The best things to do in Edinburgh, for everyone from history buffs to foodies

A cycling tour is a time-effective way to cover the top sights – including Forth Bridge (pictured) - ©PeteRowbottom2012
A cycling tour is a time-effective way to cover the top sights – including Forth Bridge (pictured) - ©PeteRowbottom2012

More insider guides for planning a trip to Edinburgh

  1. 48 hours
    48 hours

    48 hours

  2. Hotels
    Hotels

    Hotels

  3. Attractions
    Attractions

    Attractions

  4. Restaurants
    Restaurants

    Restaurants

  5. Free
    Free

    Free

  6. Bars
    Bars

    Bars

Edinburgh may be best known for the International Festival, which takes place every August, but there are plenty of other attractions to pull in visitors year-round. From whisky tastings to exploring Japanese gardens and 300-year-old underground passages, Telegraph Travel expert Linda Macdonald shares her favourite things to do.

Old Town

Immerse yourself in the world's biggest arts festival

More than 60 years ago the International Festival’s founders set out to bring art, culture, colour and prosperity to a gritty and grey post-war Edinburgh. Now there are seven festivals in August, including the Fringe, Book and Comedy Festivals. Every year Edinburghers fall in love with it all over again as Auld Reekie becomes, quite literally, the city that never sleeps.

Insider's tip: It’s worth planning well ahead as hotels and restaurants book up early and headline shows sell out, but if you haven’t, don’t despair; there’s somehow always a room, tent or even a sofa somewhere, and always another free show.

Contact: 0131 473 2000; eif.co.uk 
Price: £-£££

Edinburgh International Festival
The festival concludes with a firework concert, with the city's historic castle as it's backdrop

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Visit the city's goriest museum

You’ll need a strong stomach and a morbid sense of humour to enjoy the fascinating Surgeons' Hall Museums. There are life-sized tableaux, tools of the surgical and dental trade that will make your toes curl (there’s probably a device for that), gruesome photographs, and pickled and preserved body parts. The unnervingly extensive collections include pathology and histories of surgery and dentistry.

Insider's tip: One of the more disturbing objects on display is a notebook bound in the skin of William Burke – one of the well-known Edinburgh bodysnatchers. It's possibly not the most family-friendly destination, unless your last name is Addams.

Contact: 0131 527 1711; museum.rcsed.ac.uk
Price: £

Surgeons' Hall Museums
An exhibition about controlling infections at Surgeons' Hall Museums

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Take your taste buds for a stroll around town

An Eat, Walk Edinburgh tour will provide you with an excellent gourmet introduction to the city. Follow leader Alan Chalmers as he points out places of interest using a wireless audio system. You’ll try 'starter-sized' taster dishes and samples of whisky, wine and beer, but don't expect all the food to be Scottish – this is about all the variety Edinburgh has to offer.

Insider's tip: Plan this activity for day one, as you finish the tour with lots of useful information and a discount card for participating bars and restaurants. You'll also benefit from a lovely glow from the exercise (and the nips of malt whisky along the way).

Contact: 077 408 69359; eatwalkedinburgh.co.uk
Price: ££

Eat, Walk Edinburgh
Sample Scottish dishes, such as haggis, on a gourmet tour of the city with Eat, Walk Edinburgh

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Explore the Queen's Scottish home

A tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse – Queen Elizabeth II's official gaff in Scotland –  will show you more tapestries, portraits, and plasterwork than you can shake a sceptre at. You'll also be able to see Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers, where her courtier Rizzio was stabbed 56 times and then thrown down the stairs by her jealous husband. There are free audio tours, a gift shop and a smart courtyard café.

Insider's tip:In summer, take a guided tour of the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the nearby abbey, but keep in mind that the star attraction is the Queen’s Gallery with its fabulous exhibitions of the best art from the Royal Collections.

