3 Days in Edinburgh: Suggested Itineraries

Written by Viator, August 2010

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3 Days in Edinburgh: Suggested Itineraries

In August, the Festival City explodes with arts events and the streets fill with a cosmopolitan melange of visitors high on a heady mix of culture and single malt.

Day 1: Old Town and Edinburgh Castle

The Old Town is a warren of closes (entrances) and wynds (lanes), of tenement buildings and the elegance of Royal Mile. Start at the castle and explore Royal Mile, then see how people lived in the 16th century in Gladstone's Land tenement. If the Queen isn't in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, you can still visit the Picture Gallery and wander nearby Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat. To end your day, head for Grassmarket, nowadays full of pubs and restaurants. but once a place for public executions.

Day 2: New Town, Parks and Modern Edinburgh

New Town dates from the 18th century. Graceful neoclassical buildings front squares, circuses and parks. Don't miss George Street, and Charlotte Square, where Scotland's First Minister lives. Princes Street runs alongside the gardens and, as well as great shopping, has great views of the tangled buildings of Old Town. Art lovers head for the Royal Scottish Academy, the next door National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Waterside Leith is Edinburgh's main port and the area has recently been revived. This is where you'll find some of the city's best bars and restaurants, as well as the royal yacht Britannia.

Day 3: Discovering Scotland

The Scottish Highlands have a wild beauty all their own and are dotted with castles and famous lakes like Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. Stirling Castle sits perched on a craggy outcrop where there has been a fortress since 1000BC. Scotland invented golf, and St Andrews is considered the home of golf. And you can't visit Scotland without paying homage to its most famous product: whisky. All are within day trip distance of Edinburgh.

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Underground Vaults Walking Tour in Edinburgh

Excellent tour!!
It was very fascinating going to underground Edinburgh and learning about it's history.
Marty our tour guide was informative and very entertaining :)
Would recommend this to everyone!!

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh

highly informative and entertaining the tour guide was funny and so was the skeleton/monk and learnt a lot about
the history of Edinbugh.Would definately go on another walking tour Well done worth the money and also received book which was very interesting

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh

This is one tour not to miss, great fun, the tour guide is such a character and really looks the part. Scary history lesson, highly recommended.

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