The Ultimate 3 Days in Edinburgh Itinerary

Edinburgh Travel Video

On our last trip to Edinburgh, we filmed and then edited a travel vlog featuring everything we did and saw. Check it out and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay in touch.

3 Days in Edinburgh: Day 1

It's your first day in Edinburgh, that's so exciting! We'll spend the first of your 3 days in Edinburgh exploring the historic Old Town.

Let's go for some walks on iconic streets and visit some attractions with an incredible history. We'll end the day with an epic view of Edinburgh at sunset.

Victoria Street

One of the most famous streets in Edinburgh is Victoria Street. It's often compared to Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and may well be the inspiration for it.

This cobblestone street lined with brightly painted storefront facades will undoubtedly steal your heart. If it's possible, start your day on Victoria Street. It's brilliant first thing in the morning without any tourists.

Then, make sure to head back at some point so you can pop into the little shops and cafes. There's a staircase from Victoria Street to the streets above, and you can enjoy an amazing view from up there.

Once you're done walking down Victoria Street, continue walking into the Grassmarket area.

The Royal Mile

Without a doubt, the Royal Mile is a must see in Edinburgh. This is an important High Street that runs between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Despite this being the busiest city in Edinburgh and the most touristy (there are a seemingly infinite amount of souvenir shops!), there are some excellent attractions and notable places of interest.

First, don't miss the monumental St. Giles' Cathedral. Admire this historic church from its exterior and don't miss walking inside it as well. You can visit for free.

The unique attraction, the Real Mary King's Close, is also located on the Royal Mile. It's not to be missed, and I'll go into more detail about it later in this article. Also, be sure to explore Edinburgh's other "closes", the narrow passages that line the Royal Mile.

If you'd like to learn more about the history of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh itself, from the Roman times up to present, it's possible to take a walking tour of the Royal Mile with a knowledgeable guide.

Real Mary King's Close

If there's one tour you take in Edinburgh, it should be the one offered at The Real Mary King's Close. This is an authentic look at the history of Edinburgh, specifically through the former residences and shops that sit beneath the present-day Royal Mile.

Your tour guide takes on the persona of a real person from 400 years ago. Learn about what Edinburgh was like during the time of the Black Plague in 1645. See the actual Mary King's Close, an alleyway named after a prominent businesswoman.

One of the best attractions and tours in Edinburgh is The Real Mary King's Close. Travel back in time and go underground beneath the Royal Mile to learn about life in Scotland from over 400 years ago.

I won't spoil any of the details for you, you'll just need to take the tour for yourself. It runs for one hour in length and it's necessary to obtain an advance booking.

Cockburn Street

It might feel like most of the attractions in Edinburgh's Old Town are cobblestone streets, but there are so many that are not to be missed! Another winding road to include on your Edinburgh bucket list is Cockburn Street.

Pronounced "Coe-burn Street", it connects the Royal Mile to Waverly Station and Edinburgh's New Town. Named after the prominent Scottish figure, Henry Cockburn, there are even more idyllic Victorian buildings lining this iconic road.

Cockburn Street has an abundance of delightful little coffee shops and cafes, including The Milkman (two locations!) and The Wall Coffee & Design House. There's an Instagrammable cafe with flowers, neon lights and a pink facade called Laila.

Edinburgh Castle

Visiting Edinburgh Castle is a must, especially if you haven't had the opportunity to visit any other Scottish castles on your trip. (As an aside, I do enjoy Stirling Castle a bit more than Edinburgh Castle, but that's just my personal preference!).

Located high above the city on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle sits in the middle of the town and you can see it from many spots around Old Town and New Town.

Edinburgh Castle has been a royal castle since the 11th century and it's an important symbol of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It's also been a military fortress, a prison, a treasury, a national archive, and a royal residence.

You'll need to book your tickets to Edinburgh Castle in advance, and I suggest doing it online ahead of time. I suggest this Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour that includes your entrance ticket and a tour with an informative guide.

Once the tour ends, you can spend as much time as you'd like wandering around the castle grounds on your own.

New Town

The city center of Edinburgh is divided into Old Town and New Town. Both are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and even New Town is pretty old...at least according to this Canadian!

New Town was built and developed between 1767 and 1890 to the north of Old Town, with a high concentration of neo-classical buildings and distinct architecture.

