Scotland is a truly beautiful country and its capital city definitely lives up to that. I would 10/10 recommend it and it’s not a big city so you can do most of it during a day trip which is always great if you’re looking to travel and discover new places on a budget.
This itinerary is mainly for my lovely UK people, and I would even say it’s better for Northeners as to be able to do this in a day, you need to be able to get there early-ish. I personnally did it taking a train from Preston. The journey lasts about 2.5 hours and I don’t think it’s worth it if the journey takes longer since you will be doing a return trip the same day.
Obviously you can also use this day itinerary for a longer trip and just add on to it or take your time while doing it.
And without further ado, let’s jump right into it. All the places mentioned in this article can be easily found on Google Maps to help you navigate the city. In this article, I cover different sections:
When to go
One of the first thing to do before every trip is to decide when you want to go. I’ve been to Edinburgh for Easter, Halloween and Christmas and I think Halloween/Sept-Oct is the best time to go! You will get to admire the Autumn foliage and because the city has a rich ghosts and witches history, it makes it perfect for a spooky trip.
How to get there
Obviously this depends on where you are; if you are based less than a 3-hours train ride, I would absolutely recommend taking the train. The journey from the north of England through the Lake District area is stunning and that will get you in the mood for your adventures. For prices/trip details to Edinburgh Waverley Station, check here.
You can also drive there if you prefer or even fly if you want as Edinburgh airport is only 30 minutes on public transport to the city centre and there is a tram from the airport to the city stations every 7 minutes. For more info on how to get to/from Edinburgh airport, check the official website. Ideally, if you can catch the first flight and depart on the last flight of the day, that should give you enough time to cover this itinerary (provided there are no delays of course!).
Day itinerary
Whether you’re taking the train or driving there, aim to arrive in the morning but no need to wake up with the birds. When I did this, I’d planned to arrive by 10AM but due to delays and cancellations (gotta love the rail system in the UK), we arrived in the early afternoon and that sill gave us plenty of time to see the main sights so don’t stress too much about timings.
If you’re arriving by train, you will arrive at Waverley Station which is a great start because it’s fairly central.
Take the exit onto Princes St and towards the Princes Street Gardens stopping on your way to admire the Scott Monument built in honour of Scottish author, Sir Walter Scott. I personally don’t know who he is but he must have been very good to get such a big monument to his name.
Have a stroll in the gardens all they way to Ross Fountain where you will get your first glance of the Castle. This is your chance to snap the iconic picture of the fountain with the castle on the hills in the background.
Then walk back, exit the park on The Mound and head up to New College. This building is part of the University of Edinburgh and gives serious Harry Potter vibes.
From there, you can go to the Writer’s Museum for a photo op or keep going along Market St. Take a look at Warriston’s Close Stairs, you can climb up or go the long way around along Cockburn St where you will find coffee shops and cute boutiques.
On the other side you will end up on the Royal Mile, the main artery of the Old Town. If it’s open, venture in the Tron Kirk for a smooch around the Makers’ Market. Head up towards St Giles’ Cathedral, you will walk in front of the Adam Smith Statue and the Edinburgh City Chambers. Opposite the Cathedral, on the other side of the Royal Mile, check out the Advocate’s Close, a narrow and steep alley that offers a great shot on the Scott Monument below.
If you keep going to reach the intersection with Lawnmarket St, you will see a pub named Deacon Brodies Tavern after Deacon William Brodie, who inspired the character of Jekyll and Hide.
From this crossing, go down towards Victoria Street. Some people say that this street inspired JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. You will even find HP stores here and if you’re hungry, get lunch at Oink, the famous place for sandwich pulled pork.
If you fancy something else or you just want to sit down for a bit, keep going down Victoria St and you’ll end up on the Grassmarket. There’s usually a market here where you might find lunch to your liking. Otherwise, you can also enter of one the many pubs around the market place and opt for a traditional roast or if you’re feeling adventurous, try the Scottish haggis. I won’t tell you what it’s made of because that might stop you from trying it…
The Grassmarket is where public executions and hangings used to take place and The Last Drop is the historic pub where convicts went to have a last drink before their death penalty was executed.
For another photo op, walk up the Vennel, an alleyway that offers another great viewpoint of the Castle. You can find this alley next to Mary’s Milk Bar and why not get some ice cream dessert since you’re here.
Once you’ve got all your pictures, head back down, across the place and up Granny’s Green Steps to get closer to the Castle. Then take a right to get back on the Royal Mile. You will arrive in front of Tolbooth Kirk, an iconic Edinburgh landmark.
If you want a view of Victoria St from above, turn towards Victoria Terrace.
Otherwise, walk along the Royal Mile to finally reach the Castle esplanade; you will walk past the Scottish Whisky Experience and the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions. The visit of the Castle is not included in this day itinerary as this would take too much time but it’s always an option if you want to do it. Otherwise, you can just take some time to take in the views from the Esplanade.
After this, you should still have some time to pay a visit to the Greyfriars Kirkyard, the famous cemetery of the city. In there, you will see Thomas Riddell’s Grave (yes that Tom Riddell) and if you look at the graves, you might recognise other names from Harry Potter. You will also see Bobby’s statue, the dog who wouldn’t leave his master’s grave for 14 years!
Walk back towards the center on the main road and you will walk past the Elephant House, the “birthplace of Harry Potter” where JK Rowling spent some time writing her stories of the young wizard. Unfortunately, every time I went, the place was closed due to a fire and I’m not sure when/if it will reopen.
Before the sun sets, walk up Calton Hill for majestic views of the Scottish capital. Spend some time there, relax and let everything you saw today sink in. You can even bring some drinks or some snacks to watch the sun sets over Edinburgh. If you walk around a bit, you will catch views of Arthur’s Seat, an ancient extinct volcano that you can climb (not included in this day trip).
And that’s it, you’ve done it, you’ve spent the whole day wandering the streets of Edinburgh, that’s another city to pin/scratch on your map. You can head back down to the train station or your car and say farewell to the Scottish capital.
You’ve created those memories, share them on social media and don’t forget to tag me @thatravellinggirl so I can see all your amazing shots!
Love,
Marine xx