Top 10 Amazing Places to Visit in Scottish Capital “Edinburgh”

The Capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh one of the most popular places to visit in Scotland and globally popular for its cultural heritages, mesmerizing landscapes, and medieval castles. There are plenty of places to visit in the Scottish capital that will leave you amazed.

From the famous St. Cathedral to Scott Monument or The Princess Street, there is a never-ending list of amazing and breathtaking places in the city of Edinburgh. Read along to explore the top 10 amazing places to visit in Edinburgh.

Top 10 Places To Visit In Edinburgh

1. St. Giles Cathedral

Built in 1124 by Kind David, the St. Giles Cathedral is situated in historic Royal Mile. The Cathedral is a perfect example of Gothic architecture. Discover the history of this magnificent church and don’t forget to pay a visit to the memorials. Now a Church, St. Giles also served as Cathedral in the 18th century. The Cathedral is one of the top historical places to visit in Scotland.

Visiting Hours:

Monday to Friday - 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday - 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Entry Fee: Not Required

How To Reach: Take a Bus that will drop you at George IV Bridge, North Bridge, or South Bridge. Another option is, grabbing a train from which will stop at Edinburgh Waverly. Edinburgh Waverly station is just a 5-minute walk away from St. Giles Cathedral.

2. Scott Monument

Another magnificent Gothic structure, The Scott Monument is 200 feet tall and also referred to as “The Gothic Rocket”. The structure is so beautiful that it will leave you awestruck the moment you see it. It was originally built between 1841 to 1844 to honor the life of the famous author of Scotland Sir Walter Scott.

The building also features statues of Sir Walter Scott and his beloved pet Maida.

Visiting Hours: 10:00 to 9:00 PM

Entry Fee:

Adult: £8
Senior Citizens and Children: £6
Family of Four: £20

How To Reach: Easily accessible via public transport such as buses. Take any of the bus lines to reach here: X4, 19, 29, X29, 36, 37, 41,42, 43, X43, 47, X47 and 129

3. The Palace of Holyroodhouse

Originally built in 1128 as a guest house, The Palace of Holyroodhouse also served as the official residence of the British Monarch. However, the palace has gone through several transformations over the centuries.

The Places became a major tourist attraction in Edinburgh. It features 14 apartments that are accessible to the public. Apart from this, you can also visit the royal gardens and ruins of Abbay dated back to the 12th century. Some other attractions within the palace include antique furniture, old paintings, and other royal collections.

Visiting Hours:

1st November to March- 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
1st April to October - 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Entry Fee:

Adult(above 24) - £17.50 (September to June) and £18.50(July to August)
Adult(between 18 to 24 years) - £11.50 (September to June) and £12.00(July to August)
Child(between 5 to 17) & Disabled person - £10.00 (September to June) and £10.50(July to August)

How To Reach: Easily accessible via bus lines 35 and 124. Bus 35 will take 18 minutes to reach Holyroodhouse while Bus line 124 will take around 24 minutes. You can reach here much here earlier via taxi within 3 mins from 1.5 km. Below are Travel Charges.

Bus line 35- £2 to £6

Bus line 124 - £1 to £2

Taxi - £5 to £7

Also Read: 8 Top Rated Road Trips From Glasglow, Scotland

4. The Royal Mile

One of the famous places to visit in Edinburgh, The Royal Mile is a World Heritage Site that has plenty of things to do and explore. Both new and old parliaments are situated here along with law courts, several churches, and a cathedral. Not only this, but The Royal Mile also has a number of restaurants, cafes, and departmental and shopping stores.

Visiting Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Ideal Duration: 4 hours

How To Reach: There are 5 bus stations available nearby The Royal Mile. Below are specific bus lines for each bus station.

Lawnmarket - Bus line 100
Victoria Street - Bus line 2
National Museum of Scotland - Bus line 900
Forest Road - Bus line 909
Princess Street - Bus line X37

Another option is, grabbing a Scotrail train or T50 light train. Scotrail will drop you at Edinburgh Station while the T50 light train will drop you at Princess Street.

5. Arthur’s Seat

The Highest peak is based in the city of Edinburgh, Arthur’s seat is created from the remains of a volcano that existed around 350 million years ago. The place was used for farming during the bronze age according to the traces found near the surroundings.

