Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland: recommendations from a local

I moved to Edinburgh over ten years now to study – and then ended up not leaving. I completely fell in love with this wonderful city and all its quirks. It’s a fantastic place to admire old architecture, learn about fascinating history and discover a delicious food & drink scene. As soon as you arrive you will see how this gothic city could inspire tales like Harry Potter. So in this travel guide I am sharing my best tips and recommendations for all the best things to see and do in Scotland’s capital to help you plan your trip to Edinburgh. Everything from when is the best season to visit to where to go to try a Scottish whisky – and everything inbetween!

things to do and see in edinburgh — *Can you see why this is my favourite city in the world? / Moa*

Why trust this Edinburgh travel guide?

First hand recommendations and advice from a local

I’ve lived in the city for over ten years. I have seen the city in snow storms. Survived through multiple Fringe Festivals. And have watched the seasons change over and over whilst this charming old town still remains my favourite place in the world.

Slow travel philosophy

Travel is most meaningful when you stay present. I like my journeys to be intentional, fuelling life with inspiration. Whether I am marveling at Scottish castles or tasting haggis for the first time.

Local partnerships

I have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful local brands. I love telling others about Scotland and the wonderful businesses and produce you can find here. So I’m more than happy to share my tried and tested recommendations with you.

Hi, I’m Moa – the person behind this Edinburgh guide!

edinburgh travel guide — Hi, I’m Moa – the person behind this Edinburgh guide!

When to visit Edinburgh – Travel Guide

Whilst I personally believe that there are no bad seasons to experience the city. This all depends on what you are looking for from your trip. My absolute best advice is to embrace whatever season you are traveling in. I have also written a helpful guide to the best season to visit the city which you can find here.

Peak season

The summer, June, July and August, is a particularly busy time for visitors. The milder weather and longer days is a lovely time to see the city and the castle is framed by green leaves. If the other months mentioned are peak season then August is ultra peak season due to The Fringe Festival. December is also part of the peak season as the Christmas Market and Hogmanay celebrations are popular events amongst things to do and see in Edinburgh.

♥ Don’t miss our guide to visiting the fetsive Christmas Market here!

Shoulder season

The months of May, April, September, October and November tend to have some visitors but not an overwhelming amount. These are probably my favourite months of the year in the city. The cherry blossoms, tulips and daffodils all appear in the springtime and it turns magical as the leaves shift in autumn. The madness of peak season is not yet upon us and the cold of the winter is either behind us or has not yet quite begun.

Low Season

The most quiet months of visitors tends to be January, February & March. There is no Christmas fun of December and spring has not yet quite arrived fully. And yet, I love these months so much. If you want to feel like a local, these are your months to visit. The city has a more relaxed feel, you don’t have to elbow your way up the Royal Mile or fight someone to get tickets for your favourite tour. It’s also still possible to get reservations at those restaurants that are just impossible to book during peak season.

♥ Do check out our more detailed guides to each season in Edinburgh:

What’s the weather like in Edinburgh?

Generally speaking, I would dare say that the weather in Edinburgh is not as bad as most people imagine. Admittedly, we do get rain from time to time; however, it’s much milder here on the east coast compared to Scotland’s west coast. In fact, a light drizzle is far more common than a heavy downpour – though, of course, the occasional soaking rain does happen. My best suggestion would be to embrace the rain on your trip and don’t let it stop you from all the things you want to see and do in Edinburgh – it’s just part of Scotland’s charm. Don’t forget that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.

Tip: It’s not always worth bringing an umbrella as Edinburgh can be quite windy and has destroyed many nice umbrellas in its day. Instead bring a good raincoat!

December – February

It can get pretty cold in the winter and can vary between milder days of 5-7 degrees Celsius to colder days where it is usually just below 0. It often feels colder than many other places though due to the maritime and damp climate and Edinburgh also often is quite windy. We don’t usually get much snow, but usually get 1-2 days where everything is a bit chaotic as the snow usually stops traffic.

March – May

In March you usually get early signs of spring and up until May the temperatures rise slowly again and can be around 10-14 degrees Celsius on average, with the nights still being colder still.

June – September

In the summer months the temperatures can go up to around 20 degrees celsius, or hotter if we are having particularly warm days. In recent years the summer heat has lasted into September as well so don’t think summer is over just because August is.

