Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities! You do not feel overcrowded like in London or NYC, but there are still so many wonderful things to do while you visit! The people are so friendly and you can always count on someone playing the bagpipes!
There are countless things to do in Edinburgh; including castles, shops, and wonderful places to eat! If you are looking to travel to Edinburgh, here is a list of “musts” while you are there!
Related Post: Things to Do in Scotland
1. Royal Mile Tour
This is probably the most iconic activity to do in Edinburgh. But we highly recommend it! Not only do you get the full Scottish experience, but also you learn a lot of history and discover some hidden gems as well!
We had our tour through Mercat Tour, and they did a fantastic job! The walking tour started at the St Giles Cathedral and was about an hour long. You walk to the end of the Old Town, and then back to Edinburgh Castle.
They give you the option to go into the castle too, but we did not choose that option, as we had already visited. But it is a great way to cut the lines! If you choose to do the castle with the tour, I recommend taking the tour in the morning, that way crowds will not be as crazy!
Edinburgh Castle
If you choose to do the castle by itself, here are a few things to keep in mind! Edinburgh Castle is one of the most famous castles in Scotland. It sits right on the top of the hill, on the west side of the Royal Mile. I recommend setting aside about two hours to explore this fantastic castle! You will see chapels, dungeons, and beautiful views of the city!
Tips To Know:
- General Admission: 18.50 pounds. (We bought our tickets online for 17 pounds).
- Opening times: Opens daily at 9:30 am. (Last entry at 4 or 5 pm depending on the time of year you go).
- There is a café for food and drinks. Outside and inside seating is available.
Fun Fact: Don’t forget to see the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny!
The Stone and Crown Jewels are displayed together in the Royal Palace on the east side of Crown Square. The entrance is through the door of the clock tower.
Shops and Restaurants
There are so many fabulous shops down the Royal Mile, it was hard to choose my favorites! If you love to shop, by all means, take your time visiting all the shops. But if you don’t have too much time, here is a list of some of my favorite shops to check out!
- The Scotch Whiskey Experience – of course, you cannot go to Scotland and not try Scottish whiskey!
- The Woolen Mill – a great place to check out tartans and kilts!
- Isle of Skye Candle Company – I have an obsession with candles and had to check this place out. They had some great scents!
Feeling hungry? Edinburgh has some of the best restaurants we have tried! Walking along the Royal Mile it is hard to choose which restaurant would be the best choice. I have made a list of the top three you should try!
- Cannonball Restaurant and Bar – this is a great option, right by Edinburgh Castle! There is an actual cannonball situated on the outside wall of the building. There is some speculation on how it got there. Was it a shot from the Castle or simply a building tool to measure the balance?
- Pibroch Restaurant – stray off the beaten path and stop by the cutest restaurant! The food was excellent here! We even tried the Haggis!
- Maison Bleue – is a perfect cafe to stop in and grab a quick bite, keep in mind they do not start serving until noon.
2. St. Giles Cathedral
St. Giles Cathedral is the most beautiful building that stands right in the center of the Royal Mile, a little bit down from Edinburgh Castle. Saint Giles lived from about 650 to about 710 AD. The story goes…the monk lived as a hermit around the area of southern France. His only companion was a white deer. One day, hunters were chasing the deer and were about to take a shot at it; but in order to protect his beloved deer, St Giles held out his hand and caught the arrow through his palm.
It is free to visit the cathedral. If you want a guided rooftop tour it is about 6 pounds per person
In the parking lot, you will also notice one space that will never be taken. Parking spot #23 is the final resting place of John Knox – a Scottish religious leader and reformer. There is a brass marker there, noting the approximate location of his grave.
3. Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace is at the end of the Royal Mile, the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle. It is rich in history and was the modern-day residence of the Former Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Scotland.
Tickets are very easy to get at the information booth, and they are 14 pounds per person. You have the chance to walk through the many rooms in the palace. The rooms are so beautiful and kept as if they would have been back when Mary, Queen of Scots lived there.
You also get the chance to walk through Holyrood Abbey. It was destroyed in the War of Rough Wooing, but it has so much character! The palace also has lovely gardens to walk through as well.
4. Arthur’s Seat
If you want fantastic views of the city, be sure to climb up Arthur’s Seat. If you enjoy hiking and a great evening outdoors this is for you! It is free to do!
We headed up the hill on the Holyrood Palace side. About halfway up you can stop for some gorgeous photos! As you continue on, you will start to feel like you are going back down, but after a little bit, there is a path that goes up to the left, and that way you can climb to the very top. We stayed at the top until sunset. It was indescribable and peaceful. We recommend bringing some sort of jacket as it does get chilly when the sun goes down. And also some water.
5. Scot’s Monument
Straight through the Princess Gardens is the stunning Scot’s Monument. This monument was set up in honor of Sir Walter Scot. If you are lucky enough to experience a beautiful summer day here, it is a perfect spot to have a picnic!
If you are walking away from Edinburgh Castle, take a left down Cockburn Street and then another left once you hit Market Street. You will be able to walk through the park before making it around the monument.
Bonus
Midhope Castle
Now some of you may recognize this castle as Lallybroch in the series Outlander. If you have never seen Outlander, we still recommend visiting Midhope. It is such a cool sight to see and has so much history behind it. You can no longer go inside the castle, but it is such a beautiful property to visit! Be respectful too, there is a private property close to the castle.
If you are thinking of traveling outside the city, we highly recommend visiting Inverness or the stunning Glen Coe! An easy drive from Edinburgh or book a bus tour through Rabbies!
If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!
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