3 Days in Edinburgh - The Perfect Itinerary for First Time Visitors
Edinburgh enchants first time visitors. With magnificent architecture and an unbelievable history, you’ll want to experience as much as possible during your trip.
Edinburgh is a magical city full of history and wonder. From the Royal Mile to Dean Village, the bustling city is both romantic and active. Whether you just have a single day here, or a few days to spare, you’ll want to make you visit the best spots in the city.
Follow our itinerary on what to see, where to go and where to stay in Edinburgh. For any trip to Scotland, these are the things you won’t want to miss! For more romantic Scotland travel inspiration and offers, visit our friends at Visit Great Britain.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
The Balmoral Hotel is a love letter to Scotland. Stepping off the plane and into this hotel, we instantly understood what makes Edinburgh so stunning. Ordained with classical Scottish art, choice of 500 different whisky malts, and famed for hosting J.K. Rowling as she finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, this hotel had us wishing we were moving in to stay. We didn’t quite understand what made afternoon tea so popular until we experienced it at The Balmoral Hotel. I think next time we may look into booking the Harry Potter room!
3 Days in Edinburgh
Day 1: Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, and Mary King’s Close
Edinburgh Castle
What better place to start your tour of Edinburgh than the epic castle that overlooks the city center from Castle Rock? Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress that dominates the skyline. Entry tickets are £19.50 for adults (ages 16+), and £11.50 for children. The best price for tickets are found online. The castle opens daily at 9:30am and the last entry is at 5:30pm (4:30pm in the winter). You can reserve your entry time in advance online as well!
Photo by Jack Delaney
The Scotch Whiskey Experience
Just steps away from the Edinburgh Castle is The Scotch Whiskey Experience! Warm your belly with this must see interactive whiskey experience along The Royal Mile. The tour starts out with a pretty funny slow-moving ride that walks you through the whiskey-making process. Then, you enter a tasting a room where you are welcome to try some of Scotland’s iconic whiskey flavors. After seeing more whiskey than you’ve ever seen in your life, at the end of the tour you can purchase your own tasting flight and enjoy in their bar. This is such a fun activity to do with friends, we highly recommend giving it a go!
Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions
If whiskey isn’t quite your thing, then how about illusions instead? This museum is full of hands-on illusions, ticks, puzzles, and one of the best rooftop views of the city! It really is an other-worldly unique experience. This is a great activity for families and friends alike. Tickets are available at admission for adults at £16.50 and children at £14.50. Camera Obscura opens daily at 9:30am.
The Camera Obscura Vortex
Walk Down The Royal Mile
The best way to orient yourself in the historic city is to take a stroll down The Royal Mile. This is Edinburgh’s most highly touristed area and runs the entire length from Edinburgh Castle to The Palace of Holyroodhouse! Make sure you’re wearing comfortable walking shoes because it is quite a bit of distance between. Explore the narrow closes between the buildings jutting off of The Royal Mile, and marvel at the great history of the city. The street is frequented by many street performers, and is lined with bars and cafes so it’s difficult to run out of things to see along The Royal Mile!
The Royal Mile
St. Giles Cathedral
Directly between Edinburgh Castle and The Palace of Holyrood is St. Giles Cathedral. Founded in the 12th century, the historic landmark towers over The Royal Mile. To admire the architecture, you can quickly pop in through the front doors to observe the high vaulted ceilings. The church is open and free to enter for visits from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday, and 1pm to 5pm on Sundays. Guided rooftop tours and walking tours are also available on select days for an additional small fee.
St. Giles Cathedral from The Royal Mile.
The Real Mary King’s Close
To end the evening, dive deep into Edinburgh’s history with the famed Real Mary King’s Close tour! Underneath the bustling streets of Edinburgh is the old underground city. Discover the hidden history of medieval Edinburgh by booking a tour! This was by far one of the coolest things we did while visiting. The tour guides are fun and engaging and extremely knowledgable. You won’t want to miss a late night tour!
Day 2: The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Arthur’s Seat, and Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh!
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
This is the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history. Standing at the end of The Royal Mile and at the base of Arthur’s Seat, explore some of Scotland’s most famous historical figures including Mary Queen of Scots. Audio guides are available at the entrance and recommended for anyone wanting to hear a bit of backstory, as there isn’t a lot of structured reading throughout the palace. The old abbey off to the left side of the palace is a highlight to explore. Entry is £16.50 for adults, £14.90 for students and £9.50 for 17 and younger. You can purchase your tickets in advance online!
Arthur’s Seat
You can get an excellent view of the city from here. Straight back from The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Arthur’s Seat rises 251 meters above sea level, overlooking the city. It’s an ancient volcano and has many hiking trails that can take you to the top. Allow 2 to 3 hours for your visit if you plan to hike! For an easy walk with sweeping views of Edinburgh, walk along Salisbury Craigs. For a more strenuous, but beautiful panorama of the city, hike to Arthur’s Seat. Holyrood Park is always open and free to visit, but keep in mind that it is very windy at the top!
