We planned the perfect way to spend 3 days in Edinburgh, which brings you to the iconic views and attractions as well as some sneaky hidden gems. Steal our Edinburgh itinerary for an incredible time in this charming city!
Edinburgh is one of those cities that feels straight out of a storybook. With its cobblestone streets, dramatic castle perched high above the city, and winding closes that beg to be explored, it’s no wonder visitors fall head over heels for Scotland’s capital.
This city is full of contrasts—ancient architecture meets trendy cafes, historic pubs stand alongside innovative restaurants, and centuries of tradition mix with a modern, youthful energy.
Whether you’re here for the history, the food, the views, or simply to wander, Edinburgh delivers.
In this itinerary, we’ll walk you through how to make the most of your time in Edinburgh—highlighting the must-see sights, hidden gems, and foodie stops you won’t want to miss.
Good to know: We visited Edinburgh with our baby (9 months old at the time) and found it to be incredibly family-friendly, but this itinerary is packed with tips and ideas no matter what kind of trip you’re planning.
Edinburgh Itinerary Guide
We’ve included some more info on planning your trip to Edinburgh. Jump to the following sections, or just keep scrolling to see it all!
- Edinburgh itinerary overview
- More things to do
- Edinburgh itinerary map
- Edinburgh travel guide
- Our experience
- Perfect Scotland itinerary
Edinburgh itinerary overview
- Day 1: Free walking tour, Victoria Street, Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill
- Day 2: Arthur’s Seat hike, Sheep’s Heid Inn, Holyrood Palace, Royal Mile
- Day 3: Dean Village, afternoon tea
Note on weather: The weather in Scotland is notoriously fussy and Edinburgh is no exception. The main day you’ll want to plan for nice weather is the day you hike Arthur’s Seat. If you run into rain while you’re there, you can always switch around these itinerary days to plan your hiking day for the best chance at nice weather.
Day 1
On Day 1 of your Edinburgh itinerary, you will familiarize yourself with the city on a free walking tour, explore the “real life Diagon Alley,” tour Edinburgh’s most famous castle and get the most epic views at sunset.
Depending on where you’re staying, there are a couple good places in town where you can grab coffee (or breakfast) before you start your day. If you need coffee or breakfast on day 2 or 3 of this itinerary, you can reference this list:
- Rocksalt Cafe: Excellent coffee and baked items at reasonable prices.
- The Edinburgh Larder: Cute cafe and adjoining coffee shop that serves excellent breakfast and brunch offerings as well as top-notch coffee. This was just next to our hotel (which we highly recommend!), and we loved grabbing breakfast here!
Free Walking Tour
We think taking a free walking tour on your first day in a new city is the best way to orient yourself. Plus you’ll learn insider tips and get great recommendations, all on a budget.
The free walking tour in Edinburgh requires you to make a reservation in advance. We suggest doing the 10 am tour on your first morning in the city.
A local guide will show you many of the major Old Town Edinburgh attractions while explaining a bit of the history. You’ll also likely walk away with some great local recommendations for where to eat and how to spend the rest of your time in Edinburgh.
Important note on Free Walking Tours: This is a popular model for walking tours all around the world, and they all operate in the same way: While you don’t pay anything to book your spot on a tour, the guides work for tips. It is expected that you pay what you think the tour is worth. Keep this in mind as you’re planning.
Victoria Street
Spend an hour or two post-tour wandering the color Victoria Street. With its graceful curve, cobblestones, and rainbow of shopfronts, this is one of the city’s most photographed spots—and for good reason.
Pop into a cheesemonger selling artisan goods, browse an independent bookstore, grab a pint in a cozy pub, and shop for souvenirs in a wizard-themed gift store.
Speaking of wizards, it is rumored that J.K. Rowling gleaned inspiration from Harry Potter’s magical Diagon Alley from this very street.
Oh, and don’t think you need to be a Harry Potter fan to appreciate Victoria Street. It is truly one of the most beautiful (and most photographed) places in Edinburgh.
While you’re on Victoria Street, grab a famous hog roast sandwich at Oink. It is quick, cheap and sure to satisfy the appetite you’ve worked up while wandering the city. Their menu is pretty simple: Choose the size, the bread, one topping and one sauce.
Our recommendations: pulled pork + haggis + homemade chili jam or pulled pork + sage & onion stuffing + apple. We split one of each, and they were both great.
If you’re looking for more of a sit-down meal, there are plenty more great options on Victoria Street:
- Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips: Casual and sleek fish & chips joint featuring cocktails and desserts
- The Bow Bar: Cozy locale with a variety of whiskeys and pub fare
- The Grain Store: Upscale Scottish dining in an intimate venue
Edinburgh Castle
Once you’ve had your fill on Victoria Street, make your way to Edinburgh Castle—one of the top attractions in the city and likely the most famous castle in Scotland.
On the grounds, be sure to stop inside St. Margaret’s Chapel. While it’s very small and not necessarily the most impressive building, at 900 years old, it is the oldest structure in Edinburgh.
