Edinburgh Travel Guide | Scotland

I had a wonderful time in Edinburgh exploring its busy streets and beautiful architecture. The city truly gives you a feeling like you have stepped into a movie.

In this guide, I will share with you all the amazing things you can't miss out on when in Edinburgh, also where to stay while in Edinburgh, the best restaurants, and some other useful tips.

So, let's dive into the Edinburgh Travel Guide!

1. Must See & Do in Edinburgh

2. Where to Stay in Edinburgh

3. Best Restaurants in Edinburgh

4. Day Trips from Edinburgh

Must See & Do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

An absolute must-see is the Edinburgh Castle. Located at the top of Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle is a dramatic symbol of Scotland’s history and resilience. With roots dating back to the Iron Age, it has served as a royal residence, military stronghold, and prison. Inside, you’ll find the Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in the city. The views over Edinburgh are unmatched, and the daily firing of the One O’Clock Gun is a local tradition. You can get the tickets on the spot, but I do highly recommend getting them in advance online to ensure your spot. Also, check if no events take place during your stay, as the castle might be closed for visitors or you need to purchase a more expensive event-specific ticket.

Scott Monument

For me personally, the most impressive landmark was the Scott Monument. The Scott Monument is a striking Gothic spire rising from Princes Street Gardens, built to honor the famed Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. At over 200 feet tall, it’s one of the largest monuments to a writer in the world. Dark and dramatic, I think it was so significant to Edinburgh. You can not only admire it from below but also climb its 287 narrow steps and enjoy beautiful views of the city.

Arthur’s Seat

For even better views, you have to do a little hike up to Arthur’s Seat. Although it looks like a hill by the city, it is actually an ancient volcano. It’s a surprisingly accessible hike that feels like a wild escape in the middle of the city. Steeped in myth and legend, it’s often linked to King Arthur and offers one of the best spots to watch the sunrise or sunset over Edinburgh. You will start your hike at Holyrood Park. The most popular route begins at Dunsapie Loch for a moderate 30–45 minute climb, or you can take the steeper but shorter St. Anthony’s Chapel Ruins path. Wear sturdy shoes; trails can be rocky or muddy.

Royal Mile

To really feel the bustling city life, you have to walk the Royal Mile, a historic street lined with shops, pubs, and attractions. The Royal Mile is Edinburgh’s historic heart, stretching from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. Street performers and bagpipers add to the atmosphere. The most significant site on the street is the St Giles’ Cathedral. Did you know that the Edinburgh we know today is built on an old Edinburgh? One of the most interesting tours you can add to your itinerary is the Mary King’s Close, which reveals the city’s layered past.

Victoria Street 

Another iconic street you can't miss out on is Victoria Street. This was one of my personal favorite spots in Edinburgh. You will find it just a few meters from the Royal Mile. It is a short but very impressive street lined with colourful houses and dramatic castle-like walls in the background. The colourful houses feature bookshops, cafes, and interesting boutique shops. One of them is the 'Harry Potter' shop. It’s packed with licensed wands, Scottish-crafted house scarves, quills, Nimbus brooms, journals, and quirky wizarding curios. Fans love its atmospheric interiors and the sense that you’ve stepped into a real-life Diagon Alley.

At the end of Victoria Street, you will find Grassmarket, which was once a medieval marketplace and site of public executions. Now it is a lively extension of the Victoria Street cafes and boutique shops.

Holyrood Palace

If you want to see how the royals live, then in Edinburgh you have a chance to visit Holyrood Palace, which is the King’s official residence in Scotland. It’s open to the public when the royal family is not in residence, though some areas are closed on certain days or due to official events. Again, you can buy tickets on the spot, but buying online in advance will be cheaper and ensures you get in at the time you want.

National Museum of Scotland 

One of the best museums in Scotland that not only offers a look into Scottish history but also exhibits ancient Egyptian mummies, Viking relics, and Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal. Best part, the museum is free! Just check the opening hours.

Calton Hill

Another area worth exploring is Calton Hill. There you will find several sites - the National Monument, inspired by the Parthenon and famously unfinished, the Nelson Monument, shaped like a telescope, and the Dugald Stewart Monument. Also on the hill are the City Observatory, the Playfair Monument, and the Robert Burns Monument. This is another great sunrise and sunset watching spot without the hiking part that Arthur's Seat requires.

