One day in Edinburgh, Scotland: the perfect itinerary

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Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a wonderful place for a trip. I’ve previously written about how to spend a long weekend here and how it’s a perfect city break destination.

But what if you only have one day in Edinburgh?

Maybe you’re on a tour visiting the Scottish Highlands, or are a Harry Potter fan planning to ride the Hogwarts Express and want to take side trips to Edinburgh. Or maybe you’re considering a twin centre break and combining Edinburgh with Glasgow.

Whichever it is, you’ll find more than enough to justify adding one day in Edinburgh to your itinerary.

Below, I’ve set out a perfect one day in Edinburgh itinerary for your time in the Scottish capital. It covers the main attractions but with some suggestions for things to swap in, depending on your interests.

Best things to do in one day in Edinburgh

As you will only have one day in Edinburgh, I’d suggest focusing on the old town and new town areas of the city. If you do this, you’ll be able to walk between the sights as most on my itinerary are within walking distance (although note that some of the streets are a bit steep).

However, if you prefer, you can book a hop-on hop-off bus or get around by public transport.

Or if you would prefer to tour the city with a guide, you can browse walking tours here.

Best things to do with one day in Edinburgh

Below are the best places to add to your itinerary for one day in Edinburgh.

Start your day trip by the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens

If you arrive by train, you’re likely to come into Waverley Station, Edinburgh’s main rail entry point. If you arrive elsewhere, still head to the station, which is just off Princes Street.

While you’re here, take a look at the impressive Scott Monument. Standing at just over 200 feet high, you won’t be able to miss this! It’s a magnificent Victorian Gothic monument commemorating Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish poet and novelist. There’s a museum about the monument on the first floor.

Also take a wander through Princes Street Gardens. They are perfect for strolling around, with paths lined with impressive statues. There are magnificent views of the grand and beautiful buildings in the old town from here.

In the summer months, it’s a lively and vibrant area. When we visited, it was full of street artists and buskers, and people were picnicking on the grass in the gardens.

Walk over to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh’s old town

Next, walk over to the Royal Mile. This is the old town’s main high street, and runs from Edinburgh Castle down to The Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

The old cobbled street is full of historic buildings, and you get a real feeling of stepping back in time here. It’s especially atmospheric in the winter when mist descends on it.

Royal Mile attractions

The Royal Mile is where you’ll find some of the city’s top attractions.  There is St Giles’ Cathedral, and the 15th century house of the Protestant reformer John Knox.

You can also go down into Mary King’s Close, ancient streets beneath the Royal Mile. These offer a unique and fascinating insight into life in the close between the 17th and 19th centuries and during the time of the plague.

Greyfriars Church is also just off the Royal Mile, as is the Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland.

And for lovers of Harry Potter, you can wander through Victoria Street, a quirky winding street that is said to have inspired JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley (you can learn more about the connection between the city and the Harry Potter series in this walking tour). 

Explore Edinburgh Castle and see the Scottish Crown Jewels

When you’re on the Royal Mile, take the short walk up to Edinburgh Castle.

Built atop Castle Rock, an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle dominates the city’s skyline and was built as a royal residence and fortress. You can see it from several places in the city.

Inside the Castle

If you have enough time, I’d recommend going inside. You’ll learn about the castle’s historical periods and how it was a royal residence until the 16th century when it moved to Holyroodhouse at the other end of the Royal Mile.

When wandering through the castle grounds, you’ll see the 16^th-century Portcullis Gate, the Argyle Battery (an 18^th-century six-gun battery), the Governor’s House, the New Barracks, and the Military Prison. There is also the tiny St Margaret’s chapel, the oldest building on the site. The chapel is worth stepping into for its intricate stained glass.

Further into the grounds, you can visit the 16^th-century Great Hall, the Royal Palace, and the Honours of Scotland, which contain the Scottish Crown Jewels.

And if you’re visiting at 1 pm, you can catch the One O’Clock Gun. This has been discharged every Monday to Saturday since 1861 as a navigational aid for ships.  

Head down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse

After visiting Edinburgh Castle, I recommend you walk back down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. En route, you can pop into any attractions you pass by or stop off for a quick bite to eat in one of the bars and restaurants along the road.

You’ll also get to see the Scottish Parliament building, which is just across the road from the Palace.

