20 Things To Do In Edinburgh, Scotland Travel Guide

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This 20 things to do in Edinburgh travel guide 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.

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)

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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

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

The Royal Mile is Edinburgh’s most famous thoroughfare — the ancient spine of the Old Town that runs from Edinburgh Castle all the way down to Holyrood Palace, the King’s official Scottish residence. Along this historic stretch you’ll find no shortage of shops selling everything from cashmere scarves and Harris Tweed to whisky, shortbread and Highland-themed gifts. Quality varies, so it pays to look beyond the tartan tat and seek out the independent retailers tucked between the closes — you’ll find beautiful jewellery inspired by Celtic design, locally made ceramics, and some genuinely excellent Scottish food and drink to pack in your suitcase. It’s touristy, yes, but the Royal Mile earns its popularity — and with a castle at one end and a palace at the other, the shopping comes with arguably the best backdrop in the country.

4) Edinburgh Walking Tours

One of the best ways to get under the skin of Edinburgh is to lace up your shoes and join a walking tour. The city is made for it — dramatic closes, hidden courtyards, centuries of stories packed into every cobbled street. Whether you fancy a free Royal Mile tour with a knowledgeable local guide, a spine-tingling underground vaults experience, a ghost tour after dark, or a literary walk in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott, there’s something for every kind of curious traveller. Most tours last between one and two hours, start near the castle or the Royal Mile, and can be booked on the day — though in peak season it’s worth reserving your spot in advance.

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

No visit to Edinburgh is complete without sitting down to a proper plate of haggis, neeps and tatties — Scotland’s national dish, rich, peppery and deeply satisfying, especially with a whisky sauce poured over the top. Here’s where to find it done well:

• The Haggis Box — Right on the Royal Mile, with traditional haggis, neeps and tatties plus your choice of red wine gravy, mustard or whisky sauce. Veggie and vegan options too.
• Arcade Haggis & Whisky House — A dedicated haggis and whisky bar where the classic comes drenched in whisky sauce. Try the Robert Burns Famous Haggis for the full experience. 
• Howies — A local favourite with two city centre locations (Waterloo Place and Victoria Street), known for seasonal Scottish menus, warm atmosphere and great value lunch deals
• Makars Mash Bar — Custom-made haggis with traditional, vegetarian and vegan versions, all made with gluten-free oats and served with a wide range of sauces.
• The White Hart Inn — Possibly Edinburgh’s oldest pub, dating back to 1516, and a place Robert Burns himself once visited. A deeply atmospheric spot for a full Burns Supper.

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

Edinburgh Gin has been distilling in the heart of the city since 2010, and a visit to their Heads & Tales bar on Rutland Place is a genuine treat for anyone who appreciates a well-made drink. The distillery tours take you behind the scenes to meet the copper pot stills — cheekily named Flora and Caledonia — and explore the botanicals that give Edinburgh Gin its distinctive character, from Scottish heather to pine. Whether you’re booking a full distillery experience or simply pulling up a stool at the bar for a creative gin cocktail, it’s a sophisticated, convivial stop that captures the spirit (quite literally) of modern Edinburgh. Book ahead — the tours are popular and sell out fast.

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

Princes Street Gardens sits in the heart of Edinburgh — a sweeping valley garden spread out beneath the dramatic volcanic rock of Edinburgh Castle. Once a loch (drained in the 18th century), the gardens are split into East and West sections and offer some of the most iconic views in the country. Whether you’re catching your breath between the Royal Mile and the shops of Princes Street, enjoying a summer concert at the Ross Bandstand, or simply watching the world go by with the castle looming above, this is a place that never fails to stop visitors in their tracks.

11) Dean Village 

Dean Village is one of Edinburgh’s most unexpected surprises — a former milling community tucked into the Water of Leith gorge, just a ten-minute walk from the bustle of the city centre. Dating back over 800 years, it once powered eleven grain mills along the river, and traces of that history are still visible in the old stone buildings, carved symbols, and the beautiful Bell’s Brae that winds down into the village. Today it feels like a world apart — cobbled lanes, weeping willows trailing over the water, and rows of handsome 19th-century flats reflected in the river below. It’s a favourite with photographers, dog walkers, and anyone who loves discovering the quieter, more romantic side of Edinburgh.

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.

Continue Planning

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Download our free Scotland Travel Guide (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many things can you realistically do in Edinburgh in 48 hours?

You’ll manage 8-10 activities in two days—and that’s if you don’t spend hours in a pub on the Royal Mile. Every guide promises 20-30, but realistically, two days covers a fraction of that.

When is the best time to walk the Royal Mile?

Go at 07:30 before 10:00 when it becomes a slow shuffle past tartan shops. Early morning gives you decent light for photos and the chance to actually walk rather than shuffle behind crowds.

Is Arthur’s Seat hard to climb?

Yes—it looks gentle from Princes Street but the 45-minute walk up involves scrambling over basalt. Wear proper shoes, bring water, and definitely skip the heels.

Are Edinburgh’s paid attractions like the Dungeon worth the money?

No. The National Museum of Scotland, Scottish National Gallery, and Scottish National Portrait Gallery are all free and world-class, while paid attractions are tourist traps.

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Secure Your Dream Scottish Experience Before It’s Gone!

Planning a trip to Scotland? Don’t let sold-out tours or packed attractions dampen your adventure. Iconic experiences like exploring Edinburgh Castle, cruising along Loch Ness, or wandering through the mystical Isle of Skye often fill up fast—especially during peak travel seasons.

Booking in advance guarantees your place and ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the rich culture and breathtaking scenery without stress or disappointment. You’ll also free up time to explore Scotland's hidden gems and savour those authentic moments that make your trip truly special.

Make the most of your journey—start planning today and secure those must-do experiences before they’re gone!