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- Last Updated on November 3, 2024
Edinburgh is one of the most culturally rich cities in the UK. It is also one of the prettiest and most underrated. After London, this is the most important city to visit in Great Britain. You’ll be met with beautiful hilly terrain topped by historic streets, whisky, bagpipes, a castle, and thick Scottish accents. While you could spend a week in this great city, with this itinerary you can see all the major attractions in 3 full days. Do the activities in the order listed each day to maximize your time. If you only have 2 full days in town, see our 2 day Edinburgh itinerary instead.
Table Of Contents - Edinburgh Itinerary
STAR RATING KEY:
★★★ Top priority
★★ Highly recommended
★ Worthwhile
No Star – Skippable if not interested
Edinburgh Itinerary
Day 1
Of note, this day is jam-packed with activities due to the cultural density of this area of town. If you can’t fit everything into day 1, move whatever you missed to day 3, dropping one or both of the museums scheduled for that day.
Edinburgh Castle
This is the most important site in any Edinburgh itinerary. This complex encompasses the entire history of the city – from royal life to military fortress, this castle has it all. It even holds the crown jewels of Scotland. This site will take at least 3 hours to visit.
Cost and Hours: £18. Open 9:30am-6pm (5pm October-March) daily.
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG
Website: www.edinburghcastle.scot
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is the historic old town of Edinburgh. It starts at the castle and finishes at the Scottish Parliament. Along this street you will see innumerable bagpipers, little alleyways, and beautiful buildings from the founding days of Edinburgh. Don’t forget to pop into St. Giles’ Cathedral on your way downhill. This walk will be more informative as a guided experience, but companies come and go in Edinburgh, so check here to see what’s available the day you are going. Only choose one that goes from the castle all the way to the Scottish Parliament and that has lots of good reviews. If you don’t find one that meets those criteria for the day you are going, skip the guide and meander down the mile yourself.
Address: 109 The Royal Mile Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1SG
Website: www.visitscotland.com
Scottish Parliament
This building is highly significant to the Scots. They weren’t allowed their own parliament until 1997, as they were represented in the British Parliament prior to that. This modern building is a symbol of the growing independence that Scotland has and is worth a quick visit.
Cost and Hours: The building is free to enter. Open Mon-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm. You can visit on your own without a reservation, or take one of the free guided tours offered three times a day, but you must book well in advance for those here.
Address: Edinburgh EH99 1SP.
Website: www.parliament.scot
Palace of Holyroodhouse
In the past, this palace was the ruling home of many Scottish kings and queens, including Mary Queen of Scots. Currently, it is one of the British monarch’s official residences, which he actually stays in every year from late June to early July. When he is not in residence, you can tour the castle and see where he stays when he visits. Your ticket includes an audio guide, which also discusses some of the important events that have happened at the palace over the centuries.
Cost and Hours: £18 per person. Opening times vary by day and month, check website for the latest information.
Address: Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX.
Website: www.rct.uk
Day 2
Royal Yacht Britannia
This yacht transported Queen Elizabeth II and her family for over 40 years. It was retired in 1997 and is now on view for the public to tour. It is worth the bus from the city center to see how the royal family lived at sea.
Cost and Hours: £18 per person. Open 10:00am-5:00pm daily.
Address: Ocean Dr, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ
Website: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
Explore New Town
The New Town was built after Edinburgh outgrew its Old Town. This is a Georgian (neoclassical) paradise with beautiful planned streets and gardens. Follow the walking path shown on the map below to make sure you see the best of this area. No Edinburgh itinerary is complete without exploring both the Old Town and the New Town.
For map details, click on the icon in the top left corner.
Georgian House
This house is made to look just the way it would have in its Georgian heyday in the 18th century. The tour is self-guided, but make sure you talk to the docents in each room, as they have a lot to say about the life of those who lived here.
Consider ending your day in the new town with a drink or dinner in one of the locations listed below.
Cost and Hours: £10 per person. Open 10:00am-5:00pm daily.
Address: 7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DR
Website: www.nts.org.uk
Day 3
Calton Hill
This is a great little hike up to the skyline monuments you have been seeing while walking around Edinburgh the first 2 days. There is no specific trail recommended. Just put Calton Hill into Google Maps when you start your day and make your way there on foot. It is a bit of a hike, but it’s worth it for the views.
Address: Edinburgh EH7 5AA
Scottish National Gallery
This museum houses the best paintings in Scotland. It has some Scottish art, but also showcases paintings by Rembrandt, Monet, Degas, and Raphael. Despite the richness of the collection, a visit here won’t take long, and it’s free!
Cost and Hours: Free. Open 10:00am-5:00pm daily.
Address: The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL
Website: www.nationalgalleries.org
National Museum of Scotland
This huge museum can be exhausting if you let it. Focus on the Scottish history wing and add other galleries only if they particularly interest you. This is the largest collection of Scottish artifacts anywhere, and it features exhibits from prehistoric times to modern day.
Cost and Hours: Free. Open 10:00am-5:00pm daily.
Address: Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Scotch Whisky Experience
This is a good place for beginners to learn about Scotch whisky. It is very touristy, but does a good job educating people about how it’s made and why it matters. You also get to taste the Scotch at the end.
Cost and Hours: £19 per person. Open 10:00am-5:00pm daily.
Address: The Royal Mile, 354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Website: www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
If You Have Time, Add To Your Edinburgh Itinerary
Urban Hike
One of the great things to do in Edinburgh (and even an argument for a fourth day here) is the hike through Holyrood Park to Arthur’s Seat, following this map. This is more difficult and longer than the Calton Hill hike, so it is best for avid walkers/hikers.
Address: Edinburgh EH16 5HX
Gin Distillery Tour
Gin is the favorite drink of the locals in Edinburgh, and is important to their gastronomy scene. One of the most popular places to tour is Pickering’s Gin Summerhall Distillery. You can book a tour of the distillery which includes a tasting of 6 gins. Book in advance here.
Cost and Hours: £25 per person. Open 12:00pm to 6:00pm daily. Check website for tour times.
Address: 1 Summerhall Summerhall Distillery, Edinburgh EH9 1PL.
Website: Tour info here.
Practical Info
Getting Around Edinburgh
Most places of interest in Edinburgh are reachable by foot. There are clean, safe buses and trams to reach more distant sites like the Royal Yacht Britannia and the airport.
Where to Eat in Edinburgh
We typically eat in New Town, as the Old Town is too touristy for us. The best spots we’ve tried are:
Festival Village
This is a fun spot to interact with locals, hear live music, and enjoy some street food and cocktails. If you hate loud music, this one is not for you.
Address: Waverley Mall Rooftop, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ.
The Bon Vivant
This is our favorite place in Edinburgh. This small, candlelit, modern bar has an excellent French-Scottish fusion menu, and even better drinks. Try one of their gin cocktails to really soak up the local spirit.
Address: 55 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1DY.
Phone: +44 131 225 3275.
Fishers in the City
This is the place to go in New Town for seafood. If it seems a little pricey, try the fish and chips at lunch.
Address: 58 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1EN.
Phone +44 131 225 5109.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
Braid Apartments by Mansley
Location, location, location. There is no better place to soak up modern Edinburgh than these New Town apartments. They are well-equipped, with heating and AC, a full kitchen, and even a washer/dryer. They are immaculately kept, and even come with a bunch of yummy snacks. We cannot recommend this place highly enough and will definitely continue staying here every time we are in town.
Bookings: Click here.
Address: 27 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1DX.
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