Holyroodhouse is a royal palace which is the official residence of the King when in Edinburgh. It’s quite a modest building from the outside: a small yet attractive palace with turrets on the roof on either side. 

Inside the Palace

The Palace is open to the public, so you can go inside. When you do, you’ll see that the inside is grander than you might imagine from the outside (it was for me). There is a succession of grand and colourful rooms, including the Royal Dining Room, the Throne Room with two thrones at one end, and the King’s Ante-Chamber.

There’s also the Great Gallery. This is a long room adorned with a series of paintings of monarchs on the walls.

While you’re in the Palace, also make sure you climb up the narrow stone steps to the tower and bedchamber of Mary Queen of Scots. In her Outer Chamber, you can see the spot that marks the place where her private secretary, David Rizzio, was murdered by a group riled up by her jealous husband.

Wander around Holyrood Abbey and gaze up at Arthur’s Seat

While you’re visiting Holyrood Palace, pop outside to the Palace Gardens. These are pretty landscaped gardens which were once monastery gardens and where a menagerie contained several different animals.

You’ll also find the ruins of the 12^th-century Holyrood Abbey here and get to see some of the impressive architecture that remains.

From the gardens, you get a stunning view of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that sits over 800 feet high above the city.

With just one day in Edinburgh, you’re unlikely to be able to visit Arthur’s Seat. But you could consider going here if you have longer or want to swap out any of the places on my itinerary. It’s just a short drive or bus ride from the city centre and is a great place to go hiking.

Take in the views from Calton Hill

After sightseeing in the Holyrood area, head to Calton Hill. This is not far away at one end of the new town. You can walk along Calton Road and past the Burns Monument, which honours the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns.

Calton Hill is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an excellent place to explore, especially if you are looking for a panoramic view of the city. It’s an ideal spot to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and is a better option than heading to Arthur’s Seat if you don’t have much time.

We loved wandering around here. There are lots of sculptures and monuments to see, including the National Monument. Having seen this up close, it’s not surprising that this was inspired by Greece’s Parthenon.

After a stroll, you can sit on one of the benches dotted around and soak up the amazing views. You’ll get one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle from here, and on a clear day, you can just about see parts of the Forth Bridge in the distance.

End the day with a visit to a museum

After all this sightseeing, if you have enough time, I’d suggest visiting one of the city’s excellent museums.

Within a short distance of the area focused on here, you’ll find several to choose from. These cover a variety of interests, including Scottish History, Edinburgh’s history, art, and the country’s famous tipple, whiskey!

Choose from options that include the Royal Scottish Academy, the Scottish National Gallery, the National Museum of Scotland, the Royal Museum of Scotland, and The Scotch Whisky Experience.

My one day in Edinburgh itinerary

The above itinerary is based on my experience of visiting Edinburgh and what I think are the might-see sights on your day trip.

However, there are many other things to do in Edinburgh if you have extra time or other interests. Below are some ideas for different things you might want to substitute into your itinerary.

Get more fresh air and visit Britain’s second-oldest botanical garden

My one-day itinerary includes opportunities to get some fresh air: walking around the grounds of Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, and going up to Calton Hill.

However, if you want to spend some time in the fresh air wandering around a beautiful botanical, head out to the Royal Botanic Garden near the Stockbridge area of the city.

Covering 70 acres, this is Britain’s second oldest botanical garden, and a relaxing space to wander around in and enjoy the peace and quiet. On the Sunday morning that we visited, there were very few people in the garden, and it had a really calm and tranquil atmosphere.

The garden comprises many varied sections, including an arboretum, the Woodland Garden, the Rock Garden, the Chinese Hillside, and the Alpine Houses. There is also a beautiful Victorian glasshouse which contains the garden’s oldest palm.

See my separate post for more information.

Go hiking on Arthur’s Seat

If you want more hiking than gentle walking on your day out, you could also spend the afternoon on Arthur’s Seat. This is an extinct volcano that looks out across the city from Holyrood Park and provides spectacular views of Edinburgh city centre. It’s a short drive or bus ride from the city centre and is very popular with hikers.

At over 800 feet high, you can combine amazing views of the city with some strenuous exercise!

There are different hikes to choose from depending on your ability and the time you have available. This website has a good overview of the different options.

Experience more royal history

If you’re interested in more recent royal history, in addition to visiting Holyrood Palace, you could also add on a trip to the Royal Yacht Britannia. This was used by Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members between 1954 and 1997.

