Things to Do in Edinburgh For First-Time Visitors

Edinburgh is split into two areas: the Old Town, a myriad of cobbled streets, closes (alleys), and bridges compared to the neoclassical New Town, which was envisaged in the 18th century by architect James Craig, and today it is home to bars and attractions; I love both sides of the city!

This guide will reveal the very best things to do in Edinburgh, located in both areas, that first-time visitors to Scotland’s capital should not miss.

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What to Do in Edinburgh During Your First Visit

Royal Mile Attractions

It is easy to spend a day in and around the Old Town’s Royal Mile, whose name refers to a Scots old mile.

Above ground, there are several historical attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle and St Giles’ Cathedral, Scottish restaurants like The Witchery or Angels With Bagpipes, and heaps of fun pubs; Monteiths and The Waverley are personal faves.

The Royal Mile splinters off into other areas of the city via bridges and closes, which are alleys leading to stairs and gardens; look out for Advocates Close for a pretty view of Princes Street.

At the bottom of the Royal Mile is Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat, which I’ll discuss below.

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Perch atop Castlehill, a visit to Edinburgh Castle can take up to four hours to complete if covering all of the attractions.

Your castle ticket gives access to the Lang Stairs, Mons Meg, the Medieval gun, and the oldest building in Edinburgh, St Margaret’s Chapel.

Listen out for the One o’clock Gun at… 1pm.

The oldest Crown jewels in Britain, The Honours of Scotland, are also found at Edinburgh Castle and are usually the longest line.

The castle also contains museums like the Prisons of War, National War Museum, and Regimental Museums.

Edinburgh Castle keeps excellent company located next to the Camera Obscura, The Scotch Whisky Experience, and The Witchery restaurant and historic hotel.

Historic Scotland looks after the castle and offers tourists access to an Explorers Pass, which you can read about here.

Underground Vaults Discovery

While you explore the Old Town above ground, spirits and stories lurk underground!

Expert tour guides take visitors down to tell tales of local legends and the city’s dark side.

The vaults are located deep underground in the South Bridge’s vaults, which were built in 1785 to connect the Old Town with the Southside.

While the original plan was to create a shopping street below, tradespeople refused to open up their businesses because there was no daylight or running water.

As the businesses moved out, a lawless community run by gangs started to breed.

The vaults were eventually sealed up until a century later when former Scotland international rugby player Norrie Rowan discovered artefacts and started to excavate.

Now, tours leave the cobbled streets of the Royal Mile every day to go underground and learn more about life in the dark.

The Underground Vaults is one of the lesser-known Edinburgh attractions but ideal for those who have time to explore more than just what’s on top of the Old Town.

Local tip: I’ve done a few of these tours; it gets pretty chilly down there and can be wet underfoot, so pack some layers and wear closed-toe shoes.

Check out our packing list for more tips.

People Watch at Princes Street Gardens

It’s hard to believe that the lovely stretch of green that makes up Princes Street Gardens was once a stinky manmade body of water called Nor Loch.

It was used as a dumping ground and possibly the reason the city got its nickname, Auld Reekie.

At just under 40 acres and split into two areas, Princes Street Gardens is an urban green space, picnic spot, venue, and home to the city’s Christmas Market.

The park also has historical attractions such as the Scott Monument, Gardener’s Cottage, the world’s oldest floral clock dating back to 1903, and the ornate Ross Fountain.

East Princes Street Gardens is just over the road from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, and West Princes Street Gardens is close to The Mound and Lothian Road (West End).

Many entry points include Waverley Bridge by Princes Street and Market Street near the Edinburgh Dungeons, The Mound, and King Stables Road.

Princess Street Gardens is lovely all year round, especially in spring when cherry blossoms line the street and frame Edinburgh Castle.

Planning a trip and not sure which season or month to visit?

Our guide on the best time to visit Scotland will help you answer this question.

Whisky Experiences

Regardless of whether you enjoy scotch, or whisky as we call it in Scotland, there are a variety of tours and experiences around Edinburgh that make the learning process light-hearted.

The Scotch Whisky Experience is located next to Edinburgh Castle.

It features a barrel ride, a cinema-like educational video, a walkthrough of a stunning glass room full of whiskies, and a wee dram to end the tour.

The Johnnie Walker Experience (West End) starts with a narrated history of the company’s story, then several opportunities to try high balls or whisky neat using your tasting preferences to help you decide which type to try.

I’ve tried most tours in the city so I can write about them for my other business, Everything Edinburgh, including these two and recommend both.

Fun fact: I’m a Scot who doesn’t like the taste of whisky! It’s okay if you don’t either; I still enjoy the tours.

If you love Uisge Beatha, Scotland’s water of life, check out this guide to whisky tours in Edinburgh.

The link takes you to my other site.

Arthur’s Seat Hike

Arthur’s Seat is a popular 4.75 km/3 mile hike with visitors and locals alike.

It takes around 1-2 hours to complete and requires some level of cardio fitness and sensible footwear (trainers/sneakers), but the 360-degree views over the city and The Kingdom of Fife are worth every step!

On the way up to the summit, which is 251 m (823 ft), you will see St Anthony’s Chapel ruins and its loch.

There are no facilities up there, and it gets pretty windy, so pack some layers for the photos!

Arthur’s Seat merges with Salisbury Crags, a series of 46m (151 ft) cliffs.

After this hike, I like to get a massive plate of nachos at the Auld Hoose, which have to be the biggest in the city.

Close to Arthur’s Seat is the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace; the latter offers an audio tour that permits indoor access and a self-guided tour of the remains of the 12th-century Holyrood Abbey.

I’ve personally done this tour and recommend it if you like to see lavish decor (art, tapestries, and furniture) put in place by monarchs and learn more about the tragic murder of David Rizzio, the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots which took place in the palace at the hands of the queen’s jealous husband, Lord Darnley.

Harry Potter Locations

Did you know that the author of Harry Potter wrote the novels in Edinburgh?

Many businesses and attractions claim to feature or influence essential parts of the internationally known series!

You can visit Diagon Alley, aka Victoria Street, see character names like Potter, McGonagall, and Moodie on the graves at Greyfriars Kirkyard, and dine at The Elephant Cafe where The Philosopher’s Stone was penned.

If you can afford it, you can also stay in room 552 of The Balmoral, where The Deathly Hallows was finished; the suite door is painted purple and has an owl door knocker.

There are also businesses poking fun at the hysteria; Artisan Roast has a sign saying, “J.K. Rowling Never Wrote Here”; it goes to show you how popular the Harry Potter stronghold is in the city!

Grassmarket Pub Crawl

After all this sightseeing, you’ll be thirsty, so it’s time to get to know the city through its finest establishments—its local pubs!

The Grassmarket is a historical area at the bottom of Victoria Street, known for its executions.

There are even pubs called The Last Drop and Maggie Dicksons, named after Half-Hangit Maggie, who survived her death sentence in 1724 and spooked her family by moving in her coffin.

Cold Town House is another recommended bar.

It has a rooftop and serves stone-baked pizza under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

Across from Cold Town House is The Vennel, a busy castle photo spot.

The Greyfriars Bobby statue is just minutes from the Grassmarket; this wee furry legend is the logo for my other Scotland travel business, Everything Edinburgh!

If you are buzzing for nightlife, consider an overnight or weekend trip to Glasgow too.

Calton Hill Viewpoint

Less than a 10-minute walk takes you to Calton Hill, a popular free viewpoint that overlooks the New and Old Town with Edinburgh Castle to the left.

You can also see the Scottish Parliament and Arthur’s Seat at Holyrood!

The summit is home to monuments, including the Dugald Stewart Monument, a prominent feature in landscape photos of Edinburgh.

Nelson Monument, named after Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, looks like an upside-down telescope.

People usually climb all over the National Monument of Scotland, which resembles a half-finished Parthenon like the one in Athens.

Fun fact: One of Edinburgh’s many nicknames is “Athens of the North”.

Finally, at the top of the hill is a contemporary art gallery called the Collective and a restaurant named The Lookout, which has floor-to-ceiling windows.

To get to Calton Hill, walk to Waterloo Place and climb the steps.

St James Quarter Entertainment

St James Quarter is a shiny modern shopping mall with brands such as Zara and Cos.

It is also where you’ll find entertainment spots like Lane 7, Flight Club Social Darts, and Everyman Cinema.

Worked up an appetite?

There’s a mix of chain and independent food options, including vendors at the upscale marketplace, Bonnie & Wild.

Dean Village

One of the most popular Edinburgh activities among people who use social media to plan their trip is Dean Village.

This little pocket of architectural history was home to eight working grain mills owned by the Baxters and is less than 10 minutes from the West End.

Today, you can still see the Dam Head Weir waters, which powered the mills, Wells Court, and its clock tower, which was funded by philanthropist J R Finlay, owner of The Scotsman newspaper.

Plus, the thatched exteriors of the hawthorn cottages which were built in 1895.

Find out more about the area during this audio tour.

From Dean Village, you can follow the Water of Leith to Stockbridge and onto Leith; I’ll discuss both areas below.

Visit Another Area

Hop on the tram to the hip area of Leith, where The Shore is located, lined with seafood restaurants and laidback pubs.

Or, tour the Royal Britannia, the Royal Family’s floating residency, then enjoy a drink at Scotland’s first vertical distillery, The Port of Leith Distillery.

Stockbridge is an affluent area that can be reached by bus, taxi or foot from the City Centre or Leith via the Water of Leith Walkway.

Here, do as locals do, enjoy a coffee or lunch at one of the many cafes on the main street, then take in the epic Edinburgh Castle views from Inverleith Park.

Most visitors to Stockbridge pose in front of the cute mews along Circus Lane with St Stephen’s in the background.

You can learn more about Leith and Stockbridge at Hiya Scotland’s sister site, Everything Edinburgh.

Bonus: Take a Day Trip

If you have more than two days in Edinburgh, set aside the last for a day trip to one of the beautiful East Coast beaches like North Berwick, which can be reached by train.

Or, hop on a bus tour that heads north to the Victorian towns of Pitchlochy and Callander, through the majestic mountains at Glencoe, and find the mythical Loch Ness monster of the Scottish Highlands!

The latter is a long day at around 12 hours, but well worth it if you don’t fancy driving on the left and want an introduction to Scotland’s history.

Our guide to the best places to visit in Scotland features many of the locations on Highland tours.

Final Words

Most people visit the capital at the start or end of their Scotland trip or over a weekend.

As you can see from above, there are plenty of attractions to fill your itinerary from morning until night and even into the wee mornings!

While some activities have a fee, there are many free things to do, such as viewpoints and hikes, but I would recommend doing a tour or two to learn more about the city’s history or to see further afield.

How long do you intend to spend in Edinburgh? Tell me in the comments!

You may also like my Welcome to Scotland Mini-Course: 6 free lessons. Join here.