The 12 Best Things To Do in Edinburgh (by a local!)

I am lucky enough to have spent time living in several lovely places, but Edinburgh is my home. This gorgeous city is the place I grew up.

There’s something for everyone in Edinburgh. Are you a lover of architecture? Edinburgh is for you. Are you a student of history? Got that too. Do you want to attend the biggest arts and cultural festivals on the planet? Yep, you’re in the right place.

But so many of our lovely visitors don’t manage to make the most of their trip. They eat shitty haggis in crap restaurants, go drinking in pubs us locals would never set foot in, and go on “free” walking tours when they could get something so much better just by paying a few pounds.

That’s why I’ve decided to put together a list of things you must do when you visit Edinburgh…coming from me, a local! This list is a combination of things I enjoy doing on a regular basis and more “touristy” things I have done with friends who have come to visit me.

This list will show you how to strike that balance between seeing all the best attractions and living like a local during your visit.

1. Visit The National Museum of Scotland

This wonderful museum should be at the top of every visitor to Edinburgh’s to-do list. You could spend anywhere between a couple of hours and several days here! There is just so much to do and see.

The museum is divided into 6 sections:

  • The Grand Gallery
  • Art, Design and Fashion galleries
  • Natural World galleries
  • Scottish History and Archaeology galleries
  • Science and Technology galleries
  • World Cultures galleries

The Scottish History galleries are an excellent place to learn about our lovely little country. I am particularly fond of the sections which cover our most recent history and discuss our current national identity.

The National Museum of Scotland is also the home of Dolly…the world’s first ever cloned sheep!

It’s clear that there is something at the National Museum of Scotland for everyone. But whatever your interest, do no leave without going up to the rooftop terrace! This is where you will find the best views of Edinburgh Castle and the rest of the city! 

The top of the museum is also where you will find one of Edinburgh’s best eateries, Tower Restaurant. Here you can enjoy a mouth watering meal alongside excellent views of the castle. 

This is an amazing attraction, and the cherry on top is that entry is 100% free! (well, except for the restaurant, that’s a bit pricey!) 

2. Go on A Spooky Ghost Tour

Edinburgh is known for its history. It’s bloody, violent, terrifying history. If tales of witches, torture, blood and murder turn you on, this is the city for you!

As soon as you step onto the Royal Mile you will realise that there are dozens of walking tours of Edinburgh.

A huge number of these tours take place at night in the Old Town, the setting of the city’s notorious ghost stories. My personal favourite is the Cadies and Witchery Tour. It may be tempting to just jump on one of the many “free” tours on offer but believe me this one is worth the few extra pennies (only £10 for adults and £7.50 for children – free book included!).

You are led around by Adam Lyle (deceased) and his sidekick who tell you all you need to know about Edinburgh’s disturbing past. It has its frightening moments, but this tour is mostly just hilarious. I’ve been on it about ten thousand times as I always take my guests on it – and they always love it! The stories are fascinating and if you’re a fan of blue humour (like me!) it will be right up your street.

I cannot praise this tour enough, and even though it has fantastic reviews I still feel that it’s the most underrated attraction in Edinburgh. Get it booked!

3. Go for Cocktails!

Edinburgh has great pubs and great clubs, but if you ask me…it’s all about the cocktail bars!

Don’t waste your trip drinking in some shitty pub on the Royal Mile. Get out of the tourist trap and come have drinks with us locals! There are some seriously cool bars in this city, so take advantage. Oh, and they do serve more than just cocktails!

Here are some of my personal favourites: 

4. Dance at a Ceilidh

You have to experience a ceilidh! This is a traditional gathering where we drink, enjoy folk music, and DANCE!

Many non-Scots are nervous about going to a ceilidh or joining in with the dancing, but once they have a few drinks and get up on the floor… they can’t get enough of it! 

Don’t worry if you have three left feet, these dances are simple and are achievable for everyone including children and drunk people…no need to be shy, it’s easy! There is always a walkthrough of each dance before it begins, and a member of the band calls out instructions to keep everyone on the right track throughout!