There are many shops, cafes and restaurants in New Town. Walk through St. Andrew Square Garden and end your day at Calton Hill. Circus Lane is a part of New Town, but we'll visit on day two of our 3 days in Edinburgh itinerary.

Rose Street is a pedestrian-only cobblestone street with many pubs and cocktail bars. If you wish to continue your evening after Calton Hill (in the next section), head to Rose Street or other spots around New Town for some lively Scottish nightlife!

Calton Hill

Calton Hill is a brilliant place to visit any time of day, though it's a popular lookout during sunset. Provided that you visit on some days where it's not too cloudy, head to Calton Hill to watch the sun go down.

Even if it is too overcast for a sunset, go there anyway! Visiting Calton Hill is free and it's one of the best viewpoints in the city. There's a small staircase to navigate, and the views are just as lovely as from Edinburgh Castle or Arthur's Seat.

There are several monuments scattered throughout the park. The Dugald Stewart Monument is named for a Scottish philosopher. The National Monument looks a bit like the Parthenon in Athens. The Nelson Monument is another key structure on Calton Hill.

3 Days in Edinburgh: Day 2

It's day two of our three days in Edinburgh itinerary. Today, we'll explore a historic and natural side of Edinburgh, taking strolls through quaint village settings and gorgeous gardens.

Princes Street Gardens

Located between Old Town and New Town, Princes Street Gardens is a picturesque greenspace with fantastic views of Edinburgh Castle. There are winding paved paths to walk and places to enjoy a picnic lunch.

There are quite a few landmarks within Princes Street Gardens to visit, like the cast iron Ross Fountain, the quaint Gardener's Cottage, and many statues throughout the park. It's one of the best urban parks in Edinburgh.

Believe it or not, Princes Street Gardens was developed from an old artificial loch called Nor Loch, which was once used for medieval defenses. It became quite polluted by sewage from Old Town, so it was drained and transformed into a city park.

It's also the site of the popular Edinburgh Christmas Market. Partake in the festivities of the holiday market, complete with an ice rink, Ferris Wheel, and market vendors.

Scott Monument

Dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, the Scott Monument is one of the most unique monuments I've seen in the world. This Victorian Gothic architectural marvel sits on the north side of Princes Street Garden on Princes Street.

While it's possible to simply admire the Scott Monument from its exterior for free, we suggest taking a tour to the top of the monument itself. Admittedly, it took us a few visits to Edinburgh before we did this, and I wish we had done it on our first trip!

This is why I highly suggest doing so as part of this 3 days in Edinburgh itinerary. There's no pre-booking for this attraction. You'll need to show up at the kiosk before the tour. Tours take place daily from 10am to 3:30pm with a daily closure for lunch between 12:30 and 1:45pm.

Dean Village

Dean Village is one of the prettiest neighborhoods of Edinburgh. Only steps from Edinburgh's New Town, it feels like you've stepped back in time to a magical fairy tale world.

Take a stroll by the Water of Leith in Dean Village on the southern side, walking across a small bridge. Then, walk past the historic homes lining the waterway as you make your way up to Bell's Brae Bridge for a stunning view.

Continue walking out of Dean Village along a peaceful pathway towards The Dean Village and St. Bernard's Well. It's a lovely walk through a magnificent area of Edinburgh.

Circus Lane

Circus Lane is one of the most beautiful streets in the United Kingdom and one of my favourite as well. Justin and I had some of our wedding photos taken here, and it was such a magical setting.

It's a curved cobblestone street with rows of Victorian and Georgian-era homes. The people who live here take great pride in maintaining their homes and the tiny gardens outside of them.

There's greenery and flowers in bloom all around. This is a serene street to go for a walk and soak up the views, plus perfect for photographers, too!

Stockbridge

Once you visit Circus Lane, it's time to visit the rest of Stockbridge. This is a great neighbourhood to the northwest of New Town with interesting shops and cafes.

Originally, Stockbridge was a separate village from Edinburgh, but now it's part of the larger city. The Stockbridge Market takes place every Sunday.

Even if you aren't visiting on a Sunday, there are still a wide variety of independently-owned boutiques, restaurants, and intriguing charity shops.