October-November

Peak autumn in Scotland when the leaves start turning and temperatures cool down to around 10 degrees Celsius again. The leaves turn more and more and then suddenly we have a storm or a particularly windy day and the leaves just seem to disappear almost over night.

How to get there and get around | Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland

No matter if you are visiting on a weekend trip or longer stay, Edinburgh is a great destination as it’s really easy to get into town and explore the city and it’s surroundings.

Arriving by Air

Edinburgh Airport (EDI): Served by Loganair, Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2.com, British Airways, KLM, Air France, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Air Canada, United Airlines, Emirates and Norwegian Air amongst others—and direct flights from Beijing, Dubai, Toronto & New York (some are seasonal).
Getting from Edinburgh Airport into the city: It’s very convenient to grab the AirLink 100 bus from the airport to the city centre and you can pay contactless to the driver for a single or return ticket. Alternatively you can also get a taxi or the tram – just remember to buy your ticket from one of the machines in advance. The bus ticket cannot be used on both the tram and bus as there are seperate tickets. The journey by public transport is around 30 minutes.

♥ Tip: Did you know that you can bring 2 liters of liquid through the security at Edinburgh Airport? Perfect if you want to bring a whisky bottle as a souvenir and want to take it in your hand luggage. In fact you don’t even need to take it out of your case as the new security sensors at the airport require everything to stay inside your bag. Just be aware in case you have a stop over that these regulations might not be valid there.

Arriving by Sea

Ferry from Northern Ireland (Belfast or Larne) to Scotland (Cairnryan): Brings your car onboard or go as a foot passenger – perfect if you want to bring your own car and enjoy some scenic views on the way. The journey is about 2 hours.

Getting Around

By Car: Your might not need a car within the city, but if you want to see more of Scotland – which I highly recommend – it’s very convenient to drive a car. However, just remember to drive on the left!
By Public Transport: Buses and trams are very convenient here. Also don’t forget to download the Bus & Tram App to plan your journeys and see available routes closest to you.

Where to stay

No matter if you are looking for 5* luxury accommodation or a comfortable aparthotel to rest in between in your adventures on your trip, this Edinburgh travel guide has got your back with a good selection of options. The prices are bound to be at their peak in August during the festival and the most affordable in January.

Aparthotels

Upscale & Boutique hotels

Luxury Hotels

Where to Eat & Drink in Edinburgh | Things to do and see in Scotland’s capital

I can’t write an Edinburgh travel guide and not include my favourite spots for food and drink! I personally love discovering the local delicacies on my own trips abroad so I definitely recommend that you check out the food scene on you trip to the city.

The best afternoon tea

I have a soft spot for afternoon tea as I love being able to try lots of different flavours and textures. Not to mention that tea is also my hot beverage of choice so I adore looking through interesting tea menus. Although the late Queen Elizabeth II took her scones with jam first, clotted cream second – I dare say that my advice is the opposite as the jam first makes it too slippery to then apply the cream… Which way do you do it? Since Edinburgh is such a walkable city, it’s also a strategically good idea – as well as one of the best things to do in the city – to book in for an afternoon tea so you can sit down and enjoy flavours of Scotland the the UK and also rest your feet in the midst of wandering around and exploring the city!

♥ Read our full guide to the best afternoon teas in Edinburgh here.

The best spots for breakfast, brunch or coffee

Edinburgh is an excellent spot for coffee culture and there are many lovely spots for a cosy breakfast or elegant brunch to explore on your trip.

Haze at Browns of Leith – read my review of Haze here
Margot
Söderberg
Greenwoods

♥ Read my recommendations for the top breakfast and brunch spots in the city here.

The best restaurants

Although Edinburgh usually feels like quite a small city but there is a good and varied offering of restaurants and always seems to be something exciting to try.

Casual: Ka Pao, Bodega & Chez Jules

Smart Casual: Gleneagles Townhouse, Hawksmoor, Brasserie Prince & The Outsider

The best steak tartare in Edinburgh (in my humble opinion as a steak tartare enthusiast) can be found at Brasserie Prince at The Balmoral Hotel – read my full review here!

