Edinburgh is an incredible city with plenty of things to see and do for young and old alike, so much so that it can be daunting to know where to start. That’s why we have made this list of our top 13 things to do in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Castle
As iconic as landmarks get Edinburgh Castle is one of the very best tourist destinations in the city and it’s easy to see why.
Sitting atop an extinct volcanic peak, Edinburgh castle stands over the city as a towering reminder of the history of the origins of the city and the people that made it. If you can, we recommend timing your visit to coincide with the performances from actors telling the stories of this famous structure.
Arthur’s Seat
On the slightly related note of extinct volcanoes, Arthur’s Seat is our next recommendation for you to go and explore.
Due to the rocky terrain and varying weather conditions, trekking up Arthur’s Seat can certainly take it out of you but if you persist and make it to the top you will be treated to some of the grandest views in all of Edinburgh. After enjoying your 5km workout you can then treat yourself to some ice cream back down at the bottom as your reward.
Edinburgh Dungeon
One of the more unusual tourist destinations next as we go from the heights of Arthur’s Seat to the depths of Edinburgh Dungeon.
Edinburgh Dungeon will treat you to a roughly hour and a half long tour of Scotland’s brutal and gruesome history with performances from actors, rides, and special effects all to try to get you to have a bit of a fright.
Though not obscenely graphic, due to the subject matter those who are squeamish or have children under around 8 years old with them should probably give this one a miss but if you are brave and enough this is a great way to spend some time.
Edinburgh Zoo
Okay so maybe dungeons aren’t for everyone so for our next suggestion we have Edinburgh Zoo which has no such limitation.
With over 1,000 animals ranging from penguins to pandas, there are plenty of creatures to see at this wonderful zoo. As well to the obvious attractions of the animals the zoo holds multiple activities and events throughout the year so be sure to check if their calendar lines up with yours to see some particular highlights.
Leith
The district of Leith used to be one of the more unsavory areas of the city but in recent years it has really flipped that image around to become a thriving waterfront hotspot.
Leith has been building a reputation as one of the more culturally significant places in Edinburgh, filled with unique bars and top-quality restaurants. Our highlight is The Pitt, Leith’s weekend market with a wide variety of street foods, drinks, and live music.
Whisky
There are few things Scotland is more famous for than its Whisky and because of that, it’s quite a challenge for us to pick just one Whisky-related thing for this list so we’re going to offer a few.
- Scotch Whisky Experience – offers tours, classes, and a restaurant where you will find out about Scotland’s whisky history and explore the largest whisky collection in the world
- Johnnie Walker Princes Street – eight floors of a whisky lover’s paradise, from rooftop bars to whisky based meals there is plenty for you to experience right here
- Walking Tour – though less specific than the previous options many places around the city offer walking tours around the city of several locations where you can treat yourself to another drink
There are of course other options but these are some excellent jumping-off points to plan around.
Paradise Palms
Half vegetarian restaurant, half vinyl record store Paradise Palms is one of the best places in Edinburgh to start a night out on the town.
The bar is an openly LGBTQ+ friendly space with guest performances from drag queens, musicians, and poets while also offering some incredible vegetarian meals inspired by American diner classics.
Paradise Palms is a pretty progressive place not just in its inclusivity but also with its dedication to using 100% renewable energy making bringing Paradise that little bit closer to reality.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Filled with optical illusions and mirror trickery, Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions is one of the more unique places you can choose to visit during your stay in Edinburgh.
When boiled down to the main selling point World of Illusions is a collection of interactive exhibits displaying a wide variety of optical illusions but the Camera Obscura is the real reason for this recommendation. Located on the top floor the entire cityscape of Edinburgh is projected onto a viewing table and is certainly one of the most unique ways to see the city skyline.
The Meadows
One of the most relaxing things to do during your trip is to go to The Meadows and consider taking a picnic and having a chill afternoon.
The Meadows is often filled with all manner of people playing sports, having a drink with some friends, or even just lying down with a good book on the picturesque grass, why not join them.
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is the perfect place to spend a day if rain has set in or you want to entertain the kids with something interesting for them to explore.
The highlight of this particular museum is the natural history section, in which you will learn all about the dinosaurs and the meteorites that wiped them out. The best thing about this museum is that entry is also free so you’ll be able to visit, even on a budget.
Scottish National Gallery
While the National Museum is more varied the National Gallery is entirely focused on famous artworks from the likes of Matisse and Picasso.
As much as there is plenty of works from some of the more famous artists, the Scottish National Gallery is sure to pay respects to the people of Scotland with pieces from famous Scottish artists too.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill offers some of the best views in all of Edinburgh as well as being home to a collection of historic monuments, the most famous of which is the National Monument which was inspired by the Athenian Parthenon.
Our Best recommendation is to set aside a day to get up nice and early, make the climb up to the top of Calton Hill and admire the beautiful scenery as it sunrises in the city.
Festivals
This final recommendation is another vague one as Edinburgh plays host to a wide variety of festivals throughout the year and plenty of them are well worth you checking out depending on your visit.
There’s a reason Edinburgh is known as the World’s Festival City as the city hosts 11 major festivals each year. Whether your interests lie in film, art, music, science, or something else entirely, there is certainly a festival that will interest you. We recommend checking out when each festival will be taking place to see if any of the line-ups with your planned trip.
