3 days in Edinburgh

Day by day

1. Day 1: Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile

   Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and St Giles' Cathedral, then Victoria Street and the Grassmarket in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Edinburgh Castle

      Perched on an extinct volcanic plug above the city, the castle holds the Honours of Scotland — the Scottish crown jewels — the Great Hall, the National War Museum and St Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh's oldest building, from the 12th century.

   2. Late morning

      The Royal Mile

      Duck into the closes off the main street; many open onto quiet courtyards and views over the New Town.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Haggis, neeps and tatties

      Traditional pubs and Scottish restaurants across the Old Town; also as part of a cooked breakfast.

   4. Afternoon

      St Giles' Cathedral

      The High Kirk of Edinburgh, with its crown-shaped spire, was John Knox's church during the Reformation.

   5. Evening

      Victoria Street and the Grassmarket

      Come early in the morning for photographs without crowds, then return in the evening for the Grassmarket pubs.

2. Day 2: Palace of Holyroodhouse and Dynamic Earth

   Palace of Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth and Calton Hill, then Grassmarket and Cowgate in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palace of Holyroodhouse

      Check dates before you go: the palace closes to visitors during royal visits, usually in early summer.

   2. Late morning

      Dynamic Earth

      Beneath a white tented roof beside the Scottish Parliament, Dynamic Earth takes visitors through the planet's story from the Big Bang to the polar ice caps, with a simulated earthquake, a tropical rainforest room and a 360-degree dome cinema.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cullen skink

      Pubs and Scottish restaurants, often as a starter with bread.

   4. Afternoon

      Calton Hill

      Go at sunset or sunrise; the steps up from Regent Road take about five minutes.

   5. Evening

      Grassmarket and Cowgate

      Historic pubs with outdoor tables below the castle, and late-night clubs and student bars along the Cowgate.

3. Day 3: Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument and Scottish National Gallery

   Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument, Scottish National Gallery and Royal Yacht Britannia, then George Street and the New Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument

      Laid out in the drained valley of the Nor Loch, Princes Street Gardens separate the Old and New Towns, with the floral clock, the Ross Fountain and views up to the castle.

   2. Late morning

      Scottish National Gallery

      Combine it with a walk through Princes Street Gardens; the gallery's lower level opens straight onto them.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Full Scottish breakfast

      Cafés and hotels across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Royal Yacht Britannia

      The royal family's floating residence for 44 years is moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith.

   5. Evening

      George Street and the New Town

      Cocktail bars, wine bars and smart restaurants in grand Georgian buildings.

Before you go

• Edinburgh Castle: Timed tickets sell out in summer and especially in August; book on the official Edinburgh Castle site.

If it rains

• Swap in National Museum of Scotland (Old Town): Start children in the hands-on science and technology galleries, then go up to the roof terrace for the castle view.
• Swap in Camera Obscura and World of Illusions (Old Town): Time the camera obscura show for a bright day, when the projected image is sharpest.
• Swap in The Real Mary King's Close (Old Town): Check the minimum age before booking with young children; some find the dark rooms frightening.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Old Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, New Town ($$$$) suits first-timers, shopping, luxury and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7 hours in December to 17.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Edinburgh
• 2 days in Edinburgh
• 4 days in Edinburgh
• 5 days in Edinburgh

Questions travellers ask