Royal Botanic Garden

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the top free things to do in Edinburgh (though some special events may have a fee). It's one of the best botanical gardens in the United Kingdom with a history going back over 350 years.

With 70 acres of stunning landscapes, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is home to a diverse collection of plants in several themed areas, like the Chinese Hillside and the Rock Garden.

They're also quite well known around the world for their conservation efforts and scientific research. Be sure to check out their special exhibitions when you're in town as well. We saw a really interesting one all about mushrooms!

NQ64 Arcade Bar

As a video game lover, NQ64 was on my list for quite some time before we finally made it over one evening. This retro arcade bar has a location in Edinburgh and several other cities in the UK.

There are 27 arcade machines, 2 pinball machines and 5 retro consoles. There's a large cocktail menu with drinks featuring nerdy gaming references, like the Kong Island Iced Tea and Peace on the Beach.

Hungry? Pizza Geeks serves their delectable pizzas and they'll bring them right to your table. Grab some food and drink to refuel before you venture back out to beat that Ms. Pacman highscore.

3 Days in Edinburgh: Day 3

Ready for your final day in Edinburgh? It always goes by way too fast. Here's our plan for the third day of this 3 days in Edinburgh itinerary.

Arthur's Seat

On your third day in Edinburgh, it's time to climb the famous Arthur's Seat. This is one of the highest scenic lookout spots in Edinburgh and the effort to reach the top is well worth it.

Arthur's Seat is located within Holyrood Park, and there are a few ways to reach the top. The "Easy Route" slowly ascends around Salisbury Crags with only one slightly steep ascent towards the top.

A brief history: Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano formed by volcanic activity that took place over 350 million years ago. The summit is 823 feet (251 meters) above sea level. I suggest hiking Arthur's Seat first thing in the morning as it gets busier as the day goes on.

Greyfriar's Kirkyard

It might seem strange to have a cemetery on this 3 days in Edinburgh itinerary, but hear me out. Greyfriars Kirkyard is a historic graveyard with a number of famous Edinburgh residents buried here.

The most famous story surrounding Greyfriars Kirkyard belongs to a wee doggie, Greyfriars Bobby. He was a Skye Terrier who guarded his owner's grave for 14 years following his death. Greyfriars Bobby was much beloved by many.

Greyfriars Bobby was buried just outside the cemetery and there's a statue of him to see as well. Just don't rub Greyfriar Bobby's nose to protect the statue for years to come (so many tourists have rubbed his nose that it's turned bronze).

For the Harry Potter fans, you can find the grave of Tom Riddell (Tom 'Riddle'), McGonagall (Head of Gryffindor), Moodie (Alastor Moody) and Scrymgeour (Rufus Scrimgeour) here. Prefer a guided tour? Check out this Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Walking Tour.

The Vennel

The Vennel Viewpoint is a popular photography location in Edinburgh. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to visit, unless you're into capturing photos or sharing beautiful pictures on Instagram.

There's a great view of Edinburgh Castle with a staircase that leads down to the streets below. At the bottom, choose to continue back towards Grassmarket or head to our next location...Maison de Moggy!

Maison de Moggy

Love cats? Me too! Welcome to Scotland's first cat cafe, Maison de Moggy. Take a break from your sightseeing to cozy up with some sweet kitties while sipping a coffee or tea.

The cafe is the permanent home of the cats with plenty of space to play and snooze. The well-being of the cats comes first and foremost, of course. Only a set amount of visitors are allowed at a time, and you're not to disturb the cats if they're resting.

Be sure to reserve your time on their website ahead of time as it does sell out during busier times of the year. I love Maison de Moggy and still follow on their Instagram to see how the cats are doing!

Local Brewery or Whisky Tasting

Are you a beer drinker or a whisky connoisseur? Or both? Well, there's no shortage of fantastic craft beverage experiences and tastings in the city, so let's get to it.

For those wanting to sample some Scotch whisky, be sure to try the Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting. Tour a massive collection of Scotch whisky with 3500 bottles and sample some for yourself.

If beer is more your style, there are so many great brewpubs and craft breweries in Edinburgh. The Hanging Bat is a pub with dozens of local brews. Bellfield Brewery is a 100% gluten-free brewery, but you'd never know it. Fierce Beer is another craft brewpub that we really enjoyed.

