Mentioned by Lonely Planet Top Choices
Top things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland
"There’s nowhere quite like the World of Illusions and the range of illusions you’ll find over the five floors here – not to mention the fantastic views of Edinburgh from the rooftop. The 166-year-old Camera Obscura is still the highlight – I remember being wowed when I visited. There’s a 15-minute show with a guide telling tales of Edinburgh history, while showing off the whole city from the rooftop tower using the Victorian contraption, where images of what’s outside are displayed in the room."
"Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions Camera Obscura is located one block down the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle. If you are visiting Edinburgh with kids, this is an awesome spot to visit. Six floors are filled with illusions, puzzles, and optical tricks."
"On Castle Hill, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions offers five floors of interactive hands-on optical illusions, tricks and fun things to do including vortex tunnel, mirror maze and shrinking room. Tickets are £12.15 for children and £15.75 for adults."
"0 km from city center 2 out of 11 places to visit in Edinburgh. Situated on the east end of the Princes Street, the Calton Hill in Edinburgh is included in the city's UNESCO world heritage site. The National Monument of Scotland is situated on the Calton Hill."
"It’s location in the middle of Endinburgh makes it a very convenient destination. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hill offers fabulous views of Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat and the sea reaching over to Fife."
"Down underneath Edinburgh Castle is the Princes Street Gardens, a large public park which runs parallel to Princes Street, divided into the East and West gardens by The Mound. The gardens are the former site of the “Nor Loch”, a defensive lake that sat here until the mid 18th century, and was usually very badly polluted by everything that dribbled out of the medieval city. Today, the landscaped gardens are a rather nicer environment, particularly popular in the summer as a place to relax and take in the views."
"Princes Street marks a clear division between Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns. On one side, you’ll find all the high street stores you’d expect in a big city, along with countless coffee bars and eateries. Whilst on the other side, you’ll find the steps that take you down to the Gardens and, further, to the Old Town."
"While you're in Edinburgh, be sure to take a walk through the pretty Princes Street Gardens in the centre of town. From here, you’ll see Scotts Monument, a Victorian Gothic building dedicated to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is the largest monument to a writer in the world."
"A few recommendations (although there are many more), are Stirling, Doune Castle, and the Kelpies. The city of Stirling and nearby has a lot of great attractions, including Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. Doune Castle is a medieval castle made famous as the primary filming location for the cult film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and most recently used in Season 1 of the TV series Outlander."
"Stirling is a city in central Scotland. At the heart of its old town, medieval Stirling Castle is on a craggy volcanic rock. On the Abbey Craig outcrop, the National Wallace Monument is a 19th-century tower. It overlooks the site of the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge, where William Wallace defeated the English."
"Admire the modern 21st-century rotating boat lift known as the Falkirk Wheel that rises 35m in the air transferring craft between the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals."
"The only rotating boat lift in the world, the Falkirk Wheel links two major waterways, the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal,…"
"Take your children to Her Majesty’s floating residence and take a trip to The Royal Yacht Britannia!. Before you step aboard, view the 11 foot LEGO replica model of Britannia and learn about the history of Royal Yachts. Your kids will love walking on this stunning ship, listening to their own personalised audio guide, while seeing all fantastic five decks, the State Apartments, Crew’s Quarters and The Engine Room!"
"The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, a short way drive from Edinburgh's city centre. It provides full accessibility to everyone. Car parking at the Ocean terminal car park is free with wheelchair accessible lifts to level E where you will find the ticket office, gift shop and pathway to the Royal Yacht."
"Royal Yacht Britannia This is one of the most famous ships in the world. It was home to the Royal Family as they cruised to various ports around the world on official visits. Now you can tour this floating palace."
"It was established during the seventeenth century and was the main parish church in Edinburgh from 1648 until 1952. It was named “Tron Church” because the temple was located beside a weighing beam (tron in Scots), which was normally used in the town's marketplaces, one of which was on the Royal Mile. In 1824 a great fire destroyed the bell tower, but it was reconstructed so well that visitors will hardly notice that it was built two hundred years later."