All the above, apart from Arthur's Seat, you can easily reach with a hop-on-hop-off bus. The red route includes stops at all the above and allows you to travel within the city's historic part very conveniently. Once you buy a ticket, it is valid for 24 hours, so the whole day I used it not only to see the city but get from Calton Hill, for example, to my hotel. In Edinburgh, the hop-on-hop-off bus company offers 3 different routes and the blue one is much longer and takes you to the port area and Dean Village, a charming historic area that is famous due to the milling community and eleven water‑driven mills in operation.

You can also explore most of the above with one of the free walking tours.

The Scotch Whisky Experience

No matter if you like whiskey or not, a whiskey tasting is a true cultural experience. Whisky, often called “Scotland’s water of life,” has been distilled here for over 500 years and is deeply woven into the nation’s identity. From Highland malts to Islay’s peaty drams, each region offers distinct flavors shaped by local ingredients and tradition. Once used for medicine and ritual, whisky became a key export and symbol of Scottish craftsmanship.

Here are some of the best whiskey tasting tours:

• The Johnnie Walker Whisky Experience

• The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting

• Whisky Tasting with History and Storytelling

• To combine the underground experience with whisky tasting: The Lost Close Underground Scotch Whiskey Tasting

• Holyrood Distillery Whisky & Gin Tour

Scotland’s Spookiest City

Edinburgh is also famous for being one of the most haunted cities, full of scary stories and legends. If you enjoy this sort of thing, you will love some of the haunted underground vaults and graveyard tours. Learn the legend of Greyfriars Bobby at the Greyfriars Kirkyard and hear stories about notorious criminals, such as Burke and Hare. Combine a walking tour with ghost stories: Dark Secrets of the Old Town Ghost Walking Tour. For a bit lighter mood: Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

As always, I give you my take on the best locations, pointing out specific areas, please see the map below:

So the big red circle points out the area where most of all the main sites are. If you want to be a short walking distance from everything, then picking a hotel within the red circle will be your best option. Although I have to say, the whole historic part of Edinburgh is quite walkable. Everything is fairly close to each other. So if you like walking while sightseeing, you can do it all on foot. One of the most impressive hotels, The Balmoral, is located within the red circle. And of course, many know brands like Radisson Blu Hotel you will also find in the historic part of the city.

Now, the purple square part is a 'higher part' of the city. From that area, you will get wonderful views of the city and it is still fairly close to everything. One of the favorites in this area is the Malmaison Edinburgh City hotel.

The pink one is my personal favorite. As it is not located extremely center, you can find cheaper options, but there the whole main street is full of amazing restaurants. If you book at the far end of the pink circle, the walk still only takes around 10/15 minutes to the center part.

Outside the highlighted areas, you will be able to find cheaper accommodation options, but you will need to walk more to get to the main sites or use Uber or public transport.

Best Restaurants in Edinburgh

As a foodie, a big part of my trip was trying out all the amazing restaurants Edinburgh has to offer. Every time it started to rain, I used the opportunity to try a new place, so here are all my favorites:

• Amazing Indian Food: Dishoom Edinburgh, this was the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to. Also, the interior is lovely. You can't book in advance; you will have to wait in the live queue.

• Great Breakfast Spot: Kilimanjaro Coffee, a great vegetarian-friendly brunch spot.

• For local experience: Makars Mash Bar, situated in the historic part of the city, it offers all the local goodies.

Day Trips from Edinburgh

If you want to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Scottish nature but are short on time, a day trip is a great option. There are several tours you can pick from.

Pick a tour of Loch Ness & Glencoe, which are some of the most stunning places in Scotland. Loch Ness is known around the world for its deep waters and the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Glencoe is a beautiful valley with towering mountains and a haunting history that adds to its charm.

Or visit the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct. Which will be of interest, especially for Harry Potter fans - it’s the famous bridge that the Hogwarts Express crosses. Surrounded by mountains and overlooking a peaceful loch, the viaduct offers a picture-perfect view. When the steam train passes over it, the scene feels like something out of a movie

Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, and the Kelpies each show a different side of Scotland’s charm. Loch Lomond is a peaceful and scenic loch, perfect for a relaxing walk or boat ride. Stirling Castle, sitting high on a hill, is full of fascinating history and amazing views. The Kelpies, two giant horse-head sculptures, are a modern tribute to Scotland’s legends and love of horses, and they’re even more impressive up close. Together, they make for a fun and varied day out.