Without a doubt, Edinburgh is one of our favorite cities to visit in Europe. Here you will find an eclectic mix of architecture, winding cobbled streets, atmospheric alleyways and, of course, its iconic hilltop castle. It’s also a very vibrant city, with lots of green spaces and enchanting neighbourhoods. It’s full of myths, legends, and steeped in a rich and diverse history., and quite frankly a truly enchanting city to discover. It’s not surprising that JK Rowling was deeply inspired by this city when first imagining the world of Harry Potter. So whether you have a day or week, we have no doubt that you will have a great time exploring and discovering this beautiful city, and to help you get the most out of your time here we put together this Guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh.
Disclosure: This page (Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh) may contain product affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. More details can be found on our disclosure and policies page.
You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Day Trips From Edinburgh
Best Stops and Attractions Between Skye and Glasgow
Best Things to See and Do in St Andrews
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Edinburgh Orientation
About Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and it is located near the Firth of Forth in the Scottish Lowlands, close to the North Sea. Today Edinburgh has a population of about 550,000 and is Scotland’s second most populated city after Glasgow.
The city center (historic Edinburgh) is divided into two parts: the Old Town south of Princes Street Gardens and Waverly Train Station, and to the north the New Town. While the Old Town has existed since medieval times, the New Town was built in stages from the mid-18th century until the late 19th century as a necessary expansion of the city, as the Old Town had gotten overcrowded and unsanitary. Today, both the Old Town and New Town have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and over 75% of all the buildings are listed (meaning that they are of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection), giving it the highest concentration of listed buildings anywhere in the UK.
Edinburgh is also a city of literature – it was the first city to be called the UNESCO City of Literature. It was also built on impressive geological features, as most of the Old Town is built on what was one day (several million years ago) three distinct volcanoes. Edinburgh has 112 parks and more trees per head of population than any other city in the U.K. As you can see, there are tons of great things to see and do in Edinburgh.
We have also prepared two additional Edinburgh Guides to help with your trip planning.
1. How to Spend a Day in Edinburgh. This guide focuses on how to plan your day and what to prioritize if you only have one day in Edinburgh.
2. Best Edinburgh Viewpoints and (Instagram) Photo Spots. You won’t find much new information there (compared to here) since this guide was mostly designed to provide a quick list of Edinburgh’s most photogenic neighbourhoods and attractions.
How to Get to Edinburgh
If you are arriving by train, you will likely disembark at Edinburgh Waverly Station, which is ideally located between the Old Town and the New Town. Edinburgh’s main bus station is located just a few blocks north of the train station in the New Town.
If you are flying into Edinburgh, the airport is roughly 8 miles (12 km) from the city center. A variety of options exist to reach the city center, including a direct bus, the train, and the tram, all of which typically take between 30 and 45 minutes. For more detailed information on how to best get to the city center, you can consult the airport website.
You can also pre-book an airport bus or private transfer. We regularly use Welcome Pickups, but there are other alternatives available in Edinburgh:
If you plan on renting a vehicle, know that it won’t be of much use in Edinburgh – but it can definitely come in handy for day trips or when exploring the Scottish Highlands. If your choice of accommodation in Edinburgh doesn’t come with an inexpensive parking option, it might be best to wait until you are departing Edinburgh for the car rental pickup (or to drop it off when arriving in Edinburgh if you ending your trip here).
For advice and tips on how to drive in Scotland, check out our Scotland Roadtrip Driving Guide.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
How to Get Around Edinburgh
Edinburgh is easy to navigate on foot. Most of the attractions listed below are located within a 1.5-mile by 1.5-mile square, including all sites in the Old Town (and the Royal Mile), the New Town, the Princes Street Gardens, Dean Village, Stockbridge and Calton Hill.
The main sites described below that are located outside of this 1.5-1.5 square are the Royal Botanic Garden (north of Stockbridge), Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park (southeast of the Old Town), and the National Galleries of Scotland (west of Dean Village). Even then, all of these are still just a short walk outside of the city center.
By Group Tour: Another great way to visit Edinburgh is to join one of several great organized group tours that are available.
Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh
Stroll the Colorful Victoria Street
Victoria Street has to be one of the most beautiful streets in Europe, let alone Edinburgh. It’s a short but beautiful curved cobblestone road filled with bright colourful storefront facades. The street was built between 1829 and 1834 and is the masterpiece of Thomas Hamilton, the architect behind many of Edinburgh’s works of neo-classical architecture. It was one of several major improvements to the Old Town, designed to improve access around the city, particularly between Edinburgh Castle and Grassmarket.
Walking down the street will take you to Grassmarket, another historic area of the city filled with traditional Scottish pubs, local markets, shops and more. Walking up the street will take you towards the Royal Mile. Come here early to enjoy to street to yourself, it fills up quickly during the day and becomes quite busy. Victoria Street draws the crowds not only for its stunning beauty but also for its assortment of independent shops. It is said that Victoria Street was the location that inspired J.K. Rowling for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books.
Head to Enchanting Dean Village
If you stick to the main attractions of the city center, you might miss out on one of Edinburgh’s most charming areas. Located a short 10-15 minute walk northwest of the New Town, Dean Village is a very picturesque neighbourhood with a remarkable unspoilt charm.
“Dean” actually originated from the old Scottish word “dene”, meaning narrow valley. In its heyday, Dean Village was a thriving industrial center with more than ten working graining mills built along the river to harness its power. You can still see signs of Dean Village’s industrial past today, such as stone plaques and carvings of bakers’ crossed paddles on the walls. It wasn’t until the 1970s, after having been abandoned for quite some time that important restoration work was carried out to convert the crumbling mills into beautiful residential homes.
You won’t need long to visit this small neighbourhood, but you might want to linger as you will no doubt be charmed by Dean Village’s fairytale-like atmosphere.
Take a Stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway
The Water of Leith Walkway is a tranquil and peaceful riverside footpath and cycleway that runs alongside the river of the same name through Edinburgh. Though it’s over 12 miles in length, we mostly recommend walking the short section that connects Dean Village (see above) to Stockbridge (see below).
Here you’ll quickly forget that you are in a bustling city and get lost in the tranquility that this riverside path offers. One notable attraction that you will cross is St Bernard’s Well, a beautiful Greco-Roman structure that houses a well once believed to have healing powers. The temple-like structure was built in the 18th century and designed by Scottish painter Alexander Nasmyth. Notice the Doric columns, the dome topped with a golden pineapple, and the statue of Hygieia, the Greek and Roman goddess of health.
Stroll through Stockbridge Village and Circus Lane
Immediately north of Edinburgh’s New Town (or a short 10-15 minute walk from Dean Village along the Water of Leith Walkway) is Stockbridge, a small neighbourhood with a distinct and charming village feel.
Initially a small village by the river, the Stockbridge you see today resulted from a second stage of Edinburgh expansion. After Edinburgh’s New Town development, further expansions were needed and the area around Stockbridge was mostly built up around the early 19th century, where many of the city’s wealthy residents moved to.
Stockbridge has a lovely main street that is lined with cute cafés, welcoming pubs, trendy restaurants and local boutique shops. It has a great ambiance without the crowds of the Old Town. We actually chose to base ourselves in Stockbridge during our time in Edinburgh and loved the neighbourhood and its laidback atmosphere, all the while being a short walk from most of Edinburgh’s main sites. We also enjoyed great meals at The Scran and Scallie & Pepe Nero.
Circus Lane is a picture-perfect street if there ever was one. What used to be a hidden gem lying roughly at the intersection of Stockbridge and the New Town is now fairly well-known thanks to Instagram and social media. Luckily for us, we could easily visit the street before and after any other tourists would show up since we were staying in Stockbridge.
This lovely cobblestone street filled with Georgian mews houses and beautiful floral displays is perfectly backdropped by St Stephen’s church tower. The homes here were originally built in the 19th century as horse stables and accommodations for servants, and as such the street was a back alley designed for the care of the horses and carriages of the wealthy residents of the nearby Royal Circus Street.
