What I really enjoyed about visiting Edinburgh, Scotland was how charming the city was in just about everywhere we went. We would walk down any street or around every corner and we would find something interesting, whether it was the architecture, Scottish shops, small restaurants/cafes, whisky bars, or a unique attraction. With so many things to do and see, it’s easy to get lost and fall in love with the city.
Unfortunately for us, we were only able to spend two days in Edinburgh and probably left with many things unseen. But even for such a short time, we still had an amazing visit and felt like we saw a lot and got to do a lot. So, we’ve listed out 9 things that you should definitely do during your visit to Edinburgh:
1. Climb to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park
At 251 meters, Arthur’s Seat is the highest point in Edinburgh. It’s about a 30-45 minute hike to the top depending on your speed but is totally worth it for the amazing breathtaking views of the city. You can also explore the rest of the park, including St. Anthony’s Chapel and Salisbury Crags, massive cliffs that oversee the city. Click here to see more of the views.
2. Edinburgh Castle
The Edinburgh Castle is an obvious choice, as it is the nationally recognized symbol of Scotland and one of the top attractions in the country. The castle sits atop Castle Rock and offers vast views of the city. See more of the castle here.
3. Scotch Whisky Experience
Scotch whisky is the pride and soul of the country so if you want to understand what goes into this craft or simply love whisky, then you have to do the Scotch Whisky Experience. There is an interactive ride, you’ll get to do some tasting, and see the largest scotch whisky collection in the world. For more of this tour, you can read here.
4. The National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is actually the most visited attraction in the whole country and the best part is that it’s completely free to visit. Not only can you admire the architecture but the museum houses a number of really cool exhibits from biology, technology, fashion, Scottish history, astrology and much more. To see more of the other exhibits, you can find more photos here.
5. Stroll down George Street for some shopping
George Street is well-known for being the best place in the city to do some serious shopping. We weren’t planning to do much shopping when we started walking but there were some many interesting shops that we ended up buying quite a bit of stuff. If you are able to resist the temptation to shop, the street does offer some beautiful sites and architecture that you can enjoy.
6. Eat at ANY restaurant/cafe
Many times when we go out to eat, we tend to use an app like Yelp or Tripadvisor to find the best spots. In Edinburgh, you really don’t have to worry about that (unless you’re looking for something specifically). Just about any restaurant or cafe you pass by is probably a great place to eat. We just walked around and picked places near our hotel and each of those places just had amazing food, such as the Magnum Restaurant & Bar, which is where I had the best burger that I’ve ever had (or at least it was really darn good). We also loved The Square, where they had delicious breakfast items and sandwiches.
7. See the Colorful Buildings on Victoria Street
Located in Old Town, Edinburgh and close to the Edinburgh Castle is Victoria Street, where you can find some very colorful buildings mixed with the old architecture. Within this street are many small stores, cafes, bars and restaurants, a perfect little place for your shopping, eating, and drinking needs.
8. For Harry Potter Fans, Visit the Elephant House
From the outside, the Elephant House looks like an ordinary coffee house. But if you look at the signs carefully, you’ll see it says “The Birthplace of Harry Potter.” This coffee house is where JK Rowling would be writing “Harry Potter” on their napkins in the back room with views of the Edinburgh Castle. Just don’t expect anything wizarding decor or magical themes; it still looks and operates as an ordinary coffee house serving ordinary (but good) coffee and food. There’s also a Harry Potter “grave” nearby, where you can visit the graves of all of the deceased characters.
9. Celebrate the Holidays in Edinburgh
Obviously, this depends on when you decide to visit Edinburgh, but if you happen to be visiting around November or December, you can delve into the festivities the city has to offer. There are many holiday-themed events and shows throughout Edinburgh, as well as various Christmas markets where you can spend plenty of time shopping, eating, and enjoying a family outing.
Here are also a few things didn’t do but you can add to your list:
- Holyrood Palace
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Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
- Calton Hill
- Climb to the top of Scott Monument
What other activities would you recommend in Edinburgh? Let us know in the comments and if you like this post, give us a pin below!
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11 comments
Edinburgh has always been a magical city for me! I loved everything about it! These activities are just excellent!
I felt like we didn’t get to do enough! We hope to go back soon!
We recently visited Edinburgh for the first time and loved it. I enjoyed walking down the streets admiring the old architecture, doing a spot of window shopping, savouring a warm meal in one of the small cafes as well as our visit to the Royal Botanical Garden. It is a lovely city and we hope to go back again to explore/enjoy it better.
I love Edinburgh, especially when you get off the train and see the castle right there. I didn’t try the burger at the Magnum Bar, but will remember it for the future. Love the whisky experience too, it’s a fun attraction!
I love Edinburgh, it’s such a great city. I think you’ve nailed the best things to do. Arthur’s Seat is definitely top of my list too. I’ve never actually been to Edinburgh castle itself (although I’ve seen it from the bottom of the city) but would really love to go there too.
This seems like a must do list for any new visitor to Edinburgh. I think I would personally enjoy the Scotch whiskey experience and walking down the colorful Victoria street the most. The food looks great as well.
I absolutely loved Edinburgh, I spent a lot of time there. I even did some hikes. it was so nice. I just had to get used to the weather as it was always raining but then again on a good day you see everyone sititng in the park. One of my faves.
I love visiting historic cities and Edinburgh fits the bill perfectly. I love how the colorful buildings stand out amid the old architecture. And I would definitely visit the Elephant House because my daughter and I are both Harry Potter fans.
Wow this place looks so beautiful in your blog. I Love the way you described everything in this which made me save this place on my bucket list. My fav were the castle,victoria street and harry potter birthplace <3
Edinburgh has such a beautiful historical architecture! The Edinburgh castle is lovely and the colorful buildings on Victoria street are such a beautiful contrast to the architecture in the rest of the city. George street looks like a great place to shop, I’d love to go there!
These are all great suggestions! I went to Edinburgh last summer and loved it. I can’t wait to go back. I adored Edinburgh Castle and the colorful houses. I agree that the food was excellent too! I would add going on a tour of the underground vaults…spooky!
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