Today, it is open to the public as a visitor attraction. It is moored in the Ocean Terminal port in Leith, about 2.5 miles from the centre of Edinburgh.

Once on board, you can learn some fascinating facts about this retired Royal yacht. And in addition to the areas you would expect to see on a boat – e.g. the engine room and Admiral’s cabin – you can also see the Royal Deck, where the family entertained, the Verandah Deck, where they sunbathed and swam, and the areas where they played sport and performed shows.

After touring the boat, you can stop off for tea and cake in the Royal Deck Tea Room.

You can reach Leith by walking along the Water of Leith Walkway, which is about a 12 mile walk, or by catching the bus or tram. With just one day in Edinburgh, the bus or tram might be the best option.

Sample Scotland’s famous whisky

Scotland is famous for its whisky and Edinburgh is an ideal place to sample some of this. There are several ways to do this.

You can pop into some of the numerous whisky shops you’ll see and buy some to try at home, or you could try some out in a local pub or bar. Some have whisky menus where you can sample different brands and compare and contrast. 

We visited Malt Shovel Inn just off the Royal Mile and they had an extensive menu separate from the standard drinks menu. The cost for individual measures of whisky ranged quite considerably in price, so this was a good way of trying out some of the more expensive varieties without committing to buying an entire bottle. 

There are also plenty of whisky tasting tours in Edinburgh that you can book online. You can browse some of these here.

The Scotch Whisky Experience

We decided to visit the Scotch Whisky Experience.  This is located at one end of the central Royal Mile, just a few minutes’ walk from Edinburgh Castle.

The Scotch Whisky Experience company offers several different tours, which vary in terms of length and price. 

We chose the ‘Platinum Tour’, which was a fun and informative way to learn more about whisky. It included a ‘whisky barrel ride’, a short ride in gondola-type cars that move you slowly past videos explaining how whisky is made and distilled.

There was also a short film about the different Scottish regions, before the tasting class that gave us samples of five different types.

Even though I’m not a massive whisky fan, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and definitely learnt a lot!

You can read more about our tour here.

Visit Leith and try the seafood

This is one for foodies or anyone who is in Leith visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Just over a couple of miles outside of the main centre of Edinburgh, Leith is a port area with a long history of trading.

Parts of Leith have now been regenerated – so much so that Time Out apparently placed it on its list of the coolest neighbourhoods for 2023.

There are some stylish bars and restaurants in the Shore area in Leith, particularly seafood ones. So if you’re a foodie and love fish and seafood, this is one of the places to go on your visit.

Among the seafood restaurants here is Fishers, an eatery in a watchtower dating from the 17^th century, and the Ship on the Shore with its champagne bar. We ate at the latter as a treat (we couldn’t afford the champagne though!) and had a fabulous seafood meal.

There’s also restaurants and bars (including a Michelin-starred venue and a micro-brewery) a short walk away in Commercial Quay. This is a strip of bars and restaurants with outdoor seating along the side of the water in a small quay. In the summer months, it is a perfect place for a pre-dinner apéritif or post dinner digestif.

Get some sea air

Believe it or not, Edinburgh has a beach! So if you want to combine some city sightseeing with a stroll along the sand, visiting Portobello beach is a good option. It is around four miles outside the centre, and is an easy half hour bus ride away.

Portobello beach is popular for sunbathing and swimming and because of this was quite busy on the sunny day that we visited. I’ll be honest, it’s more of a traditional beach resort: there are stalls along the promenade selling ice cream, candy floss and burgers, and play areas for children.

So, if you’re looking for a quiet, unspoilt stretch of sand, you probably won’t find it here. But it’s a great place if you want a quick seaside escape on your one day in Edinburgh and fancy eating fish and chips on the sand!

The main town of Portobello – where the bus drops you off – also has a reasonable choice of eateries to try out.

One day in Edinburgh

I hope you enjoy your one day in Edinburgh, especially if it is your first time in the city.

If you fancy combining a visit to Scotland’s capital with other nearby places, you can browse options for guided tours here.

You can also read about the top things to do on one day in Glasgow, Scotland’s second city, here.

If you’re in the city for longer, check out my post on 3 days in Edinburgh.

And here are the top things to do in Edinburgh if you’re looking for romance!

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