Last updated on August 31st, 2024 at 03:38 pm

It is tempting not to visit Scotland when taking a trip to the UK, but if you have a time-limited itinerary, what do you do? You head to Edinburgh, the Scottish capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Below are some of our recommended things to do in Edinburgh. We spent a good 3 days in this city. Three days in Edinburgh is long enough for you to experience the charm of this gothic city and short enough to give you the taste to come back for more.

If you want to venture out of the city and explore the Scottish highlands for a day trip, there are many commercial tours departing from Edinburgh. Or rent a car and do your own road trip to the many isles in Scotland; the Isle of Sky is high on my future travel list. Either way, you cannot miss a trip to the world’s funkiest city, Edinburgh.

Getting to Edinburgh

Either a train or a flight from London or any other big city in England. My friend and I rode the Virgin Train to Edinburgh Waverley station; the entire journey was approximately 6 hours from London.  We took the early morning train and reached just in time for lunch in Edinburgh, perfect, I say.

Top 10 Things to do in Edinburgh

The city is pretty accessible on foot or by public transport (bus), but since it can be quite hilly, there are places where you only get to go on foot. Below are my favorite top 10 things to do in the order of preference –

1. Walk the Royal Mile

When in Edinburgh, the most important street to know is the Royal Mile. Most point attractions as well as most shopping spots, will either be on this street or an offshoot from this street.

2. Arthur’s Seat Hike 

Now that you are in Scotland, there is no hiding from some really popular hikes, and you shouldn’t also. Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park are the top 2 hikes within city limits. My vote goes to Arthur’s Seat because why not get to the highest point? FUN FACT: Arthur’s Seat is actually a dormant volcano. Doing the climb for a perfect sunrise or sunset would be ideal, but at any other time of the day, you are guaranteed a gorgeous bird’s eye view from Arthur’s Seat. The duration of this hike depends on which trail you take. Each can depend on a range of anywhere from 30 mins to 1.5 hours. TIP:  Identify your hike route on the trail map ahead of time.  In my case, not much planning went on, so we kept following our line of sight to Arthur’s seat, i.e., a straight walk down on Royal Mile.

Most of the trek from Scottish Parliament is flat grassland until you approach Arthur’s Seat summit, which is when the ascent gets very steep.

This strenuous hike rewards you with breathtaking panoramas and the sweet pleasures of achievement. TIP: Beware of longer days in summer, and don’t over-exert yourself with daily activities before the hike if you go for the sunset. On our descent, we took the shortest path to civilization and landed ourselves in a local Scottish bar while waiting for our bus. We had earned ourselves a couple of celebratory shots, and off we ordered Tequila, Ouch! We turned some heads in the bar for all the wrong reasons, but that’s beside the point. In hindsight, I am surprised that a local Scottish bar even carried a bottle of Patron 😉

3. Edinburgh Castle

Top of Royal Mile ends at Edinburgh castle, which takes you through history built around this rugged landscape.

4. Calton Hill

Quaint hilltop boasting lush grassy slopes, colorful panoramic views of Salisbury Crags cliffs, Arthur’s seat, the bay, Holyrood Palace, and home to historic structures such as National monument and Nelson monument, to name a few. That’s Calton hill for you. It is a 15 mins walk, and a few steps climb from Royal Mile. Calton hill drew my attention when I saw a Parthenon-like structure in the distance from Scott’s Monument. FUN FACT: It is actually an unfinished monument modeled on the famous Parthenon in Greece, supposed to be officially called the “National Monument” to commemorate those who died in the Napoleonic Wars.  It’s no surprise that it’s sometimes also known as the Athens of the North. Calton Hill has a quiet and peaceful aura where one can easily spend a relaxing time on the grass slopes soaking in the gorgeous views. Allow the pictures to take you there virtually.

5. St. Giles Cathedral

You simply can’t miss this Gothic cathedral on Royal Mile. Located on High Street, this mesmerizing architecture stunningly adorns a square where spotted frequently are local Bagpiper players adding soul to the place.

6. Scott Monument

If Scott Monument is not on your list, then you must consider adding it. A great backdrop for the old Edinburgh skyline and a few minute’s walk from Royal Mile takes you to this impressive Victorian Gothic monument built in memory of Sir Walter Scott overlooking Princess St. gardens. If you are feeling adventurous, then buy the ticket to climb up on top of this monument, yes, you can go inside! It is about 200’ tall and many hundred steps, but then you are rewarded with the magnanimous views overlooking both the Old and Modern Edinburgh city. TIP: Word of caution, the stairs are narrow, circular and claustrophobic, but there are many exit levels where you can catch some fresh air and view before you go back up. My friend and I decided on a whim to climb those never-ending claustrophobic stairs and were enchanted by the 360-degree views from up above at every single level; the pictures speak for themselves.

7. Princess St. Garden

Princess St. Garden separates the old Gothic and newer modern parts of Edinburgh city. Scott Monument overlooks these gardens, and a walk here will lead to the foot of Edinburgh Castle. There is a small café in the garden for a quick bite.

8. The Palace of Holyrood House

Walk down the bottom of the Royal Mile and reach the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, i.e., the Palace of Holyrood house. I must admit, I was so overwhelmed with the many castles and palaces I had already visited in London, Windsor, and Edinburgh that I gladly passed this one for Calton hill. And then, unexpectedly, I saw this gorgeous view of the palace from Calton Hill.

9. Eat & Drink all things Scottish

Grab at least one meal of the sumptuous Scottish breakfast; definitely try the traditional Haggis (I had the vegetarian version), Potato Scones (also called Tattie Scones) besides the typical toast, beans, eggs, fried mushroom, and tomatoes. Worth a visit is the Grassmarket area with lines of restaurants. Need a midday break? All Harry Potter fans, here’s your chance to visit the inspiration behind J.K. Rowling’s exceptional creation – the Elephant House Café. Okay, it wasn’t the café that inspired her to write the novel but the majestic view of Edinburgh Castle from this café that created history. Last but not least, I am sure you will try some local Scotch if you are into it. In that case, highly recommend taking a Whiskey tour in the city.

10. Gilmerton Cove

Had enough history and sightseeing? Here’s an off-the-beaten-path experience for you in Edinburgh, Gilmerton Cove. The mystery of this spooky underlying city can only be unraveled by taking a tour of this cove. I don’t remember how I got convinced to go for this, perhaps, a payback for dragging my friend into trekking Arthur’s seat.

I hope you have a great time in the enchanting city of Edinburgh. Hope this guide helps you with what to see in this city 🙂

Happy Traveling!