Edinburgh in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Edinburgh is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Despite being quite small, it has so many unique corners, museums and iconic architecture that you may feel that you will run out of time in just one day.

If you have dreamed of touring all the attractions of Edinburgh and getting into the Scottish culture ...let nothing stop you! Here's an itinerary to capture the essence of Scotland's capital in just 24 hours. Will you join me?

Edinburgh Castle is, without a doubt, the emblem and great protagonist of the history of Scotland. This incredible fortress stands imposingly in the skyline of the city, on the main hill, and is a must on your visit to Edinburgh for which you can book your guided tour in advance .

In addition to having a dream view from the top, it is very interesting to learn about the history of this structure and its peculiarities. For example, the castle includes a cemetery for pets, something totally curious given that its construction dates back to the 12th century. I recommend you to read this special post on how to visit Edinburgh Castle for more information.

Interesting facts

• Hours: open every day of the year from 9.30 am to 6 pm from April to September (including) and from 9.30 am to 5 pm the rest of the year.
• Tickets: The entrance to the castle costs about €23 at the ticket office and about €21 online.
• Duration of the tour: keep in mind that touring the castle can take 2 hours, so do not hesitate to get up early to take it easy.

The Royal Mile is the main street of the Old Town of the city. It is almost 2 kilometers long and connects two main points of the city: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Holyrood Palace is another of the key points of the city and is worth a visit, so we recommend that you book your tickets to see it.

In this street you will see all kinds of stores of everything you can imagine, and you can buy everything from souvenirs to drink the famous scotch whisky.

But the main charm of this avenue are the famous "closes" that open between historic buildings: so called the alleys that start from here and you will recognize easily thanks to the plates that you will see distributed throughout the street.

Each one tells a different story that will make you understand the logic of the city and they also have many myths and mysteries created around them. You can read more about it in this post about Ghosts and Mysteries tours.

My advice is to let your curiosity get the better of you and go exploring, as you will come across beautiful views and hidden squares.

If you are short on time and have to choose, I recommend you to locate the "Lady Stair's Close", close to the castle. Besides being very picturesque, there you will also find the Writers' Museum, whose entrance is totally free. And, if you prefer, you can take a trip on the ghost bus to experience firsthand the legends and scary stories.

Victoria Street is characterized by its colorful facades and independent stores, and when you stand in front of it you will feel like you are inside a painting. Its stone buildings, typical of the Edinburgh landscape, are the perfect context for your postcard in the city.

But the particularity of this street is that it has two levels. Yes, you read that right. On the upper level, you can find very good restaurants; and on the lower level you will find the little houses we talked about before and stores and taverns for all tastes.

A colorful fact: it is said that J. K Rowling was inspired by this little street to create Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. Test your imagination and see for yourself.

You may be wondering why I decided to include a visit to a cemetery when you have so much to visit. This cemetery far from being a gloomy and gloomy place, has great beauty and lots of nature around it.

But its fame and popularity is due to a small and loyal friend named "Bobby". Legend has it that this dog (yes, he is a canine friend), accompanied his owner to his grave for 14 years. Finally, Bobby ended up being buried next to the cemetery walls so that he could continue to be next to his owner as he would have wanted.

The law forbids burying a dog in a sacred place, but he also didn't deserve to be separated after showing so much loyalty. For this reason, you'll find a memorial to Bobby in tribute to this touching story.

At teatime, a good place to take advantage of is this site where J.K. Rowling wrote the first chapters of the Harry Potter saga. Edinburgh is full of representative and crucial sites for what was the creation of this fantasy character and his adventures, and I think it has earned a place among the tourist must-sees of the city.

Yes, it is a very touristy place, but I think the gastronomic offer is reasonably priced, even if you want to go to try their dishes.

If visiting The Elephant House has made you want to know more about the Harry Potter circuit, I leave you this post about the Harry Potter tour and let your imagination fly.

This incredible architectural work of the twelfth century, is the most important church to visit in Edinburgh. Its beauty will captivate you both inside and out. Its dome in the shape of a royal crown attracts the eyes of all those who pass through the area, but those who do not dare to enter, will be missing the multi-colored ceilings and the magnificent stained glass windows that only St. Giles can offer.

Take a look at the heights and delight yourself with the great organ and the Thistle Chapel, where you will find the famous image of the angel playing the bagpipes.

Last but not least, if you look right in front of the cathedral, you can find a granite heart. The famous "Heart of Midlothian", which indicates the point where the old prison of the city was located.

Interesting facts

• Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 7 pm, Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm, from May to September. In the rest of the months from: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm.
• Admission: free

Finishing this dreamy tour of the Royal Mile, you will find the Palace of Holyrood, for which reservations are allowed. This work of infrastructure of the twelfth century, is the official residence of the Queen of England when she visits Scotland.

This baroque style building also has a subway network that you can visit, but the star itself is the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, the site where kings were crowned in ancient times and one of the most beautiful things to see on your visit to Edinburgh.

Interesting facts

• Visiting hours: every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm from April to October; the rest of the months closes at 4 pm.
• Tickets: I recommend booking in advance and you can even get discounts by booking online.

By this time of the day you must be tired and there is nothing that can compare to going to the best spot in the city to watch the sun go down with the fantastic view of the city of Edinburgh. The classic postcard of the city you have in mind is taken from Calton Hill, a small hill at the end of Princes Street.

Don't worry about the climb, as there are stairs and it's perfectly set up for everyone to do it. And the reward is exactly up to your expectations. If you pay attention, you'll be able to identify the Dugald Stewart monument in the foreground and, behind it, Old Town and Edinburgh Castle.

If you still have some energy left, I suggest you walk around the hill to see all the angles of this beautiful city and the National Monument, a replica of the Parthenon.

If you want to see even more of the city, but don't want to waste time, then I recommend you to get a ticket for the city's tourist bus.

You will be able to use it unlimited for the duration of your day visit to Edinburgh and it connects perfectly all the most popular points of interest. In addition, you will be able to adapt your itinerary as you prefer and manage your own time, the bus schedules are completely convenient and designed to make the most of your visit to the Scottish city.

On the other hand, you can also get a package that includes the main attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace in your ticket, which will save you money.

If you need more information, I recommend you this post this post about the best Edinburgh sightseeing bus

This famous square is the perfect place to stop on a busy day of sightseeing. Grassmarket is home to bars and taverns perfect for that beer you've been waiting for.

But this is no ordinary square. If you look around, you can find a somewhat elevated circular platform. Right there was the place where public executions were carried out, in the middle of the market that took place in this same place.

Fortunately, these practices and customs no longer exist. But what is still standing is the bar "The last drop", whose name comes from the fact that here, the condemned took their "last drink" before their death. Did you imagine it?

Ana's Traveller Tip

When you finish your visit, don't forget to go to the viewpoint "The Vennel". It won't take you long. You only have to climb a few simple stairs, but the views of the castle will take your breath away.

This alley deserves a special mention, as it is the gateway to a whole wonderful world, a journey back in time that you can't miss. In the 17th century, the plague ravaged the city. During outbreaks, infected people would lock themselves in their homes and indicate their status by displaying a small white flag out the window.

Mary King's Close consists of a network of subway alleyways that themselves tell the story of how people lived and died in that terrible time for Scotland. You can see everything from old shopping streets to visiting the rooms of the victims. Simply something you can only do in Edinburgh and not to be missed.

Interesting facts

• Visiting hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10hs to 17hs; Friday and Saturday from 10hs to 21hs.
• Tickets: I recommend booking well in advance, as it is one of the star activities in the city.