Fayre Play

For something fun to do in the evening, even as a final farewell to Edinburgh, here's something a little bit different and even quirky for you to do. This is a great one if you're visiting Edinburgh as a couple or with friends or family members.

Fayre Play is an adults-only nostalgic night out with fairground games to play, an imaginative cocktail bar, and delicious comfort food. The games are really fun and we haven't experienced a place quite like this anywhere else in the world.

Each game has a high score that you'll need to match or beat. Winning a number of games will determine the prize you receive (various sizes of plushie ducks).

More Ideas for 3 Days in Edinburgh

Not keen on anything we suggested above and looking to swap some things out? We can also recommend any of the following places, attractions or activities.

Jupiter Artland

Jupiter Artland is a modern sculpture and art park just outside of Edinburgh's city center. Located on 120 acres of forests and meadows, it's an extraordinary place for art and nature lovers.

Go for a walk around the property to stumble upon unique and immersive sculptures. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions by artists from Scotland and around the world.

Plan to visit for around two hours.

I took the city bus from Edinburgh to Jupiter Artland. The bus drops you right in front of the place. Plus, as a bonus for taking public transportation, Jupiter Artland gives you a small discount upon entry!

Leith

Leith is a neighborhood to the northeast of the city centre, and it's been named one of the "World's Coolest Neighborhoods". I suggest spending at least a half day in Leith, if not the full day.

One of the most prominent attractions in Leith is the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was the home to the Queen and the Royal Family for over 40 years. This grand vessel is now permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith. 

Leith is also well-known for being a location in the popular book and film, Trainspotting. Go for a walk on the waterfront, dine on the patio of a harborfront restaurant, or even spend the night on a ship.

National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait Gallery

There are so many free museums to visit in Edinburgh. The Portrait Gallery by the National Galleries of Scotland is one of my favorites.

The neo-Gothic building itself is an architectural marvel. Even the main foyer at the entrance contains beautiful artwork and sculptures.

Continue into the gallery itself, situated among several floors, to admire portraits of influential Scots from across the centuries. These include iconic historic figures like Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott, along the likes of contemporary beloved figures like Billy Connolly.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, also known as Holyrood Palace, has been an important religious and regal center throughout the years. First, it was an Augustan monastery back from the 12th century.

Then, since the 16th century, it's been the primary residence for the Royals in Scotland. The King stays at this residence once a year during his official meetings.

When you're there, pay a visit to the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, the gardens, and the Queen's Gallery with art from the Royal Collection. It's also important to note that Holyrood Palace has been connected to Bonnie Prince Charlie and was once the home of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Want to add this one to your Edinburgh itinerary? Get your entry ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Edinburgh Chihuahua Cafe

Did you know that Edinburgh is home to the very first Chihuahua Cafe? While cat cafes are the most popular ones, this animal cafe is for all the dog lovers out there.

The Edinburgh Chihuahua Cafe is home to seven resident pups: Ama, Lady Bee, Cleopatra, Elsa, Faery, Gatsby and Hepburn. You'll get to meet all of these sweet doggies on your visit.

A ticket to the Chihuahua Cafe includes 50 minutes with the dogs. While it's up to the pups when they choose who to sit with and what to do, there's no doubt that you won't be able to enjoy some cuddles.

You can also order coffee or tea from their menu once you're in the cafe. I'd order this right away because the 50 minutes tends to fly by.

You will also need to book your entry to the Edinburgh Chihuahua Cafe in advance. Don't simply show up at the door because you will be disappointed. Spots fill up fast and they don't tend to let anyone in off the street.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

We have stayed at many properties over the years in Edinburgh. Here are a few that we recommend:

1. RÌGH Residences: A luxury apartment in the middle of Edinburgh's New Town
2. The Glasshouse Hotel: A beautiful hotel with whiskey-themed suites at the base of Calton Hill
3. Dragon Suites Luxury Apartments: A cozy flat with modern amenities at the edge of Princes Street Gardens
4. Stay Central Hotel: A smaller room that's more cost effective for a property in the heart of Edinburgh
5. Motel One Edinburgh Royal: A modern hotel in a historic building, right at the base of Cockburn Street in Old Town

Here are some more places to stay in Edinburgh, as displayed on a handy map: