With numerous narrow passageways, charming medieval relics, and a hidden city underground; this city is best explored on foot. The iconic Edinburgh Castle dominates the cities skyline and traditional bag pipes are never out of ear shot.

Edinburgh is such a beautiful & lively city that’s spilt in two. Offering a fantastic juxtaposition between the Georgian lined streets of the New Town, and the medieval Old Town which oozes historical wonders.

We endured the worst weather during our long weekend in Edinburgh, but even the rain, hail and snow storms couldn’t dampen our fun. We loved seeing a glimpse of what this unique city has to offer.

Here’s my list of 16 things that you can do whilst exploring Edinburgh.

1. Hike up Arthurs Seat

Arthurs seat is an extinct volcano which last erupted over 340 million years ago. It’s a relatively easy hike, taking around 45 minutes to reach the summit. Arthurs Seat provides one of the highest viewing points of Edinburgh, rising 882 foot above sea level and treating you to uninterrupted views of the city.

Many believe this historical site is a possible location of Camelot – the somewhat mythical castle of King Arthur.

Unfortunately the weather was torrential when we visited, preventing us from making it up here. It’s high on our list for when we visit Edinburgh again one day. The view back across the city looks breath-taking and it would make a glorious spot to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine.

2. Visit the impressive Edinburgh Castle

No visit to Edinburgh is complete without exploring the iconic Edinburgh Castle.

Impressively perched on top of an old volcanic hill, its sharp edges carved many moons ago by Ice-Age glaciers. This place looks incredibly unique.

Walk up Castle Hill, and soak in the impressive panoramic views of the city below. Grab yourself a ticket and enjoy spending hours wandering around in the footsteps of royalty, prisoners and the odd ferocious pirate. We got to see the late Queen Elizabeth’s magnificent crown when we visited. However, I’m unsure if this is still on display.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions within Edinburgh so expect it to be busy the majority of the time, especially if you’re visiting during peak season.

3. Join in at Edinburgh Fringe festival

Depending on the time of year you visit, you might be able to join in with the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This takes place every summer, lasting 3 weeks throughout August and attracting people from all over the world.

The entire city turns into an arts festival with hundreds of stages scattered across the streets. Musical artists perform, comedians carry out their comedy sketches and circus acts amaze you. Fringe festival is a great atmosphere, thats enjoyed year after year by thousands.

Expect bustling streets, bars and restaurants whilst Edinburgh Fringe is happening.

TIP: Book your accommodation months in advance if you’re looking to attend. It sells out fast and the nightly rate will also be higher during this time.

4. Walk the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, connecting the two Royal sites; Edinburgh Castle & Holyrood Palace together.

This straight route has you admiring impressive architecture as you wander along the old cobbled road. The walk is one scots mile long. A measurement that is now obsolete, and equates to roughly 1.8km – thats just over one mile.

Purchase a Royal Mile guided tour ticket if you want to learn more about the history, or walk and explore it at your own pace by yourself for free.

If you begin at Edinburgh Castle it will be a downhill walk, finishing right next to the gates of Holyrood House.

5. Experience the immersive Edinburgh Dungeons

We loved the Edinburgh dungeons and highly recommend visiting whilst in Edinburgh.

Go beneath the streets for this interactive tour, full of live actors in fabulous makeup and head to toe in authentic costumes. Get sentenced to prison by the judge and hear dark stories of past prisoners, torturers and Witch hunts.

The sets, props and special effects at this attraction are incredibly impressive, with shaking floors, spinning walls and a boat ride to name a few. It’s such an immersive experience and you’ll be on tender hooks the entire time.

At the end of the tour there is an optional drop ride you can chose to go on. It’s pitch black in there and makes for an entertaining souvenir photo if you chose to purchase it at the end.

Edinburgh dungeons are the right mix of laughter and feeling scared witless. I 100% recommend you visit.

6. Go on a Scottish whisky tour

The Scots sure love their whisky; an alcoholic beverage that’s been lovingly distilled in Scotland for centuries.

If you’re into your whisky, or perhaps just want to enjoy a whisky experience whilst visiting Scotland. Edinburgh have plenty of taste-testing tours on offer for you to sip your way through.

Learn about what makes each whisky unique as you savour all the different flavours, and gain an understanding into the processes of how they’re made.

Tip: These tours are only available for people age 18+, and make sure you don’t need to drive afterwards!

7. Save money with a Edinburgh city pass

Much the same as we did in New York. Edinburgh offer a city pass allowing you to visit some of the city’s top attractions/tours within your ticket price.

If you’re planning on doing lots of tours whilst in Edinburgh, having a city pass can save you up to 40%, allowing you to spend your money elsewhere.

You can chose between a 1, 2 or 3 day pass. They run in consecutive days, and, if you’re flying into Edinburgh (EDI) airport this pass includes open airport transfers.

8. Walk through the closes

Old Town Edinburgh is full of narrow alleyways and thoroughfares called ‘closes’ and ‘wynds’. These narrow paths dart off north and south from the main Royal Mile, some just wide enough to fit a horse and cart .You could spend hours wandering around these unique historic alleyways.