I cannot recommend anywhere better to attend a ceilidh than the Ghillie Dhu. This is an absolutely stunning venue in the city centre, and their Friday and Saturday night ceilidhs are so much fun! They are very popular with locals as well as tourists, and that’s always a good sign! Watch the video above to get an idea of what to expect.

5. Walk the Royal Mile, Top to Bottom

The Royal Mile is one of the most natural starting points during any trip to Edinburgh. Start by admiring the iconic castle at the top, then enjoy a fascinating stroll down.

During the summer months the Royal Mile is at its most vibrant, with street performers and market stalls everywhere. But even during the cold times of year when we don’t get anywhere near as many visitors, there is still plenty to see and do.

There are many great attractions on your way to the bottom such as:

At the end of your walk down the Royal Mile you will arrive in an area known as Holyrood, where there is even more to see.

Here is where you can visit Holyrood Palace (the Queen’s official residence in Scotland), as well as the Scottish Parliament (pictured below) and Dynamic Earth.

You will also find Arthur’s Seat in this area. This is a very popular hill walk among both locals and tourists (more on this later!).

6. Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura is my favourite attraction on the Royal Mile. I have to be honest, it’s very difficult to describe in a way that will do it justice. Please, take my advice and just go there! 

It’s basically a museum all about illusions, and you have the opportunity to get your creep on by spying on the people walking down the Royal Mile below you. It may seem like something that’s just for kids, but believe me, it isn’t. Having said that, my favourite thing there is probably the giant vortex tunnel!

7. Scotch Whisky Experience

I’m one of those Scots that doesn’t like whisky all that much…there’s actually quite a lot of us to be honest.

But when my friend from Ireland came to visit and wanted to go to the Scotch Whisky Experience, I was happy enough to go along with him.

I actually really enjoyed it! I didn’t fall in love with whisky that day, but I found it extremely interesting to learn all about the history of our national drink and the ways in which it is produced.  It’s not just a boring museum, the Scotch Whisky Experience is very interactive and there’s even a little ride at one point! 

We did the popular “Silver Tour” which is an hour long and is designed to introduce the average Joe to the world of whisky. But if you’re already a whisky connoisseur, there’s a tour for you too – the “Morning masterclass” which is an in-depth experience for enthusiasts. There are a bunch of other options to suit all tastes, and some tours include a meal at the award-winning Amber restaurant. Check out all the different tours here.

8. Climb Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat is a beautiful extinct volcano which offers excellent views once you reach the top!

You’ve probably heard of it before…not only is it a well known attraction, it is frequently referenced in literature. For example, it’s mentioned in many Ian Rankin novels as well as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway even filmed on Arthur’s Seat when she starred in the movie adaption of David Nicholls’ One Day. 

This is a proper hill walk (please don’t try to climb up there in your flip flops!), and is perfect for those who want to remain active during their trip to Edinburgh. You will be joined by many other tourists as well as locals.

9. Enjoy the Festivals

The Festival Fireworks

This one is pretty obvious! The festivals will be the main reason many of you dream of visiting Edinburgh. They’re what puts this city on the map.

But there’s a lot more to them than many people expect. When people picture “The Edinburgh Festival” they’re often just thinking of The Fringe, and of countless street performers and mediocre stand-up comedians.

“The Festival” is actually an umbrella term for the 6 official festivals which take place each summer:

Yes, that’s A LOT going on! The population of the city more than DOUBLES at this time of year!

There is something for everyone! Personally, I adore the book festival. and I also enjoy playing a fun game with my friends where we go for drinks and then use the Edinburgh Festival Fringe app (free and easy to use!) to find out what the closest free show to us is…and then we go to it, even if it looks absolutely shit! This game leads to some good laughs. 