Contact: 00 44 131 556 5100; royalcollection.org.uk
Price: ££

Palace of Holyroodhouse - Credit: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016
The chambers at the Palace of Holyroodhouse are notorious for a murder that took place here in 1566 Credit: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016

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See Britain's oldest crown jewels

The city’s most famous landmark broods over Edinburgh – an elephantine presence on its dramatic volcanic rock. Edinburgh Castle is home to the oldest crown jewels in Britain, the oldest building in the city, Mons Meg and the Stone of Destiny; it’s more than a monument, it’s part of every day life. In fact, locals have been setting their watches by the one o’clock gun since 1861.

Insider's tip: There are complimentary guided tours to help you make sense of it all, or you can pay for an audio guide. Give the crowds a miss by purchasing tickets and downloading audio guides in advance online and visiting early in the day.

Contact: 0131 225 9846; edinburghcastle.gov.uk
Price: ££

Edinburgh Castle - Credit: Historic Environment Scotland/Santiago Arribas Historic Scotla
Edinburgh Castle is home to The Honours of Scotland, or Scotland's crown jewels Credit: Historic Environment Scotland/Santiago Arribas Historic Scotla

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Take part in a literary-themed pub crawl

As the first Unesco City of Literature, Edinburgh has a long – and sometimes dishonourable – literary history. It's cleverly brought to life on the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour by two professional actors who focus on writers from the past. Tours start at 7.30pm in the Grassmarket and tickets can be bought online, at the meeting point, or from the Visit Scotland Information Centre in the Waverley Mall.

Insider's tip:
The tour makes stops in several pubs where you can have a drink while you enjoy the guides' performance, or if you’re more of a misanthrope there’s a self-guided tour app on the website (but it’s more fun with the live guides).

Contact: 00 33 131 226 6665; edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk
Price: ££

Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour - Credit: ARTURO HUERTA LOPEZ
Two actors from the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour pause in a courtyard to act out a scene Credit: ARTURO HUERTA LOPEZ

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Take a whisky masterclass

You may not be sure about the plastic barrel ride at the start, but there are worse ways to learn how whisky is made. The tour leaders at The Scotch Whisky Experience are brilliant and the Gold Tour upgrade is a revelation. Aficionados should opt for the Morning Masterclass, and gourmands should consider the Taste of Scotland Whisky and Food Tour, which includes a three-course meal in the Amber Restaurant.

Insider's tip: After the tour, visit the bar to find 300 whiskies and great views. It also offers Scotland’s other national drink – Irn-Bru – for teetotallers. If you have a cold, ask for a restorative hot toddy.

Contact: 0131 220 0441; scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
Price: ££

Scotch Whisky Experience
The Scotch Whisky Experience is home to the largest collection of Scotch Whisky in the world

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Go ghost hunting

You can’t throw a haggis on the Royal Mile without hitting a ghost tour, but if you’re looking for one grounded in history, The Real Mary King's Close is the tour for you. You’ll explore hidden 17th-century streets – long considered to be haunted by plague victims who were walled up alive. The odd murder and a healthy population of other ghosts adds further interest.

Insider's tip: Bear in mind there are 58 steps down and 38 up to be negotiated, so it’s not suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs, the claustrophobic, or those with limited mobility. Children under five will not be admitted at all.

Contact: 0131 225 0672; realmarykingsclose.com
Price: ££

The Real Mary King's Close
Discover a warren of hidden 17th-century streets on a ghost tour with The Real Mary King's Close

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Step into a world of optical illusions

Even in a high-tech world, a simple pin-hole camera that can project razor sharp moving images from distances that defeat modern cameras feels like magic. Children will love Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, and enjoy learning how to make do-it-yourself spyware using a cardboard box, tin foil and a blanket. There are optical illusions, games and a dizzying holographic exhibit that will delight visitors of all ages, too.

Insider's tip: It’s a great way to spend time on a wet day or revive tired children, and the 360-degree view from the roof is one of the best perspectives on the city – no matter what kind of camera you use.

