Edinburgh Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland within the United Kingdom, stands as a beacon of history, culture, and natural beauty. The city's striking landscape, dominated by the ancient Edinburgh Castle perched atop a volcanic crag, provides a dramatic backdrop to a place rich in tradition and modern charm.
The Royal Mile, a historic thoroughfare that stretches from the Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is a must-see for any visitor. Along this cobbled street, one can find a plethora of shops, pubs, museums, and historic sites, including the imposing St. Giles' Cathedral and the fascinating Real Mary King's Close.
Edinburgh is also celebrated for its festivals. The Edinburgh International Festival and its fringe counterpart, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, transform the city every August into a hub of artistic and theatrical expression, drawing performers and audiences from around the world. Additionally, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is a significant event for literature enthusiasts, featuring talks and signings by renowned authors.
For those seeking a more serene experience, the city's natural landscapes offer a tranquil retreat. Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, provides panoramic views of the city and is a popular spot for hiking and picnics. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is another peaceful haven, showcasing a diverse range of flora and offering a quiet space for relaxation and contemplation.
Edinburgh's New Town, a masterpiece of Georgian architecture, offers a contrast to the medieval Old Town. Its elegant streets and squares, such as Charlotte Square and George Street, are lined with high-end boutiques, restaurants, and galleries, reflecting the city's sophisticated side.
The city's culinary scene is a reflection of Scotland's rich gastronomic heritage, with local specialties like haggis, neeps and tatties, and Scottish salmon widely available. Whisky aficionados will find themselves at home in Edinburgh, with numerous bars and the Scotch Whisky Experience providing insight into the nation's favorite tipple.
Edinburgh Attractions - What to See and Explore
Edinburgh offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scottish National Gallery, Calton Hill. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Edinburgh by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Edinburgh.
Culture
Scottish National Gallery
Old Town, EdinburghOld Masters and Scottish masterpieces
Museum Art museum Waverley Station 
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
EdinburghVictorian gallery of notable Scots
Museum Art museum New Town 
Collective
EdinburghMuseum Art gallery Shopping Calton Hill 
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
EdinburghMuseum Art museum Vernacular architecture Dean Village 
Cameo Cinema
EdinburghNightlife Cinema Cafe Tollcross
Shopping
Princes Street
EdinburghShopping Shopping district New Town 
George Street
EdinburghShopping Shopping district New Town 
Multrees Walk
EdinburghShopping Shopping district Shopping centre New Town 
Ocean Terminal
Leith, EdinburghShopping Shopping centre 
Waverley Mall
Old Town, EdinburghShopping Shopping centre Waverley Station
Active
Murrayfield Stadium
EdinburghSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Roseburn 
Tynecastle Park
EdinburghSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Gorgie 
Easter Road Stadium
Leith, EdinburghSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Easter Road 
Murrayfield Ice Rink
EdinburghSport venue Sport Sport complex Roseburn 
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
EdinburghSport complex Climbing Ratho
Museum
Edinburgh Castle
Old Town, EdinburghSpectacular old fortress with city views
Forts and castles Museum Edinburgh Castle 
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Edinburgh16th-century royal palace and abbey
Museum Reportedly haunted Holyrood Scottish National Gallery
Old Town, EdinburghOld Masters and Scottish masterpieces
Museum Art museum Waverley Station Scottish National Portrait Gallery
EdinburghVictorian gallery of notable Scots
Museum Art museum New Town 
The Museum of the Royal Scots and the Royal Regiment of Scotland
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Military museum Edinburgh Castle
Church
St Giles' Cathedral
Old Town, EdinburghIconic Presbyterian place of worship
Church Robert Louis Stevenson Cowgate 
St Cuthbert's Church
Old Town, EdinburghChurch Sacred and religious sites Edinburgh Castle 
Thistle Chapel
Old Town, EdinburghChurch Gothic Revival architecture Cowgate 
St Margaret's Chapel
Old Town, EdinburghSmall, 12th-century Romanesque chapel
Church Sacred and religious sites Edinburgh Castle 
Church of St John the Evangelist
