Sights & Tours

Old Town Edinburgh is extremely walkable with endless to explore! We recommend wandering through the Royal Mile to see all the incredible gothic architecture and historic buildings such as St. Giles’ Cathedral, Scott Monument, & Edinburgh Castle. 

To enjoy a guided tour through Edinburgh Castle, it is recommended to purchase tickets far in advance. If you’re not easily spooked, explore Edinburgh’s underground alleyways and vaults on a Ghost tour or one of Mary King’s Close history and true crime tours. Don’t believe in ghosts, but rather.. magic? Take a tour on the Potter Trail to discover the magical locations that inspired characters and scenes in the Harry Potter series. You can stroll down the real life Diagon Alley and see where JK Rowling herself wrote the books!

Enjoy the plethora of museums in Edinburgh. We highly recommend the National Museum of Scotland; entry is free and through September, you can also buy tickets for Game On - the largest interactive exhibition of the history and the culture of video games. Other fantastic museums include The Writer’s Museum, National War Museum, National Portrait Gallery, & Surgeons’ Hall.. just to name a few! 

One of our favorite spots to walk to is up Calton Hill (338 ft) to get a spectacular view of the city. If you want an even grander view, make a hike up to Arthur’s Seat (823 ft), an ancient extinct volcano with panoramic views of the city and beyond. The base of the hike is behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Edinburgh.

Another one of our favorites is Dean Village, a charming little village with many picturesque spots by the Water of Leith. Just a short walk away, we suggest visiting Dean Cemetery, as it is truly iconic. Closeby, you can also browse exhibits at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Lastly for shopping, we recommend checking out the boutiques along Princes St and George St or head over to St James Quarter for retail & luxury brand stores.