Choose from 67 Fun Things to Do in Edinburgh
Calton Hill
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Edinburgh Old Town
- Edinburgh Old Town is a must-visit for all first-time visitors, especially culture lovers, sightseers, architecture aficionados, and history buffs.
- Wear comfortable shoes as most of Old Town’s streets are cobbled.
- Though steep streets, steps, and uneven surfaces are common, smooth sidewalks and curb cuts—including those on the Royal Mile—and accessible black cabs make large parts of Edinburgh Old Town navigable for wheelchair users and strollers.
Alnwick Castle
- Alnwick Castle is ideal for history buffs, families, and Harry Potter fans who want to see the real-life setting for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
- Castle tickets are valid for an entire year from the date of visit.
- There is a café on the castle grounds.
- The castle estate is only partially accessible to wheelchair users.
Deanston Distillery
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Bowmore Distillery
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Blair Castle
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Glenfinnan Monument
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Blackness Castle
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Edinburgh World Heritage Trust
The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust also organizes city heritage tours and the 2-week Edinburgh Old Town Festival each June, which features dozens of tours, art shows, exhibitions and storytelling events, celebrating the rich history and heritage of the Old Town.
Edinburgh Castle
- Edinburgh Castle is a must-see for history buffs and first-time visitors to the city.
- It’s possible to spend anywhere from two hours to a full day exploring the castle.
- Visitors are subject to bag searches, and storage is not available for large personal items such as backpacks, luggage, and strollers.
- Photographs are not allowed inside the Scottish National War Memorial or the Scottish Crown Jewel exhibit.
- Parts of the castle may not be accessible to wheelchair users.
Aberdour Castle
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Glencoe
Bordered by steep, waterfall-threaded mountains, this dramatic glen is the stuff of Scottish postcards. Though it has historical significance—it was the site of the 1692 Glencoe Massacre of the MacDonald Clan—and its very own ski resort, Glencoe Mountain Resort, the valley’s main draw is its spectacular scenery.
The Basics
Soak up Glencoe’s stunning scenery during a drive along the A82 road, which cuts through the glen. More active travelers may want to explore on foot, taking advantage of the area’s excellent hiking. Organized day and multi-day tours from Edinburgh and Glasgow often go through Glencoe, passing by locations featured in films such as Skyfall, Braveheart, and the Harry Potter series, as well as other notable beauty spots. Some organized tours stop for photos or even embark on guided walks in the scenic valley before continuing to other destinations in the Scottish Highlands such as Fort William, Ben Nevis, and Loch Ness.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Glencoe is ideal for outdoor lovers and scenery-seekers.
- Wear layers and sturdy shoes, and bring a waterproof jacket as the weather can be unpredictable.
- Rangers at the Glencoe Visitor Centre can offer advice and recommend suitable walking routes.
- The Glencoe Visitor Centre, which features a viewing platform, is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
Glencoe is situated in the Scottish Highlands along the A82 highway. The road runs from Glasgow to Fort William to Inverness, passing by Rannoch Moor, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Loch Ness, and the Great Glen. If you don’t have a car, numerous sightseeing tours frequent the area. The Glencoe Visitor Centre is 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of Fort William.
When to Get There
Each season in Glencoe brings its own majesty. Summers are best for hikers, with long days, mild weather, and carpets of purple heather. Spring brings bluebells and rhododendrons, autumn yields a palette of fiery rust, and winter is good for skiing. Summers are peak tourist season, but with so much space, Glencoe never feels overrun. That said, get there in early morning to avoid the midday rush.
Getting Active in Glencoe
Glencoe offers a wealth of activities for visitors. Search for red squirrels, deer, and golden eagles; admire the rushing Glencoe Gorge Waterfall; tackle a Via Ferrata climbing route; or summit a Munro (a mountain over 3,000 feet/914 meters). Lots of gentler hiking trails can be found too, such as the woodland walk to Signal Rock. Glencoe Mountain Resort has a 12-minute chairlift that carries sightseers up to a height of 2,200 feet (670 meters).
Forth Road Bridge
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British Golf Museum
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Dallas Dhu Distillery
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Doune Castle
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Forth Bridge
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Edinburgh Cruise Port
Wrapped around the base of the castle hill is the New Town - actually dating from the 18th century, which shows how old the Old Town must be - including botanic gardens, museums and art galleries, shopping and residential areas and the city’s main railway station, Waverley. Edinburgh is both visually spectacular and culturally dynamic, home of the annual Edinburgh Festival, where many famous entertainers make their start.
How to Get to Edinburgh
Cruise ships dock in Leith, not too far from the city center. You can catch a taxi, shuttle or local bus for a ten minute ride to the Old Town, or walk for about half an hour. In Leith is also permanently moored the now-decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia, which makes for a fascinating tour.
One Day in Edinburgh
If you only have one day in Edinburgh you must see the castle. It is not huge but it is full of low doorways into small rooms which burst with history. And the views are wonderful. From here wander down Royal Mile, which changes names along the way: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate.
Royal Mile has now become a bit of a tourist strip filled with shops selling tartan, but look beyond this to the wonderful buildings filled with history and the great small museums such as Camera Obscura and the Scottish Storytelling Centre in John Knox House (which dates from 1470).
At the bottom of the road is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the wonderful current royal palace, and nearby Arthurs Seat rises high in the parklands and is a favourite walk for locals and tourists alike. In the New Town the Scottish Portrait Gallery has recently reopened and the Scottish National Gallery has been renovated to put even more of their wide collection on display. The Royal Scottish Academy shows Scotland’s own great artists and designers.
A bit of a must-do in Scotland is to sample the local whiskies of which they are so rightly proud. And if you’re brave, taste some haggis, the national dish. If you are a golfer, head to nearby St Andrews where golf began. And if you’ve seen Edinburgh before, Glasgow is only 45 minutes away by train.
Port Information
The language is English, although it is spoken with a distinctive Scottish lilt and some puzzling Scottish turns of phrase. The currency is the British pound - if you receive any Scottish pounds they are quite legal even though they look different to the English pounds commonly used across Britain. ATMs are easy to find.
Arthur's Seat
- Bring a camera to capture the panoramic city views from Arthur’s Seat.
- Wear sturdy footwear with good grip as the rocky, uneven terrain can be slippery—particularly after rain.
- Visitors often become hot during the hike, and it can be cold and windy at the top. Wear layers that can be easily removed/added as needed.
- Arthur’s Seat is not wheelchair accessible.