If you’re looking for a city rich with history, charm, beautiful sites & kind people, Edinburgh is the place for you! As the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a city with a stunning castle, cobblestone streets, too many pubs to count, and a never-ending cozy Sunday vibe.
TIP: Although it looks like it would end with a hard ‘g’ sound, it’s pronounced Eh-din-ber-uh NOT Eh-din-berg.
Edinburgh took me by surprise with its beauty and energy that was unlike anywhere I had ever been before. Inspiring some locations in Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Outlander, and Braveheart, Scotland is a country where beauty is met with the fierce strength and pride of its people. It feels as though there is a secret language spoken between the land and the people of Scotland. A language based on respect and appreciation, not easily understood by an outsider but if you’re lucky, you might get to experience it.
When visiting a new place there are so many options and unknowns of how to find the perfect balance between history, culture, sights, and food of course, especially in a city like Edinburgh where there is so much more than what meets the eye. That’s why I’ve curated an ideal 4-day itinerary so you can cut the stress & get excited for all that’s to come on your trip to Edinburgh!
I’ve also included things you should know before traveling to Edinburgh & some personal travel tips below so if you want to be fully prepared and informed, keep reading.
Itinerary
Day 1: Explore the City Center
- Royal Mile
- Edinburgh Castle
- Victoria Street
Day 2: Immerse yourself
- Royal Botanical Garden
- The Real Mary King’s Close
- The Scotch Whiskey Experience
- Dean Village
Day 3: Tour the Highlands
- Book a guided tour of the highlands & see some of the most memorable landscapes in Scotland
Day 4: Relax & Discover
- Sunrise at the National Monument
- Arther’s Seat/Holyrood Park
- National Museum of Scotland
Getting to and from Edinburgh
From the airport to the city is only about 30-40 minutes by bus and you can buy a roundtrip pass that allows for any return date for a total of 9 pounds! Super easy, convenient, and affordable.
Another option, if you’re willing to pay a bit more, you can take a quick 20/25 min taxi to the center for around $30-$40.
*IMPORTANT* If you plan on using carry-on baggage when flying out of Edinburgh Airport read this!
When leaving Edinburgh with a carry-on you are only allowed to bring enough liquids to fill one 20cm by 20cm bag. They provide resealable, transparent, plastic bags of this size for you to transport all of your liquids into and yes you must do this part and the bag must be able to seal at the top (they wouldn’t even let me keep my small hand sanitizer because it wouldn’t fit in the bag).
Save yourself the heartbreak of having to choose which of your beloved skincare products to throw away and plan ahead for this step!
Day 1: Explore the City Center
There are so many things to do in Edinburgh it can feel overwhelming trying to decide how to prioritize your time. The good thing is, the city is very centralized so most attractions are no more than a 10 min walk from each other!
The Royal mile
The most popular street in Edinburgh, the Royal Mile is a hotspot for the must-see attractions and food stops in the city. With lots of fudge shops, cashmere stores, and street performers, walking along this street gives you a taste of a little bit of everything Edinburgh has to offer. While strolling you can take a quick stop in St. Giles Cathedral to see its beautiful gothic architecture, and if you continue upwards Edinburgh Castle is located at the end of the street.
Edinburgh Castle
Located at the end of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle is a great way to learn more about the history of Edinburgh’s troublesome past while getting a view of the city below. Book your tickets ahead of time on their website for 20 pounds per person (adults) where you can also choose to pay an additional 3.50 pounds for a mobile audio guide. Plan to spend around 2 hours at the castle to fully enjoy and learn.
Victoria Street
With beautifully colored pastel shops lined along the cobblestone street, a stroll down Victoria Street cannot be missed. As the inspiration for the infamous Diagon Alley and conveniently located right off the Royal Mile, this street is a hub for Harry Potter fans and normal muggles alike. Whether you’re looking to snap an aesthetic travel photo, enjoy some ‘proper’ fish and chips at Bertie’s, or hoping to explore Museum Context, the Harry Potter merchandise shop, you will not be disappointed.
And if you’re a die-hard HP fan, a short 2 min walk from the end of Victoria Street is a graveyard where Tom Riddle’s gravestone stands, the rumored inspiration for J.K. Rowlings sinister character Voldemort.
Day 2: Immerse Yourself
Royal Botanical Garden
Just outside of the city center is a 72-acre peaceful retreat full of lush vegetation; Royal Botanical Garden. When traveling it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the experience, finding a relaxing spot outside of the center is a great way to ground yourself with your surroundings. The garden itself is free for entry but there is the option to pay 5.50 pounds to explore the glasshouses which are full of diverse plants from around the world!
The Real Mary King’s Close
If you wish you could travel back in time to get a glimpse of what life in Edinburgh really looked like in the past, listen up! Just underneath the Royal Mile, the old streets of Edinburgh are frozen in time, waiting for their secrets to be shared. The Real Mary King’s Close offers tours for you to discover what daily life and work looked like for residents as well as revealing the dark past of Edinburgh you definitely don’t want to miss.
The Scotch Whiskey Experience
When visiting the home of Scotch, it’s only right to experience the true taste of Scotland.
Offering one of the largest collections of Scotch Whiskey in the world, The Scotch Whiskey Experience has five different tours to choose from. Ranging from beginner which includes an informational tour and the chance to try a Scotch Whiskey, to full immersion where you will get “A Full Taste of Scotland” with a mixture of Scotch Whiskey and food tastings.
