The Old and New Towns of Edinburg are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know the city is chock filled with history.

Are you heading to Edinburgh but have no idea what to do?

I’ve got you covered! Whether you’re visiting for 1, 2, 3, or 4 entire days, here’s what to do for a visit to Scotland’s capital city.

Essential Information before you go

Language: English and Scots

Currency: Pound sterling

Time zone: Greenwich Mean Time (UTC)

Emergency number: 112 or 999

Plug type: G

Electrical: 230 volts / 50Hz

Visa needed: Depends on your nationality. For citizens of several countries (including US, Canada, Australia), no visa is required. However, citizens of visa-free countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, and the EU must register for ETA in order to travel to the UK. For more information, visit the UK government website.

Getting to and from the airport

There are several ways to get to the city center from the airport. A few of the most common include:

	Bus – Airlink 100	Bus – Skylink 200 / N200	Skylink 400 / N400	Tram	Taxi
Cost	£5.50 (adult, single ride)	£5.50 (adult, single ride)	£5.50 (adult, single ride)	£7 (adult, single ride)	Starting from £55
Time to city center	30 minutes	50 minutes	1 hour 15 minutes	30 minutes to the city center	20-30 minutes to the city center
Destination	St Andrew Square, close to Princes Street and main rail & bus stations	Ocean Terminal (also stops at Clermiston, Blackhall, Drylaw, Muirhouse and Newhaven)	Fort Kinnard (also stops at Edinburgh Park, Fairmilehead, Royal Infirmary and Oxgangs)	city center stops include Haymarket, Princes Street – West End, Princes Street, and St. Andrew’s Square	Door-to-door
Times	daily	4:55am to 12:00am daily	4:20am to 10:35pm daily	6:26am to 10:48pm	24/7
Frequency	every 10 minutes (4:30am – 1:00am)   every 20 minutes during the night (1:00am – 4:30am)	every 30 minutes	every 30 minutes (less frequent in the early morning)	every 7 minutes between 7:00am and 7:00pm   every 10 minutes early in the morning and later in the evening	Varies. You can also call a cab company ahead of time to pre-arrange your meeting and guaranteed pickup
Pick up location	Stop A (next to the Plaza)	Stop B (next to the Plaza)	Stop C (next to the Plaza)	Near the Plaza	East terminus, follow signs that say “Taxi”

Itinerary

Day 1

Morning:

Start the day at Edinburgh Castle, which has overlooked Edinburgh for the last thousand years. Gwak at the Scottish Crown Jewels, which are even older than their British counterparts, check out St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh, pay your respects to the war dead at the National War Museum of Scotland, and rub shoulder to shoulder with other tourists to see the 1 o’clock gun.

Afternoon:

Spend the afternoon at the National Museum of Scotland. The museum is comprised of several galleries. You can learn more about Scotland’s storied past in Scottish History and Archaeology galleries, where you can see many such artefacts as items belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots and the Lewis chess pieces. In other galleries, check out sartorial creations by Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, explore world cultures, and admire Dolly the Sheep, the world’s first cloned animal.

Evening:

Don’t forget to say hello to Greyfriars Bobby, whose statue is just outside the museum’s entrance. If you want, have dinner at Greyfriars Bobby Bar, the adjacent pub serving traditional Scottish pub fare (including haggis).

Day 2

Morning:

Start at the top of the Royal Mile and meander way down, stopping in to buy some souvenirs at the many of the shops along the way. If you’re lucky enough to be in Edinburgh during the summer months, listen to the sound of bagpipes or watch other buskers perform as you wander along.

Don’t forget stop in at St. Gilles’ Cathedral, the parish church of the Church of Scotland, and Canongate Kirk, where Queen Elizabeth II sometimes worshipped and in whose kirkyard some eminent Scots are buried.

You can also visit some of the many museums along the mile, including the Museum of Childhood, the John Knox House, and the Museum of Edinburgh.

Afternoon:

Have lunch at the Café at the Palace, then head over to Holyrood Palace, the King’s official residence in Scotland. Tour the inside, where you can visit rooms associated with Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

If you’re feeling up to it, climb up to Arthur’s Seat, the highest point in Edinburgh in the adjacent Holyrood Park, where monarchs used to hunt. Or if you’re like me and maybe a little less fit, roaming through the park is a good alternative.

Day 3

Morning:

Head over to Leith, where you can tour (and look for Corgis) at the Royal Yacht Britannia, the favored royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II.

Afternoon:

Enjoy some of Scotland’s premier art, starting with the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait, where you can see likenesses of such prominent Scottish figures as Mary, Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Robert Burns.

Take a stroll in Princes Street before making your way to the Scottish National Gallery to look at such the Scottish masterpieces The Monarch of the Glenand The Rev Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch, as well as works by Raphael, Titian, Joshua Reynolds, and Monet.

Evening:

Head back to the Royal Mile to take an evening tour of The Real Mary King’s Close to learn more about the darker side of Edinburgh’s history.

Day 4

All day:

Go farther afield and take a day trip. There are several you can choose from.

One of the most popular day trips from Edinburgh is to Loch Ness. It’s a bit difficult to do as a day trip on your own without a car, so why not letting someone else take care of everything and take this tour.

Personally, I recommend taking a trip to Stirling, which is about an hour away by train. There you can visit Stirling Castle, one of the most important castles in Scotland, or celebrate the Scottish victory over the English at The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre.

If you prefer to have all the arrangements made for you, you can take a day trip with this tour, which visits not only Stirling Castle, but also Loch Lomond and the Kelpies.

Where to stay

Point A Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket is a good, affordable option. It’s clean and modern, with a 24/7 front desk, free WiFi, and is located near public transportation, easily accessible to the center of town.

There you have it! Itineraries for a perfect trip to Edinburgh.

Want to know the 10 best historic things to see in Edinburgh? Check out my top 10 list here.

On a budget? Check out free and historical things to see in Edinburgh here.