Plan the most fulfilling weekend in Edinburgh with your friends, and use this 3 day Edinburgh itinerary to make sure you visit the best places, have the most aesthetic photo opportunities and soak up all of the Scottish history. Even a short weekend trip is enough time to hit all of the top attractions and feel the magic of the old city that inspired the creation of the Harry Potter books, so follow this detailed guide to Edinburgh and make the most of it!
Day 1
On your first day in Edinburgh, you want to make sure you are making the most of your day and arrive as early as possible. Most chain hotels will allow you to drop baggage at reception if you arrive before check-in time, so that you can make the most of your weekend and get out there straight away!
After a long morning of travel, you can walk along The Royal Mile and find lots of places to eat and drink to feel refreshed. The city of Edinburgh has lots of cosy, Scottish pubs advertising whisky tasting and other cultural experiences that are ideal for tourists, so keep your eye out for those. Some great lunch spots include Bread Meets Bread for burgers, Scran Bistro for brunch or even or Holy Cow for a cosy vegetarian lunch spot.
Edinburgh is the perfect walking city, so make the most of the walkable attractions and make the most of the iconic scenery. Walk through the Princes Street Gardens slowly, and take the opportunity to get your beautiful scenic photos while you’re still feeling fresh and aren’t rushed. The view of Edinburgh Castle from the Ross Fountain if often very quiet and serene, making it a great time to get that perfect scenic shot.
You can walk right up through the old town to Edinburgh Castle, where you can take in the outstanding views of the city from height. You can even see Arthur’s Seat from up there, and get some stunning photography of the historic buildings. Paying in to see the inside of the castle costs a minimum of £19.50, and you can easily spend an hour learning about the rich, Scottish history if that’s your interest. However, just the view of the exterior of the castle is enough on it’s own, so don’t feel pressured to go in!
Once you’re done, make a final walk for the day down The Royal Mile towards Calton Hill, and take the opportunity to visit any quaint shops you see along the mile, and purchase any tartan, whisky or memorabilia and don’t leave it to the last minute! The walk to Calton Hill will only take 15 minutes, and if you’re lucky you will see an authentic bagpipes demonstration outside St Giles’ Cathedral! When you reach Calton Hill, there are several amazing view points of Edinburgh, and also a little coffee kiosk if you want to sit down and have a hot beverage with a view!
It’s time to get back to your hotel now, and have a rest to get ready for your evening. It’s fun to dress up for a night in the city, but keep in mind it’s very cold and full of cobbled streets, so dress appropriately!
There are a few options for the evening that involve enjoying the Old Town nightlife. If you love the bloody history of Edinburgh and want to be spooked on a ghost tour, there are some famous bus tours taking you around the city, Prisoner of Azkaban style, to tell you the morbid details of Edinburgh’s history. But if that isn’t your style, then there are some beautiful, ambient restaurants in The Old Town to explore. A good example is Cafe Andaluz, a stunning tapas bar, or The Outsider, a casual evening location with a secret view of Edinburgh Castle, definitely book in advance if you went the table of your dreams.
P.S. Don’t forget to walk by Edinburgh Castle at night and take in the outstanding night time views while the castle is lit up and the city feels magical.
Day 2
Your second day is your only full day, so we need to make the most of it without overdoing it! Start your morning off on the historic Victoria Street, the famous circular street beloved by Harry Potter fans and enjoy the environment whilst its quiet and serene. If you want to visit the Harry Potter shop – do it now as the queues can get very long on the weekend! Venture towards the nearby Grassmarket and enjoy a nice breakfast in one of the cute cafe’s. Top recommendations are Hula café – a great place for a quick sit down, or La Barantine for cute coffee and pastries!
The primary morning activity today is to take part in a history walking tour of Edinburgh, which you can find on Air BnB experiences. Make sure to read up on reviews and be sure you are choosing one that suits you and your walking abilities. They tend to start around the 10am mark, and will meet somewhere in the old town most likely. There also several Harry Potter walking tours if you are passionate about finding out more about J.K. Rowling and how the Harry Potter books were written.
