I’ve been to Edinburgh twice now and both times I spent 2-3 days in the city. It really is a great place to visit for a quick weekend getaway to an iconic place in the UK. The first time I took the train up from London, which is about 4 hours or so. The second time I flew from London because it was so much less expensive. It’s about an hour flight. Both trips were a bit different so there is a wide variety of food, things to do, and places to stay in this post.
*NOTE: There may be affiliate links in this post. Thank you for supporting me x*
Where to Stay
There are quite a few nice hotels in Edinburgh, so I don’t think you can go wrong. But I can recommend the two that I have stayed in personally. One is more in central Edinburgh if you are looking for things in walking distance versus taking public transit. The other was an easy tram into the city center.
ibis St. Andrew’s Square
This hotel is in an excellent location for walking to any of the main attractions in the city. We didn’t need a car until we left the city. It was also quiet outside the hotel. Plus, there was a little bar downstairs where they had live music on one of the nights we were there. We paid to have their breakfast, which was also nice and worth the added cost.
The Garner Hotel
This hotel is in Haymarket, so just a few stops to city center on the tram or bus. The most convenient thing about this hotel is the fact that the tram and bus stops are literally right outside the front door. We really appreciated that. There is a pub connected to the hotel, so we did have dinner there one night, which was nice and convenient. There’s also a small shop down the street if you want to have snacks and drinks in your hotel room.
Note about the public transit – it’s super easy. You can tap on/off everything, but beware, if you try to fare evade, there are people on the trams checking for tapping or tickets everywhere. This goes for the tram from the airport as well, which was super easy to find and figure out.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
I haven’t stayed here, but it is one of the higher end hotels that’s literally right next to the castle. It looks like a lovely option if you are looking for something a little more expensive and central.
Where to Eat
Oink
This is a quick eats spot that I saw on instagram that looked really good! Honestly it didn’t disappoint, but was just a small cafe-type vibe. You order at the counter the size, type of bread, and what you want on the sandwich. Obviously it is mainly pork sandwiches as the name implies. I liked it, but it wasn’t somewhere I wanted to go multiple times while we were there.
Old Pal Pub
This was just a pub down the street from our hotel that was recommended for a Sunday roast. The beef was really nice and the pub was a little fancier than your typical local spot. They even had beef tongue on the side with the beef roast dinner. They also did a really yummy pecan pie with butterscotch ice cream which my sister and I shared. Would eat here again!
The Milkman
This is a cute little cafe that had a line out the door. It’s very small inside but they have a good system of ordering and delivering drinks and food. We had to have a coffee here – I decided to try their chai which was pretty good. I also ordered an almond croissant which was really nice. I liked this location and would definitely come back!
Civerinos Pizza
Another spot in a good location right off the royal mile. I had a margarita pizza and it was really good. They have indoor and outdoor covered seating which I thought was nice if it had been warmer. It was a good place to stop for something quick and easy.
What to Do
Edinburgh Castle
This is the thing to do in Edinburgh and you really have to book tickets in advance. The first time I went to Edinburgh I thought we could just walk up and get tickets. Definitely not. The second time I went, we booked tickets a few months before just to be safe. Honestly I was very surprised with this castle. Obviously it is popular for a reason, but we spent about 5 hours inside. There is so much history and so many exhibits to check out! Plus, the views from up on the hill are really amazing!
Victoria Street
This is more just for a wander, popping into the shops, and seeing a really cute street that is said to be part of the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. There is a Mina Lima store on the top of the hill if that is something you are into! We really liked walking down this road and taking some photos. There is even a place you can buy butter beer – although if I’m being honest, we were a bit disappointed with the taste!
St. Andrew’s Golf Links
If you or someone you’re traveling with are into golf, this is a must-stop spot right near Edinburgh. St. Andrews is where golf got its start and is in a beautiful spot right on the coast of northeast Scotland. It took about an hour and a half to drive up there from Edinburgh. Be sure to book a tour in advance. If you are a serious golfer and want to try to get a slot at one of the courses, there are different ways to go about it. For the Old Course, you have to join the ballot and see if you get selected. One of the smaller courses is usually open to book if all else fails. Here is more info for booking.
If you aren’t wanting to golf, but want to see the course and do a tour, you can book that here. There are a few restaurants around the courses as well, which I recommend booking in advance if you want to eat at one. We went to the Tom Morris Bar and Grill, which was really good and had beautiful views of the old course. Doing this trip takes a good part of the day, so you will be missing out on Edinburgh, however, we planned this and then went to the Tattoo (see below) in the evening and it made it well worth it.
Greyfriar Cemetery
Fancy a little wander around a cemetery? We did! It actually is really beautiful, but also is home to some interesting headstones – one being Tomas Riddle. Another Harry Potter stop if that is something you are into. It wasn’t a bad way to spend 30 minutes. Finding the grave was a bit difficult even with the use of Google and ChatGPT. If you find the Flodden Wall, you’re on the right track!
Writer’s Museum
This museum is quite small and doesn’t take more than an hour to wander through. It’s free to enter, which is also a nice bonus. It showcases the lives and histories of Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Walter Scott. All Scottish writers and known for their iconic works that are still prevalent today. This was well worth the time spent, and is located off The Royal Mile down a little alley.
Fringe Fest
This happens only in August every year, but is one of the things people flock to the city for! It’s basically a celebration of art and allows people to showcase all of their different artistic talents. From comedy shows to dancing and theatre, plus everything in between, you’ll likely find something that you enjoy. Keep in mind that this is a very busy time in Edinburgh and booking things in advance is necessary. Hotels, flights, trains, etc will be more expensive.
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
This is another iconic thing to go to Edinburgh for. It brings together the military bands from countries all over the world. They all play separately and then together as one, along with dancing and/or performances. It was really something to see and if you are into music, it is definitely worth looking into. Again, people come to Edinburgh for this in August, so it will sell out and things will be more expensive around that time. Tickets start around £50. You can look for tickets for 2026 here.
National Galleries Scotland
Like in London, Edinburgh has 3 museums linked to the National Museum: the Modern art, National Gallery, and the Portrait museum. They’re all free to enter, but have exhibits on that may cost money to see. I visited the National Galleries the first time I went and it was really great to walk through. I would recommend checking out one of the 3 galleries if you have time and interest.
Have you been to Edinburgh or is it on your list of iconic UK cities to visit? If you want more ideas for traveling around Scotland, be sure to read my roadtrip through Scotland blog post and take advantage of how easy it is to drive around the country!
