16 Awesome Things to Do in Edinburgh Scotland

So without much further ado, let’s dive in to see what you must know about all the things to do in Edinburgh.

Although the city of Edinburgh has many hot attractions, here are a few which we feel are must-visits if ever you are in the city during an English holiday.

Edinburgh is a city which can boast of a volcano, albeit extinct right within its confines. Known to the locals as Arthur’s Seat, this is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh. Rising up from the center of Holyrood Park, the wide grasslands act as a green backdrop to the volcano. If you are planning to hike it be sure to pack your boots as the terrain is rough. Although it’s an easy enough trek at 250 meters, the magnificent views of the city from the top is priceless and completely worth it.

One of the UK’s most iconic landmarks, visiting the Edinburgh Castle is truly breathtaking and transports you back to the medieval era. Quite easily one of most romantic things to do in Edinburgh, the Castle sits atop another extinct volcano. The grandiose structure is a constant reminder of days when arguments within feudal lords would be solved with wars and battles. There are actor-led historical events which are quite interesting to watch. If you get hungry, there is a traditional English tea-room which serves delicious scones with strawberry jam, and clotted cream.

Get access to panoramic views of Edinburgh from Calton Hill which you can reach via a short hike. Beginning from Princess Street, the hike hardly takes five minutes and also features in the list of the best things to do in Edinburgh. A nice place to spend a couple of hours if you like landscapes, and want to get away from the city. There is an authentic Scottish food van situated on top of the hill in addition to the Nelson Monument, and the National Monument of Scotland.

From Edinburgh Castle, take a long route down to the Scottish Parliament, and you would have walked what is known at the Royal Mile. Used by the royal retinue in the medieval era, it is quite interesting to trace the steps of a king. Located at the very heart of the Old Town, the road is always abuzz with activity. Pubs, tartan shops, and restaurants line the cobbled streets with a lot of tours available the whole season. Heading to the Museum of Childhood is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh if you are near the Royal Mile.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, or just Holyroodhouse, is a royal house. Rightly so, as the British monarch stays here whenever the royals come down to Scotland. You will find the current Queen and her royal entourage of staff and servants flocking to the house during Holyrood Week which falls in June. Believe it or not, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen entertain nearly 8000 guests during that time. A tour will cost you around GBP 12 and it’s located at Canongate, EH8 8DX. Truly, one of the most exciting things to do in Edinburgh Scotland.

If you are searching for things to do in Edinburgh, then heading to the Royal Yacht Brittanica would prove to be a brilliant idea. This trip will certainly make you feel like a royal, albeit for a day. Unlike the palaces and castles, the yacht is starkly different because of the modern amenities it is equipped with

It certainly feels like traveling with the Queen herself! If you fancy having something to eat, then there is an exquisite tearoom inside.

Another place which makes it to our list of things to do in Edinburgh is the city zoo. The reason why this also one of the best things to do in Edinburgh is the fact that the zoo plays host to two giant pandas christened Tian Tian, and Yang Guang. The zoo has begun an intense breeding program as they are an endangered species, and more the number of babies they produce, the better. Located on Corstorphine Road, head to the zoo if you have never seen a real live panda before.

Not only is the town famous for its attractions, but Edinburgh has also carved a name for itself with its wide plethora of festivals. Although there are many, they all come under the Edinburgh International Festival. Let’s take a look at some of the areas around which it is based on -

Since it was tabled in 1944, the Edinburgh Music & Drama festival started in 1947. It has been delighting the people of the town and abroad with powerful performances by various artists. If you are looking for one of the best things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland, then attending the Music & Drama festival should be a must. With performances spread across three whole weeks, filled with intense cultural activities, including dance, theatre, and operas. You can even attend talks by the artists themselves at the venue. If you love music, then this would be one of the things to do in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival has been delivering joy and entertainment to Jazz fans since 1978. With the festival in its early years focussing on traditional jazz only, today it has branched out to become a world-renowned event. With more than fifty styles of music portrayed by musicians all around the world, there are free performances as well, which take place inside Edinburgh’s music-friendly pubs. Some of the greats who have played here would be Jools Holland, George Benson, and Mud Morganfield.

The Edinburgh Book Festival, on the other hand, is one of the things to do in Edinburgh if you love books. A booklover’s paradise, this festival is held on Charlotte St which is to the west of George St. It’s a haven for literary greats, and you might just find a famous author reading a paragraph of their newest publication. Over 700 events take place where over 800 writers share their thoughts and meanderings.

Films aren’t left far behind as there is a grand celebration held every year, which comes under the umbrella of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Beginning along with the Edinburgh International Festival in 1947, this film festival is the world’s longest film festival which runs continuously. Since its inception, this festival has become pivotal to the international film scene and is renowned the world over for promoting the very best of international cinema. If you are a movie buff, then visiting this would be one of the best things to do in Edinburgh Scotland. Also, if you are between the ages of 15-25, it’s free!