Most are free to roam, but if you’re looking for a paid attraction then head to Mary King’s close. A close thats hidden underground and was once used to quarantine the infected during the plague epidemic in the 17th century. It’s steeped in history, haunted by the ghosts of the people that died in here.

9. Learn at the National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland has free entry and there is heaps to look at, you could easily spend hours in here looking and learning about everything on display. It’s great for families, especially as a rainy day activity to keep you in the warm and dry.

Housed inside a beautiful Victorian building. Its birdcage style main hall has three stories of detailed cast iron balustrades, all flooded with natural light through the soaring glass roof. Not only can you enjoy the building itself, but the things to see inside are endless. From a full skeleton cast of a T-rex to interesting Ancient Egyptian artefacts. There will be something that everyone finds interesting.

10. See all the animals at Edinburgh Zoo

If you love seeing rare and beautiful animals, Edinburgh Zoo is home to thousands of incredible mammals, reptiles, amphibians and more. What’s really special though is they have giant pandas here, the only ones in the UK. However, the Panda pair are due to head back to China later this year.

Getting public transport here is pretty straight forward, as Edinburgh zoo is situated just 3 miles from the city centre. The zoo is set on a 82 acre pitch with plenty to keep you busy for the entire day.

11. Have a drink in the Frankenstein Bier Keller

This place is bizarre!

Enjoy a pizza or a drink in this unusual, multi-level themed Frankenstein bar. A pub hat’s housed inside a 150 year old gothic church, and full of good atmosphere.

Located in the Old Town part of Edinburgh, this pub comes alive in the evening. So, if you’re looking for a fun place to party until 3am, this could be the one!

Children are welcome until 8pm if you want them to experience the weirdness of this monster themed pub too.

12. Explore Edinburgh’s underground Vaults

Beneath the streets of Edinburgh you’ll discover a hidden city of chambers dating hundreds of years old. These once open skied closes became enclosed with stone when the city expanded. Buildings were built directly on top, sending the closes into darkness and burring this part of the city under ground forever.

Over time these dingy chambers or vaults became popular with the poor who became squatters here. Sometimes multiple families all squeezed into one filthy, sewerage ridden room together. It became a dark place, full of squatters & brothels, unfortunately many murders took place down here too.

The vaults are supposedly extremely haunted. If you’re feeling brave book yourself onto a Vault ghost tour at night, and delve deep into the underbelly of the city.

13. Go to the chocolate café

If you have a sweet tooth; the sort where nothing is ever too sickly, nor is it a word in your dictionary. Then you have to visit Coro Chocolate Café on 13 Frederick Street.

This restaurant only serves sweet treats; think chocolate loaded cakes, stacked waffles, decadent cheesecakes and chocolate fondues. Pretty much everything on the menu is drenched in warm melted chocolate.

Absolute heaven for hardcore chocolate lovers!

14. Walk around Dean Village

Dean village is located just on the outskirts of the city, but still within walking distance.

It’s a charming and picturesque village with the Water of Leith rushing through the centre of it. This river used to power and turn the millstones of this former grain milling village, and once played a key role in the milling industry.

Cross the bridge over the Water of Leith and enjoy admiring the beauty of this residential village. Theres also a 12 mile walk you can do along the Water of Leith Walkway if that takes your fancy.

15. Visit the colourful Victoria street

An iconic street in Edinburgh that you’ve probably seen photographed hundreds of times, and for good reason.

Situated right next to Grassmarket, this curved and sloped cobbled street is full of bright colourful shop fronts, making it a pretty place to wander. Pop into an array of cute independent shops and enjoy exploring the most colourful street in Edinburgh.

Some Harry Potter fans believe this is where JK Rowling got her inspiration with Diagon Alley in her famous Harry Potter books. Because of that, you’ll stumble upon plenty of Potter fans here, with the majority buying a wand in one of the Wizardry shops.

Although Edinburgh is the birth place of Harry Potter, it’s never been confirmed that Victoria Street was her inspiration. The Shambles in York is claimed to be another, and having been to both, I think the latter is a strong contender!

16. Relax in the West Princess Street Gardens

Head off for a heavenly stroll amongst the flowers, whilst you spot impressive monuments and statues in West Princess Street Gardens.

Look up and you’ll see a breath-taking view of Edinburgh Castle sat high up on the hill. There’s also a fabulously intricate cast iron water fountain in here, named Ross Fountain that’s well worth a visit.

Ross fountain was bought by a gunmaker named Daniel Ross in 1862 which was later gifted to the city and installed in its current position in 1872.

West Princess Street gardens are right in the heart of New Town Edinburgh, so you’ll be just around the corner from all the shops too.

So there we go, 16 great things for you to do in this wonderful City. I hope this list gives you some inspiration of things to do and places to explore whilst in Edinburgh.

Have you been to any of these?

Whats your favourite thing to do in Edinburgh?

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