Edinburgh Travel Guide

Edinburgh is top of the wish list for many travellers to the UK. The Royal Mile, the cobbled streets and grand castle, the tartan kilts and bagpipes, the haggis and Scottish whiskey, are what this capital city is known for. In this Edinburgh travel guide, we explore the best of Scotland’s capital city.

Top Neighbourhoods to Visit in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Old Town – Whilst only a mile long and 300 yards wide, The Old Town is what most of us picture when we think of Edinburgh. Spiralling cobbled streets and alleys sitting under the shade of Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh’s New Town – The New Town is located to the north of Princes Street and despite being ‘new’ is over 200 years old. The Neoclassical design means wide, open streets that make it’s contrast to the Old Town quite striking.

Leith – The charming port town of Leith has undergone a recent period of regeneration. Whilst previously considered a ‘rougher’ area of the city, now you’ll find Michelin-star restaurants set amongst the traditional maritime buildings.

Stockbridge – With a Sunday farmer’s market, artisanal cheese shops, traditional pubs and charming bookshops, Stockbridge is a popular neighbourhood to stop-by. 

Dean Village – Take a step back in time to the pastoral wonderland of Dean Village. Escape to the countryside for grassy walks and a visit to the Scottish National Gallery.

Portobello – Edinburgh’s coastal suburb draws in visitors wanting beautiful seaside landscapes. Walk along the promenade and grab a hot donut filled with blackberry and violet jam from Portobello’s famous donut shop, Twelve Triangles.

Best Things To Do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is steeped in history and the list of historic buildings, abbeys, churches and monuments to see is almost endless. In this Edinburgh travel guide, we’ve focused on Edinburgh’s highlights – but the city has so much more to offer beyond this list.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

A visit to Edinburgh Castle has to be at the top of everyone’s list of the best things to do in Edinburgh. This historic fortress sits imposingly above the city on top of what’s known as Castle Rock. Inside, explore st. Margaret’s Chapel, thought to be the oldest building in Edinburgh, and the Royal Palace. 

Climb Arthur’s Seat

I first visited Edinburgh when I was thirteen, and have strong memories of whinging and whining as I followed my mum up the sweaty, steep climb to Arthur’s Seat. At the top, the wind was knocked out of me as I looked out over the glorious views of Edinburgh from the peak of this extinct volcano. I’ve wanted to go back and climb Arthur’s Seat again ever since.

Head Up Calton Hill

Pass by the Scottish Parliament Building and Holyrood Palace as you make your way up Calton Hills for famous views of the cityscape. At the top, you’ll find the contemporary art gallery and the unfinished National Monument. Make sure to stop by some of the local bakeries.

Princes Street

This famous street in Edinburgh runs through the Old and New towns. It’s Edinburgh’s main shopping street, but worth visiting to admire the architecture and views alone. Stop by the impressive Gothic Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens.

St Giles’ Cathedral

St Giles’ Cathedral is a 12th century church in Edinburgh’s Old Town. It has a long and fascinating history, and is one of Edinburgh’s best sights due to its unique crown steeple.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s gorgeous botanic garden is home to more than 13,000 plant species. The garden is free to visit, but the garden’s glasshouses come with an entrance fee.

Best Places To Eat in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s restaurants host a dining scene composed of traditional pub-grub to modern Michelin star restaurants, and everything in between. The vegan scene in Edinburgh is starting to really take-off with plenty of delicious vegetarian and vegan-friendly cafes popping up around the city.

Best Restaurants in Edinburgh

Kalpna (City Centre) – What’s a British food guide without an Indian restaurant! Widely considered the best Indian food in Edinburgh, Kalpna is known for its mouth-wateringly spicy lunchtime Thalis.

Union of Genius (City Centre) – If you’re in Edinburgh in the cold of winter, this little homemade soup bar will warm your cockles. It’s only open at lunchtimes, so you’ll need to fit it in before 4pm closing. You can expect a filling soup with unique bread varieties served on the side to compliment your boiling bowl.

Makars Pie Shop (City Centre) – One for the cheap-eaters. This little-known about independent eatery serves up traditional pie and mash. You’ll also find vegetarian haggis on the menu here.

Harmonium (Leith) – This creative, chic vegan restaurant is outside of the city centre in the Albert Docks in Leith. You’ll find traditional pub grub veganised. On the menu is no-fish and chips, and vegan mac-and-cheese.

Best Cafes in Edinburgh

Pumpkin Brown (City Centre) – Kicking off the list of best cafes in Edinburgh is Pumpkin Brown, a snug, vegan spot and espresso bar. Expect lush smoothies in tall glasses and great breakfast options including nut butter on banana bread toast and dragon fruit smoothie bowls. 

The Edinburgh Larder (City Centre) – Praising itself as the place for ‘good mood food,’ you’ll find a menu of hearty British classics including beans on toast and scones. Food here is locally-sourced.

The Milkman (City Centre) – This tiny espresso bar is the place for a quick hit and a cinnamon bun. The shop’s interior is all exposed stone and brickwork, making it a gorgeous coffee stop.

Fortitude Coffee (City Centre) – Another hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, Fortitude bills itself as compact and style-conscious offering speciality coffees and sourdough toast.

Ostara (Leith) – Oh my brunch. This is the place you want to be for dreamy brunches. The cafe has a seasonal menu that changes, but you can expect dishes such as raspberry pancake stacks and kimchi scrambled eggs alongside artisan coffee.

Toast (Leith) – Avocado on toast, huevos rancheros and cute desserts make this another excellent brunch spot. As the evening rolls in, the cafe switches it’s luscious lattes for elegant wine glasses brimming with Spanish wine.

Getting In and Out of Edinburgh

By Plane – Edinburgh airport has regular flights to and from London. The journey time is approximately an hour.

By Train – Trains to Edinburgh run from cities across the UK. From London, trains take approximately 5 and a half hours and there are usually 40+ trains running on this route everyday. It’s better to book tickets in advance as British train prices can be expensive.

Know Before You Go

Climate — The best time to visit Edinburgh is during spring (late March to May) and summer (June to August) when temperatures are warmer. January is the coldest month with daily temperatures averaging a very chilly 3°C. In comparison, summer temperatures are around 14°C. Like the rest of the UK, rain can be frequent and unpredictable so carry a raincoat and brolly. 

Currency — Scotland uses the British pound. Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

ATMs — There are ATMs on almost all street corners both inside and outside of banks across the city.