10 Best Things To Do in Edinburgh

Even with the rain, which is constantly present, Edinburgh is a city that shines as it did in our imagination those landscapes of the stories that we were read as children. These are the 10 must-see sights and activities in Edinburgh.

It is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the city. You will see it from almost anywhere in the center (and I recommend you look for different perspectives to photograph it from below) and is open to the public for both guided tours and self-guided visits throughout the year.

Edinburgh Castle not only offers wonderful views of the city, but also houses important spaces such as the National War Museum or the Crown Jewels exhibition. You can walk up to the top or take any of the city buses. In this article about Edinburgh Castle Tickets and Tours you have all the information you need to make your visit a success and if you want more, I recommend you to read this post about the 10 best castles you can see in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a fairytale city not only for its landscapes, but also for the legends and stories behind each of its corners. Did you know that one of the mayors of the city inspired the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? That there was a couple of thieves who were dedicated to stealing corpses for medical purposes? All this and much more will be told to you in the different guided tours specialized in legends that go on foot through the different areas of Edinburgh.

If I have to recommend one of these guided tours, without a doubt my favorite is the one that goes through the old town, but you also have a gastronomic route or a tour of the New Town as options. Leaving Edinburgh without doing at least one of these would be something to regret. Here is a selection of the best tours and excursions from Edinburgh.

Fans of the saga devised by J. K. Rowling are in luck. The author lived in this city during one of her hardest times and in many of its cafes she wrote a good part of the books. In addition, many of the places in Edinburgh served as inspiration to choose the names of the characters in the book or to set buildings like Hogwarts school. If you go to Edinburgh with children, you will love this plan.

The Harry Potter route through Edinburgh is already a classic in the city and if you want to hear the stories behind it I recommend you do it on a guided tour. You can watch a Quidditch match, visit Voldemort's tomb, walk through Diagon Alley or have your picture taken at Hogwarts Castle. Here I tell you all about the Harry Potter tour in Edinburgh.

The Highlands or Highlands of Scotland are not only the home of the famous Loch Ness Monster, they are also the place where you can find the best landscapes of the country, composed of mountains, castles and lochs. During your trip to Edinburgh, you have the opportunity to visit them on an organized day trip, or if you have a little more time and want to get a little more lost in these wonderful places, you can enjoy a two-day trip or get from Edinburgh to Loch Ness on your own.

In this article about excursions to Loch Ness from Edinburgh you have all the information you need to decide to know more corners of this great country during your trip.

And if you are a fan of one of the most famous series about time travel, you will already know that in Edinburgh you can take a tour of the Outlanders locations.

When you visit a new city, it seems that all sunsets are special, but really few you will have seen like the one you will see from this hill located in the center of Edinburgh. The climb will not require much effort and from there you will see Edinburgh Castle on one side and on the other the fabulous rooftops of the city. An unrepeatable postcard.

Holyrood Palace was the official residence of the Queen of England in the twelfth century and inside you can find antique furniture and tapestries and rooms decorated in baroque style. However, what will really leave you speechless are the open-air ruins of the Augustinian abbey belonging to the palace; an ideal setting to let your imagination run wild and feel in a fairy tale. If you have a ticket for the Edinburgh sightseeing bus, you have a stop right outside the door.

Haggis is the typical Scottish dish to try in Edinburgh. It is a very spicy meal made of pork offal that can be served on a plate with a side dish or in a kind of kebab. As a drink, you can not forget the Scotch whisky, much claimed in the capital; if you are a real fan of this drink you will enjoy the specialized tours that review the development and history of whiskey in Edinburgh.

After strolling through the streets of Edinburgh it seems difficult to find areas even greener than those that already come out as you pass through the capital, but there are, and one of the most beautiful is Princes Street Gardens. You will find this English-style public park located at the foot of Edinburgh Castle; it houses the monument to Walter Scott and in winter is filled with Christmas stalls so it is a must if you visit Edinburgh at Christmas. A stroll through the grounds is a restorative balm for any stress.

In the middle of Edinburgh's main avenue, Royal Mile, is this 12th century cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of Scotland. One of the most beautiful times to see the interior is at sunset, when the sun goes down and passes through its stained glass windows.

On the banks of the River Water of Leith you will find this small village of bridges and stone houses. Today, it is actually a neighborhood as it is located just 15 minutes from Princes Street, but it is easy to forget about it after walking for a while through its streets and get lost in the charm of its greenery.

Once you know what you are going to see and do in Edinburgh, the next step is, if you haven't already done so, to choose the best time to travel. Scotland's climate forces me to recommend that you visit Edinburgh in summer, but, whenever you go, you will find alternatives to the traditional tourist plans:

• Plans if you are going to know Edinburgh in February
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in March
• Plans if you are visiting Edinburgh in April
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in May
• Plans if you are going to know Edinburgh in July
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in August
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in September
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in October

If you do not plan to leave the city, two or three days will be enough to know Edinburgh, but if you want to visit the surroundings (you can go from Edinburgh to St. Andrews or take a trip to Loch Ness) I recommend you to stay a little longer in the city. In any case, here is a list of itineraries to plan your visit and remember that if you are in Edinburgh just passing through you can save time by planning in advance the transfer from Edinburgh airport to the city center.

• What to do in Edinburgh in 1 day
• What to do in Edinburgh in 2 days
• What to do in Edinburgh in 3 days
• What to do in Edinburgh in 4 days
• What to do in Edinburgh in 5 days