"From Tom Marvolo’s grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard to the Elephant Tearooms in the centre of town, there’s no shortage of Harry Potter attractions in Edinburgh! If you’re not a huge fan of Harry Potter, then it’s also possible to follow in the footsteps of many other iconic authors who once lived in Edinburgh. A beautiful museum dedicated to all things literature and called “The Writers’ Museum” can be found just a short stroll from the Royal Mile. Inside there are exhibitions dedicated to the likes of Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson."
"Greyfriars Kirkyard offers an alternative way of exploring Edinburgh’s history, via mortsafes and funeral monuments that date back to the 16th century. Most famous for loyal canine visitor Bobby, the graveyard has a more grisly past; a Covenanters’ prison sits alongside the tomb of Sir George ‘Bluidy’ Mackenzie, whose poltergeist spirit is said to interrupt these chilling graveyard tours often – take one if you dare."
"Greyfriars Kirkyard is famous churchyard with adjoining graveyard in Edinburgh located in the lap of the nature with perfect solitude. The clam and serene atmosphere present there makes the place a famous tourist destination in Scotland. The big glass windows of the church with the entrance made of rock make it a real heritage of Scotland."
"Situated in the Old Town close to Waverley Station, this friendly little takeout has been around since the 1980s and has an old-world feel. It offers lots of vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly options, with a multitude of cold and hot toppings from which to choose, as well as salads and snacks. A large potato (or tattie, as they’re known in Scotland) with one filling is £6.50 and will set you up for a day of sightseeing."
"Baked potatoes may be a simple choice, but with such a large variety of filings, this is a great BFF spot where both can be satisfied food wise; but also great for a bit of BFF catch up time. Additionally, everything on the menu is vegetarian so it is great if either of you are a fussy eater or both want to try something different; it’s all about the taste and adventure."
"Who doesn’t love a good baked potato stuffed with comforting fillings like chili and curry?. If you can think of someone… welp, they’re completely and utterly wrong!. A potato is damn near one of the most perfect and delicious foods on the planet."
"Tucked away on Cowane Street is this tiny little gem of a café serving cakes and coffee, light snacks to breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu has an incredible array of vegan options – including vegan omelettes and full breakfasts, tofu or falafel Souvlaki and even baguettes and burgers with vegan cheese – and incredibly, the cakes they have on offer every day are completely vegan. The café itself is very small, but you can order your food to take away and even place an order with them through Just Eat for delivery."
"Each Friday, Fountainbridge hosts some of Scotland’s best street food vendors at the Union Canal, behind Avka bar. It’s the perfect spot for a Friday lunch or a post-work treat. The line-up of traders changes each week, but you’ll often find local favourites such as Babu Bombay Street Kitchen, Barnacles & Bones, Bonnie Burrito, French Connection Creperie and Union of Genius Soup on-site."
"It has been offering delectable Franco-Scottish fare for more than10 years!. The city regulars make the bistro's main clientele. A very busy and much loved restaurant in Edinburgh."
"One of my favourite lunch spot in Edinburgh is The City Restaurant on Nicolson Street. I visited this place several times when I lived in Edinburgh, mainly because they serve some of the best seafood dishes in the city, including fish and chips, scampi and tempura prawns. The City Restaurant has a very sleek and colourful interior, with comfortable seats and large windows overlooking the bustling street."
"If you’re looking for a good classic then Scotts is the venue for you. From burgers to mac ‘n’ cheese, they serve up tasty traditional fare at a reasonable price point. There’s a terrace looking over the gorgeous old town for drinks, and the interiors are clean and modern for a neutral backdrop to your event."
"Green tile, brown leather and arched Georgian windows lend an elegant feel to this modern cafe, which combines fine Scottish produce with great value. Fill up on a breakfast (served till 11.45am) of eggs... Top ChoiceCafe in Old Town"