If you only have one day in Edinburgh, read this post! My detailed itinerary takes you to all the must-visit Edinburgh sights in the most efficient logistical order. We can't waste a moment with only a day in Edinburgh...so follow along!
Edinburgh is sure to be the highlight of any UK trip. This city has it all. Castles, palaces, cozy pubs, cobblestoned streets, lush green space, high-end shopping, stunning viewpoints, and a mixed crowd filled with students, tourists, and politicians.
There's a reason I've come back to this city six times and have collectively spent about two months here.
There is plenty to fill your days with not only a city center filled with museums, attractions, shops, cafes, and historic streets to wander along but also the number of day trips right around the corner.
In a perfect world, I would recommend a minimum of 4 nights in order to slow down and enjoy the city and take a day trip or two…but sometimes we have limited time and can only make a quick stop before moving on to the next destination.
If you find yourself with only one day in Edinburgh continue reading for a detailed itinerary with all the must-visit Edinburgh sights and the best order to see it all in!
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This map shows everything included in this one day in Edinburgh itinerary. Click the icon in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.
- Purple - sights to see (in order) for a day in Edinburgh
- Black - coffee shops, restaurant, pub recommendations
ONE DAY IN EDINBURGH | ITINERARY
1. Edinburgh Castle
Start your day at the most iconic Edinburgh sight. Go first thing in the morning and arrive 10 minutes before opening time. Have your pre-purchased tickets ready to save time waiting in line.
You could easily spend 4 hours here making sure to visit every single building and really taking your time, but because we only have one day in Edinburgh…plan on 1.5 to 2 hours maximum.
The major draw of the castle are the views you get of the city sprawled below and walking around the castle complex. The interiors are quite bare and not that exciting.
Do your research before you visit to pick your top buildings to visit. My personal list would be the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Royal Apartments, the Scottish National War Memorial, and the prison dungeons.
Yes, the Castle is one of the top sights to see in Edinburgh, but when you’re short on time it’s perfectly acceptable to appreciate the views and the overall complex vs. entering each building.
AWA Tip: not many people will admit this, but if you aren't into castles, battling the crowds in them, and would rather spend your time doing a walking tour or something else, it's OK to skip this sight. It's a top Edinburgh sight because of the history around the castle but it's not especially memorable. It's also quite expensive with adult tickets priced at £19.50.
I actually didn't visit Edinburgh Castle until my third time in the city.
If you decide to skip the castle, still start your day here to view the entrance of the castle and then start your walk down the Royal Mile...our next stop.
2. Royal Mile
After your quick tour of Edinburgh Castle, you are now in the prime location to walk the infamous Royal Mile. The road descending from the castle all the way down to Holyroodhouse palace is just over a mile and filled with history.
If you want to stick to your own schedule, do a self-guided tour. Rick Steve’s has a great audio tour you can download in the Rick Steve’s app.
You could also join a walking tour that covers the Royal Mile. Mercat does a wonderful Secrets of the Royal Mile tour that focuses on the upper half of the Royal Mile and ends at the Castle.
If you decide to do a scheduled walking tour then you might have to move the castle to after the tour.
3. St. Giles’ Cathedral
During your walk down the Royal Mile be sure to pop into Scotland’s most important church and see where John Knox once preached during the Reformation.
Don’t miss the stained-glass windows, the statue of John Knox, and the impressive organ. Entrance is free but a small donation is suggested.
4. World’s End
Halfway down the Royal Mile, you will find a cozy “old-world” pub. Back when Edinburgh was a walled city the gates into the city stood right where the World’s End is.
Two main thoughts go around as to why this spot would have been known as the “world’s end” to the townsfolk.
One is that there was a heavy tax to enter through these gates. Because the locals could not afford the tax to re-enter the city, they in fact could never leave…hence why this wall and the location of World’s End was quite literally where the world ended in the eyes of the local people.
The second thought is that when the wall was built and reinforced after Scotland’s defeat by the English, the local people viewed anything outside of the walls as no longer theirs (occupied by the English), and therefore the end of “their world”.
This is a great spot to grab a bite or pint. This "old style" pub is known for Scottish classics like Cullen Skink soup (my favorite), fish and chips, and steak and ale pie.
5. Palace of Holyroodhouse and Scottish Parliament
As you reach the end of the Royal Mile you will walk by the Scottish Parliament building and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Unless you want to rush through the rest of the itinerary below you won’t have time to tour these Edinburgh sights. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Queen's Scottish residence and has a deep history with obvious ties to Mary Queen of Scots.
The Parliament Building is open to visitors with free hour-long tours provided by locals.
6. Calton Hill
Now that you’ve explored the Royal Mile and Old Town, it’s time for New Town. On our way to New Town, we will stop at the picturesque viewpoint, Calton Hill. It's a 15-minute walk from the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Calton Hill is your spot to get pictures some wonderful pictures of the Edinburgh skyline.
SEE ALSO:
BEST COFFEE SHOPS IN EDINBURGH | TOP 5
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BEST TIME TO VISIT SCOTLAND | IDEAL SEASONS & MONTHS
7. New Town
New Town is a stark contrast to Old Town with a grid-like design, wide streets, and stately Georgian architecture.
