Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, vibrant festivals, and world-class cultural attractions. Known as the "Athens of the North," Edinburgh’s streets are filled with impressive neoclassical buildings, lively pubs, and lush green hills. Whether you’re looking to just spend a few days or use this city as your homebase while you visit Scotland, Edinburgh offers enough to keep any traveler entertained.

Where We Stayed

For our trip to Edinburgh, we stayed at the InterContinental Edinburgh the George, which is in the heart of the city’s New Town. Situated on one of the capital’s most prestigious streets, the InterContinental provided us a comfortable stay in a space that effortlessly blends traditional Scottish charm with modern luxuries. We found the hotel an easy walking distance to many of Edinburgh’s most popular sites, including Scotts Monument and Edinburgh Castle. And just steps outside, you’ll find yourself in the middle of some excellent shopping as well. 

Since we booked our stay at the InterContinental with Peyton’s Passport, we also got access to a complimentary breakfast each morning. Though some days we opted to explore local coffee shops for our first bite, on early mornings, the hotel’s provided breakfast was a perfect way to fuel up. After long days exploring, the room’s spacious layout offered plenty of space to relax. And of course, the Byredo products in the bathroom helped me unwind too!

Trip Highlights

Edinburgh is a city rich with history, but very much vibrant and alive with modern culture. Truly, there’s experiences available to appease every traveler, whether you prefer exploring ancient castles, hiking, or just wandering scenic streets. While there’s much to experience in Edinburgh, I’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below to fill your next trip to Scotland’s capital.

Edinburgh Castle

Of all the activities in Edinburgh, visiting Edinburgh’s Castle is most likely to be top of your list. Edinburgh Castle is a historic site that stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. In fact, there has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcolm III in the 11th Century, and the castle continued to be a royal residence until 1633. When visiting, you have the option to explore on your own - audio guides are included as part of your ticket - or to take a guided tour. We opted to explore independently, which gave us the freedom to stop and take in some pretty spectacular city views. However, the castle is quite large and hilly, so it’s easy to tire out before you’ve hit all the highlights. If you’re more of a history buff, I’d recommend booking the guided tour so you can learn more about the castle’s history and all the royal families that have resided there. We spent several hours at the castle before heading back down to Old Town to find a pint.

Arthur’s Seat

Just a few miles from the city center, you can find Arthur’s Seat, an ancient extinct volcano that is the main peak of a group of hills in Edinburgh. Rising nearly 822 feet above the city, Arthur’s Seat provides panoramic views and is relatively easy to climb. There’s several paths that lead to the top, making it convenient to choose one that feels appropriate for your fitness level. We allotted the morning to explore Arthur’s Seat, and still had plenty of time to stop and take in the scenic views. To your northwest, you can spot Edinburgh Castle and to the east Leith and the edges of the North Sea. The most memorable part of our hike? The sprawling yellow blooms of gorse, Scotland’s national flower, that crowded every inch of the hill. 

Harry Potter Tour

While a Harry Potter tour may sound like a niche recommendation, I promise this was an excellent way to explore the city, learn about Scottish architecture, and history, while also brushing up on fictional trivia. Our tour was led by The Potter Trail, which claims to be the original and oldest Harry Potter tour group in Edinburgh. Tours through the Potter Trail are actually free, though you are encouraged to tip at the end if you enjoyed the experience (and we did!). Most of the tour is spent wandering Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, a graveyard that J.K. Rowling was known to visit while writing. Here we found gravestones with names from many of the series’ prominent characters, including Tom Riddle. While I wouldn’t say this tour is a must do, it’s a fun activity before dinner or a drink, especially since you end in Diagon Alley - I mean Victoria Street.

Restaurants

When planning our trip to Edinburgh, I assumed most meals would consist of what I thought was traditional Scottish fare - meat and potatoes. But, instead, we found the food scene in Edinburgh to be modern, funky and approachable. While many restaurants will still offer some more classic dishes, our favorites played with blending authentic Scottish flavors and modern techniques. 

