BEST THINGS TO DO IN EDINBURGH FOR FIRST TIMERS W/ MAP (2024) | 20+ Must-Dos, Hidden Gems & More!

there's a lot more to do in Edinburgh than just its famous castle and in this video I'll be sharing a thorough Roundup of things to do in this beautiful historic City from all sorts of free museums to lovely neighborhoods outside of the crowded historic Center in case you're new here hi I'm Christina from happy to.com and this channel is all about practical travel advice so be sure to like And subscribe if that sounds like your kind of thing and be sure to stick around until the end for a link to the written version of of this guide which goes into more detail about each activity and also includes an interactive map that has everything pinned for your convenience now let's begin with things to do in edinburgh's Old Town starting with the ultimate symbol of Edinburgh our first most obvious Musto which is a visit to Edinburgh Castle welcoming over 1.3 million visitors each year Edinburgh Castle is the country's most visited paid attraction with a lengthy history dating back over 800 years today within its walls you can visit several museums a large war memorial a royal palace and of course the honors of Scotland Britain's oldest crown jewels you could easily spend half a day here though be warned that enjoying the castle fully does require some prep work the first time I visited I honestly felt underwhelmed because I didn't know my way around there were way too many people and I had zero historical understanding of the sites that I was seeing in fact if you're not into history you might actually find the castle pretty boring so make sure you read up on it in advance and beware that tickets can often sell out in peak season so book those tickets ahead of time get there early and refer to my full written guide on the castle for suggested itinerary and game plan for your convenience I'll also be leaving links for tickets to this attraction and others in the description another Royal edinb must do is a stop at Hollywood p pal formerly known as the Palace of Hollywood house this Regal Palace is edinburgh's answer to Buckingham Palace and serves as the official residence of the British Monarchy in Scotland of the palace's 289 rooms only 17 rooms are open to the public but besides the interior there's also the runs of holwood Abbey and beautiful gardens to frolic through overall if you're interested in the Royal history of Edinburgh this is another mustsee from here you can embark on another classic Edinburgh musd do which is a hike up to Arthur's seat at 823 ft above ground Arthur seat is the highest point in Edinburgh serving glorious views for those who can Brave the climb and leg cramps though beware this is a fairly steep hike so should only be attempted with proper Footwear and a decent level of Fitness otherwise there are plenty of other great views in town to enjoy including the the Salsbury Craigs which are here as well but with a much easier climb and at the foot of Arthur's seat you'll find some more noteworthy attractions like Dynamic Earth Hollywood Distillery and if you're open to a little detour even a pub that lays claim to the title of Scotland's oldest pub the sheep heads in who do as I can personally confirm an excellent Sunday roast now going back to other sites in Oldtown one popular must SE is the national museum of Scotland this free sprawling Wonderland of exhibits is housed in two adjacent buildings on Chambers Street the Victorian building which is home to a gorgeous Grand Gallery made of cast iron and glass and a more modern building from the 9s inside visitors can explore galleries covering everything including Science and Technology natural history and art and World cultures with its massive size this Museum can be a pretty overwhelming place so I'd recommend coming at off peak times and grabbing a map but no doubt this is a mustsee especially the rooftop Terrace one especially interesting highlight is Dolly the sheep the first successfully cloned mammal who was born and cloned right here in Scotland just around the corner you'll find another animal icon of the city gray fryers Bobby this little Terrier is probably one of the city's most beloved mascots and you can find a statue dedicated to him directly in front of a pub by the same name The Story Goes that when Bob B's human John passed away unexpectedly he spent the next 14 years of his life simply sitting at Jon's grave sleeping by his side every night becoming a beloved City fixture in the process today Taurus loved to go Pat his nose though locals claim that this causes damage to the Statue so I'd advise just going for an air Pat or a quick photo instead another Edinburgh activity close by is a quiet walk around gry Fryer's kirkyard today Bobby himself is buried here near his human John with visitor was leaving sticks flowers and dog toys on his grave from time to time but apart from the gravestones of Bobby and his human gray friers is home to a number of notable Edinburgh residents since buos have been taking place here since the 16th century more recently however the kirkyard has become a popular spot for Harry Potter fans with multiple gravestones bearing names that are said to have inspired characters from the franchise which makes sense given that the