Edinburgh Itinerary | The Best 15+ Things to Do

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and rich with history. It’s a beautiful city that more than 2 million tourists visit every year. The city is filled with cozy pubs, fantastic architecture, amazing tourist attractions, and more. It is a widely popular destination for Harry Potter fans, where J.K. Rowling wrote many of the books. She drew inspiration for many of the the places and characters from Edinburgh and Scottish folklore. There is a dormant volcano you can hike to the top of for 360 panoramic views of the city. Alexander Graham Bell was born in Edinburgh. You could spend as little as 2 days in the city, but I highly recommend 3-4 to get a better feel for this wonderful and beautiful city. Read on for your Edinburgh Itinerary with more than 15 things to do within the city!

Trip map created using Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

Glasgow or Edinburgh?

You might be asking yourself “Should I visit Glasgow or Edinburgh?” and you should do both. If you’re interested in a city that’s not as touristy and is closer to the highlands, Glasgow is for you! If you love Harry Potter and a city rich in history, Edinburgh is for you. You can visit Edinburgh in as little as 2 days, but 3-4 days would be a great length of time to visit. The city has so much to offer!

Edinburgh Itinerary: What to do

Victoria Street

Woman leaning over a railing overlooking a row of colourful buildings in Edinburgh

Book of notes written to J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter fandom on a table. There is a table lamp, globe, and various notebooks on the table.

Dean Village

Dean Village is a picturesque neighbourhood in Edinburgh, near the Stockbridge neighborhood. Head to the bridge crossing the Water of Leith and walk down Hawthornbank Lane. You can get there using the Hop-on/Hop-off bus, walking about 25 minutes from Edinburgh Castle, or drive (taxi or uber works well). Stop in a cafe for a drink, or just explore the quaint neighbourhood. It really is picture perfect! I also highly recommend walking along the Leith Walk Pathway. It winds along the Water of Leith, and is a fairy-esque path and so serene! It leads from Dean Village to the south.

A pathway with a black fence on the left hand side curves into the photo. There are green trees and branches overhead and a green vine fence on the right.

Dean Village as seen from the viewpoint. There is a stone/gravel viewpoint with a sundial in the bottom third of the photo. The middle of the photo has a creek with stone buildings to the left and right of the creek.

Circus Lane

Another picturesque location in Edinburgh is Circus Lane. Not far from Dean Village in the Stockbridge area, Circus Lane is just behind St Stephen Street (one of the main bar-filled areas in Stockbridge.)

Calton Hill

Calton Hill has amazing views of the city, set on a hill with neoclassical monuments. It’s a much easier climb that Arthur’s Seat. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a perfect location to watch the sun rise or set.

Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat is an ancient volcano east of the city centre. You can easily walk to the base and hike to the top of the volcano for panoramic views of Edinburgh. There are even opportunities to rock climb on the side of the volcano! It takes about 2 hours to hike up and down the volcano. There are multiple routes to the top. Once you get there, take in the view (and beware the high winds!). Hiking boots are not necessary, but I recommend sturdy walking shoes!

Woman in red and black shirt and jeans looking out from a volcanic rock cliff to a city. This is the view from Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

A military tattoo is a performance by armed forces. The British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military put on shows at the Edinburgh Castle held every August. It is such a unique experience that if you have a chance to go, you should!

Princes Street Gardens and Scott Monument

At the bottom of Edinburgh Castle you’ll find the Princes Street Gardens. The gardens separate the old town from the new town and are gorgeous. You’ll find an iconic Ross Fountain: a cast-iron structure that perfectly sits in front of the Edinburgh Castle in the background. The gardens also travel beside the Scott Monument. The gardens are free to visit year round!

Ornate turquoise fountain in front of the Edinburgh Castle. The fountain is multi-level with gold decorations and a statue at the top.

Princes Street Garden with people lounging in the grass, with the Scott Monument in the background. There are lots of trees and very green grass.

Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is a street in Edinburgh that runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. It’s approximately 1 mile (or 1.6 km) long and is lined with restaurants, shops, pubs, hotels/hostels, and more. It’s an incredibly scenic road and you’ll probably find yourself walking on this street multiple times throughout your stay. There are a few walking tours that explore the Royal Mile, like this private tour or a group tour.

Haggis bites, small pizza and mac and cheese on a table in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Photo of a pint of cider held by a woman. You can see the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in the background.

Pub Crawl

A fantastic night out is the Edinburgh Pub Crawl. Ticket prices include cover to 7 bars, multiple shots/drinks and a great way to meet people (both locals and tourists alike). Pub crawls are a great way to experience the night scene in a city because the tour guides are there to help you if something happens, or if you drink a bit too much. You might even get to experience a themed pub crawl night, like the Pride event!

National Museum of Scotland

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The palace is the official residence of the Queen in Edinburgh. If it’s fit for royalty, it’s a must see! It is open year round and located at the south end of the Royal Mile. It’s pretty close to the bottom of Arthur’s Seat as well! Admission is £18.50 and it’s recommended you spend about 2 hours to see it all.

The Scottish Whisky Experience

Scotland is known for it’s scotch. Take a tour (starting at £19 per person) and learn all about the world of Scotch whisky. Tours may include tastings and last anywhere from 50 minutes to 3 hours.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Over 2,400 acres of gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens is a great place to explore. Admission is free and a great place to visit on a sunny day. The gardens are open year round with varying opening times.

Edinburgh Gin Distillery

Even though Scotland is known for it’s Scotch, Scotland is one of the world’s largest exporters of gin! Scotch must be matured for a minimum of three years before it can be sold, and it’s often matured for much longer. Therefore, many distilleries also brew gin, because it is cheaper and faster to make! Stop by the Edinburgh Gin Distillery for a tasting tour (£25) or a gin making experience (£100)!

Real Mary King’s Close

A close is an alleyway in Scotland. There are about 80 close’s on the Royal Mile alone, and the Real Mary King’s Close is by far the best known. Mary King’s Close was a street in Edinburgh sealed off from the world, leaving all the people suffering from the bubonic plague trapped beneath.

Pentland Hills Regional Park

This one really surprised me on not showing up on many lists: Pentland Hills. Although technically not in Edinburgh, it sits right at the southern edge of the city. The Regional Park has 9 peaks of over 1500 ft elevation. It offers stunning views of Edinburgh and the surrounding area. You can hike over 100 km throughout the entire area. It really is a spot you don’t want to miss, if you want to explore nature and the Scottish hills.

Pentland Hills in Scotland. There is a winding gravel path through two green hills, and the city sprawling in the background of the photo.

Woman in a blue jacket and black baseball cap looking at the camera and smiling. She is standing on green grass, with green and brown hills in the background and water beyond the hills.

Greyfriar’s Kirkyard

Greyfriar’s Kirkyard is a famous graveyard in the heart of Edinburgh. For Harry Potter fans, two important characters were named after real people who are buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard: Tom Riddle and Minerva McGonagall.

William Topaz Mcgonagall was born and died in Greyfriars parish Edinburgh. But he moved to Dundee finding work as a weaver. One day a strange feeling stole over him, and “a flame seemed to kindle up my entire frame with a strong desire to write poetry”. A legend began. Source
It has been reported that the grave of Thomas Riddell – a general who died on 24 November 1806 at the age of 72 – in Greyfriar’s Cemetery could have inspired JK Rowling when she was naming the character, although the spelling differs. Source

It’s a cool spot to stop in, and donations are welcome!

Woman in a white shirt and black shirts walking in front of colourful storefronts on Victoria Street in Edinburgh.

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