What to do in Edinburgh, Scotland? Edinburgh sights
Monuments in Edinburgh's Old Town
The beauty of the Old Town
The heart of Edinburgh's Old Town is the street called the Royal Mile, which connects the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. There's no doubt you'll be walking the Royal Mile a lot.
This street is home to one of the city's most important historical monuments, St Giles' Cathedral. St Giles Cathedrala 13th century building.
Like many churches, St Giles Cathedral's strong point is its architecture. From the outside, the Gothic style and the harmony with the medieval beauty of the capital are evident. Inside, there are beautiful columns and the blue ceiling stands out.
It's well worth a visit to the cathedral, which is also free to enter.
Another important street is Princes Street, which is more commercial. There you'll see the Scott's Monumenta dark Gothic tower that blends in with the Scottish climate and the stunning greenery of Princes Street Gardens.
The Scott Monument is basically a tower built in the mid-19th century in honour of the writer Walter Scott.
From there you have a beautiful view of the city centre, you just have to climb almost 300 steps and pay a few pounds sterling to enjoy it. For an even more complete and totally free view, we recommend going to Carlton Hill.
There are a few monuments there, but what stands out are the exuberant views of the Historic Centre. The sunset on Calton Hill is well worth it!
You should know that there is a free tour of medieval Edinburgh, which is highly praised and lasts 2.5 hours. All tourists need to do is tip and book the tour in advance.
There's also the tourist bus option for those with limited time.
Edinburgh Castle
From anywhere in Edinburgh you can see Edinburgh Castle, the city's most visited tourist attraction and one of its most important historical monuments.
Edinburgh Castle is located on a high cliff, which allows visitors to enjoy a privileged view of the city. The cliff was created by volcanic activity in the area.
Edinburgh Castle was built over many centuries, but its foundation dates back to the 10th century.
For centuries, it was used by monarchs, but also for military purposes. Today, Edinburgh Castle houses the National War Museum, St Margaret's Chapel (17th century), two famous cannons, the Crown Jewels and the Coronation Stone.
Edinburgh Castle is open every day. Adult admission costs £15.50. For more information, visit the official website.
Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat
One of the parks you should visit in Edinburgh is Holyrood Park, especially in summer.
It's here that you'll find beautiful views of the city, because Holyrood Park is home to an extinct volcano, forming a hill.
Take the path near the Palace of Holyroodhouse and reach Arthur's Seat, the highest point of the volcano at 250 metres.
This route isn't so simple, but it allows you to see the beauty of Scottish nature even in the capital and that's why it's on our list (and that of most visitors) of things to do in Edinburgh.
For those who want to visit Arthur's Seat without getting too tired, start the trail at Loch Dunsapie. The climb is steep, but quite short compared to the 360-degree hike up the volcano.
National Museum of Scotland
One of Edinburgh's must-see tourist attractions is the National Museum of Scotland, a comprehensive museum that is completely free of charge.
There are several areas in this museum, from natural history (which children love) to archaeology and the history of the peoples who formed Scotland.
The National Museum of Scotland is highly recommended for those who want to learn more about the country they are visiting.
If you only have time to visit one museum, we recommend the National Museum of Scotland, which is also an option on what to do in Edinburgh for free.
For more information, visit the official website of the National Museum of Scotland.
HMY Britannia
The HMY Britannia is a yacht that was built in Scotland in 1953 and served the monarchy until 1997.
The Britannia was designed to comfortably house the Royal Family and enable them to travel the world using the ship.
After her retirement, the Royal Yacht Britannia became a museum and is moored near Edinburgh's Old Town.
Anyone interested in the Royal Family or ships will enjoy visiting the Britannia.
Adult admission costs £17, while minors pay £8.75. Children under 5 get in free. For more information, visit the Royal Yacht Britannia's official website or book a ticket in advance. ticket in advance.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is Queen Elizabeth II's official residence in Scotland and is only occupied by her for a few months each year.
During the other months, the imposing building opens its doors for visits to its various French-designed flats and the famous Queen's Gallery.
The beauty of the Palace of Holyroodhouse also lies in its surroundings, in the perfect combination of the palace's luxury with the simple and imposing nature of Holyrood Park.
Adult tickets cost £16.50. For more information, visit the official website or book your ticket in advance.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Edinburgh's Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is one of the most popular attractions for families with children.
The focus of the five floors of exhibits is to get visitors to interact with and be amazed by the varied and creative illusions.
You can also enjoy a beautiful 360º view of the city.
We recommend Camera Obscura and World of Illusions if you're travelling with children or just want to know what to do in Edinburgh in the rain.
Adult tickets range from £15.75 to £17.50. For more information, visit the official website.
Gin and whisky in Edinburgh
Scotch whisky is world famous for its quality and tradition. There are many specialised shops, which guarantees a quality product. But gin also stands out among Scottish drinks.
Two popular guided tours are:
Edinburgh Gin DistilleryEdinburgh Gin Distillery: offers guided tours and gin tastings, as well as a lot of history about the drink. There are several types of tours, the cheapest of which start at £10.
The Scotch Whisky ExperienceThe Scotch Whisky Experience: has the most popular tours and is highly praised. The cheapest tour costs £17.
Edinburgh Botanic Garden
The Edinburgh Botanic Garden is the icing on the cake for those visiting the city during the summer, when the cooler temperatures bring out the flowers and it's a peaceful haven close to the city centre.
There are an infinite number of plants in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, without exaggeration. The gardens are meticulously tended, nothing out of place.
