Things to do in Edinburgh – The Ultimate Edinburgh Travel Guide

Are you planning a trip to Scotland and looking for the best things to do in Edinburgh?

If we could only chose one place to recommend for a city break around the UK it would have to be Edinburgh. Edinburgh is one of the most unique cities in Europe and it is easy to see how it came to be the inspiration for the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Edinburgh offers the perfect blend of old and new, from the medieval Old Town to beautiful Georgian architecture, Edinburgh has something for everyone and it is a great place to visit for your next European city break. With Edinburgh being such a short flight from Ireland, it is perfect for a weekend away throughout the year.

This Edinburgh Travel Guide contains everything you need to help you plan for your next trip to Edinburgh. This includes the best things to do in Edinburgh, when to visit, where to stay in Edinburgh, how to get around the city, as well as food and drink recommendations for your next visit. We will also break down the main areas of the city to help you plan to best places to visit in Edinburgh during your stay.

How to get from Edinburgh Airport to the City Centre

Public Transport

The easiest way to get to the city centre from Edinburgh airport is to use public transport. Just outside the airport there is an airport bus that runs every 10-15 minutes and takes around 30 minutes to reach the city centre.

The bus has charging ports, free wi-fi and up to three children under the age of 5 can travel on the bus for free with fare paying adult. An adult ticket costs £8 each way and you can get more details on the Lothian bus website.

Taxi

Alternatively, you can also take a taxi by downloading the Bolt app on your phone. The journey to the city centre will take around 25 minutes and typically costs around £30, so it can be a good option if you are travelling in a larger group.

How to get around Edinburgh

Walking

While Edinburgh is quite a hilly city, the easiest way to get around is by walking. Most of the main attractions around the city are within walking distance and part of the charm of visiting an Edinburgh is to explore the winding streets on foot.

Public Transport

Despite being very hilly, you will likely spend much of your time walking around Edinburgh as the city is well laid out but you can also get around using the Lothian bus network. The buses run throughout the day and there are also a number of tram routes that link the New Town to Edinburgh Airport. You can get a family pass (2 Adults and 3 children) for £10.50 which provides unlimited access to the public transport network for a day, excluding the journey to the airport.

Hop On/Hop Off Tour

If it is your first time visiting the city, one of the best ways to get a feel for the city and to see all of the major sites is to take the hop/hop off bus tours. This allows you the flexibility to pick and choose where and when you want to go somewhere, without having to worry about how to get there.

When to visit Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s moody architecture and medieval history means that the city is actually brought to life even more by less favourable weather. While the temperatures can get very low during the autumn/winter this shouldn’t put you off visiting during these months as the fog and mist you will often see in the colder weather lends itself to the character of the city.

As well as that, Edinburgh has become increasingly renowned for its Christmas decorations and Christmas markets making December a good time to visit. That being said, if you do visit during the Winter months, temperatures can go as low as 1 degree celsius (average low in January) so make sure to pack accordingly.

One other thing to consider when planning when to visit is the cost. In our experience, the cost of accommodation in Edinburgh can be considerably higher than other European cities during peak months so we have tended to visit around early Spring time, when the temperatures start to rise a little bit but the cost of hotels and accommodation is still manageable.

If you plan to visit during the Summer, it would be worth considering a visit during the Edinburgh Fringe festival, which normally takes place in August – a great way to celebrate some incredible artists during your time in the city.

Book Flights to Edinburgh

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

To make sure you have easy access to the main attractions in the city, there are two main areas we would suggest staying around when you visit Edinburgh – in the Old Town your best options are Royal Mile or Grassmarket and in New Town you could stay around Princes street or Queen’s street. When we visited, we stayed in Grassmarket each time as it is really central to the main parts of the old town.

Note: Please note that for any bookings made via the affiliate links included within this post, we will receive a small commission from the supplier but this will not affect the price you pay.

*Prices above are based on dates researched for February 2025

How long should you stay in Edinburgh

We have been to Edinburgh have times now and have always found a reason to go back, with different experiences on offer each time. Because we are based just a 45 minute flight from Edinburgh and it is so easy to get to the city centre, it is easy for us to justify taking a trip over for even a day trip. That being said, we would still advise spending a minimum of two days in the city – that way, you can at least spend one day exploring the Old Town highlights and one day visiting the best of the New Town.

Again, you won’t be short of options if you decide to stay longer, particularly if you want to venture a little bit further afield. One trip we would suggest taking if you were planning to head out of the city would be to go see the Glenfinnan viaduct – this is the site of the iconic steam train often seen in the Harry Potter franchise and this trip also gives you a window into the Scottish highlands and some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery.

Best places to visit in Edinburgh

New Town/Stockbridge

Scott Monument

Scott Monument is one of the pieces of architecture that stands out in Edinburgh as you make your way between the New and Old Town. This gothic feature is the second largest monument to an author in the world, erected in honour of Sir Walter As you pass Scott Monument, take a walk down through the Princes Street Gardens, where you will reach Ross Fountain, a beautiful feature in itself but it also provides you with amazing views of Edinburgh Castle from down below so it’s well worth combining with your visit to the monument.

