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Where To Stay In Edinburgh
Edinburgh has hundreds of fantastic places to stay. From beautiful old hotels, to quirky boats and beautiful rural retreats just outside the centre.
The Boatel in Edinburgh is definitely a great option for a quirky stay in Edinburgh. It’s demands prices at the higher end of the budget, around £810 for a 3 nights. If it’s a little on the steep side then why not try the Leonardo Royal Edinburgh Hotel (around £100 per night via Booking.com). For a real luxury hotel on the Royal Mile, just 4 minutes from Edinburgh castle is the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh in the historic India Buildings.
Just half an hour outside Edinburgh is Eastside Cottages, set in the stunning Pentland Hills. This is the perfect location for a relaxing (or romantic!) stay, accompanying the hectic pace of visiting tourist sites in Edinburgh. You can drive from Eastside to the free car park at Ingliston (near the airport) and take the tram into the city centre to cut out city driving. Or alternatively drive through the suburbs to the car parks in Holyrood Park, near the Scottish Parliament.
Day 1 – Edinburgh Itinerary
On your first day in Edinburgh it’s best to arrive early to spend your day sightseeing. There is a lot to see in Edinburgh! Leave your bags at your accommodation and head over to Edinburgh Castle.
You will need to book your visit to most tourist attractions in Edinburgh, the castle included. If you are visiting more than one Historic Scotland castle during your stay in Scotland then you might want to check out their Explorer Pass, valid for 7 days at all Historic Scotland sites. It can save you money in the long run, especially if you visit Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. Enjoy wandering around the castle, don’t miss the Scottish Honours (the Scottish Crown Jewels) and the amazing views across Edinburgh. If you can, try to stay for the 1 O’Clock gun. It fires at precisely 1 O’clock from the Mills Mount Battery at Edinburgh Castle every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. A tradition brought back from Paris in 1861.
If you are visiting in winter then also book to visit Edinburgh castle for the Castle of Light. It’s when Edinburgh Castle is lit up in the evening with amazing designs and stories.
Grab some lunch on the Royal Mile, there are some lovely restaurants around the area. Or if you have fussy kids there is a Pizza Express just off the Royal Mile on Victoria Terrace!
Next head to Camera Obscura (you would have passed it on the way to the castle) to explore the historic attraction, first created as an observatory on the site in 1853. Now you can explore all manner of illusions and interactive exhibits, as well as the amazing view from the rooftop.
Spend the rest of the day until dinner exploring the Royal Mile and gift shops. Or walk down to Grassmarket for some fab vintage shops.
Day 2 – Edinburgh Itinerary
Today is a busy day! There is a lot to fit in, but it will be worth it, make sure you have a big breakfast! Arrive at the National Museum of Scotland for opening (free entry, donations accepted), around 10am each day. Please check times on the website before arriving. There is too much to see in one day easily, so I recommend checking a few areas of interest out. If you have kids then they would probably like the newer Science and Technology Gallery, the zoology Gallery (great kids section at the top!) and the musical instruments in the upper Grand Gallery, which are hands-on. There are also Egyptian artefacts, a great history of Scotland starting from the Big Bang up to the present day and a large steam locomotive.
After a few hours at the National Museum of Scotland head over to the Real Mary King’s Close (book tickets in advance). There are tours every 15 minutes or so throughout the day into the evening. Here you will find a 400 year old close, buried under the current city of Edinburgh. It has a fascinating and spooky history, which the tour guides and actors will show you! Beware of ghosts!
From Mary King’s Close walk through Princes Gardens in time for an afternoon tea at the Cauldron Pub on Frederick Street. This awesome experience is a fan for any fans of magic or budding wizards! You can read more about the wizard themed afternoon tea here.
Walk back toward Princes Gardens after your wizards afternoon tea. Head straight for the Scott Monument, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, where you can climb to the top for a fee. It gives a great view of the city!
Grab dinner somewhere close by and get ready for an awesome evening at the Edinburgh Playhouse. They have shows throughout the year, past shows have included Lion King, Chicago, Wicked and Mamma Mia!
Day 3 – Edinburgh Itinerary
Spend another full day in Edinburgh before you head home in the evening. Leave luggage in the hotel luggage room if you don’t have a car with you. There are other luggage storage options around, including Waverley Train Station, if you can’t leave at the hotel.
First take a trip over toward Holyrood Park where you can go to Dynamic Earth. It’s the history of the planet in an amazing interactive experience! You will begin in a time machine that takes you back to the Big Bang, you’ll feel the ground shudder as volcanoes erupt and lava flows beneath your feet and touch an iceberg in the Arctic section! There are dinosaurs, tropical jungles and various films (including a great 3D one) to really experience the earths history and current ecosystems.
From Dynamic Earth you can exit into Holyrood Park. Find a local cafe for lunch or grab a picnic to take into the park and walk up Arthur’s Seat. It’s well worth it for the views! Walk back down and head to Craigmillar Castle at the edge of Holyrood Park when you’re finished. Craigmillar Castle has a colourful history. Including once hosting Mary Queen of Scot’s for a night in the 1500’s. The castle once stood a mile outside the city walls, so it was a rural retreat. It’s interesting to explore and has a veteran tree right inside the main door, which is very interesting!
Head home when you are finished, or if you have more time read on below for further ideas!
What Else You Need To Know
If you have some extra time in Edinburgh you may also be interested in visiting Edinburgh Zoo, it’s usually a full day trip with so much to see. It’s also on a hillside, so please ask about accessibility when you book if required. The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh are free to enter and another good place to spend a sunny summers day. There is a cafe on site, or you can bring a picnic to enjoy on the grass.
In August each year you may be interested in the Edinburgh Festivals. There is more than one! The Fringe Festival is well known, but there is also the ’free festival’ where you pay as much or as little as you have and the Edinburgh Book festival where you can meet authors.
In November and December Christmas arrives in Edinburgh and you may want to visit the Christmas Market, usually in Princes Street Gardens. But sometimes other parts are elsewhere in the city. Santaland is a particular favourite of the kids!
Read more posts about what to do in Edinburgh:
- Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh in Winter for their beautiful Christmas at the Botanics event.
- Edinburgh Castle of Light is an amazing winter spectacle too, both fun and educational too.
- Spend a weekend in the city with this Edinburgh weekend Itinerary.
- Visit Edinburgh’s ‘other’ castle, Craigmillar, an interesting castle with a lot of history!
- Go for a day trip to Inchcolm island, reached by boat from South Queensferry.
- Find the best things to do in Edinburgh for your next visit.
- Conifox Adventure Park is an excellent place for the kids to run off some energy, just on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
- At the end of June spend a day or two at the world famous Royal Highland Show!
- Stay at Eastside Cottages just outside Edinburgh, where you can get the best of the rural farm life and Edinburgh city life.
- Use this car parking company at Edinburgh Airport.
- Spend a day out at Edinburgh Castle with the kids!
- Enjoy another day out at the edge of Edinburgh visiting Cramond Island and beach.
Other Scottish Itineraries
Pin Edinburgh Itinerary For A Weekend
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