Stroll the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is Edinburgh’s most famous street, crossing the Old Town from west to east and connecting two of Edinburgh’s most famous Royal attractions: Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse Palace.
The Royal Mile is technically a succession of streets (Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High St, and Canongate) that together form the famous thoroughfare. Don’t worry about getting lost, all streets are connected as one, it’s only the name that changes as you progress along the Royal Mile. The name (Royal Mile) is derived from it being the traditional processional route of monarchs, with a total length of approximately one Scottish mile, an obsolete distance unit equal to 1.8 km or 1.12 mi.
Although the Royal Mile can be annoyingly busy and has its fair share of gift shops and tourist trips, the amount of history and beautiful architecture found along the street are quite impressive and make it a more than worthwhile destination.
Aside from the Castle and the Palace mentioned above (both of which will be further covered below), some of the main attractions include St Giles Cathedral (which will also be covered below), Real Mary King’s Close (a historic underground alleyway), Gladstone’s Land (one of the oldest buildings on the Royal Mile with restored rooms to reflect different eras), Camera Obscura (a world of mirrors and illusions originally founded in 1835), and the Parliament building (that you can visit every day of the week except Sunday; see full schedule here) and Dynamic Earth (a world-class interactive and immersive science center).
One noteworthy building among many others is The John Knox House, which now houses the Scottish Storytelling Centre, dates back to 1470, making it (along with the attached Moubray House), the oldest original medieval building on the Royal Mile. The house is associated with one of the most dramatic and turbulent times in Scottish history, the Scottish Reformation. Although John Knox only stayed in this house, it was his association with it that saved it from demolition in the 1840s.
Visit the Historic and Imposing Edinburgh Castle
Edinburg Castle is stunning to see in person. It’s huge and can be seen perched high on Castle Rock from almost anywhere in the city. It also provides fantastic panoramic city views from its numerous ramparts and high walls.
The castle has a rich and fascinating history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, and is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. It also has been besieged more than any other castle in Europe, with the Scots and English struggling over its control during the Wars of Independence. Not very much remains from the medieval version of the Castle. Most of the buildings you see today were built during or after the 15th century, by the various Kings and Queens who called Edinburgh Castle home.
Noteworthy sites and attractions at the Castle include:
Portcullis Gate & Lang Stairs
This fortified gateway was built almost 450 years ago. The 70 steps known as the Lang Stairs are the most direct route to the summit of Castle Rock. This impressive staircase once formed the original entrance to the castle.
Argyle Battery
This six-gun battery was built in the 1730s, ideally positioned to defend the castle. The canons themselves date from the early 1800s, during the time of the Napoleonic Wars with France.
St Margarets Chapel
King David I had this tiny chapel built around 1130 in memory of his mother. For a time, it was the only part of the castle left standing, and today is the oldest building in the castle.
Great Hall
The impressive hall, where you can still see the original hammer-beam roof, was completed in the early 1500s to host state ceremonies for King James IV.
Other interesting areas of the castle include the Royal Palace, the Scottish National War Memorial, the Wars of Independence exhibition in the Argyrle Tower, the Prisons of War exhibition, the military prison, the Royal Scots Museum, the Governor’s House, the half-moon and the forewall batteries. Also, be sure to walk around the castle walls to enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the city.
Getting to the Castle
The castle is easy to reach on foot from pretty much anywhere in Edinburgh. It’s located in the Old Town, at the western end of the Royal Mile. Although you can probably zoom around the castle in under half an hour, you should try to set aside an hour to visit the castle, and ideally a bit more time.
Facilities
Two Cafés (Redcoat Café and The Tea Room), toilets, and three different gift shops.
For reasons of ease of movement, visitor safety and general security, suitcases and large backpacks are not permitted in the castle. There is no luggage storage available.
Opening Hours (2024)
(29 Mar to 30 Sep) Daily 9:30 am to 6 pm (last entry at 5 pm)
(1 Oct to 28 Mar) Daily, 9:30 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm)
Ticket Prices (2024)
Castle (£19.50 for adults, £11.50 for children).