The Edinburgh International Festivals finally ends in a shower of fireworks which is a magnificent thing to watch. Thousands gather at the Princess Street Gardens and enjoy a classical music performance which is followed by the fireworks which are expertly choreographed. They shoot out from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle and is known to send everyone into fits of glee. However, if you are unable to purchase the tickets for the closing celebrations, you can still be a part of it as they can be seen from several vantage points located around the city. The live concert is broadcast on the local radio, and the awe-inspiring fireworks light up the sky. Some of the spots from where you can enjoy this would be the Inverleith Park and Calton Hill. A sight to behold which is truly one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

If you love museums and still looking for things to do in Edinburgh, then the town has a fair share of them. From the Dean’s Gallery to the Museum of Scotland, have fun exploring the history of Scotland. Here is a list of the must-visit museums and galleries which feature in our top things to do in Edinburgh

A former orphanage, this was transformed into a gallery about five years ago. However, because of the care taken to renovate, it looks just like an established gallery nonetheless. If surrealist art is your thing, then you can feast your eyes upon a fantastic collection of Dada. Other visual treats include a tribute to sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi who was born and brought up in Edinburgh. If you have some time on our hands, take a walk along the footpath which ebbs and flows alongside the Water of Leith which is a river running through wooded valleys, and Stockbridge which is a village quite close by.

The National Museum of Scotland is a perfect place to bring your kids as it’s free. It was formed and established in 2006 and was created by a merger with the new Museum of Scotland. You will find a number of collections which are related to Scottish culture and history. The Royal Scottish Museum is only adjacent to this building so you can pore over the vast collections spread across topics like natural history, science and technology, and different cultures of the world. Yes, if you are history buff, then a visit to these museums is one of the many things to do in Edinburgh.

Another famous gallery in town would be the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This is another place you should visit if you love art galleries and looking for things to do in Edinburgh. Housing art from contemporary to modern times, dating from the early 20^th century to the present, this gallery is famous and is spread across two buildings, Modern I and Modern II, west of the city center, and on Belford Road. With more than six thousand sculptures, paintings, video work, prints, and drawings, the gallery also stages huge exhibitions which attract crowds in their thousands.

Last, but not the least, are the National Galleries of Scotland. This gallery controls three national galleries, including two partner galleries which form the National Collections of Scotland. With an annual budget of nearly GBP 19 million, it is located in the center of the city and displays many portraits of noted Scotsmen.

Apart from attending festivals, galleries, and taking long walks, there are a ton of other activities which you can do in Edinburgh. When we said, you will need a holiday dedicated to the city we weren’t kidding. There are literally thousands of things to do in Edinburgh, which will surprise you. Here are some of the other activities you can indulge over your stay in this quaint Scottish town

If you are a whiskey connoisseur, then Edinburgh is the place to be. Head over to The Vaults in Leigh and take a gander at what the Scots do best, and that is to make some delicious drams of whiskey. The Scotch Malt Society began here, and you can visit every Tuesday evening to sample a few of their choicest drams. There is live music too so you can shake a leg if you like with your drink inside the Cask Room. This place also has their homemade peated whiskey ketchup which you can slather over your Aberdeen Angus steak. Another place which you can hit for a whiskey tasting session would be the Scotch Whisky Experience, where you can hop into an oak barrel before treating your taste buds to an excellent whiskey sour or a Hebridean Sunset cocktail. This cocktail is quite popular with the locals and is made from Grand Marnier, Cointreau, lemon, orange, and grenadine syrup. So if you are interested in a tipple and looking for things to do in Edinburgh, a whiskey tasting session would be something hard to miss.

Head over to the Leith area of the town to indulge in some culture and theatre. Also known as the Shore, this area has quickly evolved into a cosmopolitan and cultural hub. The world-renowned Leith theatre has undergone a complete transformation and is now a paradise for lovers of music and theatre. There are several trendy restaurants and bars if you get hungry after a show.

In total, there are four guided bus tours in the town. The Edinburgh tour package takes you to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, and the Georgian New Town while the Majestic and Citysighseeing package include the Royal Botanical Garden, Royal Yacht, and the beautiful shoreline of Leith. The three bridges tour takes you around Edinburgh's famous three bridges and the Fife’s coastline. Other than the last one, all three tours last around 75 minutes and have easy access for a Class 2 scooter.

There are many ways to get to Edinburgh as it is well-connected by roads and infrastructure. Here are a few ways to get to the city

There are several trams which frequently run between the city center and airport. They generally run every seven minutes or so, and the journey takes about half an hour each way. Don’t worry if you have big luggage bags as all coaches are equipped with dedicated racks for luggage including suitcases and prams.

From London, you can reach Edinburgh either by plane, bus, train, or car. If you choose to fly, then you can take off from any of the six airports in London, all of which are connected to Edinburgh’s one and only airport. If you take the bus, then there are two bus operators in the UK which provide coaches for this 332-mile journey, namely National Express, and Megabus. They have multiple departures every day, so you just need to book a ticket for a time slot and be in time for boarding and departure. A tip here would be to book well in advance as the ticket prices may be as low as GBP 3, as compared to GBP 10 to GBP 30 for last-minute bookings. Expect an eight to ten-hour journey depending on traffic.

You can take a car from Manchester to Edinburgh, but that’s not a very good idea due to the hindrance caused due to traffic in the city. A much better way is to take the train from Manchester station and maybe stop-over in York for a few hours. Else, you can find direct trains which can make the entire journey within four hours.

There you have it! Everything you should know before visiting Edinburgh. So go ahead and book your ticket as this charming Scottish town is definitely worth it.