Dean Village

Stockbridge is probably our favourite area to explore around Edinburgh and the next two places underline why. Dean village is a short walk from the Leith walkway and is a beautiful area to for a morning walk before making your way towards Circus Lane. Dean Village will give you a window into Edinburgh’s past and the area is really picturesque with beautiful stone buildings throughout the area.

Circus Lane

After you’ve visited Dean Village, we would recommend walking along the Leith walkway towards Circus Lane. This is definitely one of the most beautiful streets in Edinburgh and naturally is one of its most photographed locations. The cobbled streets lined with flower draped terraced houses are perfect for a photo, with the towering facade of St. Stephen’s church making a great backdrop. You could also stop off for something to eat at Pantry Cafe, which is just around the corner from this beautiful street.

Calton Hill

Calton Hill is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to some of Edinburgh’s most important monuments as well as providing stunning views of the city. This is a great place to go to watch the sunset coming down over the city in the evening, where you will get a great panoramic view of some of Edinburgh’s most iconic sites.

Old Town/Grassmarket

Edinburgh Castle

No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to the Castle. Here, you will learn about the history of Scotland’s monarchy – Edinburgh Castle tickets start at £11.40 for children over the age of 7 and £19.50 for Adults. You can get all of the information needed for a visit over on the Edinburgh castle website.

Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the connecting point between two of the cities most important historical landmarks, Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle. Almost all of the main attraction points in the Old Town of Edinburgh are connected to this street so you will find yourself here quite often throughout your trip. You will find lots of great shops and restaurants along the Royal Mile so it is a great place to use as a base for the main activities on your agenda.

Cockburn Street

Similar to Victoria Street, this winding street is a favourite amongst tourists and a nice place to go for a coffee at popular spot, The Milkman, and watch the day pass by. At the top of the street, leading on to the Royal Mile, you will find the Tron Kirk Market, which has a collection of art and souvenirs from artists based all over Scotland – a great place to grab a memento from your trip to the city.

Victoria Street

Known as the inspiration behind Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, Victoria Street is a must visit for any Harry Potter fan, as well as being the gateway to the Grassmarket area. Like much of Edinburgh, Victoria Street is another photogenic spot, with colorful buildings lining the winding street, it is one of the most popular places to visit in the city. If you are a Harry Potter fan, stop off at the Elephant House cafe, known as the birthplace of the famous novels.

Vennel Viewpoint

Vennel viewpoint is one of our favourite photo spots to visit any time we are in Edinburgh. It is located in the Grassmarket area of the city. To get there, look for an alleyway with the sign ‘Vennel – leading to Brown’s place’ and then it is just a short walk up the steps to get some incredible views of Edinburgh castle. The street itself is really picturesque too, lined with vintage style lampposts and cobbled stone streets and you can get great, unobscured photos of the castle as your backdrop while you are there. The viewpoint is also just a short walk from Victoria street so it’s an easy way to tick off a few of your Edinburgh highlights in quick succession.

Where to get the best photos in Edinburgh

In our view, Edinburgh is one of the most photogenic cities in Europe. Every corner of Edinburgh has something unique to offer, meaning you will never be short of a great photo opportunity.

• Vennel Viewpoint
• Circus Lane
• Scott Monument
• Victoria Street
• Edinburgh Castle
• The Writer’s Museum
• Prince Street Gardens
• Ross Fountain
• New College
• Calton Hill
• Arthur’s Seat
• Dean Village
• Greyfriar’s Kirkyard

Best things to do in Edinburgh

Tours & Activties

Activities

There are so many things to do in Edinburgh for every type of interest. If you are a Harry Potter fan then there is no shortage of places you can visit in Edinburgh linked to the series of books and films. A lot of the inspiration for character names came from Greyfriars Kirkyard; while the idea for the books and initial writings came at Elephant House cafe. Along the same street, Victorian Street, you will find the inspiration for Diagon Alley.

If you want to get a proper insight into the famous franchise, we would suggest taking a Harry Potter walking tour to make sure you see all of the best sights. Another great option for Harry Potter fans is the Glenfinnan Viaduct & Highlands Tour which takes you to the setting for the famous steam train used throughout the films, as well as featuring in James Bond films as well.

If you are a sports fan, you could go watch a Scottish football league match at Tynecastle or Easter Road, home to Hearts and Hibernian football clubs. If you prefer rugby, you could go see a Scotland match at Murrayfield depending on the time of the year (January to March for the 6 Nations tournament)

Edinburgh is famous for its scotch so if you’re a fan of a tipple, we would suggest trying out the The Johnnie Walker Whiskey Experience, which includes a 90 minute tour, as well as 3 personalised drinks to enjoy during your time there.

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