You can also tour the exhibits of Prisoners of War and the Great Hall, as well as many others.
Insider Tip: We’d recommend getting an audio guide (£3.50) so you can explore the castle at your own pace but still soak in the information.
Sunset at Calton Hill
Calton Hill is an extinct volcano that straddles Old Town and New Town, and it offers unrivaled panoramic views of Edinburgh.
Getting there requires just a quick and easy 5-minute walk up a short staircase.
Check the sunset time before you set out for the day and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to Calton Hill and make the short climb to the top to experience golden hour while looking out over the city.
Did you know? The acropolis structure that sits on the top of the hill and looks as if it belongs in Greece instead of Edinburgh is the unfinished National Monument of Scotland.
Suggestions for dinner
- Cafe Royal: This historic pub has beautiful architecture and stained glass windows, and they serve a variety of whiskies and are known for their seafood specials.
- Under the Stairs: Hidden-feeling gastropub with fantastic drinks and food.
- Dishoom: Often making the lists of the best restaurants in Edinburgh, Dishoom is an elevated dining experience featuring shareable dishes, a large vegan menu, and handcrafted cocktails.
→ Find more dining recommendations in our Edinburgh travel guide.
Day 2
Day 2 of your Edinburgh itinerary starts out with an iconic hike to get the blood pumping, lunch at Scotland’s oldest pub, and more of the iconic Edinburgh sights.
Hike Arthur’s Seat
Looming on the horizon just beyond the city center, is an extinct volcano known as Arthur’s Seat. Hiking to the top is an Edinburgh must, as you will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular views over the city!
- Distance: 2.4 miles (3.8 km)
- Elevation gain: 853 feet (260m)
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Type: There are different loops you can take, as well as doing an out and back path
We have a complete guide to hiking Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, including all the information you need to plan your hike.
Be prepared! Wear sturdy shoes (some of the rocky parts near the top can get slippery, especially if it has rained recently). I can get quite windy at the top, so bring layers and rain gear. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll definitely want to pack a snack to enjoy at the top!
Note on weather: If you have decent weather, we recommend doing this hike first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. However, if the weather isn’t cooperating, you can start with the Royal Mile & Holyrood Palace before hiking Arthur’s Seat in the afternoon.
Pub at Sheep Heid Inn
Nestled in a quaint village at the south end of Holyrood Park, the Sheep Heid Inn is said to be the oldest surviving pub in Scotland.
Good to know: It is a 25-minute walk from the bottom of Arthur’s Seat to the Sheep’s Heid Inn. You will not want to return down the mountain the same way you climbed up. Instead, you’ll want to take the trail to the southwest and end near the Innocent Railway Tunnel, as this will be the quickest way to get to the pub.
Grab a pint or cocktail (I had two really great cocktails with gin), and make a toast to completing your hike! If you’re hungry, they also have a full lunch menu.
While at the Sheep Heid Inn, be sure to check out the skittles alley, which is located in the back of the restaurant and is arguably the most unique feature of this establishment.
Holyrood Palace
Located on the east end of the Royal Mile, Holyroodhouse is the King’s official residence in Edinburgh.
After you’ve had your fill at Sheep Heid, make your way over to Holyrood Palace (on the opposite side of the park). If you’re not in the mood to walk (about 45 minutes), there are other options:
- Bus: Taking a bus will be the cheapest option (other than walking).
- Taxi: You can have the host at the Sheep Heid Inn call you a taxi to take you to the palace.
- Uber: Since it is located in a very small village outside of town, Ubers can be very hard to find. We learned this the hard way!
Visitors to the palace can explore inside the Royal family’s Scottish residence, and see both history and modern Royal life at the same time.
Check ticket prices and make reservations here.
The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile refers to streets that lead from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Caste. The distance between the two landmarks is roughly 1.81km, a measurement that was once known as a “Scots mile”.
The Royal Mile is the most crowded part of Edinburgh, but for good reason. Many of the city’s most famous landmarks can be found along this stretch of road:
- Edinburgh Castle
- St. Giles Cathedral
- Mary King’s Close
- Canongate
- Museum of Edinburgh
- Holyrood Palace
In addition to the iconic sights listed above, you’ll find all sorts of other places to check out. Excellent restaurants as well as overly touristy eateries; and cute boutiques as well as cheap souvenir shops.
And don’t skip the closes!
The closes are narrow pathways that lead off the main streets, and they often open up into small courtyards. The Royal Mile is crowded at all times, but if you walk into a close, you’ll escape all the people and feel a world away.
You won’t have to look far to see a close. Royal Mile itself has about 80 of them.
Some of them have hidden cafes and others have small community gardens. You never know what you might find.
Even though it would take just 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other, you’ll definitely want to spend a fair amount of time wandering the Royal Mile, popping into shops and eventually finding a good spot for dinner and maybe even a night out (if that’s your thing).
→ See our Edinburgh guide for suggestions on where to eat and drink in the city.
Day 3
On day 3 of your Edinburgh itinerary, you’ll spend some time exploring a charming little village outside of the city center and return to take part in a time honored tradition.