There are also reduced fares for seniors and discounted family tickets are also available. You must pre-book your tickets and choose a time-entry slot. You can also book an audio guide at the same time as your tickets.
Combined Castle & Guided Tour Ticket (£23.00 for adults, £12.90 for children). These can be pre-booked here. Tours last 30 minutes.
You can visit this historic building with Scotland’s Explorer Pass
If you plan on visiting multiple Castles and Historic Buildings in Scotland, you might want to consider getting the Explorer Pass from Historic Environment Scotland.
The Explorer Pass costs £35 for adults and £21 for children. You can purchase your Explorer pass online here.
The pass is valid for 14 consecutive days.
The pass includes entry to all Historic Environment Scotland properties, which include Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Urquhart Castle, St Andrews Castle, St Andrews Cathedral, Iona Abbey, Melrose Abbey, Fort George, and many more.
Important: To guarantee site entry, you should still pre-book your desired property visits (dates and timeslots).
Exclusions: Explorer passes do not include access to properties in the care of The National Trust for Scotland, The Palace of Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, or properties in the care of private trusts.
Very occasionally a property may have to close at short notice due to adverse weather conditions or other reasons such as planned renovations. Please check the Historic Scotland closures page for any unexpected site closures.
If you would like a private guided tour of the Castle, there are several options to choose from:
As impressive as it is, Edinburgh Castle wasn’t our favourite to visit in Scotland – that title goes to Stirling Castle. One of the main drawbacks of visiting Edinburgh Castle is how crowded it gets, which can significantly dampen your appreciation of the visit. After all, it is Scotland’s most-visited paid-for attraction (in fact, it was recently voted the most overcrowded attraction in Europe). It goes without saying that if you want to avoid most of the crowds, come early or late in the day.
One popular time to visit is around 1 pm, when (every day) the “One o’Clock Gun” is fired. The practice goes back to 1861 when the blast signalled the time to ships in the Firth of Forth. While interesting to witness, it’s also typically when the castle is most crowded.
Aside from the crowd issue, we also found the guided tours to be more interesting at Sterling Castle and just found the overall visit to be more pleasant. All of that being said, Edinburgh Castle is still definitely worth a visit, especially if you plan on visiting several castles and historic buildings during your time in Scotland so that you can make use of Scotland’s Explore Pass (see box above) to lower the cost of your visit.
Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British Monarch in Edinburgh, located at the eastern end of the Royal Mike. The self-guided tour takes you through the State Appartments and the “Great Gallery”, with 110 portraits of Scotland’s Monarchs. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the Palace. Currently, only 17 of the Palace’s 289 rooms are open to the public.
The interior courtyard is quite beautiful and photography is allowed here.
On your way out be sure to explore the stunning ruined Holyrood Abbey, which was here before there ever was a palace. The abbey was founded in 1128 by David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation, the residence was expanded further and became known as the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The abbey church was used as a parish church until the 17th century and has been in ruin since the 18th century.
And if the weather is nice, you can enjoy a stroll through the palace gardens with views of Arthur’s Seat (more on that volcanic peak below).
Facilities
Café, toilets, and gift shop.
Opening Hours (2024)
(29 Mar to 30 Sep) Daily 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (last entry at 3:15 pm)
(1 Oct to 28 Mar) Daily, 9:30 am to 6 pm (last entry 4:30 pm)
Visit the official palace website for closure dates.
Ticket Prices (2024)
Palace (£20 for adults, £14 for young adults (18-24), £10 for children).
It is recommended that you pre-book your tickets online to guarantee entrance at your preferred date and time.
Visit St Giles Cathedral
St Giles Cathedral is one of Scotland’s most important medieval parish church buildings and is one of the most impressive and imposing buildings along the Royal Mile. St Giles’ is closely associated with many events and figures in Scottish history, including John Knox, who served as the church’s minister after the Scottish Reformation.
