Edinburgh
City Activity 1
Explore Edinburgh Old Town
As you’ll see in your itinerary, this is the perfect afternoon activity on day one.
Make a point of wandering Victoria Street, the Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby, and the closes and churches of the Royal Mile. The Mile leads to Edinburgh Castle, and I recommend seeing the free-to-enter Esplanade area, which will be busy but has incredible views over the city. If you’re there at 1pm, you’ll get to hear the One O’clock Gun fire.
For a hidden gem with equally great views, head to the National Museum of Scotland (free to enter) and take the elevator to the top-floor roof terrace. The very photogenic central atrium also has some interesting exhibits.
If you have the energy, follow the Mound downhill to see Princes Street Gardens, a green space beneath the castle. The gardens are a leafy walk with views of the castle above. Return to your hotel via the Grassmarket or retrace your steps on the Mound (see your map).
You’ll find walking routes, eateries, and pins here on Google Maps
Finally, rainy day options I recommend are: The Real Mary King's Close (historic street, find info here) and Camera Obscura (quirky exhibits with fantastic city viewpoint, find info here). Both are located on the Royal Mile and easy walking distance of your hotel.
Old Town Eats & Drinks & Coffee
For coffee, lunch, and dinner in the nearby area (all saved in the Edinburgh map):
La Barantine – excellent French patisserie with good coffee on Victoria Street.
Knoops – excellent hot chocolate on Victoria Street.
The Milkman – a city institution, visit for coffee and pastries.
The Edinburgh Larder – excellent brunch and lunch, Scottish produce (book here).
Scran – delicious brunch and lunch options (menu here, choose Arcade option).
Angels with Bagpipes – excellent dinner option, upscale bistro (book here)
Makars Mash Bar – super relaxed, really good Scottish comfort food (book here)
Tolbooth Tavern – traditional Scottish gastro pub (book here)
Luckenbooths – bistro style all day eatery (book here)
Civerinos – excellent pizza in a casual setting (book here and choose Hunter Square)
Evening Walk - Calton Hill
You may want a relaxed night to recover from the flight, and time to enjoy your hotel. However, if you’d like to see a little more of the city, head to Calton Hill for sunset.
This hilltop outlook is home to an interesting collection of Greek-style buildings and monuments built during Edinburgh’s “period of enlightenment”, is an ancient volcanic plug, and is a UNESCO heritage site.
However, its best part is the spectacular sunset view of Princes Street and beyond.
There’s also a little café-bar at the top of the hill with a lovely terrace; they serve small plates and drinks, and it’s a beautiful spot on a warm summer evening (the terrace area doesn’t require a reservation).
Getting to Calton Hill from the city centre is a 15-minute walk however check the time from your hotel on Google Maps.
If open and depending on time, walk along Queen Street en route and pop into the National Portrait Gallery, where the Great Hall has a beautiful astrological ceiling decorated with over 2,000 golden stars (free to enter, I wouldn’t go beyond the central atrium, which is arguably the best part).
City Activity 2
Morning - Arthur's Seat Hike
One of the best things to do in Edinburgh (especially after a big breakfast) is to hike around Arthur's Seat. The views from the top of this ancient volcanic plug are spectacular and well worth the effort to get to the top!
From your hotel, head down the Royal Mile on foot (around 15 minutes) to Holyrood Park. You’ll spot Arthur’s Seat ahead, a small but dramatic hill that dominates the city skyline. You can take a stroll around the park or head uphill for the best views.
The trail is clear and easy to follow, but you’ll find an OS Map here. The walk itself takes around 1.5 hours to complete, and the elevation is 251m/820ft so expect a few sections that’ll make your legs burn!
After your hike, you might want to freshen up in your hotel and choose somewhere from our list for lunch. Or head to the south of the city for a new experience.
Afternoon – New Town
This afternoon, head to Stockbridge in Edinburgh’s New Town. The easiest way to get there is on foot, which will take around 20 minutes from the hotel and cross over the main shopping area, Princes Street.
Stockbridge is a leafy ‘village’ within Edinburgh and is a perfect example of the city’s new town architecture, so a different side of the city from what you saw yesterday. It’s a favourite with locals and travellers; expect charming, cobbled streets and plenty of really great places to eat.
Stop 1: Circus Lane
Considered Edinburgh’s prettiest street, take a quick photography stop at Circus Lane as you wander downhill. It’s a short but beautiful cobbled street with mews houses and potted plants.
Stop 2: Stockbridge
Stockbridge's high street is the beating heart of the city. Though small, it is lined with charming boutique shops and speciality stores. Also, on Sundays, the local Stockbridge Market, open from 10 am to 4 pm, features foodie stalls alongside crafts and gifts.
Stop 3: Water of Leith / Dean Village
After the market, follow the Water of Leith trail to Dean Village. The trail is located just behind the market and follows the river into Dean Village. This is one of the oldest parts of Edinburgh and a former flour milling area in the 12th century. The architecture and the walk are incredibly picturesque; there’s a bridge and riverside viewpoint, the trail is easy to follow, and it takes around 20 minutes each way.
Find a map here.
Stop 4: Edinburgh Botanic Gardens
From the water of Leith return to Stockbridge and follow the main street till you get to the very beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens. This is a leafy spot with palm tree houses, and you can easily spend an hour or so here. Free to enter.
New Town Places to Eat & Coffee Stops
The Pastry Section – a popular takeaway bakery serving delicious, sweet treats & coffee.
Twelve Triangles – really great pastry café with good coffee and a warm atmosphere.
Cowan & Sons – a top brunch/lunch spot with traditional plates (book here).
The Pantry – another excellent lunch spot with all Scottish produce (walk-ins).
Lannan Bakery – incredible bakery that’s become somewhat Insta-famous (skip if there’s a long queue, as it frequently sells out).