You can also see the remains of an ancient fort as well some tools and stones which were in use during that era. They are plenty of things to do in Arthur’s seat including a glimpse of Edinburgh city from the top while going for a hike in the morning. One of the most adventurous places to visit in Edinburgh which should not miss.

Best Time to Visit: Morning

Duration required to reach the top: 2 hours

How To Reach: Just a few minutes walk away from Holyroodhouse.

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6. The National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland has collections from all over the world. The museum features a various collection of arts and sciences. The major tourist attraction at National Museum is the “Dolly the Sheep” a replica of an adult sheep.

Some other antiques include The Cramond lioness from the Roman era, Lewis Chessman from 1831, a whale skull named “Moby the Whale” and several others. The Museum has a total collection of 50,000 mammals from all over the world. An amazing place to visit in Edinburgh if you are interested in archeology.

Visiting Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Entry Fee: Not Required

How To Reach: There are 5 bus stations available nearby The Royal Mile. Below are specific bus lines for each bus station.

Chambers Street - Bus line 8
Victoria Street - Bus line 47B
National Museum of Scotland - Bus line 23
Forest Road - Bus line 2
Bristo Square - Bus line X37

You can also reach here via Scotrail train or T50 light train. Scotrail will drop you at Edinburgh Station while the T50 light train will drop you at Princess Street.

7. Princes Street

Buil in the late 1700s, Princes Street is widely popular among tourists for its magnificent monuments, statues, and landmarks. They're also a Princess Mall shopping center situated near the Waverly Station. In case you need any assistance, visit the tourist information center in Waverly Station.

Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Ideal Duration: 2 hours

How To Reach: There are 5 bus stations available nearby.

Leith Street - 2 minutes away
North Bridge - 3 minutes away
Leith Street - 2 minutes away
Princ Street - 2 minutes away

The Scotrail will drop you at Edinburgh Station while the T50 light train will drop you at St. Andrew Square.

8. Mary King’s Close

Another tourist attraction situated in the Royal Mile, Mary King’s Close is an underground resident. It is an underground maze of rooms beneath the streets of modern Edinburgh. As soon as you enter the courtyard, you will be accompanied by a tour guide who will give a brief overview of the place. A must visit place in Edinburgh if you want to experience the old city

Visiting Hours:

Monday to Friday - 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday - 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Entry Fee:

Adult - £19.50 and Flexi ticket £22.00
Child - £12.95 and Flexi ticket £15.00

How To Reach: 10 minutes walk away from Edinburgh Castle and near the St. Giles Cathedral.

9. Royal Botanic Garden

While visiting the capital of Scotland, how can you miss the breathtaking and globally renowned Royal Botanic Garden? The garden spans up to 70 acres and is just one mile away from the city. A beautiful panoramic view of Edinburgh Castle can be seen from Botanic Garden.

The major attractions of the Royal Botanic Garden are the Alpine Houses, Rock Garden, Woodland Garden, 350-year-old trees, and Native Plants collection of Scotland.

Visiting Hours:

March to September - 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
October to February: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
November to January - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Entry Fee: Not Required

How To Reach: There are 5 bus stations available nearby.

Goldenacre - 14 minutes away
Royal Botanic Garden - 7 minutes away
Hamilton Palace - 17 minutes away
Raeburn Palace - 14 minutes away

Also Read: 5 Most Exciting Places In Belgium Which You Must Visit Atleast Once

10. Edinburgh Zoo

In case you are traveling with your family and wondering which is the best place to enjoy yourself with kids, then don’t forget to include Edinburgh Zoo in your travel List. Situated at Corstorphine Hill, the Edinburgh Zoo is the first in the world to ever keep penguins and still the only Zoo in entire Britain to keep pandas.

The Zoo also features cafes, play parks for children, gift shops, and many more. One of the top-ranked zoos in Europe and also the world leader in captive breeding.

Visiting Hours:

April to September - 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
October to March - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
November to February - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Entry Fee:

Adult - £19.95
Child - £11.35
Senior Citizen - £18.10

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How To Reach: Reach here via public transport such as bus, train or hire a private car. There are 2 bus stations nearby Edinburgh Zoo “Haymarket” and “Waverly. The Lothian service 12, 26, and 31 passes by Edinburgh Zoo on daily basis.

In case you prefer to reach here by train, then grab the train either from Haymarket Staton or the Waverly Station.

Check Train Schedule Here