Mentioned by Lonely Planet Top Choices
Top things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland
"Edinburgh's Camera Obscura (meaning "dark room") is a fascinating and delightful way to take advantage of the wonderful views of the city from Castle Hill. Located immediately beside Edinburgh Castle, this intriguing attraction is housed in a Victorian rooftop chamber at the apex of the Outlook Tower. Inside this mysterious room, you can see moving images of Edinburgh's panorama projected onto the walls by the giant periscope."
"Capture five floors full of optical experiences through the mirror maze, giant kaleidoscope, giant vortex tunnel, magic gallery, horrogram and lots more, here in a world that blends reality and illusion. Distance from Hotel:300 m4 mins4 mins2 mins"
"Start at the end Princes Street and climb the staircase up the hill for some of the best views over the city – from here you can see out to the castle and over to Arthur’s Seat. Home to the National Monument, designed to be a replica of the Parthenon in Athens but never finished, it’s also where you’ll find the huge Nelson monument. At 1pm, the time ball here drops – designed to be seen by ships far our at sea, the castle’s One O’Clock gun was added as bad weather meant the ball couldn’t always be seen."
"***If you’re a morning person, grab a blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee, and enjoy the sunrise from Calton Hill. One of the most enchanting and TOTALLY free things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland. Obviously, if you hate mornings, you can watch the sunset instead, (just make sure you have clear skies, which are something of a rarity) but you’ll just have a bit more company."
"If Arthur’s Seat wasn’t enough altitude and you fancy another panoramic view of the city, Calton Hill is a lovely walk with excellent views – and much easier on the legs and lungs. It’s located quite close to the downtown area and it’s home to some of the best sunsets in Edinburgh – if you can catch it on a clear enough night, granted."
"Nestled below the castle is this charming, flora-filled park, which features walking paths as well as the Scott Monument and the Ross Fountain. The Ross Bandstand plays home to assorted concerts and special events, including during Edinburgh’s legendary hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve, celebrations as well as a Christmas Market and ‘winter wonderland’ in the lead-up to Christmas."
"If weather is good you should take a moment to relax in the green corner of Princes Street Gardens. These beautiful gardens are perfect to take a pic nic or read a book. The people of Edinburgh often visit here to meet friends and take time out."
"After your visit, consider a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or climb the Scott Monument for another bird’s eye view of Edinburgh. Royal Yacht Britannia"
"Little ones will love this small, family run city farm where they can interact with goats, lambs, chickens and even a tortoise!. There’s also a small playground and some fruit and vegetable gardens – you can purchase the fresh, organic produce at the end of your trip. Address: 51 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh EH11 2LA"
"If your little one loves animals, LOVE Gorgie Farm is a friendly urban farm that offers hands-on educational and learning opportunities for all our visitors. They also hold private functions for birthdays, school trips and farm tours. The best part is that it's free!"
"EdinburghAt Gorgie City Farm in Edinburgh we show you how to to keep farm animals happy and how to care for them properly. Although our animals move around throughout the year, you will often find pigs, cows, chickens, sheep and goats on the farm."
"You can’t visit Edinburgh without wandering along the Royal Mile – from Holyrood House at one end to Edinburgh Castle at the other, past a thousand shortbread and souvenir shops. But as you walk, talk a small detour towards the Greyfriars Kirkyard to hear the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the dog so famous for his loyalty that there’s a statue to commemorate him. As the tale goes, he would walk the streets of the city with his owner, night watchman John – or Auld Jock – until John died and was buried in the churchyard."
"Probably the most popular photo opportunity in Edinburgh, the life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier who captured the hearts of the British public in the late 19th century, stands outside Greyfriars..."
"Firstly, John Gray was an Edinburgh policeman and Bobby was his dog. When John Gray died he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby spent the remainder of his years sat on John’s’ grave."
"This is a new space in a historic area, just off ancient Canongate in the heart of the Old Town. Envisaged as a community arts and commerce project, the Old Tolbooth Market (daily 11am to 6pm) has a multicultural remit, with a Scottish/Afro-Caribbean street buffet, Jam Rock Jamaican chicken and more. You’ll also find hot Tanzanian hot chilli sauces, flowers, arts and crafts, plus live music and performances."
"Sushiya is a small, but perfectly formed sushi restaurant which brings a little slice of Tokyo to Edinburgh. The decor is minimalist and stylish, as are the bowls and plates, with the flourish provided by the intricately prepared dishes and garnishes. The food almost looks too good to eat!"
"I was always a big fan of Kanpai on Grindlay St, but their sister restaurant Yamato is my new go-to place. I love Japanese cuisine anyway but they always have Toro Tuna belly which I love."
"Belushi's is best known for hosting awesome sports events and quirky, raucous parties throughout the week. But that's not all they offer: come here for Scottish food and delicious whisky, and you'll do all of it with the best atmosphere in town."
"This is a new space in a historic area, just off ancient Canongate in the heart of the Old Town. Envisaged as a community arts and commerce project, the Old Tolbooth Market (daily 11am to 6pm) has a multicultural remit, with a Scottish/Afro-Caribbean street buffet, Jam Rock Jamaican chicken and more. You’ll also find hot Tanzanian hot chilli sauces, flowers, arts and crafts, plus live music and performances."
"The lunch menu at Bell’s Diner has barely changed in 40 years, but why change a winning formula?. This cute little diner on the corner of St Stephen Street has been serving up gourmet burgers long before the likes of Byron got in on the act. Its steaks are also excellent and come with a choice of five sauces (go for the garlic butter), while the large hot fudge sundae pancakes are legendary in these parts."
"Housed in a converted warehouse and serving a menu that’s about as far removed from stereotypical Scottish cooking as imaginable, Tapa has earned itself a loyal following among in-the-know residents in Leith. Its take on Spanish tapas dishes provides a break from the norm: there are melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and the chef’s mother offers her own recipe for venison stew that’s not to be missed."