There's also a greenhouse with exotic plants, which you have to pay to enter. Enjoy the luminous green that only Scotland has and calmly appreciate the beauty of nature and its diversity.
For more information, visit the official website of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Other museums in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's main free attractions are museums, parks and mountains, and they're well worth taking advantage of.
Amongst the museums and galleries, there are some great options that can be handy on rainy days.
A National Gallery of Scotland is a great option for free cultural sightseeing.
Housed in a beautiful 19th century building, the National Gallery has paintings by important painters from the Renaissance to post-impressionism.
There are works by Van Gogh, Tintoretto, Pissarro and many Dutch painters, which makes for a great tour.
Pay special attention to the works of the local painters, the Scots, because being in Scotland also means enjoying everything it has to offer, including its art, which is hard to find in other museums around the world.
A Scottish National Portrait Gallery is one of the most praised museums in Edinburgh, and it's also free.
Visitors are initially surprised by the beautiful reddish neo-Gothic building. Inside, the decoration is rich and there are many paintings of important figures throughout Scottish history.
One museum with a specific theme is the Surgeons' Hall Museums, which focuses on anatomy, diseases and the evolution of medicine over the centuries.
Surgeons' Hall Museums has a long history, but was reopened to the public in 2015 after a major refurbishment.
Adult admission costs £8. For more information, visit the official website.
Summer festivals in Edinburgh
Since the late 1940s, Edinburgh has been buzzing with summer festivals, the most famous of which is the Edinburgh International Festival.
This festival takes place over three weeks in August. Classical music, theatre, opera and dance are all part of this unmissable attraction on what to do in Edinburgh.
At the same time, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes place, which differs from the first in that anyone can perform. In fact, this festival was created so that those not invited to the Edinburgh International Festival could have their own space.
Within the Edinburgh International Festival, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoowhich is a military parade with performances and lots of music.
Military personnel from the Commonwealth and the British Navy parade on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, an incredible setting.
For more details on summer festivals in Edinburgh, check out our special post on Festivals in Edinburgh.
Harry Potter café in Edinburgh
When J.K. Rowling was short of money, she moved to Edinburgh. During this time, she wrote the first book in the Harry Potter series at Elephant House, a charming (and absurdly touristy) café near Edinburgh Castle.
Today, Elephant House has become a place full of messages from fans and news from the author. For Harry Potter fans, the best thing to do in Edinburgh is to visit Elephant House.
You should also know that there is a free tour focussed on Harry Potterwhere all you have to do is tip your hat!
Dean Village
A pleasant (15-minute) walk from Princes Street leads to Dean Village, a quiet residential area that is super photogenic.
The history of Dean Village is linked to the water mills used to grind grain. In this case, the stream used is the Water of Leith.
Around Hawthornbank Lane, you'll see the most beautiful views of the Dean Village.
Mary King's Close
Edinburgh stands out for its medieval architecture, but the tales and legends of that time have also become attractions in the city.
Mary King's Close is an alley full of mystery, the site of ghost stories, murders and other events, such as myths related to the Black Death.
To visit the site, there is a very popular guided tour called The Real Mary King's Close, which costs £17.95 per adult. This tour is highly praised, but it's not cheap.
Be aware that there is a free tour about ghosts and other legendswhich lasts 1.5 hours, and all you have to do is tip.
Map of Edinburgh with tourist attractions
Check out the map above for the main sights on what to do in Edinburgh. Just click on the "arrow button" to access the map legend.
Day trips from Edinburgh, Scotland
There are many day trips from Edinburgh, mainly to visit medieval castles, lochs and natural landscapes.
The Highlands region is undoubtedly the most popular, but there are also places to visit close to the capital.
It's best to hire a car in Edinburgh and be able to take a well-rounded tour with plenty of stops. Of course, there is also the option of taking the train and bus to some destinations.
If you're visiting Glasgow, you don't need to hire a car (55 minutes by train), as the city is large by Scottish standards.
But you do need to plan ahead, because there are many attractions to visit in Glasgow, from the exuberant Cathedral and University to the many free museums.
Also close to Edinburgh is Rosslyn Chapel, an ancient church built on the ruins of a castle. The beauty of the surrounding countryside is also great. To visit Rosslyn Chapel, it's best to use a car or go on an excursion.
Crossing the River Forth, there are small towns that can be visited in a day, especially St Andrews, Perth and Dundee.
There are also several lochs to visit, the most popular being Loch Lomond, which is part of a national park, and the famous and more distant Loch Ness.
See also our selection of the best excursions in Edinburgh.
Travel routes to Edinburgh
What to do in Edinburgh in 1, 2 or 3 full days has already been answered in this article, but let's give you a few more tips to help you put together your travel itinerary.
If you only have 1 full day available, we recommend focusing on the attractions in the Old Town, choosing the Castle or the National Museum as a closed attraction that takes longer.
It is possible to visit Holyrood Park, but it is more tiring. Carlton Hill is easier to visit and also has beautiful views.
What to see in Edinburgh in 2 days can include a free tour of the city centre, a visit to the Castle, the National Museum and even a free gallery.
With two full days, you'll be able to climb Arthur's Seat and even go to the Botanic Gardens (only in summer!).
When travelling to Edinburgh for three full days, we recommend a day trip.
On this type of trip, we like to visit places close by, so as not to spend so much time on the road.
We hope these tips on what to do in Edinburgh have helped you! Also check out the best information on where to stay in Edinburgh http://pontins-sands-holiday-park.hotels-wales.com/en/!
Enjoy your trip!