Top 10 Things To Do in Edinburgh, Scotland on Your First Visit

Looking for the best things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland? If this is your first visit to this moody and dramatic Scottish city, here are the top things to do you can’t miss!

Edinburgh is a vibe, full of beautiful streets and often gloomy skies, and I absolutely loved it! (Honestly, it’s giving full-on fantasy novel.)

My favorite things were touring Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse Palace, plus walking the Royal Mile and visiting the National Museum of Scotland. Honestly, there is so much to do here!

So here’s a list of the top 10 things to do in Edinburgh, some personal favorites from my trip, plus a couple that are high on my list for next time.

10 Top Things To Do in Edinburgh

Tour Edinburgh Castle

View from Edinburgh Castle overlooking the city below, with stone buildings and slate rooftops in the foreground and a panoramic cityscape stretching to the horizon. Visitors walk through the castle grounds, and a historic cannon is displayed near the edge of the fortress wall. — Views from Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is, of course, the most well-known landmark in Edinburgh. It sits on top of a hill and you can see it from almost anywhere in the city.

I really enjoyed seeing the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. But honestly my favorite thing was just soaking in the beautiful hilltop views of Edinburgh and the surrounding area.

You can also see The Great Hall, The Royal Palace, the Prisons of War, the Scottish National War Memorial, and more. Also don’t miss Mons Meg, a historic and giant canon. Edinburgh Castle is an entire complex that you’ll want to spend a couple hours exploring!

You can buy your tickets for Edinburgh Castle in advance for £21.50.

Walk the Royal Mile

The street out of Edinburgh Castle that leads down to Holyrood Palace is known as the Royal Mile. This is the main thoroughfare in Old Town Edinburgh, and has plenty to do and see, from shopping to restaurants to popular attractions like the Scotch Whisky Experience, Camera Obscura, and Real Mary Kings Close.

Some of these attractions are very much geared to tourists, but you’ll also find some genuinely fun entertainment and historic sights. For instance, don’t miss the small alleyways along the streets, known as closes, which are leftover from medieval Scotland. They feel like fun secret passageways.

Visit St. Giles Cathedral

Front view of St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, showcasing its Gothic architecture, pointed arches, and stained glass windows. A bronze statue of Adam Smith stands in the foreground, surrounded by uniformed officers and visitors near the entrance. — St. Giles Cathedral. This was still when it was blocked off on the morning of our visit for the Order of the Thistle Service.

Along the Royal Mile, you’ll find St. Giles Cathedral, once a central church in the Scottish Reformation and a church where John Knox was once minister. This medieval church is still in operation today but is also open to visitors. It’s free to visit, although entrance donations are encouraged.

It’s a beautiful church, so spend some time admire the stained glass and architecture. You can also book a free tour of the church in advance. They do book up, so you’ll definitely want to reserve your spot ahead of time.

This is also where the Order of the Thistle takes place, which is one of the opportunities you can have to see the Royal Family in Scotland during the summer. And learn from my lesson and triple check that schedule, because someone we missed that it was happening while we were there I was devastated that we missed seeing the Queen!

Visit The Writers Museum

Exterior of The Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a hanging gold sign depicting a writer at a desk. The museum is set among historic stone buildings with white-framed windows and slate rooftops. — The sign for the entrance to the Writers Museum. It’s in a really nice quiet little square!

Because you know I’m always going to find a literary connection in whatever city I can, The Writers Museum definitely makes it on to my list of must-dos.

This small museum is tucked back on a little square called Makers Court behind The Royal Mile. Take Lady Stair’s Close not too far from Edinburgh Castle to find it.

This is a little museum that celebrates the work of notable Scottish writers Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. I thought it was really interesting, and it’s definitely a must-do if you are a book lover.

Tour the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Interior ruins of Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland, showing weathered stone columns, arched windows, and a large gothic-style window frame open to the sky. Visitors walk through the open-air structure, surrounded by centuries-old stonework and greenery beyond the walls. — The ruins of Holyrood Abbey at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Holyroodhouse Palace is the King’s official residence in Edinburgh. And since he is only there a handful of days during the year, it is a fairly easy royal residence to visit. (You are not allowed to visit Royal residences when the King is there.)

It’s located at the very bottom of the Royal Mile opposite Edinburgh Castle.

Here you can tour the rooms of Holyrood Palace, including the throne room and historic royal apartments, visit the ruins of the Holyrood Abbey, and enjoy the gardens.

I really loved touring this palace because it’s a bit smaller than other palaces. Although don’t worry, it’s still plenty regal!

Book tickets for Holyrood Palace ahead of time for £22 for adults and £11 for kids ages 5-17 (they are £26 and £13 respectively if you get them there). There are also complimentary audio guides available.

Climb Arthur’s Seat

View of Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcanic hill in Edinburgh, Scotland, rising behind the historic buildings and gravestones of a city churchyard. The lush green slopes contrast with the stone architecture and urban surroundings below. — Arthur’s Seat

Climbing Arthur’s Seat is definitely one of the top things to do in Edinburgh. It’s an extinct volcano, and from the top you can get some of the best views of Edinburgh. There are many routes to take to get to the top of Arthur’s Seat, but the most popular ones start from Holyrood Park behind Holyrood Palace.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time for the your walk, and wear comfortable and sturdy shoes.

This is something I missed on my visit to Edinburgh, but definitely something I plan to do next time!

Visit the National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland is a free museum, making it a perfect place to pop into when you have a bit of extra time. Or, if you choose, you could spend most of a day there. There are plenty of displays and exhibitions from Scotland and around the world.

Highlights of the National Museum of Scotland include Art, Design, and Fashion galleries; Natural World galleries; Science and Technology galleries; and Scottish History galleries.

I thought this was a beautiful museum full of so much history. You could do an entire track through the museum just focusing on the history of Scotland, or you can delve into other parts of the world. It truly has everything and it’s so well done!

Also, don’t miss the views of Edinburgh castle from the rooftop terrace — this was one of my favorite parts!

Plan a perfect trip to Edinburgh with my 2 Day Edinburgh Itinerary!

Climb Calton Hill

Calton Hill is not quite as popular as Arthur’s Seat, but still worth the climb if you’re looking for even more great view of Edinburgh (plus it usually takes less time than Arthur’s Seat!). You can climb Calton Hill using a staircase at Regent Road or climbing from Royal Terrace.

In addition to the great views, you’ll also find an acropolis at the top of the hill, which is an unfinished monument, as well as two observatories.

Definitely know yourself though as far as climbing capacity goes! We did Calton Hill at the end of a full day of walking around, and I was definitely feeling it!

Take a Walking Tour

This is something I didn’t do on Edinburgh on my trip, but after how much I enjoyed my walking tours in Dublin, I definitely want to take one next time!

Walking tours can be a great way to get an overview of a city, understand more of the history, and discover places you might want to revisit later. In Edinburgh there are tours that cover Old Town History, Harry Potter, and more!

Visit Dean Village

This is something I didn’t get to on my Edinburgh visit that I definitely want to do next time! Dean Village just looks so charming!

It’s located just a few blocks behind Edinburgh Castle and it used to be the located of Edinburgh’s mills. Now, it’s cute houses next to stream called the Water of Leith. It looks like it makes a lovely walk! Follow the Water of Leith Path…it’s a much longer walking trail, but part of it goes right through this part of Edinburgh.

Where To Stay in Edinburgh

We stayed at a vacation rental for part of our time in Edinburgh and a hotel for the other part. Here’s the hotel we stayed at plus more that are on my list for next time!

DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre — This is where we stayed for a couple nights of our trip. The rooms were great and it’s a super convenient location!
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh – Royal Mile — This is actually a super great location and could be a good option for families with one kid (like us!) because they have rooms that sleep 3.
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Center — Behind Calton Hill, this is still a good location, and they have rooms that sleep four!
The Witchery — If you want to go for true luxury that really feels like you are stepping into medieval Edinburgh, this is the one to book! And it’s right on the Royal Mile.
Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel — Kimpton’s are such fun and beautiful properties, so this one would definitely be at the top of my list for a stay for just me and my husband!

Or find more places to stay in Edinburgh on this map:

Tips for Visiting Edinburgh

Prepare for rain. Always have your rain jacket or an umbrella with you because Edinburgh can be a pretty rainy city.
Dress in layers. Edinburgh can be chilly, even in the summer, so dress in layers for various temperatures.
Wear comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be walking A LOT and there are lots of hills and stairs to climb.
Don’t be afraid to take transportation. Edinburgh can wear you out with walking, so don’t be afraid to call a taxi or take a bus!