Contact: 0131 226 3709; camera-obscura.co.uk
Price: ££

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
One of the quirky optical illusions at Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

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Experience life in 17th-century Edinburgh

Should you find yourself wandering down the Royal Mile, wondering what it was like to live in a towering tenement 300 hundred years ago, you can find out on a visit to Gladstone's Land. The National Trust has meticulously restored this wealthy Edinburgh merchant’s house to provide a fascinating recreation of the cramped conditions – even for the wealthy – in 17th-century Edinburgh.

Insider's tip:You’ll see the kitchen and a pretty panelled parlour, but don’t miss the Painted Chamber. This bedroom contains what is considered the best original wall and ceiling decoration in Scotland.

Contact: 0131 226 5856; nts.org.uk
Price: £

Gladstone's Land
A close-up of painted ceiling panels at Gladstone's Land

New Town

Tour the city in an open-top bus

You’ll find several sightseeing tours operating under the Edinburgh Bus Tours banner, but The City Sightseeing Tour offers a useful overview of the major attractions, operates all year round and is particularly good for children – the choice of audio commentaries includes a 'Horrible Histories' version for young ones. There are various itineraries available, varying from one-hour tours to 24- or 48-hour tours.

Insider's tip: Take the 3 Bridges Bus and Boat Tour to venture further afield. Get off at the pier in South Queensferry and cross the road to the Hawes Inn to find a cosy fire in winter and a beer garden for sunny weather. It's also where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Kidnapped.

Contact: 0131 220 0770; edinburghtour.com
Price: ££

Edinburgh Bust Tours - Credit: Gilles MOULIN - All Rights Reserved - 2016/Gilles MOULIN
Spot key attractions, such as the Burns Monument, on Edinburgh Bus Tours Credit: Gilles MOULIN - All Rights Reserved - 2016/Gilles MOULIN

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Dress up like 18th-century landed gentry

A visit to The Georgian House (a National Trust property) on the enduringly fashionable Charlotte Square is an absorbing way to get a sense of what life was like in a prosperous 18th-century household in the New Town – both for the family and those below stairs. The house was designed by Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam, and is a particularly fine example of Georgian architecture that's been beautifully and accurately furnished.

Insider's tip:Do talk to the guides in each room who like to show off their detailed knowledge and if your children aren’t inspired by antiques, they can dress up in the period costumes available in the activity room.

Contact: 00 44 131 226 3318; nts.org.uk
Price: £

The Georgian House
At The Georgian House, guests can dress up in period costumes to explore the building

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Learn to cook Scottish fare

Gourmands can get to grip with local ingredients on a full-day cookery course. The well-regarded Edinburgh New Town Cookery School runs small one-day courses that are both professional and fun. Use the best Scottish ingredients in the Fish and Shellfish Workshop, or learn how to cook with game in a masterclass of meat. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the indulgent creations in a Delicious Desserts class.

Insider's tip: At the end of the experience, you’ll get to try your hard work with a glass or two of wine in an elegant dining room with views all the way to the Firth of Forth. Book early as courses fill up quickly.

Contact: 0131 226 4314; entcs.co.uk
Price: ££

Edinburgh New Town Cookery School
A day at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School is a great way to learn more about Scottish food

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Southside

Visit Edinburgh's 'other castle'

Locals like to take visitors to this charming alternative to Edinburgh Castle. Craigmillar Castle is one of best examples of the medieval variety in Scotland and much of the structure is in remarkably good order. Explore from the top of the tower house to the gloomy basement where a skeleton was found walled up in the early 19th century. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here twice – the area is still called Petit France.

Insider's tip:Wood from ancient yew trees in the inner courtyard is said to have been used for making bows, which is an interesting fact for inspiring children’s imaginations in a place where they are positively encouraged to run wild.

Contact: 0131 661 4445; historicenvironment.scot
Price: £

Craigmillar Castle - Credit: Historic Scotland/Santiago Arribas Historic Scotland
Edinburgh's lesser-known castle – Craigmillar – is a popular spot for families with young children Credit: Historic Scotland/Santiago Arribas Historic Scotland

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Tee up for outstanding city vistas

The Gentleman Golfers of Leith established the 'rules of golfing' on Leith Links in 1744, arguably making Edinburgh the home of golf. While you can no longer play in Leith, the 18-holes at the Edinburgh City Council-run Braid Hills Golf Course is a bargain. The layout itself is vertically challenging and is a Par 71 course. You can hire clubs and trolleys if you haven’t brought your own.