Lyla

One of our favorite travel traditions is to end the first day of our trip with an excellent meal. And Lyla was the perfect spot to kick off our time in Edinburgh. A Michelin star dining experience, Lyla offers a ten course menu served in an intimate dining room. With just a handful of tables and an open kitchen layout, dining at Lyla feels more like you’re at a friend’s dinner party, rather than a stuffy dining experience. The menu is more seafood heavy, with most ingredients sourced from the UK’s top farms and growers. The staff was friendly and informative, often taking the time to explain more nuanced elements of the dishes. A highlight of our evening - selecting from a box of custom steak knives for the meat course. If you can secure a reservation at Lyla during your visit, I’d highly recommend it.

Skua

Skua, another recent Michelin star restaurant in Edinburgh, is a small intimate restaurant with an equally small menu. But don’t let that deter you, Skua’s dishes, though limited, are perfect. Located in the lower levels of Stockbridge’s St Stephen Street, the restaurant’s dark and moody dining room invites quiet conversations over vibrant cocktails and eats. Some favorites from our meal included a spicy beet margarita and cullen skink, a rich smoky fish soup that’s authentic to Scotland. Skua is the spot your hippest foodie friend would recommend, as it delivers on both vibe and food.

St. Vincent Bar AKA “The Vinnie”

The St. Vincent Bar was a sort of happy accident, as we were looking for a spot to grab a quick drink before our reservation at Skua. “The Vinnie” is a quintessential Scottish pub, filled with dark wood carvings, cozy corners, and lively conversations. We grabbed two pints and a spot at the bar and just - took it all in. If you’ve never been to the UK, then you won’t fully understand pub culture. It’s truly a “third location” for locals, and The Vinnie seemed to be a favorite for many in Edinburgh. If you’re nearby, I’d recommend popping into this pub. But also, there’s truly one on every block, so just find one and enjoy!

Milkman

The Milkman ended up on our food list because of TikTok, but it lived up to the internet hype. This independent coffee shop, named after the owner’s great grandfather who was the last horse-drawn milkman in Huntley, is a perfect spot to take a pause from the buzz of the city’s centre. There’s several locations throughout Edinburgh, so it’s convenient to find one close to your day’s activities. We stopped at the one on Cockburn Street near Old Town, and enjoyed one of the best cappuccinos I had on the trip. Add Milkman to your Google list, I promise you won’t regret it.

Helpful Tips: 

• Book popular restaurants, like Lyla and Skua, in advance as they’re small and likely to get booked up quickly.

• A 10-15% tip is generally considered appropriate for good service in restaurants and cafes, but not if a service charge has already been added to your bill. Tipping in pubs is generally not expected, but offering a drink to the bartender is a common alternative.

Transportation

Walkability

Edinburgh is an excellent city to explore on foot, as it’s relatively small, safe and filled with eye-catching architecture. However, it is important to note that some parts of the city can be rather hilly, so be prepared to hoof it uphill at times. On our first day, we explored mainly by walking and found this a great way to get our bearings. Many of Edinburgh’s major sites are in Old Town, which is just a mile from New Town.

Public Transportation

To save our feet, we also took advantage of Edinburgh’s public bus transportation. Buses run 24 hours a day and make frequent stops around the city, which makes it easy to get around - even if you hop on the wrong bus. You can use contactless payment (credit/debit card or mobile wallet) to pay for your ride, so no need to buy a special pass if you’re just visiting for a day or two.

Uber

Uber is widely available in Edinburgh, but not always necessary considering the abundance of buses and walkable spots around the city. We only opted to take an Uber a few times, mainly due to my choice of shoes for the evening.

Final Thoughts 

Edinburgh is a city that surprised me. It felt alive and modern, yet charming and approachable. The city is easy to explore, and offers a variety of sites and food spots to fill a short itinerary or an extended stay. If you’re heading to the UK, I’d recommend adding Edinburgh to your trip - the city’s sure to leave you wanting to linger longer with the Scotts. For more Edinburgh inspo, check our 3-day itinerary, Google Maps list, or request a complimentary consultation call today!