Edinburgh

Suggested activities for a day in Edinburgh

A great way to start the day is to take a bus tour of the centre of the city. Buses run from Waverley Bridge every few minutes and the tour lasts for about an hour. The guides are very knowledgeable and will point out the major attractions and points of interest as well as tell you a bit about the history of the city. It is a super way to get your bearings and as your ticket lasts all day, you can use it to get between the attractions too.

Set high above the city on volcanic rock, the famous Edinburgh Castle is not to be missed! Home to the oldest buildings in Edinburgh and some of the best views in the city; you can spend hours here.

Just a short walk from the Castle, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre brings 300 years of Scotch whisky history to life. The unique interactive visitor attraction allows you to experience the sights, sounds and smells of whisky making. They also have an excellent restaurant if you wish to stop for some lunch.

Beneath the Royal Mile lies a warren of concealed streets where real people lived, worked and died in bygone centuries. In a brand new attraction, you can step back in time at The Real Mary King’s Close to walk through these hidden closes, some of which have never before been open to the public.

Edinburgh has a host of high quality Museums and Galleries, many of which are free. The Museum of Scotland tells the story of the history of the people of Scotland, while there is a choice of art galleries to suit any taste including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, former favourite mode of transport of the Queen and Royal Family, is a popular attraction, as is the Royal Botanic Garden, which is a beautiful oasis of calm, only 2 miles from the city centre.

Edinburgh is a contemporary, cosmopolitan city with much to offer any visitor, for more information on what to see and do in the city please visit www.edinburgh.org.