Victoria’s Street
Calling all Harry Potter fans, this is the street that is thought to be the inspiration of Diagon Alley! The street is lined with colorful buildings, and is an iconic photography and Instagram spot. If getting a shot of the street, free of parked cars, try to visit early in the morning when the sun rises. Parking technically opens on the street at 8am, but as you might find, many will park here early anyway, obstructing the perfect picture! If cars aren’t an issue for you, stroll down the colorful street any time of day, pop into a cafe and admire the beautiful cobblestone streets.
Have Afternoon Tea at The Elephant House
This is where J.K. Rowling first thought up the idea of the Harry Potter series. She was so excited about it that she scribbled her thoughts down on a napkin inside the cafe! For us, this was a must-see while visiting Edinburgh. And yes, the cafe does tend to get overrun by tourists and can get quite crowded, but it is simply for Harry Potter fans, one of those things you must do! The bathrooms are full of graffiti from visitors, paying homage to all those who consider Hogwarts their home.
Greyfriar’s Kirkyard
Following our Harry Potter theme, Greyfriar’s Kirkyard holds the inspiration of some of the names from the series, including Professor McGonagall and Tom Riddle himself! This famous graveyard attracts visitors from all around the world, day and night. It’s also known to be quite haunted. Take a quick stroll through the kirkyard yourself, or schedule a tour!
Tom Riddle’s gravestone in Greyfriar’s Kirkyard
Inspiration for Professor McGonagall on Greyfriar’s Kirkyard gravestone
The Best Harry Potter Tours in Edinburgh
For a comprehensive look at everything revolving around the Harry Potter world within the city, it’s a great idea to schedule a tour! Some tours are free with a suggested tip, and others you can book in advance. Some of our favorites are The Potter Trail and Inspired by Harry Potter. Both tours are about 2 hours long and go through various areas of the Old Town. For those looking for a creative and fun way to make cocktails, checkout The Cauldron and learn how to make magical brew!
Day 3: Dean Village, Calton Hill, and the Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh
New College School of Divinity
No place is more beautiful than the School of Divinity at New College. A short walk from The Royal Mile, the School of Divinity holds a small courtyard flanked by giant towers on either side. This is also a sought after photography and Instagram spot! Spending a little time and taking in the view is free and well worth the small walk.
New College School of Divinity.
One of Edinburgh’s best photo spots.
Visit Dean Village
Reminiscent of a fairytale, Dean Village is located just a 30 minute walk from Old Town, but is also easily accessible by taking a 10 minute taxi ride. Cobblestone roads and medieval cottages line the Water of Leith in the neighborhood. Why does Dean Village need to be on your Edinburgh itinerary? It is absolutely stunning. You can wander through the small streets for hours. The photography opportunities are also limitless. This is an active residential area, so keep that in mind while visiting, as you’ll notice its pretty quiet.
Dean Village
Vennel Steps
Another iconic photo spot in Edinburgh is the Vennel Steps. The viewpoint gives a grand look at Edinburgh Castle. You may find a few people with tripods set near the top. This is a quick stop to grab a few photos, it won’t take you long to visit, but should not be missed! Here are some of the common photos tourists take at the Vennel Steps.
Looking out to Edinburgh Castle from the Vennel Steps. This place is perfect for photos!
The Royal Botanical Garden
The Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh is a scientific center for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation as well as a popular tourist attraction. The garden is accessible to everyone between the hours of 10am and 4pm (open until 6pm during the summer). The outer gardens are free, but you can also gain entry to the glasshouse for a fee of £7.00. It’s an incredible time to wander through the conservatory amongst the exotic and beautiful plants.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill hosts a great view of the city from an off-the-beaten-path location. The top of the hill is home to the Collective contemporary art gallery. Gay bars, pubs and restaurants are clustered around Leith Walk which provides a fun and bustling atmosphere. This is a great area to spend an evening, as we deeply enjoyed dinner at The Lookout atop Calton Hill. It was by far the best meal we had while staying in Edinburgh, and overall one of our favorite meals we’ve ever had together!
Photo by Visit Scotland
The Best Ghost Tours in Edinburgh
There are plenty of ghost tours to choose from in Edinburgh, as the city is widely known as one of the most haunted places in the world! We have a few that we highly recommend. City of the Dead is a highly rated and well known ghost tour that takes you through the intense history of The Vaults. Free Ghost Tour is your best bet for a free walking tour that is both spooky and full of great information including stories of Dr. Jeckell & Mr. Hyde, the witch trials, and the Westport Murderers. Lastly, The Ghost Bus will take you around the city in a blacked-out double decker bus. The tour is both funny and really entertaining, led by actors performing throughout the tour.
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