Things to Do in Edinburgh: Our Top 12 Attractions

Edinburgh Attractions on the Map

To help you get your bearings, we’ve marked all 12 things to do in Edinburgh on a map.

Our 7 Must-Sees in Edinburgh That Should Be at the Top of Your List

Edinburgh has highlights in abundance. But if you’re short on time, these are the 7 you should prioritize:

Edinburgh Castle

What do you need to know? Edinburgh Castle is the city’s landmark. It has stood on Castle Rock above Edinburgh for over 900 years. Throughout history, the castle has served as a fortress, a prison, and a royal palace. You can visit on your own or join a guided tour.

Is it worth it? The castle is visible from just about every corner of the Old Town and always looks seriously impressive. Honestly, we find it more striking from the outside than from the inside — inside, you’ll mainly find exhibitions on the castle’s history and warfare. And plenty of tourists; the castle is always packed. But it’s worth it for the views and the “been there” feeling.

Our tip: If you’re into military history, the exhibitions here are right up your alley. But if you’d rather learn about the life of the Stuarts, we recommend visiting Holyrood Palace — our #4.

Book Edinburgh Castle tickets online

Book an Edinburgh Castle guided tour online
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Edinburgh Old Town

What do you need to know? Edinburgh’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s not just the historic sites like Mary King’s Close that make it so special — it’s also the quirky layout with staircases and winding streets.

Is it worth it? Edinburgh is famous for its historic center — and for good reason! It’s an authentic window into Edinburgh’s past, offers countless photo opportunities, and makes a perfect starting point for exploring the city.

Our tip: There are loads of walking tours through Edinburgh’s Old Town, and you should definitely join one. You’ll discover hidden corners and pick up the history behind all the different sites along the way.

Book a guided tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town online

Royal Mile

What do you need to know? The Royal Mile is a long street running between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace in the heart of the Old Town. It’s essentially a lovely promenade connecting the city’s two most iconic landmarks.

Is it worth it? The Royal Mile is essentially the souvenir shopping strip — it’s much more crowded than other parts of the Old Town, but the walk is totally worth it. It’s a great place to pick up the famous tartan wool scarves and listen to bagpipers.

Holyrood Palace Edinburgh

What do you need to know? Holyrood Palace stands at the eastern end of the Royal Mile — Edinburgh Castle stands at the western end. Kings and queens have lived here since the 16th century, including Mary, Queen of Scots.

Is it worth it? While Edinburgh Castle tells the story of the fortress and Scotland’s wars, Holyrood is all about the royal family. You’ll see rooms, halls, and historically significant spots like the ruins of Holyrood Abbey. Really fascinating if you’re into royal history.

Important: The palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!

Book Holyrood Palace tickets online

Greyfriars Kirkyard

What do you need to know? Greyfriars Kirkyard is the churchyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk on the edge of the Old Town. It ranks among the creepiest places in the world. Many of the graves are nearly 500 years old, and Edinburgh’s notable figures were buried here until 1902.

Is it worth it? Absolutely! Greyfriars Kirkyard is an extraordinary place — extraordinarily old, extraordinarily interesting, and seriously captivating. A walk through the grounds is a must.

Fun fact: Did you know that J.K. Rowling found inspiration for many of her characters’ names in this very cemetery? The grave of Thomas Riddle and Thomas Riddle Junior from 1802 is, in a sense, the spiritual birthplace of Lord Voldemort. How cool is that!
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Greyfriars Bobby

What do you need to know? Greyfriars Bobby is a small dog statue right next to Greyfriars Kirkyard. It depicts the Skye Terrier Bobby. In the 19th century, after the death of his owner John Gray, Bobby is said to have waited at his grave for 14 years until he himself died on January 14, 1872, and was secretly buried in the churchyard.

Is it worth it? Don’t skip little Bobby! If you touch his — now golden — nose, he’ll bring you good luck for life. Everything about Bobby is just incredibly sweet!

Arthur's Seat

What do you need to know? Arthur’s Seat is an 823-foot hill in Edinburgh and one of the city’s most popular vantage points. It’s easily reachable on foot from the city center, and the round trip takes about two hours.

Is it worth it? Want the best view of Edinburgh? Then get yourself up to Arthur’s Seat! The panorama from up here is unforgettably beautiful — you can see the entire city, Edinburgh Castle, and on a clear day, all the way to the Highlands.

More Great Attractions in Edinburgh

Of course, there’s even more to see in Edinburgh. If you have extra time for sightseeing, here are five additional highlights well worth a visit:

Surgeons' Hall Museums

What do you need to know? The Surgeons’ Hall Museums is home to the world’s largest collection dedicated to surgical pathology. Tickets can be purchased on site.

Is it worth it? We don’t want to overstate it, but this is genuinely the most impressive museum we’ve ever visited — as long as you’re not squeamish. Through countless exhibits, you’ll learn just how significant Edinburgh was to the development of modern medicine. It’s almost an Edinburgh insider secret, hehe.

Our tip: Don’t miss the story of Edinburgh’s serial killers Burke and Hare and the unscrupulous Doctor Knox — it’s a hugely important part of Edinburgh’s history. In the museum, you can see Burke’s 200-year-old death mask, and you’ll definitely come across their names again elsewhere in the city.

