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Edinburgh: Top 10 Things to Do and Places to See
Edinburgh’s castle-crowned skyline and contrasting Old and New Towns give Scotland’s capital its distinctive character. In southeast Scotland, between the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south, the city combines steep volcanic landforms with medieval streets and Georgian architecture. Its Old and New Towns together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Recognised as Scotland’s capital since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh remains a centre of government, law, education and culture. The Scottish Parliament and major national collections sit alongside a strong literary tradition: Edinburgh became UNESCO’s first City of Literature in 2004. Its international festivals bring theatre, music, comedy and other performing arts into the city’s cultural life.
Top 10 things to do in Edinburgh
10. See the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith
Permanently moored in Leith, the Royal Yacht Britannia brings a maritime dimension to Edinburgh’s royal heritage. Visiting the yacht takes you beyond the historic centre to another significant part of the city. It also provides a distinctive counterpart to the palaces and monuments that dominate many first impressions of Edinburgh.
9. Take in the city from Calton Hill
Calton Hill rises at the eastern end of Princes Street, providing an accessible vantage point over Edinburgh. Its views help make sense of a city shaped by volcanic outcrops and sharply contrasting architecture. A walk here complements time spent among the streets below, revealing the broader setting of the capital.
8. Visit the Scottish National Gallery
The Scottish National Gallery is one of Edinburgh’s principal cultural institutions and an essential stop for an art-focused visit. Combine time with its collections with a walk along Princes Street, where views open towards the castle and Old Town. Edinburgh’s wider gallery scene also includes dedicated portrait and modern art institutions.
7. Walk through the Georgian New Town
Edinburgh’s New Town reveals the city’s expansion beyond its crowded medieval core. Built during the 18th and 19th centuries, its Georgian architecture forms the other half of the city’s World Heritage Site. Walk its streets to appreciate the change in scale and layout from the steep lanes and densely built surroundings of the Old Town.
6. Explore the National Museum of Scotland
On Chambers Street, south of the Royal Mile, the National Museum of Scotland anchors Edinburgh’s museum scene. Its extensive collections merit a substantial visit, with enough to occupy an afternoon. The museum also connects naturally with the capital’s longstanding role as a centre of learning, scientific enquiry and national cultural life.
5. Join Edinburgh’s festival season
August brings the Edinburgh International Festival and Festival Fringe, filling the city’s cultural calendar with performances. The International Festival began in 1947; the Fringe has become the world’s largest arts festival, with a strong emphasis on comedy and experimental work. The Military Tattoo adds another defining spectacle, with pipers performing beneath Edinburgh Castle’s battlements.
4. Climb Arthur’s Seat
Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano looming over Edinburgh, makes the city’s dramatic geology immediately tangible. Climbing it is one of the capital’s defining outdoor activities, rewarded by broad views across the city. The ascent gives a clear sense of how closely Edinburgh’s built heritage sits beside substantial areas of open, elevated ground.
3. Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the lower end of the Royal Mile and remains the British monarch’s official residence in Scotland. Its richly furnished interiors bring royal Edinburgh into focus. Nearby, the modern Scottish Parliament adds a contemporary political landmark to an area central to the country’s public life.
2. Follow the Royal Mile through the Old Town
The Royal Mile descends from Edinburgh Castle to Holyroodhouse, forming the spine of the Old Town. Walk the broad High Street and explore the steep closes branching from it to understand the compact shape of medieval Edinburgh. St Giles’ Cathedral is another major historic landmark to include along this route through the city’s architectural heart.
1. Discover Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle commands the crag above the Old Town and remains the city’s most emblematic landmark. Its position explains much about Edinburgh’s beginnings: Castle Rock provided a defensible site, with settlement extending eastwards along the ridge below. Visiting the castle brings the capital’s historic centre and its striking natural foundations into one memorable setting.