The outside architecture is stunning and the inside is also worth a visit. We highly recommend the free guided tour of the interior. One of the highlights is the Thistle Chapel, which has ornated roofs and impressive wood carvings. The current version of the church building was initially built in the 14th century and extended in the early 16th century. The church exterior, except for the tower, dates almost entirely from William Burn’s restoration during the early 19th century, and additional alterations were made in the early 20th century, such as the addition of the Thistle Chapel.
Hours: Monday – Friday (10 am-6 pm), Saturday (9 am-5 pm), Sunday (1 pm-5 pm)
Price: Free (suggested donation of £6)
Free 45-minute guided tours can be booked here (two small group tours per day).
Visit Some Harry Potter Characters in Greyfriars Kirkyard
When you stroll through this graveyard, you might recognize some familiar names. Indeed, JK Rowling used some of the tombstone names in this graveyard as inspiration for character names. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you might like to know that JK Rowling is known to have written several Harry Potter chapters in the nearby Elephant House Café. You can also find her handprints in the Royal Mile.
Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot’s School, which is said to have served as an inspiration for Hogwarts.
For the diehard fans out there, there are several great Harry Potter tours of Edinburgh that you can take to learn more about the links between Edinburgh and the books:
Relax in Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens separates the Old Town and the New Town and is one of the most important urban parks in the heart of Edinburgh. It’s a great place to escape some of the hustle and bustle of the city and the crowds that can gather along the Royal Mile during peak tourist hours. It’s a beautiful green space from which you can sit back and enjoy the views of the city and of the impressive Edinburgh Castle, which towers over everything else.
In fact, one of our favorite places to photograph the castle is around the Ross Fountain, towards the western end of the park.
The gardens are also where you will find the Scottish National Gallery, an art gallery housed in an elegant neo-classical building that features both Scottish and international works of art from the Renaissance and Post-Impressionism periods.
Scott Monument
Constructed in the mid-19th century and located near the eastern end of Princes Street Gardens, the gothic monument is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and is dedicated to one of Scotland’s most famous writers, Sir Walter Scott.
If you don’t mind climbing a few steps (well, 287 to be exact), it’s a great place from which to get a bird’s eye view of the city.
Stroll Edinburgh New Town
The New Town is noticeably different from the Old Town: it was purposely built to allow the city to expand in the 18th century, the streets are straight and wide, and the Georgian architecture is very grand with buildings built in a neo-classical style. Many travellers that are short on time, unfortunately, miss the New Town altogether, which is a shame, since this neighbourhood offers a glimpse of a very different and less touristy side of Edinburgh.
The main New Town streets run parallel to Princes Street Gardens and are named George Street (for the king), Queen Street, and Princes Street. There are not many “attractions” in the New Town like in the Old Town, but the area lends itself to nice walks with nice sightlines of the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle. One site worth mentioning is the Georgian House, where you can go inside one of the elegant New Town townhouses and see how the wealthy lived during the 18th century. It’s also the best area to do some shopping.
Visit Some of Edinburgh’s Best Museums
National Museum of Scotland
Inaugurated in 1998, the modern building of the National Museum of Scotland features several exhibits on the country’s culture and history, from prehistoric times to the present.
Hours: Open daily 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free entry, donations are welcome.
Location: Next to Greyfriars Kirkyard
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art houses the Modern and Contemporary national art collection. It comprises two buildings: Modern One and Modern Two. Modern One showcases artwork that dates from 1900 to the present day and features paintings by renowned painters such as Matisse and Andy Warhol. Modern Two features the surrealist works of Picasso, Magritte, Miró and Dalí.
Hours: Open daily 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free entry | Additional charge for some exhibitions
Location: West of New Town (near Dean Village)
National Galleries of Scotland (Scottish National Galleries)
An art gallery housed in an elegant neo-classical building that features both Scottish and international works of art from the Renaissance and Post-Impressionism periods.
Hours: Open daily 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Free entry
Location: In the middle of Princes Street Gardens
The building was designed in a neoclassical style by William Henry Playfair and first opened to the public in 1859. The building—like its neighbour, the Royal Scottish Academy (see the third picture below)—was designed in the form of an Ancient Greek temple. While Playfair designed the RSA in the Doric order, the National Gallery building is in the Ionic order.
