20 Things To Do In Edinburgh, Scotland Travel Guide

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This 20 things to do in Edinburgh travel guide, from  Samuel and Audrey – Travel and Food Videos features the best activities, museums, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, food and entertainment venues in the city along with numerous suggestions for tours that will make your stay in Edinburgh unique and memorable.

Edinburgh has a highly underrated food scene with plenty of traditional Scottish foods (such as Haggis) and many contemporary style restaurants to tickle your fancy. A suggestion we recommend higly is to take a Edinburgh food tour and also partake in Scotch Whisky and Gin tours. Your visit wouldn’t be complete with visiting Edinburgh Castle, walking along the Royal Mile and enjoying some of the legendary nightlife the city has to offer in both New Town and Old Town.

 

Summary: 20 Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland Travel Guide:

1) Edinburgh Castle

2) Scotch Whisky Experience (suggestion)

3) Royal Mile Old Town for souvenir shopping

4) Edinburgh Walking Tours (Ghost Tour, Literary Tour, etc)

5) Eat Traditional Scottish food: Haggis, neeps & tatties (suggestion: Whiski Rooms)

6) Holyrood Palace (Official resident of British Monarchy)

7) Holyrood Abbey and Garden

8) Edinburgh Gin Distillery (suggested tour)

9) National Museum of Scotland

10) Princes Street Garden

11) Dean Village (underrated place to visit)

12) Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat

13) Scott Monument for great views of Edinburgh

14) Royal Botanic Garden not far from New Town

15) Food Tour (suggestion: Eat Walk Edinburgh)

16) Wynds and closes in the Old Town of Edinburgh

17) St. Giles Cathedral

18) Scottish National Gallery Museum

19) Scottish National Portrait Gallery Museum

20) Nightlife in Edinburgh (pubs, live band or a ceilidh)

Thanks again to Samuel and Audrey – Travel and Food Videos  for this great video..

Have you started planning your trip to Scotland Yet?

 

1) Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is world famous and this icon is the most visited tourist attraction in Scotland. The castle is also part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. 

The castle has a long and complex building history with the oldest part,  St Margaret’s Chapel, dating back to the 12th century. In 1510 the Great Hall was erected by James IV and the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century.After World War I the Scottish National War Memorial was added.

Inside the walls of Edinburgh Castle you will find the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O’ Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland. The castle is a must visit on your trip to Edinburgh

2) Scotch Whisky Experience (suggestion)

How would you like to become an actual part of making whisky. You can take a barrel ride as you become part of the distilling process. There are many regional whiskies to taste and the experience will cater for anyone whether you like fruity, sweet or smoky flavours. The  experts will help you select your perfect dram.

Amazingly you can enter the vault containing the world’s largest collection of Scotch Whiskies and enjoy a special tutored nosing and tasting. Take a journey and explore the rich history of Scotland’s whisky as it started from small beginnings to global recognition.

3) Royal Mile Old Town for souvenir shopping

Collect those gifts and souvenirs to take home by shopping on the stretch of road connecting Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace, the King’s  residence in Scotland.

4) Edinburgh Walking Tours

A great way to explore Edinburgh is to take one of the many available walking tours.

5) Eat Traditional Scottish food: Haggis, neeps & tatties

You just have to experience traditional Scottish food. A list of places where it is served, below.

6) Holyrood Palace (Official residence of British Monarchy)

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence in Scotland of His Majesty, The King. The Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and is open to the public throughout the year. Explore the Palace’s close associations with some of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie, and learn how today it is used by The King  when carrying out official engagements in Scotland.

7) Holyrood Abbey and Garden

Holyrood Abbey was founded by David I in 1128. The building was later turned into a modern Renaissance palace – Holyroodhouse – and became the royal family’s main home in Scotland to this day

What to see and do at Holyrood Abbey

• Wander through the abbey nave and gardens after touring the Palace of Holyroodhouse  this is run by the Royal Collection Trust and open to the public.
• Admire the east processional doorway, the only surviving part of David I’s original ‘monastery of the Holy Rood’
• The west front of the rebuilt abbey church remains one of the most impressive Gothic façades anywhere in Scotland
• You can also view the royal vault, which is  the final resting place of both royalty and Augustinian canons.

8) Edinburgh Gin Distillery (suggested tour)

Gin is definitely back in vogue and we highly recommend this experience.

9) National Museum of Scotland

At the National Museum of Scotland you will not only be able to learn more about the rich history of Sclotland but you can explore the diversity of the natural world, world cultures, science and technology, art, design and fashion. This is one of the “must visit” places in Scotland.

10) Princess Street Garden

11) Dean Village (underrated place to visit)

12) Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat

One of four hill forts, Arthur’s Seat dates back to around 2,000 years ago and is situated within Holyrood Park. The park itself offers walks, solace, wildlife, volcanic geology and unparalleled views of the city from its many vantage points. There are several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the park which are mostly designations due to its exceptional range of grassland habitats and its internationally important volcanic geology. 

13) Scott Monument for great views of Edinburgh

This 200-foot spire is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish poet.

14) Royal Botanic Garden

Enjoy peace and tranquility right in Edinburgh city centre with 72 acres of this beautiful park. Founded in 1670, the Garden is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the world.

15) Food Tour (suggestion: Eat Walk Edinburgh)

Walk and Eat! Why not discover Edinburgh’s food culture and history with Eat Walk Edinburgh, the original Edinburgh food walking tour.The  Eat walk Edinburgh tours are all about locally sourcing and you can savour whatever is in season when you visit. 

The company is based in Edinburgh, the  guides are local and the tours showcase locally sourced, Scottish food and drink.Edinburgh  city with a fantastic array of restaurants and bars 

16) Wynds and closes in the Old Town of Edinburgh

Meander through Edinburgh’s oldest neighborhood, dating back to medieval times: these small streets are lined with wool shops, pubs and historical monuments all beckoning you to step inside. 

17) St. Giles Cathedral

With its famed crown spire St Giles’ Cathedral  stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.  It is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland’s chivalric company of knights headed by the King) and is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh.

18) Scottish National Gallery Museum

The Scottish National Gallery is home to one of the best collections of fine art in the world and is situated in the heart of Edinburgh.  The collection includes masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Constable, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh and Gauguin as well as major Scottish names such as Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie and McTaggart.

19) Scottish National Portrait Gallery Museum

At the Scottish National Portrait gallery you can come face to face with the people who shaped Scotland’s past, present and future.  The gallery opened to the public in 1889 as the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery.  Admission is free.

20) Nightlife in Edinburgh (pubs, live band or a ceilidh)

End your day in Edinburgh with one of the most lively nightlife scenes that you will find anywhere.

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