Edinburgh Trip Planning & Itineraries

Day 1: Old Town and Edinburgh Castle

Your recipe for a successful day: a hearty breakfast, good shoes and a brave heart! You'll face history, beauty, stairs - and perhaps a few ghosts! Edinburgh's history is long, fascinating and somewhat bloody. The dark volcanic stone adds to the brooding feel as Edinburgh Castle and Arthurs Seat watch over this captivating city. If you're not a great walker, hop on and off the bus tour.

Dating from the 11th century, the Old Town is a warren of closes (entrances) and wynds (lanes), of tenement buildings and the elegance of Royal Mile. Head up here to the castle and start your visit to Edinburgh with the fortress that began it all. See the views, the Stone of Destiny and St Margaret's Chapel (the oldest building in Edinburgh). Then wander back to Royal Mile, exploring as you go. See how people lived in the 16th century in Gladstone's Land tenement, or hear some real history at John Knox House dating from 1490! The scandal ridden construction of Scottish Parliament is 2004's addition to Old Town. Check whether the Queen is in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and visit the Picture Gallery where Mary, Queen of Scots witnessed the murder of her secretary (and lover?). Nearby Holyrood Park is 260 hectares of wilderness and if you climb Arthur's Seat, the view is your reward.

To end your day, head for Grassmarket which is nowadays full of pubs and restaurants. Once it was a place for public executions and notorious murderers Burke and Hare who sold their victims bodies to the local medical schools.. you have to wonder about the police force of 1827!

More Edinburgh Walking Tours »

Day 2: New Town, Parks and Modern Edinburgh

New Town dates from the 18th century. It's on the parallel ridge to the Old Town, separated by Princes Street Gardens. New Town was carefully planned by the wealthy of Edinburgh who wanted out of the stench and chaos of Old Town. 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 has great views of the tangled buildings of Old Town, as well as being your best destination for shopping. If you like art and museums, head for the Royal Scottish Academy which was recently refurbished (but maintains its charter of showing predominantly Scottish art), the next door National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Now, head for the water. Leith is Edinburgh's main port and the area has recently been revived. Now you'll find some of the city's best bars and restaurants there, as well as the royal yacht Britannia which was used by the royal family until 1997.

More Edinburgh Walking Tickets & Passes »

Day 3: Discovering Scotland

Today, head for the hills! Scotland is known for its beautiful landscapes and lochs, its castles and ancient battles, its golf and its whisky. The Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness are probably the most famous and must-sees. With Loch Lomond, the largest of them all, also worth a look. The Scottish Highlands have a wild beauty all their own and are dotted with castles. Stirling Castle sits perched on a craggy outcrop where there has been a fortress since 1000BC! Visit the existing castle for medieval and Renaissance architecture. Scotland invented golf when bored shepherds hit a few rocks around, so it's not surprising St Andrews is considered the home of golf. And you can't visit Scotland without paying homage to its most famous product: whisky.

If you have more days for touring, head for the dramatic west coast Scottish isles. On the way to the magical Isle of Skye, see Eilean Donan Castle, set of the movie Highlander. If you've grown to love Scotland through TV's Monarch of the Glen, don't miss Loch Laggan where the show was filmed. Or if its The Da Vinci Code that has you curious, head to Rosslyn Chapel.

More Day trips from Edinburgh »