In my opinion, one of the best ways to truly experience a culture is through food & drinks. Bottoms up!
Dean Village
One of my favorite spots in Edinburgh had to be Dean Village!
A quaint village sitting right on the Water of Leith, the largest river in Edinburgh, Dean Village will surely not fail to charm you. With a romantic bridge overlooking the cozy homes and cobblestone streets, it’s arguably one of the most picturesque areas of Edinburgh.
An easy 20-minute walk from the historic center, you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to discover this gem of Edinburgh.
Day 3: Tour the Highlands
This is nonnegociable!
Not really, but I could not recommend this experience enough. If you are traveling to Scotland and don’t have much time to fully explore the country, this is a great way to get a taste of the true nature of Scotland.
We booked a 12-hour highlands tour where we were picked up from the city center and our guides took us to some of the most spectacular spots in the Scottish Highlands most notably Skyfall Mountain, the Three sisters, and Loch Ness.
I would recommend doing the Loch Ness tour for an additional 16 pounds as it was very informative and interesting to learn what’s really lurking below the water’s murky surface.
It’s a lot to squeeze into one day but every moment was memorable and absolutely worth it!
Day 4: Relax & Discover
Calton Hill
Potentially one of the best spots in Edinburgh to catch the sunrise, Calton Hill offers a stunning panoramic view of the city as the sun creeps up over the horizon. I recommend this to start your last day in Edinburgh as a way to fully appreciate the beautiful city you have had the privilege to explore.
If you’re not an early bird don’t worry because the views are still captivating at any time of the day. On Calton Hill, you will find some notable monuments including the National Monument, Nelson Monument, and the City Observatory.
Arthur’s seat
As a nature lover, I couldn’t resist adding a quick ‘hike’ up to Arthur’s Seat. Located in Holyrood Park, this hill was actually an ancient volcano peak that rests high above the rest of the city giving you another incredible view of the life below.
Roundtrip, the walk up to the top takes about 1.5 hours and is moderately challenging, but sooo worth it! The park itself is serene with plenty of trees and a small duck pond sitting below the peak. Even if you don’t want to commit to going to the top it’s worth exploring the trail below.
The grass was so thick and soft that I was tempted to take a nap.
Museum of Scotland
A great way to get to know Scotland, even more, is by taking a trip to the National Museum of Scotland. With free admission, this museum not only exhibits Scottish history and culture but those from many other countries around the world. If you’re looking for one last wholesome, relaxing experience in Edinburgh, this is it!
Other Fun Things to Do
Ghost Tour
This is more of an optional suggestion if you’re interested in experiencing something other than nightlife when traveling to Edinburgh. There are options ranging from adults-only immersive underground ghost tours to more laid-back bus ghost tours.
I did the tour of the underground vaults and I can vouch that this is not for the faint of heart!
King’s Theater
A really cool activity offered in Edinburgh is seeing an opera show or a play at King’s Theater. There are many options going on throughout the year so make sure you check ahead of time to book your tickets!
Food recommendations:
Of course, no itinerary is complete without some food recommendations! Something that I loved about Edinburgh is that it’s an international hotspot so there is a wide variety of food types. Below I’ve made a short list of the most notable food stops I went to in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Larder
Listed as a cafe, The Edinburgh Larder is the perfect spot for breakfast and/or lunch. With a cozy interior, their menu highlights local, seasonal produce from around Scotland serving you delicious food you can feel good about eating. The best part is they have vegetarian/vegan options for traditional foods like haggis and blood sausage (& it’s delicious).
Bertie’s Fish & Chips
While in the UK you’re kind of obligated to try some ‘proper’ fish and chips (dietary preference permitting). Bertie’s is well-known as the best stop for fish and chips, offering beer-battered, baked, breaded, and vegan options for this traditional meal. (Their chips and chippy sauce are also delicious)
Mary’s Milk Bar
If you’re an ice cream lover, this one is for you. Mary’s Milk Bar has incredibly creamy homemade ice cream with a nice variety of flavors and vegan options! Located a short walk from the end of Victoria Street it’s almost too easy to take an ice cream break!
House Noodles
With hand-pulled noodles and great service, we entered House Noodles extremely tired and hangry and left relaxed, refreshed, and ready to continue on with our day of exploring. Although the inside isn’t the trendiest, they had really delicious ramen and lo mein noodles, reminding you to never judge a book by its cover.
Milkman cafe
Full transparency, I found this one on TikTok and it proved to be worth it! A cute cafe with a small but delicious selection of cookies and pastries to pair with your preferred cafe drink, this is a great place for a little pick me up in between your exploration.
My personal tips for traveling to Edinburgh:
- Edinburgh is not the cheapest city so if you want to enjoy yourself without emptying your pockets I recommend heading to a grocery store for some essentials. Typically, I prefer to eat breakfast at my Airbnb and one or two dinners, allowing myself to indulge in a big lunch as I’m out exploring the city.
- The main grocery stores are Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and ALDI among others.
- A random point I found worth noting is if you order lemonade from a restaurant don’t be surprised when the waitress brings you a clear carbonated drink that tastes just like Sprite. I guess the lemonade we know in the USA isn’t a universal thing.
- Don’t forget that in the UK they drive on the left side of the road meaning when you cross the street you should look left-right-left and then check again before crossing!
- Make sure you have the chance to see a hairy coo! (That’s what the Scottish call a hairy cow) So cute!
