The 10 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh known as the capital of Scotland is a historic gem that offers the traveller a wide range of things to do. From beautiful views to whiskey tastings - this city has it all. Known for its many festivals Edinburgh is a perfect place for film, music and art lovers.

Hike up on one of the many hills and discover the panoramic views of Edinburgh or stroll around the city's old town and breathe in the history of the city. Taste proper Scottish whisky or participate in one of the many walking tours. Easily said -  there will be something for everyone. 

One of the most popular things to do when visiting Edinburgh is to hike up Arthur’s Seat which is an ancient volcano and the main peak of a group of hills next to Edinburgh city centre. The hills form most of Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat offers amazing panoramic views of the city. 

To hike up the volcano is completely free and the hike up and back down takes approximately two hours. The hike is not considered to be difficult which means that even inexperienced hikers should definitely be able to reach the top.

A must do is to climb up to Calton Hill, which is a hill located in the middle of Edinburgh. Calton Hill is one of the city's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From this hill you can see most of Edinburgh and its major landmarks like Arthur’s Seat, Holyrood Palace, Princes Street and the Royal Mile.

Additionally to the beautiful views of the city, the hill offers a collection of historic monuments. The most famous one being the National Monument, inspired by the Parthenon in Athens.

Hidden close to the centre of Edinburgh and only five minutes walk from Princes Street, lies Dean Village. Dean Village is a calm oasis where you should just stroll around and enjoy the beautiful houses and mills, with your camera at the ready.

The Water of Leith is a river that flows through the village. When you walk around this beautiful village make sure to see the impressive Dean Bridge, that offers the best views of this special place.

For anyone who loves history, Edinburgh castle is a must visit. It was home to kings and queens for many centuries. This centuries-old castle lies at the end of the Royal Mile. Once you enter the castle there are many things to discover like Mons Meg and the Scottish National War Memorial. 

To get the full experience of the castle book a guided tour with Klook and hear extraordinary tales of defense and conquest from your guide...

If you like to explore the city through walking tours, then Edinburgh is a great place for you as the city is known for its many different types of walking tours. There is everything from free city walking tours to Harry Potter tours. If you are into horror and ghosts, then you should try one of the famous “dark side walking tours”. Find out more about walking tours on Klook.

Like any other bigger city Edinburgh has some great museums to visit, one of them is the National Museum of Scotland. The museum features many different exhibitions about Scottish history, culture, nature and art. If you want to combine the museum visit with views of the city, then climb up to the 7th floor from where you will get beautiful views of Edinburgh.

A big plus with museums in Scotland is that they are all free so the entrance does not cost anything. So if you're interested in spending some time to learn about Scotland then the National Museum is really worth visiting. 

Address: Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

If you walk to the other side of the Royal Mile you will come to Holyrood Palace. Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland and has served as the residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots since the 16th century.

The palace is worth visiting for exploration of the majesty of the State Apartments and to see the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots. The palace also has a big Royal Collection of art, including paintings by Canaletto and Rembrandt.

A trip to Scotland would not be complete without going on a whisky tour. There are many places that offer whisky tours but one of the best tours in Edinburgh is at the Scotch Whisky Experience. This place is located in Edinburgh's old town and is known for its largest collection of Scotch whisky in the world, so be prepared to be 'wowed'.

If you want to visit an actual whisky distillery there are many day trips to choose from. Explore the available options for day trips on Klook.

Edinburgh's old town gives you the feeling of stepping back in time. Its narrow cobbled alleys and old houses show how the old town might have looked hundreds of years ago. The old town became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.

There are over 70 closes running off the Royal Mile. Most of the closes were named after their residents and are now popular photographing places. A few places worth visiting if you want to take beautiful pictures are Lady Stair’s Close and Jame’s Court.

Join a walking tour around Old Town with a local guide to discover the hidden treasures of the area.

If you want to do something different you should visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, which is a famous graveyard in Edinburgh. The graveyard is famous because it is said to be haunted 👻 There are many stories about paranormal activities that have happened at the graveyard, so if paranormality and ghost stories are you thing, you should join one of the tours that take you around the graveyard and tell about its haunted past.

Another reason to visit the graveyard is if you're a Harry Potter fan. J. K. Rowling used to visit the graveyard while writing the Harry Potter books and she drew inspiration for many of the characters' names from the graveyard’s tombstones.

Edinburgh is a gem which offers a large variety of things to do. When travelling in Scotland you should visit this historic beauty. If you want to read more about Edinburgh and things to do, visit the Klook City page.

#Klooktip: Looking to explore multiple attractions hassle-free? Get the Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket which gives you unlimited easy travel around Edinburgh. Plus, you get skip the line access to places like Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse and Royal Yacht Britannia.