17 Fun Things To Do In Edinburgh

Heading to Edinburgh? Scotland's capital city with its beautiful buildings, history, and wonderful scenery makes for a perfect destination for a weekend break. Well connected by rail, road, and air, Edinburgh which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site has lots of interesting sights to see and things to do no matter which season you visit in. Many head to Edinburgh in August when the three-week Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes place featuring thousands of performers presenting shows suited to all tastes. It tends to get quite busy and crowded at this time though. If you are looking for a quieter time to visit, Autumn would be ideal as it is not yet too cold nor is it too crowded.

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Thanks to our recent short break to Edinburgh, I've put together this fun list of things for you to see and do in the city. Have a read and you might find yourself planning your next weekend getaway to Edinburgh.

Tip: Grab this handy, pocket-sized Map of Edinburgh which will help you discover the city, including Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Princes Street Gardens, The Royal Botanic Garden, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat.

Royal Mile

The heartline of Edinburgh, this stretch of road called the 'Royal Mile' is steeped in history and connects the Palace of Holyroodhouse with Edinburgh Castle. Many of the popular attractions listed below are dotted along the Royal Mile, so when you are in Edinburgh, you are sure to end up at the Royal Mile. In addition to the tourist attractions, there are a number of other old & beautiful buildings, tourist-y shops, restaurants and bars along the Royal Mile. You might also come across street performers!

The Scottish Parliament

The Parliament building in Edinburgh is a very nice example of modern architecture. If you love architecture, you will love a visit to this building. Leaflets explain the idea behind the design and symbolism of the Parliament building. You can either explore the public areas (with the free maps/leaflets) at your own pace or join one of the free guided tours. You can even request for tickets for a seat to attend one of the many debates in the Debating Chamber or a Committee meeting. While we did not attend any debates due to lack of time, we did enjoy the tour of the premises.

The Parliament building is open to visitors Monday to Saturday and there is no need to book your visit in advance. Once you are done with the tour, you can head to the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is right opposite the Parliament.

The Scottish Parliament | Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Palace of Holyroodhouse standing at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile is the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh. The Palace is open to visitors throughout the year and you can explore it at your leisure using the complimentary audio tour that is available. The highlights are the State Apartments and the Throne Room. Also not to be missed are the Great Gallery and the Holyrood Abbey. Note that photography is not allowed inside the Palace.

Adult tickets to the Palace cost £14; however, if you opt for a combined visit to the Palace, the Queen's Gallery and a Garden history tour then an adult ticket works out to £23.

Palace of Holyroodhouse | Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX

The Queen's Gallery

Part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse complex, the Queen's Gallery exhibits works from the Royal Collection - fine paintings, drawings, prints, rare furniture and other decorative arts. It is open to the public daily and an adult ticket costs £7.20. As mentioned earlier, you can opt for a combined ticket (to the Palace and Gardens as well) for some savings.

The Queen's Gallery | Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX

Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat

A short walk from the Royal Mile and adjacent to Holyrood Palace is the 640 acre Royal Park, Holyrood Park. Located right in the heart of the city, it is like an oasis of calm and beauty. And towering over Edinburgh is the rocky summit of Arthur's Seat (the park's highest point) that offers fabulous views in all directions. Some parts of the path are steep and you will need a good pair of appropriate footwear. It can be a challenging climb for some but it is worth the views especially when the weather is great. A must visit.

Holyrood Park | Edinburgh EH16 5BT

Related | Scotland Itinerary in 7 Days

Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia, berthed in Edinburgh, is one of the most popular attractions in the city. Formerly it was home to The Queen and the Royal Family and has sailed around the world. You can plan a full day out to the Britannia or if short on time you can go for a 2-3 hours tour. Along with the entry ticket, visitors are given a complimentary audio handset that offers information about the Britannia's five main decks. You can explore the Bridge, the State Apartments and then head to the Crew's Quarters; finishing off at the Engine Room.

Britannia is around two miles from the city centre and there are frequent buses from the city centre. If you are driving down, there is ample free parking space. An adult ticket is priced at £16 while a child's (aged 5-17) ticket is £8.50.

The Royal Yacht Britannia | Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Some interesting Edinburgh deals for you (below)

Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth is one of Edinburgh's popular visitor attractions that tells the story of planet Earth and how our Earth works. With a high-definition 360° digital showdome and seasonal events and exhibitions (that are interactive and engaging), Dynamic Earth makes for a fascinating and educational day out for the entire family.

Ticket prices at the gate are priced at £15.50 for adults and £9.75 for children. If you purchase day tickets online you receive a 10% discount.

Dynamic Earth | Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8AS

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

Another brilliant attraction that is great fun for all ages! One of the oldest purpose-built visitor attractions in Edinburgh, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions has a number of interactive exhibitions. World of Illusions has a number of classic illusions like the 'Maze of Mirrors' and 'Light Fantastic' where you can watch yourself stretch and shrink and grow! It is a lot of fun, especially for kids. Can get quite busy around peak times (school holidays), so plan accordingly. You will need at least two hours to get around the exhibits and attractions at a leisurely pace.

