Top 20 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh [2026]

Worth the visit. It’s well maintained and easy to navigate. Don’t go to Edinburgh and not visit the castle. The 1 pm cannon shot is quite fun to watch.

Arrive 10 minutes early for your appointment; arriving early won't get you in. Someone will come out and escort you in to exchange your ticket at the appointed time. The price is indeed quite reasonable. Honestly, the castle itself isn't that impressive; personally, I think it's inferior to Holland Palace.

Awesome place! Had an amazing experience—highly recommended for everyone to visit!

Surrounded by ancient British architecture, with the haunting sound of bagpipes echoing along Princes Street and the taste of delicious Scottish cuisine — Edinburgh’s Old Town is truly a place worth exploring.

Holyrood Palace is definitely worth a visit. There are free Chinese audio guides available, which allowed us independent travelers to appreciate the significance of each place. The monastery and gardens inside are quite impressive.

Located precisely at the end of the Royal Mile the Holyrood Place has beeb a Royal residence since the 16th century, and the original Abbey was founded in 1128 (which is still on site). It is absolutely a must-see during your time in Edinburgh, being a perfect example of a working palace. But do not compare it to the Buckingham Palace in London, since those two are completely different in all aspects but one, which is it being a monarch residence. Some rooms are filled up to the brim with historic events, and are featured in the famous paintings. One of which is the bedchambers of Mary Queen of Scots where her dear friend was killed right in front of her (there is also a spot which is claimed to be bloodstained with his blood where his body was left). Overall immersive experience guaranteed and I highly recommend visiting this palace. Don't forget to visit the Holyrood Abbey as well, as it is one of the oldest places in all Edinburgh and is very authentic in its ruins.

Very nice experience. You will get a free whisky glass after the wine tasting session. We acquired a lot of whisky knowledge and overall it is very interesting.

Informative tour to learn about Scottish Whisky, plus the tasting after that, highly recommended.

Carlton Hill is an iconic Edinburgh attraction known for its neoclassical complex, 360-degree city views and rich cultural activities. The design inspiration is based on the Parthenon in Athens. The Greek-style columns on the top of the mountain are magnificent, like the skeleton of a temple solidified by time, and they quietly guard Edinburgh. ‌

It is a must-visit place in Edinburgh. On the hill, there are lots of good spots to get a good view of the city. Old Town, New Town, Arthur's Seat, and the sea are all visible there.

Princes Street in Edinburgh is the main avenue that separates the old and new cities. Walking on this street, you can not only enjoy the pleasant gardens and the magnificent castle, but also enjoy shopping😁😁

Princes Street is a popular shopping destination. Princes Street Gardens is picturesque, featuring a memorial to the renowned Scottish writer, Scott. Elsewhere in the gardens stands the world's largest and most unique Scottish floral clock. During literary festivals, Princes Street Gardens bursts into vibrant bloom, and performers in traditional Scottish kilts frequently play bagpipes in Princes Street Park.

Loved doing this hop on and off bus in Edinburgh. It is such a beautiful city and the drivers are so kind and friendly

Yes, it's available, and the price is cheaper than on-site. Listening to a guided tour of Scottish attractions is also a good idea. But I'm not sure if I missed something, but it seems that different buses provide slightly different descriptions of the same attraction.

The dungeons of Edinburgh Castle once held the famous Duke Alexander Stewart and Janet Douglas. The cast and special effects in the castle will take you to the real underground world of ancient Scotland, while also providing extra fun and interest.

The cast and special effects in the castle will transport you to the real underground world of ancient Scotland, with extra fun and entertainment

The University of Edinburgh is a famous British federal institution of higher learning. It has an old school district with hundreds of years of history. The university is full of classical buildings. The tall buildings are very beautiful. The school is also a free place to visit, and there are connecting areas between different buildings.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the top 20 universities in the world. Its famous alumni include Darwin (Darwin studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and later studied theology at the University of Cambridge), Maxwell, the famous physicist who proved that light is an electromagnetic wave, Adam Smith, the father of economics, the great philosopher David Hume, the writer Conan Doyle (the author of "Sherlock Holmes"), Bell who invented the telephone, and Gu Hongming, a Chinese genius known as the "Weirdo of the Late Qing Dynasty".

this is highest elevation in Edinburgh. the hike is about 1.5km, 260m elevation. hike up from the Queen’s Drive side. coming down is more difficult than going up. bring water.

Slowly walk up from the park. As you get closer to the top of Arthur's Seat, there are more gravel roads and the harder it is to walk up. If you encounter strong winds, please pay attention to safety. After climbing up, you can overlook the surrounding scenery. It's great!