Princes street garden with Scott Monumentfull of people in a sunny summer day.

©Fabio Pagani/Shutterstock

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city that begs to be explored, filled with quirky nooks and beautiful views.

Best Time to Visit

Best Things to Do

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Bell on the Roal Yacht Britannia.

    Royal Yacht Britannia

    Leith

    Built on Clydeside, the former Royal Yacht Britannia was the British Royal Family's floating holiday home during their foreign travels from the time of…

  • Detail of main facade of Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

    Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

    Edinburgh

    Edinburgh's gallery of modern art is split between two impressive neoclassical buildings surrounded by landscaped grounds some 500m west of Dean Village…

  • Royal Botanic Garden

    Royal Botanic Garden

    Edinburgh

    Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden is the second-oldest institution of its kind in Britain (after Oxford), and one of the most respected in the world…

  • Surgeons' Hall Museums

    Surgeons' Hall Museums

    Edinburgh

    Housed in a grand Ionic temple designed by William Playfair in 1832, these three fascinating museums were originally established as teaching collections…

  • Cramond Anti Submarine Defences.

    Cramond

    Edinburgh

    With its moored yachts, stately swans and whitewashed houses spilling down the hillside at the mouth of the River Almond, Cramond is the most picturesque…

  • Cammo's disused water tower, Cammo Estate.

    Cammo Estate

    Edinburgh

    A hidden gem loved by local hikers and dog walkers, Cammo is all ancient woodlands, crumbling ruins and faded grandeur. Located on Edinburgh’s…

  • The view from the top of Corstorphine Hill

    Corstorphine Hill

    Edinburgh

    The most westerly of Edinburgh’s seven hills, and the city’s largest woodland, Corstorphine offers steep (but short) ascents, venerable woodland and…

  • Gorgie City Farm

    Gorgie City Farm

    Edinburgh

    A working community smallholding with a range of farm animals (including woolly pigs!), a wildlife garden, a play park, a mini farm shop, and a pet lodge…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Things to Know

Here’s what you need to know before you dive into Edinburgh: when to go, what to pack, the slang, the smells, the banknotes and more.

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Best Neighborhoods

From the Old Town to the beach in Portobello, here's a helpful guide to Edinburgh’s best neighborhoods.

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Day Trips

Edinburgh has plenty of great day trips from historical castles to uninhabited islands, and in the depths of winter you'll have many of these to yourself.

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Money and Costs

Edinburgh is famously one of the UK's most expensive cities, but that doesn’t mean it has to cost you a pretty penny to visit.

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Transportation

From bike to bus, find your way around in Edinburgh with our top transportation tips.

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Free Things to Do

It might be Scotland’s most expensive city but there is a wealth of free things to do in Edinburgh for those on a budget.

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5 Shops

Edinburgh offers a diverse range of new and vintage goods, catering to tourists, students and locals alike.

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Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Edinburgh

Aerial view of the famous colorful Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, England, Victoria Street in the United Kingdom, Victoria Street in the old town in Edinburgh Scotland England Crowds of tourists on the Royal Mile,harry potter city..Victoria Street, a picturesque and winding cobblestone lane, is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic thoroughfares. Prior to its construction, access from the Grassmarket to the Lawnmarket was via the West Bow, a very steeply sloped and narrow lane. The new street was planned to demolish much of the old West Bow, and provide a broad sweeping link to the newly built George IV Bridge. Aerial view of the famous colorful Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, England, Victoria Street in the United Kingdom, Victoria Street in the old town in Edinburgh Scotland England Crowds of tourists on the Royal Mile,harry potter city..Victoria Street, a picturesque and winding cobblestone lane, is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic thoroughfares. Prior to its construction, access from the Grassmarket to the Lawnmarket was via the West Bow, a very steeply sloped and narrow lane. The new street was planned to demolish much of the old West Bow, and provide a broad sweeping link to the newly built George IV Bridge. 2149127090 Aerial view of the famous colorful Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, England, Victoria Street in the United Kingdom, Victoria Street in the old town in Edinburgh Scotland England Crowds of tourists on the Royal Mile,harry potter city - stock photo Aerial view of the famous colorful Victoria Street in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, England, Victoria Street in the United Kingdom, Victoria Street in the old town in Edinburgh Scotland England Crowds of tourists on the Royal Mile,harry potter city Victoria Street, a picturesque and winding cobblestone lane, is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic thoroughfares. Prior to its construction, access from the Grassmarket to the Lawnmarket was via the West Bow, a very steeply sloped and narrow lane. The new street was planned to demolish much of the old West Bow, and provide a broad sweeping link to the newly built George IV Bridge.

Budget Travel

The best ways to travel around in Edinburgh

Aug 28, 2024 • 5 min read

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Edinburgh and beyond

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