Things to do in Edinburgh

The best things to do in Edinburgh

You’ll never run out of things to do in Edinburgh: great restaurants and pubs, charming shops, walks with views and museums for every taste. On your first day, let a local guide show you around the Old Town.

Where to eat in Edinburgh

Fine dining

From fine dining to timeless classics: restaurants for a special lunch or dinner.

Scottish restaurants

Restaurants and pubs where you can enjoy traditional Scottish food and the best local produce.

Best brunch

Eggs Benedict, pancakes and Bloody Marys: the best brunch spots in Edinburgh.

Breakfast

Cafés and restaurants to start the day, including the classic full Scottish breakfast.

Where to eat haggis

The best places to try Scotland’s national dish with neeps and tatties.

Vegetarian and vegan

Restaurants and cafés with great vegetarian and vegan food, vegan haggis included.

See all food and drink

Shopping

Edinburgh’s best shopping areas and streets, from Princes Street to the Old Town.

Unique shops

Small independent shops for original gifts and souvenirs.

Whisky bars

Bars and pubs with the best Scotch whisky lists for enjoying a good dram.

Cocktail bars

The best bars for a well-made cocktail and a great atmosphere.

See all food and drink

Walking and cycling routes

Walking

The best way to discover the Old Town and its closes: routes and tips for exploring Edinburgh on foot.

Cycling

Cycle paths, green routes and bike hire for getting around Edinburgh and beyond.

See all transport options

The best walks to discover Edinburgh

Climb Calton Hill

The ‘Athens of the North’, with its monuments and some of the best views of the city.

Climb Arthur’s Seat

Climb Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano above Edinburgh, and enjoy Highland-style scenery in the city.

Walk the Water of Leith

A riverside walk across Edinburgh, from Dean Village to Stockbridge and on to the port of Leith.

Walk the Royal Mile

The Old Town’s main street, linking the Castle and Holyrood Palace through a maze of closes and courtyards.

Visit Dean Village

A former milling village on the Water of Leith, ten minutes from Princes Street, where time seems to stand still.

See all parks and gardens

Unmissable museums

National Museum of Scotland

Scotland’s history, science and world cultures in one unmissable museum. Free entry.

Scottish National Gallery

Scotland’s great art gallery, with masterpieces from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Free entry.

Museum of Edinburgh

The story of the city told through its treasures, in a 16th-century house on the Canongate.

Writers’ Museum

A tribute to Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson in Lady Stair’s House.

See all museums

Tours in Edinburgh

Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

2 h ★ 5.0

Explore our Edinburgh travel guide

Top 10
What to see
Things to do
Attractions
Museums
Parks and gardens
Neighbourhoods
Kirks and graveyards
Food and drink
Where to stay
Getting around
Useful information
Shopping

Things to do in Edinburgh

The best things to do in Edinburgh

Where to eat in Edinburgh

Fine dining

Scottish restaurants

Best brunch

Breakfast

Where to eat haggis

Vegetarian and vegan

Shopping

Shopping

Unique shops

Going out for a drink

Whisky bars

Cocktail bars

Walking and cycling routes

Walking

Cycling

The best walks to discover Edinburgh

Climb Calton Hill

Climb Arthur’s Seat

Walk the Water of Leith

Walk the Royal Mile

Visit Dean Village

Unmissable museums

National Museum of Scotland

Scottish National Gallery

Museum of Edinburgh

Writers’ Museum

Tours in Edinburgh

Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh

Free Ghost Tour of Edinburgh

Free Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle Tour

Loch Ness & Inverness Day Trip from Edinburgh

Edinburgh Pub Crawl

Explore our Edinburgh travel guide