Insider's tip: It's worth a round even if you’re not a golfer, if only for the glorious views across the city to the Firth of Forth. Also be sure to look out for the gorse bushes – an unusually painful hazard.

Contact: 0131 447 6666; edinburghleisure.co.uk
Price: £

Braid Hills Golf Course
The far-reaching views from Braid Hills Golf Course stretch across the city to the Firth of Forth

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Leith

Climb aboard a floating royal residence

The Royal Yacht Britannia was apparently frozen in time long before she was decommissioned. Look out for the various props found inside – there's everything from well-used board games in the sun lounge to toothbrushes in tumblers in the crew quarters. Together, the items bring Britannia, and the Queen’s fascinating frugality, to chintz-upholstered, brass-polished life. The comprehensive tour proceeds at a leisurely pace set by handheld recorded information delivered in suitably plummy tones.

Insider's tip:Do plan to pause in the Royal Deck Tea Room for remarkably good simple lunches or a slap-up tea. Don’t miss the gift shop either, which is amusingly filled with stuffed corgis.

Contact: 0131 555 5566; royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
Price: ££

The Royal Yacht Britannia - Credit: www.marcmillarphotography.com 07904 790 959/Marc Millar Photography
The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored at the Port of Leith Credit: www.marcmillarphotography.com 07904 790 959/Marc Millar Photography

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Out of Town

Discover the city on two wheels

You can take a gentle three-hour guided ride around The Royal Mile, New Town, Holyrood Park and Portobello with Edinburgh Bike Tours, or hire by the day for your own tour on Edinburgh’s extensive system of cycle routes; tagalongs, trailers and bikes for children are available. You’ll need to be fit, but not Tour de France standard.

Insider's tip: Catch the sea breeze on a full-day tour along the coast, which takes in historic Cramond, Queensferry and the Forth Bridges. You’ll escape the city traffic and see fascinating areas other tours don’t touch.

Contact: 07753 136 676; edinburghbiketours.co.uk
Price: ££

Edinburgh Bike Tours
Bike tours are a fun way to explore the city

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Explore underground coves

Many locals don’t know about Gilmerton Cove, and it is certainly one of the city's more obscure attractions. Even archaeologists can’t explain the 300-year-old underground passages and rock-furnished rooms, hand carved from sandstone and hidden underneath the streets of this quiet suburb; but there are plenty of theories, as the enthusiastic guides will tell you. Maybe it was a meeting place for the Hellfire Club, a hiding place for Covenanters, or a drinkers’ den? Make up your own mind when you visit.

Insider's tip: Tours must be pre-booked and are unsuitable for wheelchair users and children under five. Steep steps and rough (sometimes wet) floors require sturdy shoes. Remember to take a torch for solo exploring.

Contact: 0131 666 2035; gilmertoncove.org.uk
Price: £

Gilmerton Cove
No one knows the real reason why the underground passages at Gilmerton Cove were built

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Amble through a Japanese garden

Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house with Victorian extensions. The building overlooks the Firth and is surrounded by woodlands and a Japanese garden. Inside, it's home to an impressive collection of fine furniture and ceramics, as well as the personal belongings of its wealthy owners. Look for the newspaper in the sitting room reporting the sinking of the Titanic.

Insider's tip: Take a pleasing 15-minute stroll to the Boardwalk Beach Club café. It sits right on shores of the Firth and has a huge outdoor seating area with blankets, great views and yummy soups, sandwiches and scones. Children and dogs are looked after, too.

Contact: 0131 336 2060; edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Price: £; the grounds are free

Lauriston Castle
The Japanese Garden at Lauriston Castle provides a tranquil setting for a stroll