Stroll and Relax in the Royal Botanic Garden
Just north of Stockbridge is Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. Founded in 1670, the botanical garden is one of the oldest. A visit to the Botanic Garden can easily be combined with a walk along the Water of Leigh path.
Hours: Opens at 10 am every day, and closes between 4 pm and 6 pm depending on the time of year.
Cost: Free admission
Best Edinburgh City ViewPoints
Enjoy the Panoramic Views from Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a volcanic hill rising beyond the eastern end of Princes Street and is home to several Greek-inspired historical monuments and landmarks. One such monument is known as “Edinburgh’s Folly” or “Edinburgh’s Shame.” The National Monument was modelled after the Parthenon in Athens, but funding for the build ran out and it was never completed.
Calton Hill is one of the best places to enjoy panoramic views of the city and a great spot to watch the sunset or sunrise. The hilltop can be reached via the steps from Regent Road and only takes about 5 minutes to reach from street level.
Enjoy Breathtaking Views from Arthur’s Seat
Arthur’s seat is the highest point of Holyrood Park, on the eastern edge of the old town. It’s the main peak of a group of hills in Edinburgh that once formed an ancient (and extinct) volcano. It’s a fantastic place from which to watch the sunset as the location provides panoramic views of the city and beyond.
Because it’s the highest viewpoint in the city, it requires a bit more work to get there than some of the other viewpoints in the city. Several trails through Holyrood Park, none of which are particularly steep, can take you to the hill’s summit in about 30-40 minutes.
Scott Monument
We touched on Scott’s Monument earlier. Located in the Princess Street Gardens. Climbing the monument’s 287 steps will provide you with rewarding panoramic views of both Old and New Town.
When to Visit Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a great town to visit year-round. Being a large city and Scotland’s capital, nothing ever really shuts down, so tourists can enjoy most of Edinburgh’s attractions any time of year.
The summer generally comes with nicer weather and longer days, but with that also comes more tourists. We are fans of travelling during shoulder season (May, June, September, October), which provides a nice compromise between the weather and the larger crowds.
Winter months typically stay above freezing, with the rare snow day, but you are more likely to experience foggy and rainy days. Windy days are likely year-round as both the Old Town and New Town were built on exposed ridges.
Edinburgh gets mobbed during Hogmanay New Year’s Festival (Dec 31 / Jan 1), the Six Nations rugby internationals (generally in February / March), and the Edinburgh International Festival (August) – book accommodation well in advance if you plan to visit during these periods.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
We can’t really comment on staying in other areas of Edinburgh other than in the lovely neighbourhood of Stockbridge, which we felt was perfect for us. It’s a short walk to both the New Town (10-15 minutes) and the Old Town (25-30 minutes) yet far enough to feel in a different place. Stockbridge has managed to keep its self-contained village feel, with shops, restaurants and pubs to keep you entertained without the crowds of the city center.
How Much Time Do You Need to Visit Edinburgh
To see most of the sites and attractions listed above, you’ll need at least two full days, but ideally more to not feel too rushed. If you would like to do day trips to nearby castles and towns (see next section), then you will definitely want to stay at least 3-4 days.
For a more detailed itinerary on how to spend your time in Edinburgh, check out our guide on How to Spend a Day (or More) in Edinburgh.
Day Trips From Edinburgh
There are a lot of interesting and exciting day trips to take from Edinburgh. We detail these in a separate guide, the Best Day Trips from Edinburgh. These include trips to visit Blackness Castle, Sterling Castle, Doune Castle, the Kelpies in Falkirk, St Andrews and even longer trips to areas like Glen Coe and Oban.
Preparing a trip to Edinburgh and the lowlands?
You might be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Day Trips From Edinburgh
Best Stops and Attractions Between Skye and Glasgow
Best Things to See and Do in St Andrews
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Preparing a trip to Scotland?
You might be interested in these Scotland pages:
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Scotland Driving Guide and Tips
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Scotland
Lonely Planet Scotland’s Highlands
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
—–
Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
—–
You might also be interested in these related pages:
