The 10 Best Things You Must Do in Fascinating Edinburgh Scotland

Confession.

I didn’t love — or even really like — Edinburgh the first time I visited.

But I believe in second chances.

So when I returned in January 2022 in the midst of winter and the Omicron variant of COVID, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up liking it.

Maybe I even love it. 

I’m still deciding. 

Anyway…

As a result of my new found like (or love) of Scotland’s capital, I want to offer up a list of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

So…

Here we go!

Where is Edinburgh Scotland?

Let’s start by placing Edinburgh on the map of Scotland.

Edinburgh is in the Lowlands of Scotland and sits on the east coast.

It’s only about 50 miles north of the border with England.

Edinburgh is not the largest city — that distinction belongs to Glasgow.

But it is the capital and is often the point of entry for folks flying into Scotland.

So let’s dive into the best things to do in Edinburgh.

Tour Edinburgh Castle

One of the star attractions, along with the next item on this list, is the Edinburgh Castle.

I have a full post on the castle here.

It’s Scotland’s most visited site with an estimated 2.2 million visitors in 2019 (the good ol’ pre-COVID days).

And this site is hard to miss as it sits up on this hunk of volcanic rock.

There has been some sort of castle or fortress on this site since around the 12th century. 

But it’s quite possible it was occupied well before that.

Anyway.

There are lots of great buildings scattered about with museums.

I really enjoyed the National War Museum and the Scottish National War Memorial.

But you’ll also find the Scottish crowned jewels at Edinburgh Castle as well as the Royal Palace and St Margaret’s Chapel.

Oh, and did I mention the views?

The views are amazing across Edinburgh and out to the Firth of Forth and the North Sea.

While I do think Edinburgh Castle is worthy of your time, I will say that it may be slightly overrated. 

However, it’s still one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

Tip: It does get very very busy here so do reserve your ticket in advance and try to go first thing in the morning. The one o’clock gun firing is cool but it’s very very busy at that time. So avoid that early afternoon time!

Walk the Royal Mile and explore the hidden courtyards

Another of the star attractions in Edinburgh is the Royal Mile.

This is the road that leads from the Castle (the fortress) down to Holyrood Palace which is the newer ‘castle’.

And it’s roughly a mile in length.

Now, there are some tacky, kitschy shops.

And some overpriced restaurants and cafes.

But there are also some impressive historical buildings.

So it really is a splendid road and walk filled with loads of history making it one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

And there is even more history and stories behind the main buildings.

You see, there are wee courtyards and alleyways that, yes, you can enter.

You’ll know when there is one you can enter and one that you can’t.

Try one of the gates.

If it’s open, then go in and see what lies behind the craziness of the Royal Mile.

You’ll find cute courtyards, historic buildings and … quiet.

So while the Royal Mile is awesome.

It’s what lies behind the Royal Mile that is truly special.

You can’t miss this part of Old Town Edinburgh.

Be awed by St Giles Cathedral

Along the Royal Mile you’ll find the stunning St Giles Cathedral.

A visit to this religious building is definitely one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

Now you may have heard of this with the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II as her remains did lie in state here.

The cathedral is one of those simple, stone structures with gothic arches and beautiful stained glass windows.

I find the churches in the UK to be a bit simpler, in general, compared to some of the ornate churches in Italy.

Simple.

Yet beautiful.

It is free to visit, but a donation is suggested.

And there are some guided tours at appointed hours or you can get an audio guide via your smartphone for £5.50.

Do spend some time here really drinking in the magnificent architecture.

Savor the Whisky Experience

For me one of the best things to do in Edinburgh is to go to the Scotch Whisky Experience.

Located just a storefront down from the castle, this is a kick of a tour.

Admittedly, visiting an actual whisky distillery is better as you’ll actually go into areas where the big vats are and see all the barrels where the liquid is aged.

At the Whisky Experience they do take you through a Disney-like ride/experience where you learn how whisky is made to compensate.

As long as you’re ok with an amusement park ride of learning how whisky is made, then you’ll like the tour.

After the ride, you sit in a room and learn a bit more about whisky, then you get the privilege of walking through a room with bottles upon bottles of whisky — many of them rare and very old.

It’s impressive as hell!

Then the fun begins with your tasting. 

There is a Silver tour, a Gold tour and a Platinum tour with the Platinum being the most extensive with more tastes

It was one of the best tastings I’ve ever done.

The young woman who lead the tasting was funny, knowledgeable and had great stories.

Did I mention she was funny?

It was a delightful time.

I decided to go all out and do the Taste of Scotland which includes the Platinum tour followed by a tasting dinner at the restaurant which is located on the lower level.

They accommodated me with gluten free food.

I did eat meat though!

And I have to admit the food was delicious!

I did, of course, have a wee bit more whisky.

I recommend the Taste of Scotland. 

As I said above, it’s a combo of the Platinum tour and tasting followed by the dinner which is a sample meal with a trio of starters and a trio of main courses followed by a dessert.

It’s a bit of a splurge, but well worth it!!

Tip: Do make reservations in advance no matter which level of tasting you do.

Meander around Grassmarket

The Grassmarket area is one of my favorite parts of Edinburgh.

This area was where agricultural trading took place back in the 14th and 15th centuries.

And it’s also where some public executions took place in the 1600’s through to the late 1700’s.

Even up to the 1970s and early 1980s, Grassmarket was not a part of Edinburgh you wanted to be in as it was kind of ‘seedy’ and not really safe.

But that has all changed.

Now wandering the streets of Grassmarket and having a bite to eat or a wee drink is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

There are some very old pubs here that you may want to try!

I have to admit that I only wandered around here a couple of times during my recent time in Edinburgh.

I popped into some shops but didn’t eat or drink at any cafe or pub.

Next time!

Grassmarket really is a delightful piece of Edinburgh that I highly recommend.

Tip: For Harry Potter fans do pop into the Museum Context shop. It’s a kick with all kinds of Harry Potter souvenirs. You can even get your own wand!!

Stroll through the New Town

So the Royal Mile, the castle and Grassmarket are all in the Old Town.

The New Town, which dates to Georgian times — roughly the latter part of the 18th century, has some lovely areas to check out too.

The most popular spots are Princes Street and George Street.

For me, there’s too many big name stores so I don’t care for this piece of the New Town.

But tuck down the street just behind Princes Street and you find Rose Street and its little pedestrian lanes. 

This is far more appealing and to me.

Wandering this part of the New Town is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

The New Town is also home to places like the Sir Walter Scott Monument, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Calton Hill which is a place that is high on my “next time” list.

You’ll find a few other awesome places in the New Town such as the Bonham Hotel which is worthy of the splurge.

I love this hotel!

And I have a full post on my stay you may want to read.

The Bonham’s quiet yet convenient location and the restaurant and bar that are part of the hotel make it such a wonderful hotel to stay in for your time in Edinburgh.

Tip: Do check out Charlotte Square which is a lovely spot in New Town Edinburgh.

Be charmed by Dean Village

One of the best things to do in Edinburgh is to wander about Dean Village.

Now Dean ‘Village’ is a bit misleading as this village is just a collection of buildings.

There aren’t any shops or cafes as it really is a residential area.

The Water of Leith runs through it and the buildings are old and historical.

It really is charming as hell!

So pack your camera — or smartphone — or both in my case — and just wander about and take it all in.

Tip: Be sure to slowly wander through Dean Village and truly absorb it. While it’s a very small area, it really is cute as a bug’s ear!

Hike up Arthur’s Seat and explore Holyrood Park

I’d have to say that hiking up this hill is one of my favorite things to do in Edinburgh.

And the park — Holyrood Park — where this hill is located is just lovely.

I have a full post on my experience and tips on Arthur’s Seat that you may want to check out.

It’s not a particularly long hike, but it is uphill and the last part is very rocky.

It can be muddy if there has been a lot of rain and it can be very windy here as well.

I think the views from the top of Arthur’s Seat are superb.

I was lucky and had a clear day even if it was windy and cold — it was January!

There are other trails in Holyrood Park as well that you may want to explore.

So even if you opt NOT to do the hike up Arthur’s Seat, you may still want to spend some time exploring the park.

It’s one of the best things to do in Edinburgh — especially for those who want a bit of outdoor time in the city.

Tip: Do be sure to do this in good weather. You won’t get the views if it’s raining or foggy. And be sure you have the proper footwear and clothing.

Peruse the National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland is a wonderful museum if you want to get out of the bad weather.

First of all, it’s free.

Secondly, the building is really cool.

This museum houses all kinds of collections — from natural history to art to inventions. 

If you have kids, they’ll love it as there are a lot of interactive displays for the wee ones.

I enjoyed it although I think I would prefer a museum that was strictly Scottish.

The National Museum of Scotland has items from all over the world.

However, I still found it very interesting and highly recommend it for museum lovers.

Tip: Do be sure to check out the Science & Technology galleries. I think these were my favorite parts of the museum.

Get a your creepy on at Greyfriars Kirkyard

I wasn’t able to go into the Kirk — the church — but I did wander about the kirkyard which is the cemetery.

If you love graveyards and cemeteries you’ll definitely want to put Greyfriars on your list.

There are loads of stories, myths and legends around this kirkyard.

And it’s said that JK Rowling found some of the names of her characters for Harry Potter on the gravestones here.

I wandered about on a cold, gray January day loving every minute of it.

Cemeteries are one of my favorite places to visit as I travel.

The treatment of the departed says a lot about a culture.

I met an elderly man who seemed to be a watcher-over of the kirkyard.

We chatted for a bit with him telling me some stories and pointing me in the direction of some of those Harry Potter gravestones.

There is an intriguing story around Greyfriars kirkyard and a dog by the name of Bobby.

I won’t’ go into detail and instead link to a fabulous episode from the Stories of Scotland podcast that tells about this legend — which probably has some truth to it.

I think a wander about Greyfriars kirkyard is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh, hands down.

Tip: Do take your time and really read a lot of the gravestones. It really is a fabulous cemetery.

Are these the best things to do in Edinburgh?

Well these are some of my favorite things to do in Edinburgh.

There are a couple of things that I want to do on my next visit. 

One is Holyrood Palace.

I hear this is a fabulous site.

It was closed on most of the days of my last visit.

The other site is Calton Hill which I simply didn’t have time for.

Both are on my “next time” list.

I’m guessing that if you’ve visited Edinburgh, you’ll have some other experiences on your list.

I’d love to hear them.

Drop them in the comments below.

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. While travel to Europe is getting easier, we are still not out of the woods with COVID.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

And if you are ready to go soon, please contact Lynne for any assistance you may need.

 

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