a great way to get a sense of the city’s history and culture. We recommend booking with City Explorers, who did a great job introducing us to Edinburgh.
- Arthur’s Seat: This hill offers stunning views of the city, especially at sunset. There are many hiking routes to choose from to get to the summit, and you can even stop by Holyrood Palace on your way down. The hike is only moderately challenging, but it does get windy. As you must do in all of Scotland, prepare for changes in weather!
- Calton Hill: This is one of our favorite spots in Edinburgh, offering great views of the city and some cool monuments. While you’re in this part of town, we recommend also stopping by Scott Monument for a photo.
- Harry Potter Inspiration: Edinburgh is known for being a major inspiration for the Harry Potter series. Check out the Greyfriars Kirkyard graveyard to see some familiar names, and plenty of Harry Potter memorabilia can be found in shops throughout the city. Many of these shops are on Victoria Street, the inspiration for Diagon Alley.
Where to Eat
- Dishoom: This Indian restaurant serves amazing food – especially their ruby chicken. Be warned, though, that everything is kind of spicy!
- Makars Mash Bar: This popular chain serves a variety of creative mashed potato-based dishes. We recommend getting the classic potatoes with whatever meat you choose (can’t go wrong with the lamb).
- Howies Restaurant: For traditional Scottish cuisine, this is the place to go. Out of all the places we tried haggis in Scotland, Howies was the best (not that it is a super high bar to clear…haggis is just okay).
- Union of Genius: This fast-casual soup bar is a great, budget-conscious lunch. You can be full and in-and-out of Union of Genius in less than a half hour, leaving you some extra time to keep exploring Edinburgh!
- Mary’s Milk Bar: Try their hot chocolate ice cream float – it’s as delicious as it sounds. The ice cream here is also good, but the hot chocolate was the star of the menu.
- La Barantine Victoria: This cute bakery has delicious quiches that make for a perfect breakfast or lunch. If you need a quick meal before heading to the airport, La Barantine Victoria is a great option.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Where to Stay: We bookended our Scotland trip in Edinburgh, so we got to stay in a couple different places. First we stayed south of the historic center near the University of Edinburgh. The hotel here was just a short walk to town, but it was admittedly less convenient. At the end of our trip we stayed at an Airbnb right in the historic city center. It was an awesome location and very cool flat, but you do have to pay for that convenience. Regardless of which area you choose, Edinburgh is small enough to be very walkable.
- Getting Around: Walking is the best way to explore the city, but public transport is also available. The airport is easily accessible via public transit, and you can pick up a rental car from the central train station if needed.
- Stirling Day Trip: We highly recommend taking a day trip to Stirling to visit the castle, which is beautiful and different enough from Edinburgh Castle to keep you interested. The town of Stirling is about an hour from Edinburgh, so take the time to enjoy lunch while there. We thought Toast was a delicious option, with great sandwiches at reasonable prices. On the way to Stirling, we also recommend stopping at The Kelpies – two massive horsehead statues in a lovely park.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan