Edinburgh, Scotland City Guide

Edinburgh Castle

You can’t visit Edinburgh without checking out the castle on the hill! Since the 12th century, Scottish royalty called this location home. However – it hasn’t been home to a monarch for a few centuries now. Its location made it a military stronghold for Scottish Independence and was even used as a military garrison at one point. Today it is used primarily for ceremonies, such as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo festival in August.

It’s very easy to visit Edinburgh Castle on your own, but if you prefer to go with a guide we recommend this option* that includes fast-track entry and 1.5 hours with a guide.

• Cost: £18-20 (Tickets only) / $42 (Guided Tour)
• Buy tickets online here: Edinburgh Castle Tickets / Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour*
• Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours

Palace of Holyrood House

About a mile up the road from the castle, you can find the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is the official residence of the British monarch while in Scotland. (AKA when Queen Elizabeth, or anyone of the Royal family visits Edinburgh, this is where they stay). Since the 16th century, this palace was used as the royal residence for Kings and Queens of Scotland. Most famously, Mary Queen of Scots lived here when she returned to Scotland from France. You can tour the staterooms throughout the year (except for when the royal family is there). 

• Cost: £15
• Buy tickets online here: Palace of Holyroodhouse Tickets
• Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours

The Royal Mile

The stretch of road between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace is called the Royal Mile. It’s almost exactly a mile from the castle gates to the palace gates, which is how the street got its name!

• Cost: Free
• Estimated time needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Calton Hill

Calton Hill offers one of the best views of Edinburgh. It can be easily accessed by foot and is free to walk up to the top. It is home to the National monument and City Observatory. This is definitely worthwhile on a nice day!

• Cost: Free (donations welcome)
• Estimated time needed: 1 hour

Arthur’s Seat

If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, you can hike up to the top of Arthur’s Seat for a view of the city and surrounding water / land. It takes about 1 hour each way to get to the top of this extinct volcano. The name is said to have derived from King Arthur, but no one knows for sure the origins.  I wasn’t able to do this trek on my work trip due to time constraints but I’ve heard wonderful things from friends who have done this.

• Cost: Free
• Estimated time needed: 2 – 3 hours

St. Andrews

St. Andrews is a worthwhile day trip if you have enough time in Edinburgh. It’s a little over an hour driving to get there, or you could book a tour.* I would recommend this if you are interested in golf, history or looking for some time along the beautiful Scottish coast. Check out my earlier post here: St. Andrews in Scotland.

• Cost: £25-30 round trip (bus) / $50 (tour)
• Buy tickets online here: Bus Tickets / Tour Tickets*
• Estimated time needed: All day

John Knox House

John Knox is most famous for his role in the protestant reformation. It is said he only lived in this house for a few months, during the siege of Edinburgh castle, but the length of his stay is truly unknown. The building itself dates back to 1470 which makes it one of the oldest medieval structures along the Royal Mile.

• Cost: £6
• More Information: John Knox House
• Estimated time needed: 1 hour

Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia has been serving the royal family since 1953. It’s sailed over a million nautical miles around the world! It can be described as a floating mansion, with rooms elegant enough to host state events for the Royal Family. Most famously in recent years, the yacht is where Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon. (I was unable to visit this during my three days in Edinburgh, but it’s on my list for next time!)

• Cost: £16
• Buy online tickets here: Royal Yacht Britannia
• Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours

National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland is free to enter and worth at least an afternoon! In the small amount of free time I had on my work trip, I was able to sneak in for an hour to explore.  This was one of the coolest museums I have visited to date, so I only wish I had more time. There’s a whole portion dedicated to Scottish history and heritage, as well as a more modern portion of the museum dedicated to travel (airplanes / cars), technology (evolution of the telephone) and even some animals (reminiscent of a natural history museum). It’s open from 10am-5pm each day.

• Cost: Free
• More Information: National Museum of Scotland
• Estimated time needed: 2-3 hours

Scott Monument

The Scott Monument is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott. Located in Princess Street gardens, it’s the second largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. About an hour outside of Edinburgh, you can visit Scotts famous estate, Abbotsford House (see below for more info).

• Cost: Free
• Estimated time needed: 15 minutes

Abbotsford House

If you have enough time in Edinburgh, you may want to take a day trip to Scott’s estate. It’s about 1 hour outside of the city center. Check out our earlier post here: Abbotsford House.

• Cost: £12 (ticket) / £10-20 (train)
• Buy your online tickets here: Abbotsford House Tickets
• Estimated time needed: 2-3 hours

Melrose Abbey

While visiting Abbotsford House, it’s worth stopping at Melrose Abbey since they are only 10 minutes apart. Picture a beautiful cathedral in ruins, rich in history. Check out our previous post here: Melrose Abbey.

• Cost: £6
• Buy online tickets here: Melrose Abbey Tickets
• Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours

Scottish National Gallery

If you’re more interested in art than artifacts, the Scottish National Gallery might be where you’d prefer to spend your time (over the National Museum). It’s also free to enter, and it’s open 10am-5pm everyday.

