Edinburgh itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · United KingdomOctober–May
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 33
- Per day
- ≈ £91
- First stop
- 08:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Edinburgh itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 33 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:
- Day 1 Royal Mile and the castle
- Day 2 Arthur's Seat and Holyrood
- Day 3 New Town and Stockbridge
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 4 and 5 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about £91 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 09:30–17:00
Royal Mile and the castle
Landmark
Edinburgh Castle
A castle on a volcanic rock: see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the 13:00 gun firing. Book a timed slot online (they sell out).
≈ £20 per personLandmark
Royal Mile
1.6 km from the castle to Holyrood. Take in St Giles' Cathedral (Thistle Chapel), the closes (narrow alleys) and the Mary King's Close tour.
FreeFood
Deacon Brodie's Tavern
Named after the thieving councillor who inspired Dr Jekyll. Try haggis, neeps and tatties.
≈ £18 per personCulture
The Real Mary King's Close
17th-century streets buried beneath the road above; plague history. Book ahead.
≈ £23 per personCulture
The Scotch Whisky Experience
A barrel ride and a tasting, with a collection of 3,000 bottles. On Castlehill.
≈ £25 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- OinkHog roast sandwiches; expect a queue.
- Camera ObscuraAn illusion tower dating from 1835. An alternative to Mary King's Close, good with children.
Day 2 · 08:00–18:00
Arthur's Seat and Holyrood
Nature
Arthur's Seat
An extinct volcano, 251 m high. 45 minutes from Holyrood Park, with panoramic views over the city and the Firth of Forth. It's windy.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The monarch's residence in Scotland. See Mary Queen of Scots' rooms and the ruined abbey.
≈ £20 per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Food
The Sheep Heid Inn
Said to be Scotland's oldest pub, dating from 1360 (royalty visited). It has a skittles alley and a village setting in Duddingston.
≈ £20 per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Nature
Calton Hill
Home to the National Monument (an unfinished Parthenon) and the Nelson Monument. The best postcard view of the city, especially at sunset.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Dean Village
A medieval mill village on the Water of Leith, a fairytale corner in the middle of the city.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Dynamic EarthA science centre telling the story of the planet. An alternative to Holyrood, good with children.
- Holyrood 9ABurgers and craft beer, just below the Royal Mile.
Day 3 · 10:00–17:30
New Town and Stockbridge
Culture
National Gallery of Scotland
Free, on the Mound. See Titian, Raeburn's The Skating Minister and Monarch of the Glen.
FreeNature
Princes Street Gardens and Scott Monument
A Gothic rocket-shaped monument with 287 steps. The gardens have castle views and a floral clock.
≈ £8 per person- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Stockbridge Market and Circus Lane
The market runs on Sundays. Circus Lane is a flower-lined back street, very Instagrammable.
FreeFood
The Scran and Scallie
Tom Kitchin's gastropub in Stockbridge, serving Scottish ingredients.
≈ £25 per personNature
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
A botanic garden since 1670. The glasshouses are paid; Inverleith Hill has castle views.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Scottish National Portrait GalleryA neo-Gothic red building. Free entry, with portraits of Mary Stuart.
- The PantryBrunch in Stockbridge; expect a queue.
Day 4 · 10:00–17:00Day trip
Rosslyn and the Pentlands
Culture
Rosslyn Chapel
The 1446 chapel from The Da Vinci Code. See the Apprentice Pillar and hundreds of carvings. Take the 37 bus, 40 minutes.
≈ £12 per personNature
Roslin Glen
A walk through the stream valley below the chapel, with a ruined castle.
FreeFood
The Original Rosslyn Inn
A village inn; lunch at the pub.
≈ £18 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Pentland Hills, Flotterstone
Winter hills. The Hillend artificial ski slope is an alternative.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Craigmillar CastleA ruined castle where Mary Stuart took refuge. Inside the city, an alternative to the Pentlands.
- Flotterstone InnA pub at the entrance to the Pentlands.
Day 5 · 10:00–17:45Day trip
Stirling and Loch Lomond
Landmark
Stirling Castle
50 minutes by train. The castle of the Scottish kings, with the Great Hall and views of the Wallace Monument.
≈ £17 per personLandmark
National Wallace Monument
The 67 m tower tied to Braveheart and the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge. 246 steps.
≈ £11 per personFood
Stirling Old Town lunch
A café next to the Old Town Jail; try Cullen skink (smoked haddock soup).
≈ £16 per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Nature
Balloch, Loch Lomond
The loch shore in winter. Luss village is reachable by car.
FreeLandmark
Luss
A stone village on the loch shore. The pier at sunset (by tour or car).
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Doune CastleThe Monty Python and Outlander castle. An alternative to the Wallace Monument (by car).
- The PortcullisA pub at the castle gate.
Day 6 · 10:00–17:15
Leith and Britannia
Culture
Royal Yacht Britannia
The Queen's yacht from 1953 to 1997, moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith. Audio guide included.
≈ £20 per personLandmark
The Shore, Leith
The old harbour and Trainspotting's neighbourhood, with Michelin-starred restaurants.
FreeFood
Fishers in Leith
Seafood in a harbour tower, open since 1991.
≈ £28 per personNature
Water of Leith Walkway
A 5 km riverside path from Leith to Dean Village, with Antony Gormley statues in the water.
FreeCulture
Surgeons' Hall Museums
A surgical museum covering the body snatchers Burke and Hare. Not for the faint-hearted.
≈ £9 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- The KitchinMichelin-starred. Book the lunch menu ahead.
- Portobello BeachA city beach with a Victorian promenade. An alternative to Leith.
Day 7 · 09:00–13:30
Greyfriars and a gentle farewell
Landmark
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Home to the Greyfriars Bobby dog statue. Harry Potter names appear on gravestones (Tom Riddle).
FreeFood
The Elephant House
Breakfast at the café where Rowling wrote (reopened). The back room has castle views.
≈ £12 per personCulture
National Museum of Scotland
See Dolly the sheep and the Lewis Chessmen. Free entry, with a rooftop terrace.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Waverley Station
Take the tram to the airport, 35 minutes. Time to say goodbye.
≈ £7 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Mums Great Comfort FoodOn Forrest Road; sausages and mash.
- GrassmarketA Saturday farmers' and crafts market.
Good to know: 6 things that make an Edinburgh trip easier
- A Lothian bus day ticket costs 5.50 GBP (via the app); the airport tram costs 7 GBP. Take the train to Stirling and Loch Lomond, and the 37 bus to Rosslyn. The city is hilly but walkable.
- December brings Hogmanay (the New Year street party, with a torchlit procession on 30 December) and the Christmas market. Winter is 3-7°C, windy and rainy, and it gets dark by 15:30. May is ideal.
- The castle costs 20 GBP and must be booked online. Museums (National, Galleries) are FREE. Pub lunch is 15-20 GBP, a whisky tasting 25 GBP; tip 10%.
- Try haggis, Cullen skink, Scotch pie, cranachan and Irn-Bru. For whisky, Islay is smoky and Speyside is sweet.
- The weather can turn through four seasons in an hour: bring a rain jacket and layers. The wind is harsh on Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat.
- Harry Potter spots: Victoria Street, Greyfriars, the Elephant House and the Balmoral Hotel's Room 552.
Spending: ≈ £640 per person for 7 days
- Food£330
- Entry and tours£180
- Local transport£60
- Other£70
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
On world lists: 1 place in this city
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 4 and 5; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Edinburgh cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about £91 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Edinburgh?
The first stop is at 08:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.