Edinburgh, Scotland is one of my favorite European capital cities (it’s the capital of Scotland, in case you didn’t know!). It has everything that I love in a city, including gorgeous architecture, access to nature, good transport links, and of course lots of interesting history.

Edinburgh as a city dates back to at least the 1100s, though the area was inhabited by different groups for centuries before that, and there was some sort of fortification atop Castle Rock since before the Romans arrived in the 1st century. Both the Old Town AND New Town of Edinburgh are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which is pretty impressive.

While it’s not a massive city (population just over 550,000 in the metro area), Edinburgh still offers up a ton of unique things to do. I’ve visited this city many times over the years, and still always find something new!

This list is based off my various visits to Edinburgh, and includes the things I personally think are worth doing/seeing.

What not to miss in Edinburgh

The list below will cover ALL the best things to do in Edinburgh. But if you only have a short amount of time and want to tick off the absolute must-dos in Edinburgh, then you need to:

1. Walk to Royal Mile in the Old Town
2. Visit either Edinburgh Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse (Holyrood is my pick!)
3. Stroll through Princes Street Gardens
4. Try Scotch whisky (either at the Scotch Whisky Experience, or just at a pub)
5. Watch a sunset from atop Calton Hill

And read on for the full list, which also includes museums, Harry Potter sites, afternoon tea, Edinburgh’s darker history, and more!

5 things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland

I’m dividing this list into Old Town, New Town, and a little further out to make it a bit easier. And you can find most of these things plotted on a map towards the end of this post!

Things to Do in Edinburgh Old Town

Edinburgh’s Old Town is, not surprisingly, the oldest part of the city. It includes the Royal Mile and famous palaces, as well as they city’s oldest architecture. Most visitors picture the Old Town when they think of Edinburgh, and usually spend most of their time here.

1. Stroll the Royal Mile

Edinburgh’s most famous attraction by far is the Royal Mile. Though “attraction” isn’t really the right word, since the Royal Mile is so much more than just a singular thing to see.

The Royal Mile stretches from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and actually measures 1.81 kilometers, or 1.12 miles long. Here you’ll find everything from pubs to tartan shops, and the pedestrian-only section is usually filled with street performers and buskers (including, always, at least one bagpiper).

As you make your way up (or down) the Royal Mile, there are plenty of historic sites and attractions you can check out, but I recommend walking the full length at least once during your stay!

2. Visit Edinburgh Castle

You can’t really visit Edinburgh without visiting a castle (after all, there are two of them here!).

Edinburgh Castle, sitting proudly at the top of the Royal Mile, is the castle that you’ll see the most often since it’s visible from many parts of the city. It sits atop Castle Rock, and has been there since the year 1103 AD.

Edinburgh Castle has not been occupied for centuries, so what you’ll find inside consists mostly of the crown jewels of Scotland and some military exhibits, including the National War Museum.

I personally think the entrance fee (currently £19.50 for adults) is a bit steep for what you actually see, but go for it if it’s something you want to do. Just note that you’ll need to book a timed ticket in advance in order to visit, and these tickets DO sell out, especially during the summer months.

(If you do visit and want to get more out of your time there, pick up a skip-the-line ticket that includes a guided tour.)

3. Visit St. Giles Cathedral

You can’t miss this 14th-century cathedral with its crown-shaped steeple on the Royal Mile. St. Giles Cathedral (AKA the High Kirk of Edinburgh) was founded in 1124 by King David I, and the oldest parts of the current building date back to the 14th century.

Not only is St. Giles beautiful on the outside, but the church is just as pretty on the inside, too. Pop in to see the stained glass windows, pretty blue ceiling, and intricate Thistle Chapel.

(Note that St. Giles is usually open every day, though sometimes is closed to visitors for private events like weddings. It’s free to visit, though they do ask that you pay a small fee to take photos inside.)

4. Have the Scotch Whisky Experience

Near Edinburgh Castle, you’ll come upon the Scotch Whisky Experience, which is one part museum and one part interactive tour. Even if you don’t love whisky, this is something worth doing in Edinburgh.

You can take a variety of tours that promise to help you “become a ‘one-hour-whisky-expert,’” and also see a collection of more than 3,300 bottles of Scotch whisky. The tour comes complete with a scratch-and-sniff card to walk you through different types of whisky, as well as one tasting.

(Book the 50-minute tour here, which is great for first-timers.)

5. Palace of Holyroodhouse

If you want my honest opinion, I think that visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse is more worth it than visiting Edinburgh Castle. This palace at the bottom of the Royal Mile has a similar entrance fee (£18 in advance, or £19.50 on the day) to tour, but offers the added bonus of still being an official royal residence.

Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. The late Queen would come to stay (and throw a huge garden party) every summer, and the current King will stay here, too.

On a tour of Holyrood, you get to see the State Apartments (which are still used), as well as the former chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots. Outside the palace, you’ll find some beautiful grounds, as well as the ruins of the Holyrood Abbey.

Booking a timed ticket in advance is recommended here! (Book your ticket here.)