Edinburgh · Scotland
4 Days
An action-packed 4-day adventure in the dramatic capital city of Scotland.
I always recommend an easy arrival day featuring a leisurely walk to take in some sights and get acquainted with your surroundings. This itinerary starts after you drop your bags at your accommodation.
Allow an hour
Grab a coffee at The Milkman and start your walk through Edinburgh's main urban park.
photo stop
photo stop
allow 30 minutes +
Walk through the busy and scenic Grassmarket, take in the atmosphere. Grab an ice cream or snack along the way.
Allow 30 minutes +
Walk down the picturesque and colorful Victoria Street. Check out the Harry Potter Store, The Knights Vault (authentic swords and armor) and other cute shops. This is one of the best photo spots in Edinburgh.
After check-in at your hotel, grab a casual and traditional Scottish favorite for dinner before calling it an early night.
This is a jam-packed day. If you're inclined to leave something out, I'd say it's not absolutely necessary to go inside Holyrood Palace.
allow 30 minutes
Allow 2 hours
BOOK AHEADBook a timed entry ticket ahead of time. Earlier the better.
allow 1 hour +
Walk the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood Palace. Enjoy the shops and street performers along the way. Stop for lunch, a drink or fudge! We bought pulled pork sandwiches from Oink and sat in a small park.
Quick stop
Allow 1.5 hours
Grab an audio tour at the entrance. We did not need to buy tickets ahead for this.
We had dinner at Dulse which was Michelin-recommended, delicious and I loved. If you prefer something more casual, do your research and find a restaurant you might like. I recommend heading over to the New Town tonight to get a glimpse of the other side of the city.
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours
Book AheadBook the tour ahead of time. It's creepier if you go at night. There is a great little gift shop at the end as well, so leave time for browsing.
Take the train from Waverly Station directly to Stirling. When you get off the train, there is about a 20-minute walk to Stirling Castle.
About 40 minutes
book aheadBoard the train at Waverly. Buy tickets ahead of time and structure your timed entry to Stirling Castle accordingly.
Allow 30 minutes
Very old and scenic church with cemetery on the walk from the train station to Stirling Castle.
Allow about 2 hours
book aheadBuy a timed entry ticket. Enjoy the castle and grounds. Walk the walls. Very scenic. Perfect for photography lovers.
We enjoyed Brea for lunch.
About 40 minutes
Photo stop
Allow about 3 hours
book aheadBook a nighttime guided tour of Greyfriars Kirkyard & the Edinburgh Vaults. This can get a little scary. Probably not recommended for young kids. With kids, maybe walk the kirkyard yourselves and check out the Greyfriars Bobby statue.
Put on your good walking shoes today. We have one long walk through the city to end our trip.
allow about 1 hour
Enjoy the picturesque Dean Village. You'll take lots of pics here; feels like you're in a storybook.
Follow the wooded pathway from Dean Village to Stockbridge.
Allow 30 minutes
Explore the vibrant streets of the trendy Stockbridge neighborhood. On a Sunday, explore Stockbridge Market.
Stockbridge is the perfect place to stop for brunch. Research some local restaurants ahead of time and make a reservation.
Photo stop
Allow about 1 hour
End your walk with a climb up Calton Hill for views over the city and out to the water. Explore the many monuments and the gift shop at the top.
Spend your last night back out on the Royal Mile. We ate a casual dinner at the City Cafe and recommend it if you're up for diner food and atmosphere.
Old Town Chambers, Autograph Collection, Royal Mile
The Milkman for coffee
Berties Fish & Chips for dinner
Oink for pulled pork sandwiches
Dulse for a Michelin rosette tasting menu
Brea for lunch in Stirling
Cafe Andaluz for Spanish tapas (yep- in Scotland!)
City Cafe for dinner
Aside from the day trip, which we took by train, this entire itinerary is walkable. Edinburgh is walkable but it also has Uber, buses, a tram and trains (Waverly Station).
