
Edinburgh
What you need to know before you go
Edinburgh enchants first-time visitors with its effortless old-world elegance. Its UNESCO-listed historic centre is a beguiling maze of winding alleys, the skyline dominated by the regal crown steeple of St Giles Cathedral and the imposing turrets of Edinburgh Castle. But scratch beneath this grandiose and historical surface and you'll discover a down-to-earth, modern capital city.
Edinburgh is packed with laid-back bars, quirky boutiques, lush parks and friendly people, with most of the main highlights concentrated in the city centre. It’s a place of remarkable culture, too. Art aficionados can lose themselves for hours discovering the masterpieces in the Scottish National Gallery and the many theatres host first-class shows throughout the year, though especially during the Edinburgh Festival in August. Nature lovers can escape the hustle and bustle with a hike up the verdant hillsides of Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill while the rolling Scottish countryside is only ever a short drive away.
What to see & do in Edinburgh
Featured stories & fun stuffThe best things to do in Edinburgh revolve around its history and culture. This east coast city is among Britain’s prettiest. The Gothic architecture found throughout the Old Town, especially winding its way up the Royal Mile, is enchanting. Stroll the streets and keep your camera at the ready as photo-worthy cityscapes are around every corner. World-famous landmarks to enjoy in Edinburgh include Holyroodhouse Palace, St Giles’ Cathedral... Read more
10 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh
The list of the best things to do in Edinburgh generally starts with enjoying the city’s remarkable sights. The stunning architecture is often the first thing to strike people. The grand Gothic landmarks and cobbled streets in the Old Town...7 Things to Do in Edinburgh in Winter
Winter holidays in Edinburgh are sparkling affairs. Christmas lights dazzle, ice-skaters swirl and fireworks light up the sky. Long...10 Best Things for Couples to Do in Edinburgh
The best things for couples to do in Edinburgh include romantic strolls around picturesque villages, luxurious meals in intimate restaurants...10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Edinburgh
Steeped in history and culture, Edinburgh is a wonderful city to visit. However, its distinctiveness also means that it presents...10 Best Road Trips near Edinburgh
These best road trips near Edinburgh are catered to those craving for adventures away from the Scottish capital. Edinburgh might...10 Things to Do in Edinburgh off the Beaten Track
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, but for any visitor looking for oddities and strange attractions, it's so much...14 Family-Friendly Things to Do in Edinburgh
Some of the best family-friendly things to do in Edinburgh highlight the city's reputation as one of Europe's largest...10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Edinburgh
The most popular neighbourhoods in Edinburgh range from village-like suburbs to vibrant student districts and UNESCO World Heritage sites...11 Instagrammable Places in Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers virtually endless opportunities for Instagrammable snapshots whether you're looking to capture the local history, brilliant natural features or...
Where & what to eat in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is at its finest around mealtimes with a fully-fledged culinary scene to enjoy. For breakfast, you must try a traditional fried breakfast. Feast on Scottish square sausage, back bacon, and black pudding – just don’t count the calories! Pubs and cafes around the Old Town cater well to visitors who want to sample the best of Scottish dishes, especially haggis. This recipe of minced lamb and oats is synonymous... Read more
Where to shop & what to buy in Edinburgh
Where to go & what to do at night in Edinburgh
Nightlife in Edinburgh includes old-fashioned pubs, swanky bars, ghost walks, live music venues and pumping nightclubs. With a large student population, the arts scene in Edinburgh is excellent and you’ll find many bands, comedians, and DJs staging events right across the city throughout the year. For live entertainment in the Old Town, start your night at Whistlebinkies Live Music Bar just off the Royal Mile. Then, you can barhop... Read more
Useful information
This section of our Edinburgh Go Guide presents all of the information you should need when planning your trip. As the capital city of Scotland, there’s plenty that is helpful to understand about Edinburgh, if you want to get the most out of a short time spent there. This includes everything from knowing how to get in, out and around to which neighbourhoods are best to visit and which make... Read more
5 Things to Do For New Year's Eve in Edinburgh
New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh is one of the best times to visit Scotland's capital. It's a top destination for celebrating the end of December and the start of January. Combine the nation’s famous hospitality with historic traditions and you...6 Creepy Stories from Edinburgh to Freak You Out
Edinburgh has a long and macabre history. Ghost hunters and psychics often tout the Scottish capital as a one of...10 Money Saving Tips in Edinburgh
Visiting Edinburgh on a budget is truly possible and can be enjoyed thanks to the many possibilities the hilly Scottish...
neighbourhoods in Edinburgh
Keep exploring
Scotland
United Kingdom
- Aberdeen
- Bath
- Belfast
- Berkshire
- Birmingham
- Blackpool
- Borehamwood
- Bournemouth
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridge
- Cambridgeshire
- Canterbury
- Cardiff
- Channel Islands
- Cheltenham
- Cheshire
- Chester
- Cornwall
- Cotswolds
- Coventry
- Derby
- Devon
- Dorset
- Dundee
- Durham
- Durham
- Eastbourne
- Edinburgh
- English Riviera
- Essex
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Great Yarmouth
- Guernsey
- Hampshire
- Harrogate
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Highland
- Inverness
- Isle of Man
- Isle of Skye
- Isle of Wight
- Jersey
- Kent
- Lake District National Park
- Lancashire
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Lincoln
- Lincolnshire
- Liverpool
- Llandudno
- London
- Manchester
- Margate
- Milton Keynes
- New Forest National Park
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Newport
- Newquay
- Norfolk
- North Wales
- Northumberland
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxford
- Oxfordshire
- Peak District National Park
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Poole
- Portsmouth
- Preston
- Reading
- Salisbury
- Scarborough
- Scottish Borders
- Scottish Islands
- Sheffield
- Shropshire
- Skegness
- Snowdonia National Park
- Somerset
- South Coast
- Southampton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Southport
- St Ives
- Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Swansea
- Swindon
- Torquay
- Warrington
- Watford
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- Weymouth
- Whitby
- Wiltshire
- Windsor
- York
- Yorkshire
Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- England
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Northern Ireland
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- Wales