• Cost: Free
• More Information: Scottish National Gallery
• Estimated time needed: 2-3 hours

Cut through a Close

This recommendation may be seem a bit strange, but hear me out! A close in Edinburgh is a passageway connecting two streets. Although it seems creepy to walk down a small pedestrian street, they are actually very safe and used frequently by locals. We found the most amazing restaurant called Devil’s Advocate down a close so you never know the hidden gems you’ll stumble across!

• Cost: Free
• More Information: The Closes of Edinburgh
• Estimated time needed: 10 minutes

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding the church, Greyfriars. Not only is this part of the Old town a stunning spot for a walk, it also has a few fun anecdotal things about it. First – a dog is buried in this cemetery (in front of the church to be exact). This is not a common practice in Scotland, however once you hear the story of Greyfriars Bobby, you’ll understand. Bobby was a loyal dog to his owner John Gray, a police officer in Edinburgh. It is rumored that Bobby slept on his owners grave every night for 13 years following Gray’s death. In 1981 a grave was finally put in to mark the spot where Bobby had been buried. You can also rub the nose of his statue for good luck. It’s outside the graveyard, on George IV Bridge, across from the entrance gates.

The second anecdotal thing worth mentioning about this graveyard is how it inspired famous author J.K, Rowling. If you walk through the graveyard, you might catch a glimpse of some familiar names (such as Potter, McGonagall and even Thomas Riddle). Rowling wrote most of the first and second Harry Potter books in Edinburgh, so it’s no doubt she got ideas from her surroundings!

• Cost: Free
• More Information: Greyfriars Kirkyard
• Estimated time needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour

The Elephant House

Sticking with the Harry Potter theme, the Elephant House (literally steps from Greyfriars), is the place where Rowling did a lot of writing. I was lucky enough to have a quiet breakfast here on my first morning in Edinburgh (straight off a red eye – it was my first stop). The bathroom is littered with quotes and praise for the author. It pays homage to the characters and story she created in this small cafe. The food itself was good, but there was something quite magical in the air!

• Cost: £4-15 (for food) / Free to see from outside
• More information: Elephant House
• Estimated time needed: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Harry Potter Walking Tour

Like I mentioned before, Edinburgh was the city JK Rowling was living in when she wrote the first 2 books in the Harry Potter series. If you’re feeling up for some magic, we recommend booking a walking tour* that will take you through Greyfriars Kirkyard, Potterrow, Victoria Street, Grassmarket & the Royal Mile. It’s much easier to find the names on gravestones with a guide than wandering on your own!

• Cost: $20
• Book Tour: Harry Potter Walking Tour*
• Estimated time needed: 2 hours

Day Trip to Scottish Highlands

While we believe the Highlands deserve more than a day, if you’re crunched for time in Scotland, you can book a guided tour* that will take you to some of the most iconic sites. Loch Ness & Glencoe are some of the most notable stops you visit on this tour, but you can also take a boat cruise on a loch or visit a castle in your free time. The other option to accessing the Highlands would be to rent a car if you’re comfortable driving.

• Cost: $72
• Book Tour: Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands*
• Estimated time needed: All Day

Victoria Street

The most photogenic street in Edinburgh is known as Victoria St. You can find beautiful shops and quaint restaurants. I dined at Howies along this street one evening. It had great food and a charming atmosphere. There are rumors that this street gave J.K. Rowling the inspiration for Diagon Alley! (Any Harry Potter fan can see why).

• Cost: Free
• More Information: Victoria Street
• Estimated time needed: 15 – 30 minutes

Edinburgh Accommodation

During my work trip to Edinburgh, I stayed at the Mercure Edinburgh Haymarket Hotel. It’s about a 15 minutes walk to the Royal Mile and the downtown area and the rooms were very spacious & comfortable!

Edinburgh Travel Tips

Transportation

• Edinburgh is a very walkable city
• You can use the local bus system to get around as well
• Travel between London & Edinburgh is accessible by train (4-5 hours) or plane (1 hour)

Tipping

• Tipping is not as prominent in Edinburgh as it is in the US because most servers are not dependent on tips to earn a living wage
• Some spare coins or 10% is a nice gesture if you enjoyed the meal or service

Weather

• Scotland is known for being cool, gray and rainy
• In the summer, it is mild (50-65 F) while in the Winter it can be cold (33-40 F)

General

• Scotland accepts English bank notes, just like England accepts Scottish bank notes so either will work
• Don’t order a shot of whiskey or scotch, it’s called a dram and is meant to be sipped on

There are so many top things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland. It’s rich with history, culture and inspiration. Every corner you turn is like a postcard. Prior to this trip, Scotland hadn’t really been on my radar, but now I am eager to return with Mark to show him this beautiful city.

Cheers, Amanda

Last edited: April 2023