Dean Village
Nestled along the banks of the River Leith just northwest of the city center, Dean Village is a quaint neighborhood that feels a world away from the bustling Royal Mile.
Exploring the cobblestone streets of this bucolic village will make you feel as if you’ve been transported into centuries past.
We created a guide to visiting Dean Village so you know exactly how to get there and what to expect.
Note: We have suggestions for coffee, breakfast and lunch in Dean Village so you’ll be covered on all fronts. But don’t eat too much for lunch as you’ll want to save your appetite for the next activity!
Afternoon tea
No trip to Edinburgh is complete without indulging in a proper afternoon tea.
Picture tiers of delicate finger sandwiches, fluffy scones with clotted cream and jam, and dainty pastries—all served alongside a steaming pot of tea (or a glass of bubbly, if you’re celebrating!).
It’s a whole experience!
There are many places around the city for afternoon tea, so we created a guide to help you choose the best place to book your afternoon tea in Edinburgh.
Tip: Boasting the self-proclaimed “best afternoon tea in Edinburgh”, our top pick for afternoon tea would be at The Colonnades in the Signet Library. It’s a sophisticated venue offering unique and elevated flavors. It’s also widely popular, and for good reason, so you’ll have to make your reservation well in advance.
After you’ve had your fill (and full you be—believe me!) at afternoon tea, you probably won’t need to get dinner on account of all the food you’ve just inhaled. Take the rest of the evening to relax, see any sights that are still on your wishlist, or hit the town for a night out.
Have more time?
We think 3 days is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of Edinburgh. However, if you have more time to spend in the city, we have a whole guide for things to do in Edinburgh packed with fun suggestions.
Edinburgh map
Click on the map and enter your email to gain access to our custom Edinburgh map. It’s filled with custom pins of everything on this itinerary, plus our favorite restaurants, pubs and more!
Edinburgh travel guide
If this is your first time visiting Edinburgh, you’ll want to read our First Timer’s guide which is packed with helpful information like how to get around and where to find the best eats.
Our experience in Edinburgh
We visited Edinburgh in September 2022 with our daughter, who was 9 months old at the time. We found the city to be incredibly family-friendly. In fact we’d go so far as to say Edinburgh is one of the best European cities to visit with kids!
We documented our time in Edinburgh in the video below, so you can get an insider look at what to expect in Scotland’s charming capital.
Want your Scotland itinerary planned for you?
Raise your hand if you don’t want to spend hours of time researching and you just want all the info right at your fingertips!
If your hand is up, keep reading…
If you like the research, all the power to you! Feel free to use our itinerary outlines as a starting point as well as our city guides for ideas of things to do (we’ve got a bunch of them!):
- Things to do in Edinburgh
- Things to do in Glasgow
- Things to Do in Isle of Skye
- Things to Do in Inverness
- Places to visit in Scotland (including some of the smaller towns)
But if you want to save some hours of your life, we’ve already put in more than enough for you and us combined. Trust us.
And we’re happy to share everything we learned—from digging through reviews, Youtube and all sorts of Internet rabbit holes, as well as actually being in Scotland and taking our very own dream road trip!
We’ve curated what we think is the perfect Scotland road trip, and we want you to be able to copy our route!
In this 2-week itinerary, you’ll find:
- Can’t miss sights and experiences
- Where to eat
- including suggestions for what to order
- Where to stay (whether you’re camping or doing hotels)
- the best campsites to stay on the route
- unique guesthouses along the way
- Insider tips
- Suggestions for extending this trip
We’ve spent hours of research putting this all together, just for you!
In full transparency, this is a paid itinerary since it has taken an incredible amount of time for us to create.
However, we keep all of our paid itineraries affordable – just $17 for an entire 2-week itinerary. We think this is an incredible value considering almost all your planning will be done for you!
Plan your trip to Scotland
Scotland is one of our favorite destinations for road tripping, and we’ve created tons of resources to help you plan the ultimate adventure. Start with our Scotland Travel Homepage and check out these helpful articles:
- Find out the best time to visit Scotland (and what you can expect in each season!).
- Start dreaming with our Scotland bucket list full of epic experiences and must-see places.
- Not sure where to go? Our guide to the best places to visit in Scotland will help you narrow it down.
- Ready to hit the road? This guide walks you through how to plan a Scotland road trip step by step.
- Our Scotland campervan rental guide will help you choose the right one.
- Here’s everything you need to know about camping in Scotland.
- Prefer a little more comfort? Don’t miss these dreamy glamping stays in Scotland.
Don’t forget to grab our Scotland packing list!
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, we have the ultimate resource for you!
This FREE PDF download includes everything you’re going to want to pack for your trip to Scotland, including what NOT to bring, plus tons of insider tips!
Sign up for our ultimate Scotland packing list now and get a copy sent straight to your inbox.
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We want to hear from you!
What do you think about this 3 day Edinburgh itinerary? Are you planning a trip to Scotland and have more questions? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to get back to you!