There are three main streets to focus your time; Princes Street, George Street, and Queen Street.
On this side of Edinburgh, you’ll find the National Gallery and all the shopping you could wish for. This area also has some of the best restaurants and coffee shops.
8. Princes Street Gardens
Once you’ve had enough of New Town cross back into Old Town via the Princes Street Gardens. These gardens were once a lake that separated both sides of Edinburgh.
If the weather is nice, you'll see locals lying about on the grass studying or hanging out with friends.
9. Grassmarket
From Princes Street Gardens you should only be about a 10-minute walk from Grassmarket Square. This square is filled with pubs and restaurants and amazing views of the castle above.
Be sure to walk up the steps of the Vennel to get a view of the castle all to yourself.
10. Greyfriars Kirkyard
Stop by an old cemetery supposedly haunted by restless spirits. If you’re a Harry Potter fan you can find the graves that inspired JK Rowling for several characters in the Harry Potter books including McGonagall and Riddell.
Beyond the back gates of Greyfriars Kirkyard, you can see George Heriot’s School which supposedly served as inspiration for Hogwarts.
SEE ALSO:
A HARRY POTTER EDINBURGH GUIDE
11. Victoria Street
Victoria Street is Diagon Alley brought to life in the real world. This colorful, multilevel street is a sight to behold!
Walk up the street and be sure to have your camera out. Stop at Howies for dinner for traditional Scottish food with a bit of an upscale flare. Their Cullen Skink soup was one of my favorites.
12. Ghost Tour of the Underground Vaults
A trip to one of the most haunted cities in the world is not complete without a ghost tour. Many visitors don't even know about the underground world of Edinburgh...the vaults.
There's a pretty spooky and gruesome past that goes along with the vaults...which makes it one of the most interesting Edinburgh sights.
Several tour operators have access to the vaults. I really enjoyed my tour with City of the Dead. I did the Double Dead Walking Tour which also included Greyfriars Kirkyard and the extremely haunted Covenanter’s Prison.
I also joined the Mercat small-group tour that focused just on the underground vaults, which was great as well.
Even if you don't believe in ghosts, the vaults are definitely worth a visit as it's quite fascinating to experience Edinburgh's underground city.
I 100% believe in ghosts and this is BY FAR the creepiest place I have ever been...I even had a ghost experience myself the first time I descended into the vaults. This experience is not for the faint-hearted.
13. Pub Stop
You'll probably need a drink after your tour of the vaults to settle your nerves. Head to High Street in Old Town. Between the intersecting St. Mary’s Street (by the World’s End) and South Bridge are a number of pubs.
The Whiski Bar & Restaurant (great haggis), The Mitre Bar, and Albanach (good fish and chips) are good options. You could also return to the Grassmarket area or enjoy a pint at Greyfriar Bobby’s bar.
McGonagalls Gin & Whisky Emporium is another favorite of mine for both drinks and Scottish food (Cullen Skink soup and haggis).
2 Days in Edinburgh
Have 2 days in Edinburgh? This itinerary can easily be stretched into 2 days by slowing down and entering all the Edinburgh sights listed like the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament building.
You could also visit a museum or two like the National Gallery.
3 Days in Edinburgh
If you have 3 days in Edinburgh consider doing a day trip to the Highlands! Rabbie's and Timberbush are two excellent small-group tour operators.
Both have Outlander tours for fans of the show as well as tours to Loch Ness, Glencoe, and St. Andrews.
My favorite day tours from Edinburgh:
- Loch Ness & Highlands Day Tour Including Cruise from Edinburgh (great for a first trip to Scotland)
- Outlander Adventure Tour from Edinburgh Including Admissions
- Scottish Highlands & Jacobite Steam Train (for Harry Potter fans)
A summary of one day in Edinburgh
And there you have it! With only one day in Edinburgh, you’ve managed to see all the main Edinburgh sights and get a good feel for the city. Hopefully, this quick taste of the city will inspire you to return and extend your stay.
If you read my post on the best places to visit in Europe – MUST visit European destinations, you’ll already know that Edinburgh truly is one of my favorite cities in the world.
The history and culture steeped in kilts, whiskey, witch burnings, and bloody battles alongside the political and university focus of the city today make this a very memorable place. Not to mention it’s located at the base of the Highlands. Some of the most beautiful scenery EVER!
I hope Edinburgh earns a place in your heart as it does in mine.
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One Day in Edinburgh | Itinerary + MUST-Visit Sights
When I need a break, I check your website to figure out where I should go this weekend. Your suggestions for one-day trips are excellent. Thank you Ash
Thanks Oliver!
Hello! First time in the UK , what would you suggest the best and most budget friendly transport options between Edinburgh and London? ( we’re a family of 5 ).
Also would it be reccomended to stow away our luggage at one of the luggage storage facilities before we make a day trip to Edinburgh if we plan to return in a day ? since most flights/trains dont seem to be luggage friendly
Thanks x
I would vote for the train. The ride is beautiful and about 4.5 hours. Once you add in the time to get to and from the airport, arriving early for security, etc., the train ends up being about the same if not faster. Book your tickets as far in advance as possible for the best price. You shouldn’t have a problem with luggage on the train, so I would just take it with you vs. the hassle of finding a storage facility.