Fine Dining: The Kitchin, Cardinal & Moss

Must-try local dishes!

Haggis, neeps & tatties: THE Scottish dish
Cullen Skink & Scottish Seafood: Cullen Skink is one of my favourite soups!
Cranachan: Scotland’s favourite dessert (and of course there is whisky in it!)

The best bakeries in Edinburgh

One of my favorite pastimes during the warmer months is stopping by a bakery and picking up a treat to enjoy in one of Edinburgh’s lovely parks. For instance, I often head to Inverleith Park or Princes Street Gardens, both of which are perfect spots to sit down and savor a pastry.

Lannan Bakery – read our full review and recommendations of Edinburgh’s most popular bakery here.
Twelve Triangles
Söderberg
The Pastry Section

The best bars in the city (cocktails, beer & whisky)

Edinburgh is a great city for bars with lots of different character. There are both beer breweries with their own taprooms, distilleries where you can both do a tour or just a tasting at the bar and lots of charming pubs. Therefore, I will probably write a full guide to all the best spots very soon. In the meantime though, I have written a whole guide to the best cocktail bars in town – including my favourite speakeasy bars.

Personally you are most likely to find me at Smith & Gertrude for a wine flight, Johnnie Walker Princes Street 1802 rooftop bar for a quirky cocktail (every tried a tomato & tzatsiki or raspberry & dill pickle cocktail?) or the Jolly Judge for a wee (small) dram of whisky. Exploring the fascinating drink scene in Edinburgh is one of my favourite things to do here – from charming British pubs to hidden cocktail bars and I particularly love it when you see local brands from across Scotland highlighted and celebrated.

♥ So what is a ‘dram‘? you might think: it is a pour of whisky – the bar standard is 25ml or 35ml (most commonly 25ml) but in a private setting it is usually said that the more the host likes you, the bigger the dram.

Quick guide to bars by category

Wine bars: Smith & Gertrude, The Black Grape & Spry
Whisky bars: The Athletic Arms, The Black Cat & The Scotch Whisky Experience
Breweries & taprooms: Vault City Brewing (sour beers), Bellfield (gluten free) & Fierce Beer
Pubs: Jolly Judge, The Queens Arms & Nauticus
Cocktail bars: Hey Palu, Johnnie Walker Princes Street & The Last Word
Hotel bars: Gleneagles Townhouse, The Court at The Caledonian Hotel & Nor’ Loft
Distillery bars: Port of Leith, Holyrood Distillery & Edinburgh Gin

♥ We have written a helpful guide to the best whisky tastings and tours in Edinburgh which you can find here!

The best things to do and see in Edinburgh, Scotland

There is so many different things to do and see in the city and the nearby area of Scotland so you are bound to find something to your liking on your trip to Edinburgh.

Tours & Tastings

Here are some of the tours and tasting around Edinburgh that I would recommend to consider for your trip. I actually used to work at The Scotch Whisky Experience which is one of the top things to do in the city. If you want to read my review of this scotch whisky-focused experience, you can find it here.

Food Tour: Taste & Tour
Whisky Tour: The Scotch Whisky Experience or Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Distillery Tour: Edinburgh Gin Distillery, Holyrood Distillery or Port of Leith Distillery
History Tour & discovering underground Edinburgh: The Real Mary King’s Close

♥ Looking to do a whisky tasting? See our guide to whisky tours and distilleries around Edinburgh here!

Follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter

It’s not secret that the author of Harry Potter wrote big parts of the books and found lots of inspiration for the stories in Edinburgh during her trips to the city and walking in the footsteps of these locations is amongst the more popular things to do and see on a trip to the city. Locations like Greyfriars Kirkyard hold names that appear in the books. Diagon Alley was inspired by the windy and colourful Victoria Street. And there is even a hotel with a suite inspired by the author and the books. For official merchandise do check out the quirky shop Museum Context on Victoria Street. But do try to visit in the morning as there is often a queue outside of eager Harry Potter fans.

♥ Read our full guide to Harry Potter locations, shops and other sights here!

Make your own souvenir: a Harris tweed handbag

I have gotten the Islander Workshop experience as a gift for both my mum and my mother in law and it’s been great fun both times. You get to pick your design and choose from a big selection of beautiful Harris tweeds. It’s incredibly difficult to only pick one! Then you get instructed by your friendly host on how to assemble your bag before taking it home. Such a lovely souvenir from your Edinburgh trip – especially since you made it yourself!

