Edinburgh travel guide
Tours, attractions, events and places to stay, picked by people who know the city.
A medieval Old Town and a Georgian New Town face each other across Princes Street Gardens, with a castle on a volcanic rock between them. It is compact and hilly, so walk it, and save the views from Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat for a clear evening.
- Currency
- Pound sterling (£)
- Main airport
- Edinburgh (EDI)
- Time zone
- GMT, BST in summer
- Paying for transport
- Contactless on buses and trams
Most-booked tours
Ratings and prices from verified bookings.
ViatorEdinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe and The Highlands
12.5 hoursFrom £48
ViatorThe Potter Trail Private Tour
1.5 hoursFrom £80
ViatorUnderground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh Old Town
1 hourFrom £24
ViatorEdinburgh Castle Guided Walking Tour - Entry Tickets Included
1.5 hoursFrom £39
ViatorThe Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience in Edinburgh
1.5 hoursFrom £28
ViatorOriginal Harry Potter Locations: Guided Walking Tour in Edinburgh
2 hoursFrom £15.50
ViatorCity Sightseeing Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Kids Go Free
1.2 hoursFrom £20
ViatorEdinburgh City 4-Hour Private Guided Tour
4 hoursFrom £424
Day trips from EdinburghLoch Ness and the Highlands, Stirling Castle, St Andrews and moreTop attractions
The sights most visitors build a trip around.
Edinburgh Castle
Scotland's crown jewels, the One o'Clock Gun and views across the city
Tickets from £41Royal MileFree
Castle to palace, cathedral, closes and free museums
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Mary, Queen of Scots, royal state rooms and a ruined abbey
Tickets from £22Arthur’s SeatFree
Free volcano hike with the best views over the city
National Museum of ScotlandFree
Free galleries, a T. rex and a rooftop view of the castle
The Royal Yacht Britannia
Queen Elizabeth II's floating palace, berthed in Leith
More attraction tickets
- Edinburgh: Royal Attractions Tickets + Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour4.7 (943)From £81
- The Ghost Bus Tour Edinburgh4.5 (163)From £19
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Edinburgh4.8 (101)From £26
Tickets via Tiqets. Prices checked at each build.
What's on
Tickets via Ticketmaster and Tiqets. Updated nightly.
Where to stay
Pick a neighbourhood first. Each one suits a different kind of trip.
Old Town
The castle, Royal Mile and closes on your doorstep · 15 places we rate
New Town
Georgian streets, shopping and an easy walk to Waverley · 15 places we rate
Leith
Waterfront restaurants and a direct tram to the airport · 10 places we rate
Stockbridge
Village feel, independent cafés and the Water of Leith · 8 places we rate
West End and Haymarket
Trains, the airport tram and quieter hotels near the centre · 15 places we rate
Local guides
Plans and tips for getting the most out of Edinburgh.
First time in Edinburgh: a three-day plan
Three days, the big sights in a sensible order, and time left over for a pint in the Grassmarket.
Read the guide · 5 minFree things to do in Edinburgh
Free national museums and galleries, an extinct volcano and the best skyline view in Scotland, all without a ticket.
Read the guide · 5 minChristmas in Edinburgh 2026: markets, Big Wheel and Hogmanay dates
Edinburgh’s Christmas runs 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with Hogmanay from 29 December. Here are the dates, hours and the one big change this year.
Read the guide · 5 minHarry Potter in Edinburgh: the real sites and the myths
Where J.K. Rowling actually wrote, the reopened Elephant House, Greyfriars Kirkyard and the hotel suite where the series ended.
Read the guide · 5 minDay trips from Edinburgh
Easy days out by train or coach.
Getting around
Buses and contactless
Lothian Buses cover the whole city. Tap a contactless card or phone on the reader as you board, using the same card all day, and fares cap automatically: a single is £2.40 and you never pay more than £5.70 a day in the city zone. Paying cash means exact change only and no cap.
Trams
One line runs from the airport through Haymarket, Princes Street and St Andrew Square to Leith and Newhaven, every 7 minutes for most of the day. Tap on at the platform validator before you board, and tap off again, or buy a ticket from the machine at the stop. City tickets and the day cap cover trams too, except to and from the airport.
Walking
The centre is small enough to cross on foot in half an hour, but it is steep. The Royal Mile climbs to the castle, closes and stairways link the Old Town to Princes Street, and cobbles get slippery in the rain. Wear proper shoes.
Airport transfers
Airlink 100 bus: to Waverley Bridge in about 30 minutes, at least every 10 minutes during the day and through the night. £6 single or £8.50 open return; city day tickets and the day cap do not cover it.
Tram: from the stop outside the terminal to Princes Street in about 30 minutes and on to Leith and Newhaven, 06:30 to around 23:00. An airport single is £7.90.
Compare Edinburgh airport transfers and book ahead →
Trains
Edinburgh Waverley, below Princes Street, is the main station for London, Glasgow and the Highlands. Haymarket, a stop to the west, has most of the same trains and a tram stop outside.