Old Town, EdinburghChurch Sacred and religious sites Edinburgh Castle
Park
Calton Hill
EdinburghViews, gay bars and Edinburgh Playhouse
Park Calton Hill 
Princes Street Gardens
Old Town, EdinburghLandscaped gardens in Castle's shadow
Park Garden Edinburgh Castle 
Arthur's Seat
EdinburghPeak known for hiking and sightseeing
Natural attraction Geologic formation Holyrood 
Castle Rock
Old Town, EdinburghNatural attraction Geologic formation Volcano Edinburgh Castle 
Holyrood Park
EdinburghSkyline walks to Arthur's Seat
Park Holyrood
Historical place
Scott Monument
Old Town, EdinburghIconic, Gothic Sir Walter Scott memorial
Memorial Gothic Revival architecture Waverley Station St Giles' Cathedral
Old Town, EdinburghIconic Presbyterian place of worship
Church Robert Louis Stevenson Cowgate 
The Scottish Parliament
Old Town, EdinburghStriking modern government building
Architecture Historical place Canongate 
Gladstone's Land
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum History museum Historical place Waverley Station 
John Knox House
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum History museum Historical place Waverley Station
Memorial
Scott Monument
Old Town, EdinburghIconic, Gothic Sir Walter Scott memorial
Memorial Gothic Revival architecture Waverley Station 
National Monument of Scotland
EdinburghMemorial Monuments and statues Calton Hill 
Scottish National War Memorial
Old Town, EdinburghMemorial Memorial site Edinburgh Castle 
Witches' Well
Old Town, EdinburghMemorial Edinburgh Castle 
Nelson Monument
EdinburghTower Memorial Monuments and statues Calton Hill
Bridge
Forth Bridge
EdinburghIconic suspension bridge for traffic
Bridge 
Forth Road Bridge
EdinburghLandmark with sweeping, scenic views
Bridge 
North Bridge
Old Town, EdinburghBridge Canongate 
Waverley Bridge
Old Town, EdinburghBridge Waverley Station 
Dean Bridge
EdinburghBridge Dean Village
Art museum
Scottish National Gallery
Old Town, EdinburghOld Masters and Scottish masterpieces
Museum Art museum Waverley Station Scottish National Portrait Gallery
EdinburghVictorian gallery of notable Scots
Museum Art museum New Town 
Queen's Gallery
EdinburghMuseum Gothic Revival architecture Art museum Holyrood 
National Museum of Scotland
Southside, EdinburghNatural history and industrial exhibits
Museum History museum Newington Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
EdinburghMuseum Art museum Vernacular architecture Dean Village
Forts and castles
Edinburgh Castle
Old Town, EdinburghSpectacular old fortress with city views
Forts and castles Museum Edinburgh Castle 
Craigmillar Castle
EdinburghImposing 14th-century castle and park
Forts and castles Architecture Craigmillar 
Lauriston Castle
EdinburghPicturesque castle with Edwardian decor
Gothic Revival architecture Reportedly haunted Silverknowes 
Merchiston Tower
EdinburghForts and castles Vernacular architecture Merchiston 
Barnbougle Castle
EdinburghReportedly haunted Forts and castles Dalmeny
Reportedly haunted
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Edinburgh16th-century royal palace and abbey
Museum Reportedly haunted Holyrood 
Greyfriars Kirkyard
EdinburghReportedly haunted Cemetery Lauriston Lauriston Castle
EdinburghPicturesque castle with Edwardian decor
Gothic Revival architecture Reportedly haunted Silverknowes 
Mary King's Close
Old Town, EdinburghHaunted tours through now-hidden alleys
Reportedly haunted Street Waverley Station 
Festival Theatre
Southside, EdinburghReportedly haunted Theater Concerts and shows Newington
Specialty museum
HMY Britannia
Leith, EdinburghRoyal family's former personal vessel
Specialty museum Ship Western Harbour National Museum of Scotland
Southside, EdinburghNatural history and industrial exhibits
Museum History museum Newington 
Dynamic Earth
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Science museum Specialty museum Canongate 
Museum on the Mound
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Specialty museum History museum Waverley Station 
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Southside, EdinburghMuseum Science museum History museum Newington
Cemetery
Greyfriars Kirkyard
EdinburghReportedly haunted Cemetery Lauriston 
Dean Cemetery
EdinburghCemetery Historical place Monuments and statues Orchard Brae 
Greyfriars Kirk
Edinburgh17th-century active church and arts venue
Church Cemetery Lauriston 
Old Calton Burial Ground
EdinburghMemorial Cemetery Calton Hill 
South Leith Parish Church
Leith, EdinburghChurch Historical place Sacred and religious sites
Sacred and religious sites
St Cuthbert's Church
Old Town, EdinburghChurch Sacred and religious sites Edinburgh Castle 
Holyrood Abbey
EdinburghPicturesque remains of an 1128 abbey
Monastery Sacred and religious sites Holyrood St Margaret's Chapel
