https://https://www.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/edinburgh/best-things-to-do/100000007559/?locale=en-US
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Top 20 Best Things to Do in Edinburgh [2026]

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
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Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

4.7
/5
2816 reviews
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9.9
Based on 53,990 reviews
Edinburgh Old Town | 891m from downtown
Phone +441312259846
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–4 hours
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Achieved a 3-year streak on the annual lists
Highlights:
󰀆Watch the 1 PM cannon firing at Castle Square
󱨜Enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the capital of Scotland
󱨠Saved by 1421 person󱨠1977 positive reviews
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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.

We arrived as scheduled. After collecting our tickets, we were led inside by staff. Audio guides were available for rent at the entrance. The entire tour, including the numbered attractions, took about an hour and a half. The scenery on the castle was beautiful, but a trench coat was necessary for this season as it was a bit chilly. Edinburgh is a great place to escape the summer heat.

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Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh Old Town
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Edinburgh Old Town

Edinburgh Old Town

4.9
/5
132 reviews
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9.0
Based on 16,377 reviews
Edinburgh Old Town | 487m from downtown
Phone +447112018604
Address: Edinburgh, UK
Recommended sightseeing time: 3–5 hours
Highlights:
󰀆Enjoy artistic vibes with street performances
󱨜Explore the historic Royal Mile
󱨠Saved by 537 person󱨠109 positive reviews
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La vieille ville d'Édimbourg, près de la montagne, a une belle vue de la pierre de l'âge moyen. Édimbourg n'est pas seulement une ville financièrement lourde, mais aussi un salon d'art, se promenant dans les rues et se rendant à la joie des artistes partout. C'est là que se trouvent les habits traditionnels écossais, et la combinaison entre l'art et la vie fait que les gens se souviennent et méritent un voyage.

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

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Palace of Holyroodhouse
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Palace of Holyroodhouse
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Palace of Holyroodhouse

Palace of Holyroodhouse

4.7
/5
355 reviews
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8.6
Based on 12,339 reviews
998m from downtown
Phone +443031237306
Address: Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–3 hours
Highlights:
󱨜Remembering the legendary life of Queen Mary
View the rare collection at the Royal Gallery
󱨠Saved by 486 person󱨠173 positive reviews
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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.

Very convenient. I booked through Ctrip one day in advance and entered smoothly the next day. Holyrood Palace has a Chinese audio guide, and the tour route is well-designed. It includes stories about Mary, Queen of Scots' court life, which is very interesting. Finally, I visited the adjacent monastery ruins and gardens. The back entrance is the Arthurian throne trailhead, and the view of Arthurian throne from there is spectacular.

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No.

4

The Scotch Whisky Experience
The Scotch Whisky Experience
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The Scotch Whisky Experience

The Scotch Whisky Experience

4.4
/5
225 reviews
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7.4
Based on 7,762 reviews
Edinburgh Old Town | 690m from downtown
Phone +441312200441
Address: 354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–3 hours
Highlights:
Sample 270 Scottish whiskies
Explore whiskey culture on an electric barrel car tour
󱨠Saved by 407 person󱨠127 positive reviews
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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.

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No.

5

Calton Hill
Calton Hill
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Calton Hill

Calton Hill

4.6
/5
516 reviews
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7.2
Based on 9,653 reviews
New Town | 398m from downtown
Phone +441315297061
Address: Edinburgh EH7 5AA, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Enjoy a leisurely picnic on the mountaintop lawn
󱨜Take panoramic photos at sunrise and sunset
󱨠Saved by 541 person󱨠158 positive reviews
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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. ‌

"Bagpipes sound from afar, I only care about your news. The castle keeps secrets for love, and I keep memories for you." This is the location of Jay Chou's MV "Obviously", and it is also the birthplace of J.K. Rowling's creation of "Harry Potter". If you dream of a medieval city in a magical world, then you must come here in this life. Every building is a natural movie background, and every corner seems to hide a secret passage to another world. In the end, when the sunset on Calton Hill confiscated time, Edinburgh, becoming amber that never fades, will always remain in my memory.

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No.

6

Princes Street
Princes Street
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Princes Street

Princes Street

4.8
/5
340 reviews
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6.5
Based on 1,797 reviews
Royal Mile | 627m from downtown
Phone +441315107575
Address: Edinburgh, UK
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–3 hours
Highlights:
Art galleries bringing together contemporary Scottish creativity
󱨜Enjoy magnificent views of Edinburgh Castle
󱨠Saved by 300 person
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There are a lot of people here, the streets are relatively concentrated and clean, many shops are worth visiting, there are many artists on the street, if you are interested, you can always take a look, there are also owls you can take photos with! 5 pounds per person

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😁😁

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No.

7

Edinburgh Bus Tours
Edinburgh Bus Tours
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Edinburgh Bus Tours

Edinburgh Bus Tours

4.9
/5
12 reviews
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6.3
Based on 1,528 reviews
New Town | 364m from downtown
Phone +441314750618
Address: Edinburgh, united kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–3 hours
Highlights:
󱨜Edinburgh bus tour of ancient streets
Explore Edinburgh culture with multilingual guided tours
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Loved doing this hop on and off bus in Edinburgh. It is such a beautiful city and the drivers are so kind and friendly

No.

8

St Giles' Cathedral

St Giles' Cathedral

4.4
/5
168 reviews
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6.3
Based on 6,807 reviews
Edinburgh Old Town | 450m from downtown
Phone +441312260674
Address: High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Explore artistic treasures on a guided church tour
󱨜The design of the tower's top is modeled on the Crown of Scotland.
󱨠Saved by 276 person
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When you travel to Edinburgh in the UK, you can't miss St. Giles' Cathedral, the heart of the city. St. Giles' Cathedral is a religious and cultural landmark in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located in the middle of the Royal Mile and is famous for its unique Scottish crown spire. It is known as the "Mother Church" of the Scottish Presbyterian Church.

Starting from the appearance of St. Giles Cathedral, it is so solemn and sacred! Walking into the church is even more awe-inspiring. Its architectural design, sculpture art, and historical traces are all touching and worth your visit!

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No.

9

The Edinburgh Dungeon
The Edinburgh Dungeon
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The Edinburgh Dungeon

The Edinburgh Dungeon

4.1
/5
20 reviews
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6.2
Based on 6,690 reviews
Edinburgh Old Town | 288m from downtown
Phone +441312401001
Address: 31 Market Place, Edinburgh EH1 1DF, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
󰀆Witch trial historical reenactment performance
󱨜Explore the dungeon and immerse yourself in its historic atmosphere
󱨠Saved by 110 person
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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

No.

10

Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat
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Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat

4.7
/5
199 reviews
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6.1
Based on 21,860 reviews
1.9 km from downtown
Phone +441316528150
Address: Edinburgh EH15 3PY, United Kingdom
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–3 hours
Highlights:
Beautiful sunrise and sunset views from the mountaintop
󱨜Explore 2,000-year-old castle ruins
󱨠Saved by 304 person󱨠47% positive reviews
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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!

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