author did live here another class activity in Oldtown is a visit to the grass Market once a medieval Marketplace and execution site but today much less gruesome with great views of Edinburg Castle along with many pubs and shops a great view from here can be found on the venel if you just walk up some stairs if Instagram is anything to go by this is one of the best photo ops in the city from grass Market you can start the walk up Victoria Street another magical MDW in Edinburgh this street has long been proclaimed as the inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley and while it's a believable and harmless claim it's one that has been officially debunked by the author herself through a series of brutally honest tweets still it's a beautiful Street to visit especially if you have a thing for vaguely magic themed shops though I'd recommend getting here earlier in the morning to avoid the inevitable crowds and if you like the look of winding streets like this under another one to put on your list is Cobrin Street about a 5-minute walk away the Milkman Cafe here has one of the most beautiful window views in town finally to finish our Roundup of Oldtown activities let's take a walk along edinburgh's ever popular Royal mile this historic Street spans just over a mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Hollywood house with tons of souvenir shops pubs restaurants museums and of course crab s along the way while this is no doubt one of the most touristy stretches of Edinburgh a walk along here is a worthwhile must do at least once especially given the many highlights and attractions along and around here so let's run through them first almost right outside the entrance to Edinburgh Castle is the Scottish whiskey experience which offers pay tours and tastings to teach newbies all about Scotch whiskey plus they have an impressive collection of over 3,000 Scotch whisk whiskey bottles this could be great for those wanting a more guided whiskey experience though of course just popping into a pub to sample your way through is always an option as well right across the street is the camera obscura and world of Illusions which is a fun Edinburgh activity to distract kids or kids at heart for a few hours with five floors of cool illusions to explore sure it's not the most historic or cultural activity but it is fun and the views from the top are some of the best in the city just down the road you'll encounter one of the most iconic buildings in Edinburgh the toll booth Kirk which despite its appearance is actually not a church today but a multi-functional space that includes a cafe as well as the box office and headquarters for the famous Edinburgh International Festival continuing along the Royal mile you'll find Gladstone's Land one of the Street's oldest surviving buildings While most people come here for ice cream above the ice cream shop is actually a small Museum that shows the evolution of housing on the iconic Royal mile starting at the top floor with a 1911 era room when it was a modest lodging house then winding down and getting richer with every floor if you're interested in history this is a small but cool spot to check out now tucked away in a courtyard just off the Royal mile near here is the free writers Museum which showcases the lives of Scotland's best known literary Giants Robert Burns Walter Scott and Robert Lewis Stevenson this museum is housed in a beautiful building packed with portraits personal items and manuscripts from these famous authors so literary nerds should definitely make sure they stop by for a visit moving along the Royal mile the next main stop is St Gil's Cathedral an impressive gothic church known for its beautiful stained glass windows and intricate Stone Interiors though it's not technically a cathedral since it's not presided by a bishop it's still very much worth seeing just across the road you'll find the real Mary King's close a unique character tour that takes you back in time to explore edinburgh's dark history between the 16th and 19th centuries I didn't get a chance to visit this during my time in Edinburgh but I've heard if you're into spooky attractions this is one of the best and then down the road is Tron Kirk this former church is now home to a lovely little Makers Market where you can browse souvenirs and products from local designers which is a nice alternative to the other otherwise very touristy shops along the mile that sell many of the same mass produced Goods now as you continue down the Royal mile you'll begin a stretch of smaller free museums the first is the Museum of childhood which builds itself as the world's first Museum dedicated to the idea of childhood with displays spread across several floors about the development of childhood showcasing toys games clothing and honestly some rather haunting dolls and mannequin children while I went would necessarily prioritize it as an Edinburgh must do it is worth stepping in if you're looking for something interactive to do with kids and if you need a break from all the sightseeing one of edinburgh's most historic pubs can be found right here as well the beautiful toll booth Tavern originally constructed in 1591 as you guessed it a place to collect tools from Travelers who were entering the city today it's a cozy