Things to Do

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The best of Edinburgh

There are so many wonderful things to see and do in Edinburgh! We fell in the love with the city’s history, character, and charm. Between the welcoming locals, cobblestone streets, and no open container laws - it almost feels like a European Savannah!

Map

Since there are so many things to do in Edinburgh, we created an interactive map that lists important locations, interesting sites, restaurants, bars, and some of our favorite shops.

I highly recommend spending a little time perusing the interactive map! You can expand the map by clicking on the top right hand corner icon. After expanding, the map legend on your left will break everything down by category. Click on each individual icon (located on the left) to see our short description. Just click the back arrow (located left of the item name) to return to the original map legend. This is a great way to get a visual understanding of all the best things to do in Edinburgh!

Wedding Map!

Detailed Breakdown

  • The Royal Mile or “High Street” is in the heart of Old Town. It connects Holyrood Castle with Edinburgh Castle and is filled with stores, restaurants, and bars.

  • Victoria Street is a colorful street that connects the Royal Mile (via George IV Bridge) to Grassmarket. Victoria Street was the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and has some of our favorite shops!

  • Grassmarket is a vibrant and lively area behind Edinburgh Castle. This is a great place to pub hop!

  • The heart of New Town is nestled between Princes Street Gardens and Queen Street Gardens. If you take a right out of the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton lobby, you will cross North Bridge (over Waverley Station) and hit Princes Street. Princes Street is a little hectic but continue on to Rose Street or George Street for a more relaxed atmosphere. There are tons of amazing restaurants, cocktail bars, and modern shopping in New Town!

  • The term close refers to a narrow alleyway that slopes away from the Royal Mile. They are often named after a historic guild or person who lived in an adjacent building (i.e. “Advocates Close”, “Mary King’s Close”, etc.) Closes connect different street levels within Old Town using extremely steep slopes or stairs. Again, for all the Savannah people, think “Stone Stairs of Death” everywhere!

Tours and Other Recommendations


There are tons of websites that recommend tours and create lists of the best attractions, restaurants, bars, and so much more! Check the links below if you are interested in more information about things to do in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland.

Recommendations

Guided Tours & Itineraries