On a guided tour, you can find all about the rich history of Edinburgh and get a chance to ask questions you may have about the beautiful architecture, historic characters and Scottish culture. Depending on what you choose, a tour will likely take you through the Grassmarket, Greyfriars kirkyard, Victoria Street, The Royal Mile and even up towards Edinburgh Castle.
Some more extensive tours may include museum entries, such as to the national museum of Scotland and the Scottish national gallery, which are very centrally located. The tour is the best way to see everything in a fast way and to make sure you don’t miss some of the best things about Edinburgh due to not being organised.
By midday, your tour should be finished and it’s time to sit down and have a good lunch in the old town. Top recommendations include The Cold Town House, a casual restaurant with amazing views of Edinburgh Castle, or Sodaberg Pavillion, a gorgeous pastry, pizza and coffee spot with a view to the historic architecture while you have a break. It’s time to leave the old town and venture further outside the city, and there are two key locations where you should choose to spend your afternoon. P.S. I would highly recommend getting an uber and saving your feet!
Option 1, Holyrood Palace is the 16th century palace which was the royal residence of the Stuart family, and is the perfect place to explore Scottish history. You can walk through the state rooms, learn about the historic figures that lived there and observe the stunning neo-classical architecture. The palace gardens are also worth a visit, as they have a dramatic view of Arthur’s Seat and a beautifully landscaped natural space . A ticket can typically cost £22 and you get all-day access to the grounds to explore at your leisure.
Option 2 is a visit to The Royal Botanical Gardens, with it’s 70-acre gardens and palm houses, its a stunningly picturesque location for a little calm outside the city centre. The Grade A listed Victorian Palm Houses inhabit endangered plants and species, and have an intermix of art exhibits every few months.
The best time of year to visit is in autumn for the harvest festival, or over the Christmas period to see the elaborate festive lights displays. It is free to visit The Royal Botanic Garden, but does cost £5 per adult to enter the greenhouses, and is well worth it. This activity is more low-key, but provides some of the most beautiful photography opportunities in Edinburgh.
For your evening, you should consider venturing to New Town for a meal and exploring a different area of the city. There are some great, scenic restaurants that would be perfect for your last night, such as Dishoom – an eclectic, Indian street food or Chaopraya – an up-market Thai food restaurant, with special views of the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle.
After dinner, it’s a good time to seek out some of the unique, basement bars the New Town has to offer. Hoot the Redeemer is a speak-easy style bar with a secret access door and a quiet, dark-academia vibe perfect for your first time in Edinburgh. Or just a short walk away the classic game bar is The Roxy Ballroom, if you wanted a larger space with bowling, shuffleboard and darts to give off a more casual vibe. You don’t have to go far in Edinburgh city centre to find a unique place to spend your weekend – but remember booking everything on a weekend is essential!
For ideas on your Edinburgh instagram captions, check out this article:
Day 3
Your final morning in Edinburgh should definitely be spent in the wonderful Stockbridge, a natural, quaint part of Edinburgh that is largely a residential area. Whilst it’s still early in the day, walk over to Circus Lane, the famous row of mews houses known for being one of the most photographed spots in the city. Grab a pastry for breakfast at one of the beautiful coffee shops, such as Lannan Bakery, and have a wonder around Stockbridge farmers market, which is always open on Sundays. There are lots of fresh food and gift stalls to explore, before starting your wonder down The Water of Leith towards Dean Bridge.
This walking route is serene and picturesque, and takes you past the main attractions such as St Bernard’s Well, and has great views of the surrounding nature, especially in the autumn time. When you arrive at Dean Village, you can view the many 19th century buildings overlooking the stream, and buy a coffee at the Edinburgh Coffee Bike – a little outdoor kiosk perfect for walkers.
Don’t forget to stop at Bells Brae Bridge for the idyllic village photo opportunity! It’s time for your final lunch in the city before getting your train home. To keep spending low, its easier to collect your bags and head to Starbucks on The Royal Mile, for a coffee with a view, or even buy snacks in Edinburgh Waverley station at the many shops and cafe’s for your journey home.