tourist friendly pub with lots of Scottish Specialties for you to try and just side are two more free museums the people's story Museum which is all about telling the story of the workingclass people of Edinburgh from the 18th century up until the late 20th century and there's also the museum of edra dedicated to the history of the city itself with a varied collection of items including the original plans for edinburgh's New Town And even a collar and drinking Bowl belonging to the city's most legendary canine gr friers Bobby now near the end of the royal mile you're greeted with the cont controversial Scottish Parliament building which officially opened in 2004 after Decades of planning that ended up with a price tag over eight times the original budget this bright modern design is of course a stark contrast to Edinburgh signature Stone buildings but I'll admit it's definitely better appreciated from the inside which is possible through a free guided tour if you book ahead there are also public areas accessible without a tour including a free exhibition space and Cafe which has some surprisingly delicious and affordable food options if you're looking for a quick bite now before we make our way down to edinburgh's New Town another free museum for your list is the Museum of the mound this museum is housed in the Bank of Scotland's head office building with plenty of interesting displays all about money including A visual representation of 1 million sadly void pounds now in between edinburgh's Oldtown and New Town are the famous princess Street Gardens to adjacent public parks located where there once was a lock or a lake next to Princess Street this is where a portion of edinburgh's famous Christmas Market is held every year and also just a popular place to hang out or enjoy a walk within this beautiful Park you'll find a number of famous sites including the Scottish National Gallery which is a beautiful new classical building housing Scotland's national collection of fine art with pieces dating from the Renaissance to the beginning of the 20th century there's also the gorgeous Ross Fountain which makes the perfect photo with Edinburgh Castle looming behind as well as a statue dedicated to voy check the bear an actual bear and World War II veteran and the Scott Monument one of the largest monuments in the world dedicated to a writer while it's a common spot for photos you can actually climb to the top for Unique views of the city along Prince Street you'll also find a few other noteworthy attractions including the Johnny Walker experience a fun and unpretentious introduction to Johnny Walker and whiskey in general for newbies I did their signature tour which included a guided visit through multiple interactive rooms and performances along with three whiskey cocktails overall it was like a Willy won aideed whiskey tour focused on the Johnny Walker brand but I really enjoyed it it's worth noting as well that while the shops on Princess Street are mainly chains or souvenir shops many of them do have great views like this one from the waterstones cafe speaking of views another item must do is seeing the amazing views from Colton Hill from here you have a perfect view over edinburgh's iconic Skyline with edinb Castle the BM moral hotel and Arthur's seat all in view of course there's cool monuments on the hill as well the dled stort monument for instance was designed by William Henry Playfair who was the originator of the bar graph and there's also the National Monument of Scotland a Greek inspired structure originally intended to be a memorial for Scottish soldiers who died in the Napoleonic Wars due to budget constraints however they couldn't finish it hence the structures now very sad nickname Scotland's disgrace now on that cheery note let's move over to edinburgh's new town with a visit to the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland of all the wonderful free museums in Edinburgh this is my personal favorite it is as the name suggests an Arty Shrine to Scotland's most prominent figures in history dazzling visitor visitors with three floors of portraits and sculptures divided into eras alongside brief explanations of each person's significance for those interested in Scottish history or just putting some faces to names that you've probably heard many times while exploring this is one of the top things to do in Edinburgh think the Hollywood Walk of Fame but with context plus its design both inside and out is uniquely breathtaking so make sure you stop by another interesting attraction in New Town is the Georgian house an 18th century townhouse that has been beautifully restored and now operates as a museum though it's fairly small with just a handful of rooms to mosy through the available rooms are well-kept and give you a glimpse into the noble lifestyle of Georgian era Edinburgh so if you're interested in this period of history or simply looking for Edinburgh rainy day activities this is definitely one to add to the list and if you're looking for more fun things to do in Edinburgh at night the pedestrianized Rose Street in New Town is a great place to start there are a number of cute pubs on the street but my personal favorites are the kennworth and dirty dicks which is packed with quirky clutter and cozy Vibes but