Edinburgh is a beautiful gem of a city. Split into two halves – Old Town and New Town, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites – there’s plenty to see and do in both sides.
We couldn’t possibly put everything worth seeing into Edinburgh in one blog post, so we’ve rounded up our four top activities to help you plan your perfect Edinburgh city break.
Explore historic streets
Edinburgh is full of history and some truly gorgeous streetscapes. To browse lovely boutiques and find some of the city’s best restaurants, head to Victoria Street in Old Town or Thistle Street in New Town – but take our advice and definitely hit both! Steep and winding Victoria is home to loads of fun shops and was in fact the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter book series (not to be confused with The Shambles which inspired the film set!).
Visit Edinburgh Castle
The medieval castle has overlooked Edinburgh since the 12th century! Built on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle has been home to kings and queens – and though now a tourist attraction, it’s still home to the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain. Buying a ticket into the grounds is well worth it.
Wander Prince Street Gardens
Positioned in between Old Town and New Town, the gardens are a green valley surrounded by historic stone. The park is full of over 30,000 plants plus a collection of public monuments. The gardens are the perfect spot for a morning stroll before a day of exploring Edinburgh or a picnic lunch.
Spend a day in Holyrood Park
To the east of Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Park is an amazing royal park full of hills, lochs, and glens. You could easily spend a day climbing Arthur’s Seat. There’s two routes up the 215m hill – one for maybe more hardcore climbers and the other for people looking for a leisurely walk. Either way, you’ll be in store for sensational, 360-degree views of Edinburgh. Lace up some sturdy shoes and grab a picnic.
