Planning the perfect trip to Edinburgh? Whether you’re visiting for the first time or making a return trip, there are some things you simply shouldn’t miss out on. Here’s how to spend 2 days exploring the capital.
Don’t want to miss a thing? With Top 10 Edinburgh you’ll enjoy the very best the city has to offer.
Day 1
Morning
Begin your day at Edinburgh Castle. A national icon, this impregnable fortress commands views in all directions over the city and out to the coast, making it the ideal orientation point.
After taking in its various attractions, wander down the Royal Mile, the stretch of ancient streets that made up medieval Edinburgh’s main thoroughfare.
Those with a taste for a dram shouldn’t miss a tour of the informative Scotch Whisky Experience; follow it up with a homemade soup and sandwich lunch at nearby Deacon’s House Cafe (304 Lawnmarket).
Continue along the Royal Mile, exploring key sights such as St Giles’ Cathedral, where the Scottish Reformation was initiated by John Knox; the preacher’s house is a little further along.
At the foot of the road, goggle at the modern architecture of the Scottish Parliament building before taking a tour of the royal treasures and portraits on show at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Returning along the street, take a walk back in time to the city’s gruesome past at The Real Mary King’s Close – it’s open well into the evening – before dining on innovative Scottish cuisine at the Witchery by the Castle.
Day 2
Morning
Spend the morning admiring glorious artworks at the National, particularly in the new Scottish galleries where you’ll see historic takes on Edinburgh sights (don’t miss the excellent museum shop, either).
From here, it’s a short walk across bustling Princes S Street to George Street, the dignified thoroughfare designed as the centrepiece of Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town. Just beyond elegantly landscaped St Andrew Square, the Café Royal Circle Bar is an unpretentious lunch stop for a plate of oysters and other seafood treats.
Afternoon
From George Street, head north down Dundas Street for the 20 minute walk to the restful Royal Botanic Garden, a vast oasis of lawns, ponds, rhododendron walks and rock gardens.
After you’ve had your fill of impressive horticulture, jump on bus #8 from the garden’s east gate to Leith Street, a short hop from Calton Hill. Crowned by an eclectic assortment of NeoClassical monuments, this muchloved vantage point is the perfect place to soak up sunset views of the Old Town, castle and Firth of Forth beyond.
Cap the day with an evening along The Shore in Leith, a 20 minute tram ride away. Edinburgh’s rejuvenated old port area is now home to the city’s densest concentration of smart restaurants and easygoing bistros.