Tickets are priced as follows: Adults at £15.50, students (with ID) at £13.50 and children (5–15 years) at £11.50.

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions | Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND

National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland with its impressive collection of exhibits ranging from categories like art and nature to science and technology will take you on a journey of discovery through the history of Scotland. Begin your museum tour in the Grand Gallery and then head to the Natural World gallery to explore the wonders of nature. Not to be missed is the Millennium clock which offers a unique musical display every hour. The museum is quite big so you could easily spend the greater part of a day and still not manage to see everything. If you are staying in Edinburgh for a longer duration, you could do a couple of visits over a few days. Entry is free.

National Museum of Scotland | Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

The Museum of Edinburgh

Compared to the National Musem of Scotland, this museum is quite small however it is worth a visit. Housed in an old building on the Royal Mile, this little museum has a number of iconic items like the collar and bowl of Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal Skye terrier whose story has inspired numerous film adaptations. You will also find costumes, clocks, Scottish pottery & porcelain and silverware among other things. A nice little museum where you could spend around half an hour or so. Free entry.

The Museum of Edinburgh | 142 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH8 8DD

Gin Distillery Tours

With a number of gin distilleries in the city all easily accessible on foot, by car or by public transport, Edinburgh is an ideal choice for a Gin Distillery tour. These guided tours are very interesting, covering the history of gin in the country, the botanicals used in the gin and the distillation process followed by a gin tasting session. Two of the popular distilleries offering such tours are Edinburgh Gin and Pickering's Gin. You can book the tours directly on their respective websites or you can book it through the hotel you are staying at.

Food Tours

Food tours have become quite popular over the last few years. All major tourist destinations offer such experiences and these tours are the perfect way to experience any city. Earlier in the year, we visited Poland and the food tour in Krakow was one of the highlights of our trip. Very friendly guide and amazing food! Coming back to Edinburgh, there are a number of companies that offer food tours in the city like Eat Walk Edinburgh whose 'Edinburgh Old & New Town' lasting around 3 to 3.5 hours is a fun way to enjoy good food, drink, and company while also learning about the rich history of Edinburgh. Another tour company you can check out is Secret Food Tours who offer 3 to 3.5 hours guided food tour of Old Town Edinburgh with tastings of traditional Scottish dishes and drinks.

Edinburgh Castle

Dominating the skyline of the city, Edinburgh Castle is a part of the World Heritage Site. The Castle has been an important residence of Scottish Kings and Queens over the centuries and has also withstood many sieges. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland with millions of tourists visiting each year. No wonder it is often very crowded and busy. There is lots to see and do at the castle and a guided tour is included in the ticket price – making it a great way to discover the castle's history with the knowledgeable guides.

Tickets (on-site) are priced at £18.50 for adults and £11.50 for children. There is a small discount if you purchase tickets online.

Edinburgh Castle | Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG

And if you have the time and are a castle fan, then there are many other castles to explore in Scotland.

St Giles Cathedral

With its beautiful crown spire and standing tall on the Royal Mile is St Giles’ Cathedral, the historic City Church of Edinburgh. The cathedral is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle. The Gothic style cathedral has some really remarkable features and is very beautiful from the inside with medieval heraldic carvings, wonderful stained glass artwork and an elaborately carved pulpit among other things. There is a paid rooftop tour that affords a beautiful view of the city from the bell tower.

Entry is free but there is £2 fee for a photo permit.

St Giles' Cathedral | High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE

Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh

Set in over 70 acres the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh is the UK's second oldest botanical garden. The Herbarium at the  Edinburgh site is thought to be a world-leading botanical collection with more than 3 million plant specimens. It is an impressive botanical garden with lots of beautiful trees from around the world. Entry to the garden is free but there are tickets to visit the glass houses. Paid guided tours are also available.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh | 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR

Princes Street Gardens

This beautiful garden lies at centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site. Located in the valley between the old and new towns with Edinburgh Castle towering above one end, the garden is of geological and botanical scientific interest. It is very popular with locals and visitors alike with many visiting to have a look at the floral clock which is said to make use of tens of thousands of plants in its design. The park although small is very well maintained with plenty of lawn space to relax and enjoy a picnic.

Princes Street Gardens | Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2HG

Shopping

Edinburgh has a number of luxury retailers and popular stores but it is the small and independent shops that are the best places to pick up gifts or do some shopping for oneself. Head to the Old Town or even if you are just walking along the Royal Mile you will see a number of these small shops selling everything from ready-to-wear kilts to handcrafted jewellery, from fine Scottish food & drink to antiques. A nice place to pick up something in the traditional Scottish style.

Please note: The admission prices listed above are correct at the time of publishing this post but are subject to change.