Old Town, EdinburghSmall, 12th-century Romanesque chapel
Church Sacred and religious sites Edinburgh Castle Church of St John the Evangelist
Old Town, EdinburghChurch Sacred and religious sites Edinburgh Castle 
Edinburgh Central Mosque
Southside, EdinburghMosque Architecture Sacred and religious sites Newington
Natural attraction
Arthur's Seat
EdinburghPeak known for hiking and sightseeing
Natural attraction Geologic formation Holyrood Castle Rock
Old Town, EdinburghNatural attraction Geologic formation Volcano Edinburgh Castle 
Salisbury Crags
EdinburghNature Cliff Natural attraction Holyrood 
Duddingston Loch
EdinburghNature Natural attraction Lake Duddingston 
Hills in Edinburgh
EdinburghNature Natural attraction Hill Holyrood
Entertainment
Dynamic Earth
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Science museum Specialty museum Canongate 
Edinburgh Dungeon
Old Town, EdinburghGame and entertainment center Concerts and shows Entertainment Waverley Station Mary King's Close
Old Town, EdinburghHaunted tours through now-hidden alleys
Reportedly haunted Street Waverley Station 
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Old Town, EdinburghReportedly haunted Theater Concerts and shows Edinburgh Castle 
The Hub
Old Town, EdinburghEntertainment Edinburgh Castle
Military museum
Edinburgh Castle
Old Town, EdinburghSpectacular old fortress with city views
Forts and castles Museum Edinburgh Castle The Museum of the Royal Scots and the Royal Regiment of Scotland
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Military museum Edinburgh Castle 
National War Museum
Old Town, EdinburghMilitary exhibitions at Edinburgh Castle
Museum Military museum Edinburgh Castle 
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Military museum Edinburgh Castle
Science museum
National Museum of Scotland
Southside, EdinburghNatural history and industrial exhibits
Museum History museum Newington Dynamic Earth
Old Town, EdinburghMuseum Science museum Specialty museum Canongate 
Camera Obscura
Old Town, EdinburghScience museum Observation decks and towers Museum Waverley Station Surgeons' Hall Museums
Southside, EdinburghMuseum Science museum History museum Newington
Other categories
History museumArt galleryStreetConcerts and showsTheaterNeighbourhoodLibrarySquareMonuments and statuesNightlifeNatureModern art museumEdinburgh – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Edinburgh, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Old Course at St Andrews, Linlithgow Palace (Linlithgow), Gleneagles.
Best Time To Visit Edinburgh
Learn when is the best time to travel to Edinburgh weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience Edinburgh
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed using a warm fermentation method, resulting in a sweet, full-bodied and fruity taste. Historically, the term referred to a drink brewed without hops. As with...
Type of beer
Stew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables and may...
Fishcake
A fishcake is a culinary dish consisting of filleted fish or other seafood minced or ground, mixed with a starchy food, and fried. Asian-style fishcakes usually contain fish with salt...
Food
Parkin
Parkin is a gingerbread cake traditionally made with oatmeal and black treacle, which originated in northern England. Often associated with Yorkshire, particularly the Leeds area, it is...
Baked beans
Baked beans is a dish traditionally containing white beans which are parboiled and then baked at a low temperature for a lengthy period of time in some sort of sauce.
Bean
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
Madonna of the Yarnwinder(The Buccleuch Madonna)
The Madonna of the Yarnwinder is a subject depicted by Leonardo da Vinci in at least one, and perhaps two paintings begun in 1499 or later.
In the Car
In the Car is a 1963 pop art painting by Roy Lichtenstein. The smaller, older of the two versions of this painting formerly held the record for highest auction price for a Lichtenstein...
Painting by Roy Lichtenstein
The Monarch of the Glen
The Monarch of the Glen is an oil-on-canvas painting of a red deer stag completed in 1851 by the English painter Sir Edwin Landseer. It was commissioned as part of a series of three panels...
Painting by Edwin Landseer
Adoration of the Shepherds
The painting of the Adoration of the Shepherds of c. 1607-10 by the Italian 17th century master Domenichino has been in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh since 1971, and was...
Painting by Domenichino
Niagara Falls, from the American Side
Niagara Falls, from the American Side is a painting by the American artist Frederic Edwin Church. Completed in 1867, it is based on preliminary sketches made by the artist at Niagara Falls...
Painting by Frederic Edwin Church
Scotland