hey if classic pubs aren't your thing it's also worth noting that new town is home to many cool speak easys and hidden bars as well a classic being Hoot the Redeemer which is tucked away on Hanover Street this unique bar is filled with interesting bits of decor and fun touches including a claw machine where you can play to assemble your own unique cocktail now finally let's move on to things to do outside of edinburgh's Oldtown and New Town one of the biggest attractions we haven't discussed yet is the Royal yacht brania best known for its stint as Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Yacht for 43 years sailing more than a million nautical miles around the world in that time today the yacht is a museum where visitors can wander the five different floors to see exactly how the Royals traveled definitely a cool experience if you're nosy and obsessed with the crown on Netflix like me while here it's worth exploring its surrounding area the hip neighborhood of Le once known for being rougher around the edges but today a vibrant Hub of restaurants and pubs one cute Pub I can recommend here is chter landing where the food comes in mugs and where they do a fun game called The Hoop of Destiny where you can pay a small fee to play Ring Toss to secure a dram of the whiskey you land on from Le you can also enjoy one of the most underrated and peaceful activities in Edinburgh which is a stroll along the water of leth walkway which stretches for 12 Mi along the River from leth to bolo passing a mix of lush green areas and interesting sites along the way including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and murrayfield Stadium if I had to pick and choose though the section between Dean Village over to Stockbridge is definitely the most scenic on that note for another area to explore outside of edinburgh's main tourist center be sure to give Stockbridge a visit this pretty neighborhood has a distinctly villagey feel to it with cobal streets Georgian buildings beautiful Parks as well as excellent shopping opportunities from its independent boutiques to its popular weekly Market highlights also include the city's Royal botanic garden as well as circus Lane one of the most photographed streets in the city now speaking of photographed one of the prettiest parts of Edinburgh that you can't miss is Dean Village a fairy tale Hamlet found just a short walk away from Edinburgh City Center for8 centuries this area was a hub for grain Milling with just under a dozen Mills grinding away at its peak powered purely by the river truthfully these days there's not much to do here by way of activities but it is very beautiful and worth the detour now August is commonly considered Peak peak season in Edinburgh and the main reason is of course that it's Festival season a highlight of which is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe aka the largest Performing Arts Festival in the entire world taking place for 3 weeks every August this Festival consists of 3,000 Plus shows of every possible theme and genre popping up all around town with theaters bars clubs restaurants and even hotel conference rooms becoming entertainment venues the whole thing is a fever dream of unbridled creativity and there's truly nothing like it so if you time your visit for August make sure you immerse yourself in all the Fringe craziness it's absolutely spectacular or if you hate crowds definitely avoid August like the plague another cool event that happens at the same time is the Royal Edinburgh military tattoo this world famous military show dazzles over 200,000 in-person Spectators each year with upwards of a 100 million viewers tuning in from abroad in addition to plenty of bag pipes and British flare International guests take Center Stage as well with over 40 countries having participated over the years throughout the show they use Edinburgh Castle as a backdrop projecting cool scenes and colors onto the facade with 1,000 plus performers emerging from the Misty entryways like professional wrestlers entering the ring it's exceedingly dramatic and wonderful so be sure to get tickets if you're in town finally when in Edinburgh don't forget to eat the food scene in Edinburgh is as delicious as it is diverse with everything from casual pubs and chippies to elevated high-end seafood restaurants I definitely recommend trying some Scottish Classics like haggus with neeps and tatties as well as col and skink which is a creamy fish soup but of course there's plenty more Scot Specialties and dishes from around the world to try as well some local Specialties if your arteries can handle them include deep fried pizza and deep fried Mars Bars found in pretty much any chippy especially in touristy areas I'll say they're not great but worth trying at least once if you think you can handle them for food recommendations as well as all the spots from this video pinned on a map be sure to check out the link here for a full written guide thank you for watching and be sure to like And subscribe for more practical travel videos just like this one I'll see you next week bye

Channel: Happy to Wander

Views: 37,538

Keywords: edinburgh scotland, things to do in edinburgh, edinburgh travel guide

Id: ZBKmNA9CoRg

Length: 21min 21sec (1281 seconds)

Published: Sat Apr 13 2024