History · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
8 historic sites to see in Edinburgh
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Palace of Holyroodhouse. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–16 hours across 3 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 12–16 hours
- Areas
- Old Town, Holyrood and Leith
Historic sites in Edinburgh
Castle · Old Town
1.Edinburgh Castle
The One O'Clock Gun is fired from the Mill's Mount battery on most days.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Street · Old Town
2.The Royal Mile
Narrow closes such as Advocate's Close and Lady Stair's Close lead off it, and in August its central stretch becomes an open-air stage for Fringe performers.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Shopping
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Palace · Holyrood
3.Palace of Holyroodhouse
The roofless ruins of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey stand beside it.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Leith
4.Royal Yacht Britannia
A self-guided audio tour covers the bridge, the state dining room, the royal bedrooms and the crew's quarters, and the Royal Deck Tea Room serves afternoon tea.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Religious site · Old Town
5.St Giles' Cathedral
Its highlights are the Victorian stained glass and the Thistle Chapel, built in 1911 for Scotland's Order of the Thistle, whose carved woodwork includes an angel playing the bagpipes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Town
6.National Museum of Scotland
Highlights include Dolly the sheep, several of the 12th-century Lewis chessmen and the glass-roofed Victorian Grand Gallery. Entry is free, and the roof terrace has a castle view.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Historic site · Old Town
7.Greyfriars Kirkyard
The National Covenant was signed in the church here in 1638.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Old Town
8.The Real Mary King's Close
Costumed guides lead small groups through the underground closes with stories of plague, poverty and everyday Old Town life.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town | Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, National Museum of Scotland, Greyfriars Kirkyard and The Real Mary King's Close | 2–3 hours + 2–3 hours + 45 minutes + 2–3 hours + 45 minutes + 1 hour |
| Holyrood | Palace of Holyroodhouse | 1.5–2 hours |
| Leith | Royal Yacht Britannia | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 4 mid-priced. Book ahead for Edinburgh Castle and The Real Mary King's Close. The longest visit is Edinburgh Castle; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Edinburgh Castle: Timed tickets sell out in summer and especially in August; book on the official Edinburgh Castle site.
- The Real Mary King's Close: Tours have limited places and sell out in summer; book a time slot online.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old Town): Edinburgh Castle, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Old Town): The Royal Mile → St Giles' Cathedral, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Old Town): National Museum of Scotland → Greyfriars Kirkyard → The Real Mary King's Close, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Holyrood and Leith): Palace of Holyroodhouse → Royal Yacht Britannia, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 8°C (46°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Chilly and quiet, with crisp days for hill walks; Six Nations rugby weekends at Murrayfield bring crowds.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Lengthening days and the first daffodils in Princes Street Gardens; the weather swings between sunshine and sleet.
- January: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and dark by 4pm, but hotel prices fall after New Year and Burns Night suppers brighten the end of the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old Town — Medieval closes and wynds along the Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood
- Leith — Edinburgh's old port of waterfront restaurants, bars and the Royal Yacht Britannia
- Southside and Newington — University quarter, the Meadows and guesthouses near Arthur's Seat
- Bruntsfield and Marchmont — Sandstone tenements, delis and the Meadows
More of Edinburgh
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Edinburgh?
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.
+Which of these are free in Edinburgh?
The Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, National Museum of Scotland and Greyfriars Kirkyard.