With its unique attractions and picture perfect spots, Edinburgh should be in your bucket list. It offers plenty of things to see and do from narrow winding lanes, stately terraces and steep staircases to elegant Georgian neighborhoods, hidden passageways and magnificent palaces.
Thanks to its reliable public transport system, it’s really easy to visit Edinburgh’s great attractions and mingle with the locals at the same time. However, if you are considering expanding your visit to other Scottish cities it might be a good idea to rent a car and explore the country’s fantastic natural beauty and charming small towns at your own pace. In that case, finding affordable insurance against any damage your car rental may suffer is essential as it can have a significant impact on your overall budget.
Whether you’re visiting Scotland’s capital on a long weekend or as part of a staycation, these are some of its unbelievably great attractions.
Hike Arthur’s Seat
Arthur’s Seat is a huge hill that rises past the end of the Royal Mile and a popular hiking spot. From the top you can appreciate one of the most perfect panoramic views of Edinburgh and see Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle and many other iconic sites.
Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano but it was once a hotbed of Iron Age activity, it witnessed the Romans’ arrival as well as the fighting among local tribes. There’s a hill fort dating from around 600 A.D. and remains from older structures from around 2 A.D. In mythology, it’s considered as a possible location for Camelot, the legendary castle of King Arthur. The hike is relatively easy as long as you’re used to walking and you’re wearing comfortable shoes and have water with you.
Walk Down The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile refers to the streets linking Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It’s a splendid thoroughfare lined with churches, charming townhouses and historic landmarks. It’s definitely a place to stroll for its shops, museums, inns, cafés and restaurants.
The Royal Mile invites visitors to get a sense of medieval Edinburgh. Located at the heart of the Old Town, it’s always buzzing! It’s one of the city’s must-see attractions and it certainly can’t be missed!
Visit Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks. Since it’s a highly popular attraction, you’re advised to purchase a Skip the Line: Edinburgh Castle Entrance Ticket so you can spend time exploring the castle instead of queuing. The Castle was a royal residence from the XII century until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. It has also been the site of some of the country’s most famous conflicts such as the XIV century War of Independence and the XVIII century Jacobite Rising.
Perched on top of an extinct volcano, the Castle and its esplanade offer unparalleled views of the city.
If you’re travelling with kids, there are audio tours specially designed for younger audiences that include challenges and activities to keep them engaged. Anyway, they’ll love to explore the rugged ramparts of the castle and enjoy some of the best views of Edinburgh from the gun-holes.
Inside the castle, visitors get to see loads of historical Socttish artifacts, including clothing and weapons. A popular time to be at the castle is for the firing of the gun, which takes place at 1pm almost every day since 1861.
Some of the highlights in Edinburgh Castle are: Scotland’s Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny, St Margaret’s Chapel (the oldest building in the castle and in Edinburgh, dating back to 1093); the Great Hall (decorated with weapons, wooden panels and paintings from the monarchy); the War Memorial, Mons Meg (a giant canyon), Mary Queen of Scot’s chambers (including the room where she gave birth to his son James, the first King of both England and Scotland) and Prisons of War.
Admire St Giles Cathedral
Located in the middle of the Royal Mile, St Giles Cathedral is the most important Christian place of worship in Edinburgh and it’s free to visit it. It showcases a distinctive gothic-style architecture from worship seating. Consecrated in the early 1240s, its 161-feet central tower with eight arched buttresses forming a huge crown is a favourite backdrop for photos. Amongst the highlights included in the interior of the building stand out: memorials to the dead of WWI, lovely stained glass windows and a statue of John Knox, leader of the Protestant Reformation. The church holds original bells dating from the XV century as well as the King’s Pillar, which bears the coats of arms and shields of ancient British Kings. Especially beautiful is the Thistle Chapel, famous for its intrincated oak carvings, heraldic emblems and seals of the “Knights of the Thistle”.
There are guided tours available as well as rooftop tours that take you up to the clock tower and offer you stunning panoramic views of the city. A small gift shop is available as well as a café in the rear of the cathedral.
Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Queen’s official residence in Scotland and various of its areas are open to the public. It’s located at the opposite end of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle. If you’re curious about life in a palace, don’t miss the State Apartments, including the Throne Room and the Morning Drawing Room, where the Queen gives private audiences to the First Minister of Scotland, for instance. You can also visit Mary “Queen of Scots” chambers, which offer a fascinating insight into how our monarchs lived during that time.
There is a large gift shop as well as a café that serves delicious food and drinks where you can book a nice afternoon tea service!
Marvel at the National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Since it includes collections from various older museums in Edinburgh, it’s home to a varied and interesting collection of national archaeological findings, medieval artifacts and displays related to natural history, geology, art, science and technology. The more than 20,000 artifacts can be seen throughout 16 galleries. Amongst the wonderful things you can find here we can mention: Dolly the sheep (the world’s first cloned animal), some of Elton John’s more elaborate stage costumes, material from Ancient Egypt and the infamous Maiden, an early form of guillotine, the colorful Egyptian coffin of Iufenamun, a silver tea service that used to belong to Napoleon Bonaparte… you mention!.
The National Museum of Scotland is appealing to people of all ages interested in exploring the natural world and world cultures. And, after spending hours on end admiring the artifacts, venture up to the rooftop on the 7th Floor. There, a viewing platform surprises you with panoramic views of Edinburgh skyline.
It’s a great place to take the kids. Its hundreds of hands-on-exhibits guarantee lots of fun and learning opportunities. Children are especially fond of the Animal World Gallery, the Adventure Planet Gallery, where they can dig for dinosaur bones and crawl through the roots of an oak tree to find bugs not to mention a full-size Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton!
Get Spooked at the Real Mary King’s Close
The Real Mary King’s Close is not only one of Scotland’s best heritage tourism experience but also an invaluable opportunity to step down into Edinburgh’s hidden history. This character-guided tour includes an immersive walk-through of the city’s uniquely preserved streets and spaces; all located underneath the famous Royal Mile.
It’s a surreal experience. Based in the Old Town, the Real Mary King is a hidden system of streets and spaces that were built over hundreds of years ago. Over the last 15 years, these have now been opened to the public and you can walk into the streets with a designated guide.
Covered over by construction in the XIX century, Mary King’s Close used to be one of the busiest streets in medieval Edinburgh and, through the tour, they aim to provide an insight at what life would have been like in Edinburgh between the XVI and XIX centuries.
Back then, life in Mary King’s Close was less than healthy, as people lived in narrow winding streets, crammed into packed tenements up to seven stories high. They didn’t have a proper sewer system and waste was dumped into the streets below, where rats and their fleas ran wild. In such an environment, the bubonic plague or Black Death was devastating for the residents of the Mary King’s Close. After the plague had passed, tenants continued to live in Mary King’s Close until the XIX century, when it was emptied and sealed up. The Royal Exchange was built on top of it and the close was forgotten. It was rediscovered many years later when workmen digging on the street above accidentally punched down into the winding streets.
Admire Fantastic Artwork at the National Galleries of Scotland
Scotland’s National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery of Modern Art can be found in Edinburgh. They are all brimming with world-class art from masters such as Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet or the local famous artist Henry Raeburn.
The Scottish National Gallery features European and Scottish art from the Renaissance to the XIX century. Here you can admire paintings by El Greco, Raphael, Degas, Cezanne or Van Gogh amongst others.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is all about portraits of important figures in Scotland’s history and culture. There are photographs, films, digital art and paintings.
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art showcases French, Russian, Scottish and contemporary art by Andy Warhol, Rachel Witheread or Tracey Emin to mention a few of them.
Have Fun at the Camera Obscura
Combining Edinburgh history, city views from a new perspective and amazing optical illusions, the Camera Obscura is an experience that appeals to all ages. The centerpiece, in a Victorian rooftop room, is a pinhole camera that projects live moving images of Edinburgh onto a viewing table that has been fascinating people since the early 1850’s.
Don’t miss the Aladdin’s cave filled with tricks, puzzles, illusions, unbelievable effects and hands-on experiences to interact with. You can also serve your own head up on a silver platter, visit the room where big and small become interchangeable. Get involved, touch and play! Find your way out of the magical mirror maze! Dare stay on your feet in the Vortex Tunnel!
If you’re travelling with kids, there’s probably no better place to take them while visiting Edinburgh!
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