University of Edinburgh

What do you need to know? The University of Edinburgh was founded in the 16th century and is one of the best universities in the world. While it’s spread across the entire city, its most beautiful buildings — the Old College and the Old Medical School — are located in the Old Town.

Is it worth it? You can visit parts of the university for free, which is a great deal. Edinburgh has produced some seriously influential scientists, doctors, and scholars — and the historic buildings make a fantastic photo spot with major Hogwarts vibes.

Writers' Museum

What do you need to know? The Writers’ Museum is housed in Lady’s Stair House, which is over 400 years old. Admission is free, and the exhibition focuses on three famous Scottish writers — Robert Burns, Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Is it worth it? Lady’s Stair House alone makes for a refreshingly different kind of museum building. There are no grand halls here — instead, you’ll find winding rooms, lots of small staircases, and display cases packed to the brim. We could spend hours here, imagining masterpieces being written by the fireplace.
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Mary King's Close

What do you need to know? Mary King’s Close is a narrow dead-end alley beneath the Edinburgh City Chambers and one of the city’s most historically significant sites. The plague ravaged it starting in 1645, leaving the close completely uninhabited. Today it’s associated with countless ghost stories. You can only visit with a guided tour.

Is it worth it? The underground street is a deeply historic place. That said, going down will cost you around 23 pounds, and opinions are sharply divided on whether the tour is really worth it. Our take: if you have the budget, go for it. If you’re watching your spending, you can skip it without missing out too much.

Our tip: Mary King’s Close also has a shop, which we think is really cool — you can find things like scented candles made with the herbal blend that plague doctors used to carry in their beaked masks.

Book a Mary King’s Close tour online

Camera Obscura Edinburgh

What do you need to know? The camera obscura is an invention that was especially popular during the Victorian era. Light from an illuminated scene passes through a small hole in a lightproof box or room and is projected onto the opposite wall — a physical effect that many people at the time believed was magic.

Is it worth it? The Camera Obscura and World of Illusions in Edinburgh is a full museum dedicated to optical illusions and physical effects. Super fun — and great for kids too! The highlight is the real camera obscura in the museum’s tower, which gives you a stunning panoramic view over Edinburgh.

Book Camera Obscura tickets online

Edinburgh City Tours That Are a Lot of Fun

City tours are a must for us. They give you a great overview and fill you in on details about the highlights that you probably wouldn’t have discovered on your own. These are our favorite Edinburgh tours:

Ghost tour of Edinburgh: Learn about Edinburgh’s dark past at locations like the old execution site and hear true crime stories and ghost tales. Our top recommendation!

2-hour sightseeing walking tour: Want to see it all? This tour delivers. You’ll walk through Edinburgh’s most important streets and take in all the must-sees in one go.

Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea: Want something a little more special? Hop aboard a vintage bus and cruise through Edinburgh while enjoying not just the views but also delicious afternoon tea and gin.
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Exciting Day Trips from Edinburgh

Feel like exploring the area around Edinburgh? We’ve got two really great recommendations:

Hogwarts Express and the Scottish Highlands: Yes, you read that right — you can actually ride the Hogwarts Express! From Edinburgh, you’ll take a bus to Mallaig and then travel by train through the Highlands. How wild is that?!

Loch Ness, Glen Coe, and Trossachs National Park: Prefer to stick to the classics? A day trip by bus to Loch Ness and the surrounding area is absolutely worth your time.

Alternatively, take a short side trip to Edinburgh’s harbor district, Leith. We’ve got more tips for you here:

Practical Tips for Edinburgh

Here are a few practical pointers to help you make the most of your trip to Edinburgh:

Our Hotel Recommendations for Edinburgh

Find more places to stay in Edinburgh here:

Edinburgh City Passes

With a city pass, you can visit several attractions for a flat rate. Edinburgh offers two options:

The Royal Edinburgh: Around 75 euros. Includes hop-on/hop-off bus, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Royal Yacht Britannia.

Edinburgh Pass: Around 80 euros. Includes airport transfer, hop-on/hop-off bus, whiskey distillery, Dynamic Earth, and Harry Potter tour.

The passes are only worth it if you actually plan to visit the included attractions.

Apart from Edinburgh Castle, our recommendations aren’t included in these passes — because most of our favorites are simply free of charge.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is great to visit year-round. That said, the best months are definitely May and September. The weather is pleasant, hotels are more affordable, and the streets aren’t overrun with tourists.

Our tip: As with any city break, most people visit Edinburgh over a weekend. To save money on accommodation and avoid the biggest crowds, we recommend traveling on weekdays if you can.
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How many days should you plan for Edinburgh?

Based on our experience, you should plan for at least three days in Edinburgh. That gives you enough time to see the most important highlights, try some Scottish food, and maybe fit in a guided tour.

That said: the more time you have, the better. There is just sooo much to do in Edinburgh!

What is Edinburgh known for?

Edinburgh’s look is still defined today by a blend of the Middle Ages and the Victorian era — and that’s exactly what gives the city its charm. Winding cobblestone lanes, weathered churchyards, underground passages, old street lamps, and historic architecture as far as the eye can see.

In keeping with the historic atmosphere, you can still buy things in Edinburgh that were sold here 150 years ago — like gin, Scottish wool, delicious shortbread, and Harris Tweed.