♥ See our full review of the Islander Workshop Experience here!

Edinburgh Castle

It’s probably impossible NOT to see the castle during your trip to Edinburgh so I just have to include it in this travel guide. Interestingly, the best view of Edinburgh Castle is not at Edinburgh Castle. In my opinion you get the best photos and view of the castle at the Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens or at The Vennel Viewpoint.

To get in to the castle itself you need to buy tickets. It’s highly recommended to pre-book tickets as they can sell out. It’s primarily worth getting tickets if you are really interested in history. If you are not, it’s often enough just to admire the castle from the outside. If you are visiting I can recommend doing so around 13.00 as everyday at this time the “1 o’clock gun” is fired. It’s an old canon which can be heard across town, so don’t be scared if you hear it. But if you are at the castle at 13.00 you can see the whole spectacle happen.

Did you know that only 20 minutes from the city centre by bus is another castle with beautiful grounds that is also well worth a visit? Lauriston Castle has a stunning view over the water and is a great place to hideaway for some quiet if the city centre is too busy!

Get Edinburgh’s best view from Calton Hill

This would not be a decent Edinburgh travel guide if I didn’t recommend the best viewpoints of the city for your trip. Your don’t have to climb Arthurs Seat to get good views. Instead walk the 10 minutes up to Calton Hill from the east side of Princes Street to be awarded with the best views in the city. There is also a café – Café Calton – that has opened up there which is perfect for a breakfast, lunch or perhaps a cocktail in the evening.

Edinburgh is best explored by foot

I always tell visitors that the best way to explore the city is on foot. For example, some of my favourite walking spots include the winding streets of the Old Town, the charming Dean Village, the scenic Water of Leith, and the vibrant Stockbridge neighborhood. Additionally, the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens and Holyrood Park, with its iconic Arthur’s Seat, are perfect for a leisurely stroll.

Capture your memories and book a photoshoot with a local photographer

I’m being cheeky enough to promote my own photography services, but I honestly think it’s such a good idea to book a shoot to capture the memories from your trip to Edinburgh. I love doing this when I’m traveling to different locations and it’s also a great way to see your photographers favourite spots, hear their top recommendations and they might even tell you a little fact or two that you didn’t know about the city. Here below you can see photos I’ve taken of people who have booked one of my photoshoots in the city.

Insider tips

Go for a beach day? You might think I’m joking, but Portobello Beach is a gorgeous sandy beach which is easy to reach by bus. You can stroll around along the promenade and grab lunch or brunch at one of the cafés. Vault City Brewing also have a lovely taproom which I would recommend visiting if you like sour beer.
Many restaurants have really good lunch deals so instead of splurging on an expensive dinner during your trip, do check out the lunch menus that can be equally as good. My three favourite spots for lunch is The Outsider, Chez Jules and Hawksmoor.
Many people, including locals, think that the bar at The Scotch Whisky Experience are just for tourists, but they have some of the best prices for whisky in the city. The staff are also really knowledgable and happy to help with recommendations.
You might’ve already seen the beautiful Edinburgh Castle – to be honest it’s hard to miss when visiting the city. But did you know that there is another castle, only 20 minutes from the city centre by bus which is also absolutely gorgeous. Go visit Lauriston Castle and walk the grounds or perhaps grab a coffee and homemade cake from Mimi’s Bakery. There is no entrance fee for the grounds.

Practical information for your Edinburgh trip

Currency: Sterling Pound (£)
Language: English
Emergency: Call 999
Time Zone: Scotland uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which is UTC+0 in winter and switches to British Summer Time (BST) in summer which is UTC+1.

On the move to my favourite city Edinburgh

There are many things to love about this city – I’ve never felt so at home anywhere like I do in Scotland – and these are just some of my recommendations of the top things to and see in Edinburgh. Whether you’re a first-time visitor wanting to stand underneath the castle in person, a family seeking child-friendly restaurants, or a slow traveler admiring the gothic architecture, I hope my version of a Edinburgh travel guide can be of assistance when booking your trip!