If there’s one thing I can say about festival time it’s this – GO SEE THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO! I didn’t bother to see it until I had a guest a few years ago. It is a truly magical experience. We absolutely loved it and it was clear that everyone else in the audience felt the same way. Be organised and book your tickets well in advance, this is a world famous show and getting tickets can be extremely difficult.

10. Go on a HARRY POTTER Pilgrimage

Edinburgh is home to J.K Rowling, and all around the city you see things and think “is there where she got the idea for X place/character/event?”

There are a lot of places you will enjoy visiting if you are a Potterhead. These include:

  • The Elephant House (where the first book was written)
  • Spoon (another cafe where she spent time writing the first book)
  • The Balmoral Hotel (where the last book was written after J.K got a slight pay rise)
  • Victoria Street (looks a lot like Diagon Alley)
  • Greyfriars Kirkyard ( where you will find the grave of Thomas Riddell)
  • George Herriot’s School (a.k.a. Hogwarts)

11. Explore Dean Village and Stockbridge

This is an area that few tourists stumble across, and that’s a real shame.

The Dean Village is a residential area by the Water of Leith (a river). The little houses are so charming and it really does feel like a fairytale village. 

A walk by the water will eventually lead you into Stockbridge, one of Edinburgh’s most sought after areas to live. There are great restaurants and pubs, and lovely boutiques and independent businesses. You are in the middle of the city, but Stockbridge has a real community feel. 

And if you want to see how the other half live, one of Scotland’s most expensive streets, Heriot Row, is just up the road! 

This is a great area to hang out if you want to escape the tourist traps and live like a local during your visit. I recommend having a meal at The Pantry and a drink at Hector’s.

12. Become Emotionally Exhausted at The Edinburgh Dungeon

I debated over whether or not to include this.

When I went, my friend and I were so terrified that we left feeling emotionally exhausted and had no choice but to go to the pub across the road for a gin and tonic. 

But that doesn’t change the fact that The Edinburgh Dungeon is fantastic.

The attraction is described online as “an 80 minute journey through centuries of Scotland’s darkest history”. This sums the experience up pretty well. The actors are amazing and do a great job of telling our country’s most gruesome and petrifying tales. And yes, the stories are based on real events!

Even if you’re a massive wimp like me, The Dungeon should be on your Edinburgh bucket list!

Bonus Tips!

 

  • Edinburgh is very compact and it’s easy to get almost anywhere on foot. You don’t need to pay for public transport, and you don’t need to go on any of those open top bus tours, unless you really want to.

 

  • Generally speaking you will stumble across better restaurants in areas such as the New Town, the West End, and Stockbridge. There are far too many tourist traps in the Old Town, ESPECIALLY on the Royal Mile and in the Grassmarket. Some exceptions to this rule are: Pizza Express on Victoria Terrace, The Outsider, Tower Restaurant and The Witchery. Be very careful, you don’t want to pay top dolla for the shittiest meal of your life. Read reviews!

 

  • Visiting at Christmas time? Make sure you go and see the Christmas decorations at The Dome. Even better, book a table and have a meal there.

 

  • Visiting at festival time? Get organised! The city is full to the brim at this time of year and you will struggle massively if you try to book accommodation at the last minute.

 

  • If you are bothered by crowds, stay away from the top end of the Royal Mile during festival season.

 

  • Tipping is not mandatory… BUT it is considered quite rude not to leave anything for your waiter/waitress at a restaurant. 10% is the norm. Tipping in bars isn’t as common, but some people do do it. Round it up a bit if you’re taking a taxi. Don’t be one of those tourists who says “nobody tips in Europe” as if Europe is a country. People in the UK absolutely do tip. 

 

  • Worried about the language barrier? This is Britain. Just say the words “please” “thank you” and “sorry” (regardless of whether or not you’ve done anything wrong) a lot, and you will be fine.

 

I hope you’ve found this little guide to Edinburgh useful! We look forward to having you.

Do you have any tips or advice? What are you looking forward to most about visiting Edinburgh?

Let’s chat in the comments!

Lots of love xxx

 

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