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Edinburgh itinerary

Every place in “12 Top Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland”. Save places in the guide to make this list yours.

  1. 1

    Edinburgh Castle - The Iconic Fortress Dominating the Old Town

    Topping every list of things to do in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle sits on Castle Rock - the plug of an extinct volcano that has been fortified for at least nine centuries. The site has seen sieges by every army that…

    Address
    Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG
    Nearest transit
    Princes Street tram stop or Edinburgh Waverley station, 10-min walk
  2. 2

    The Royal Mile - Edinburgh's Historic Spine from Castle to Palace

    The Royal Mile is the single most famous street in Edinburgh, running roughly one Scots mile (1.81 km / 1.12 miles) downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is technically four streets -…

    Address
    High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1RE
    Nearest transit
    South Bridge bus stops on the High Street, 0-min walk
  3. 3

    Arthur's Seat - The Volcanic Peak with Panoramic City Views

    Arthur's Seat is the 251-metre peak at the centre of Holyrood Park and the most rewarding short hike in any UK city. It is the remnant of a volcano that last erupted around 340 million years ago, and from the summit you…

    Address
    Holyrood Park, Edinburgh EH8 8HG
    Nearest transit
    Lothian bus 35 to Holyrood Palace stop, then 15-min walk to base
  4. 4

    Palace of Holyroodhouse - The King's Official Residence in Scotland

    The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland and the most senior royal site to visit in Edinburgh. Founded as an Augustinian abbey in 1128 and rebuilt as a palace by King…

    Address
    Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX
    Nearest transit
    Lothian bus 35 to Holyrood Palace stop, 0-min walk
  5. 5

    Calton Hill - The Best Sunset View in Edinburgh

    Calton Hill is the easiest climb on this list and gives you the postcard view of Edinburgh - castle and Old Town silhouetted against the Pentland Hills, with Arthur's Seat looming behind. It is around 103 metres high…

    Address
    Calton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AA
    Nearest transit
    Princes Street tram stop, 10-min walk via Regent Road
  6. 6

    Princes Street Gardens - The Green Heart of Central Edinburgh

    Princes Street Gardens is the long green valley between the Old Town and the New Town, and one of the prettiest urban parks in Britain. Until 1820 the basin was the Nor' Loch, a polluted lake used to drain the medieval…

    Address
    Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2HG
    Nearest transit
    Princes Street tram stop, 0-min walk
  7. 7

    National Museum of Scotland - Free Trove of Scottish History

    The National Museum of Scotland is the most visited free attraction in the city and easily worth half a day, even if you usually skip museums. It combines the historical collections of Scotland (in the Victorian-era…

    Address
    Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF
    Nearest transit
    South Bridge bus stops (Lothian 3, 7, 8, 14, 29, 31, 37, 47), 5-min walk
  8. 8

    Scottish National Gallery - Free World-Class Art on The Mound

    The Scottish National Gallery occupies a pair of neoclassical buildings on The Mound, the artificial earth bridge linking the Old and New Towns. It holds Scotland's national collection of Western art from the…

    Address
    The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL
    Nearest transit
    Princes Street tram stop, 3-min walk
  9. 9

    Greyfriars Kirkyard - Atmospheric Cemetery That Inspired Harry Potter

    Greyfriars Kirkyard is a working 16th-century cemetery and arguably the most atmospheric churchyard in Britain. It is the burial ground for some 250,000 people including the 17th-century philosopher George Buchanan…

    Address
    Greyfriars Place, Edinburgh EH1 2QQ
    Nearest transit
    Forrest Road bus stop (Lothian 24, 27, 41, 42), 3-min walk
  10. 10

    Dean Village - The Picturesque Riverside Hamlet

    Dean Village is a hidden cluster of 19th-century millworkers' cottages and grand stone tenements tucked into the valley of the Water of Leith, just 10 minutes' walk from Princes Street. For 800 years this stretch of…

    Address
    Hawthornbank Lane, Edinburgh EH4 3BH
    Nearest transit
    Lothian bus 19, 36, 37, or 47 to Queensferry Street, 8-min walk downhill
  11. 11

    Stockbridge & Royal Botanic Garden - Village Vibes and Tranquil Gardens

    Stockbridge is the New Town's prettiest neighbourhood - a former village that retained its independent character through the Georgian expansion. Independent boutiques, antique shops, and the Sunday Stockbridge Market on…

    Address
    20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR
    Nearest transit
    Lothian bus 8, 23, or 27 to Inverleith Row, 0-min walk
  12. 12

    Day Trip to the Highlands - Scotland's Wild Beauty Within Reach

    Edinburgh sits within striking distance of the Scottish Highlands, and a single day is enough for a meaningful taste even if you cannot fit a longer trip. The most popular full-day routes head north through the…

    Address
    Edinburgh Waverley Station, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 1BB
    Nearest transit
    Edinburgh Waverley station - all bus and tram lines pass within 200 m

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