Are you planning a trip to Scotland and need inspiration for the best activities to do in Edinburgh that aren’t the Edinburgh Castle or the Royal Mile? Here are 11 great ideas to make your trip super fun and memorable!
Whether you’re looking for free activities to do in Edinburgh, activities to do in Edinburgh for adults, or things in do in Edinburgh city center, you’ll find it below! Google Maps locations and links provided wherever able!
11 Best Activities to Do in Edinburgh
Free Activities to do in Edinburgh
1. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Looking for free things to do in Edinburgh? The Royal Botanic Garden should be at the top of your list! It’s a beautiful walk up to the Botanic Garden from the bustling old town, but it feels like you’re in a whole different world!
The Garden has free entrance, clean bathrooms, and tons of areas to sit and soak in a tranquil garden view. You can even get great views of the Old Town from the garden path near the Terrace Cafe!
I recommend you buy a pastry and coffee from Lannan Bakery on your way up to the garden, bring a good book, walk to the “Chinese Hillside” garden, and relax under the pagoda for a little while before soaking in the view of old town from Terrace Cafe!
You could easily spend an hour here.
2. Meander along the Water of Leith Walkway
This is a several mile greenway, largely paved with some packed dirt/gravel, almost entirely flat, that winds through several cute areas north of the city center.
I took it just behind the Roseate Hotel and walked it for about 2 miles through stunning Dean Village and all the way to St. Bernard’s Well before heading back into town.
The best thing about Water of Leith Walkway? It’s a choose-your-own-adventure! Technically, the entire thing is several miles long (around 8-10 miles), but you can just choose which segment you want to see. There are so many access points to pop in and out.
And of course, it is totally free! So this is another great one to add to your “Free Things to Do in Edinburgh” list.
You could easily spend 2-3 hours exploring this Greenway and the many awesome Edinburgh sites it will show you.
3. Princes Street Gardens
Another free thing to do in Edinburgh! This beautiful garden is more of a traditional garden walk experience than the ones I’ve listed above … you’ll find vendors, food options, and more.
Most importantly, you will get the most stunning views of the Edinburgh Castle! You could easily spend 1-2 hours walking through the garden, catching the garden from different angles. Next, I would recommend exiting the garden and taking pictures of the castle from Vennel stairs!
4. National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait
Yet another awesome activity to add to your “Free things to do in Edinburgh” list! There is no entry fee for this stunning gallery. The artwork is well worth a visit, and you might even find portraits of your favorite Scottish figures!
But the real star of this Gallery is the balcony overlooking the Great Hall! Here, you’ll get these stunning views of the neo-Gothic architecture, constellations painted all over the ceiling, and wide murals depicting Scottish history.
5. See the view from Calton Hill
The path up to Calton Hill is a bit steep, but it is well paved. At the top, you will find multiple monuments with stunning 360° views over Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat, and beyond. I especially recommend checking out the view from the Dugald Stewart Monument.
Paid Activities to do in Edinburgh that are Worthwhile!
6. Wheel of Fate Witchy Classes
If you were hoping for spooky, witchy vibes in Edinburgh, you’ve got to check out Wheel of Fate! This is a great store specializing in all things witchcraft. The space is so atmospheric, and the staff are very helpful and kind!
Best of all? They hold multiple events weekly including book binding classes, broom making workshops, tarot card readings, and more! They book up ahead of time, so if you’re interested, make sure to book you class here!
This would be a great group activity idea for Edinburgh!
7. Islander Workshop
Islander is an Instagram famous chain of tartan accessories – most notably handbags – throughout Scotland. I loved exploring their stores with all the different colors, leathers, and styles!
What’s extra special though, is that they offer workshops where you can make your own Islander bag! You get to choose the leather, the features, and the tartan, and even help assemble it!
Unfortunately, while I loved the stores themselves, I didn’t register for the workshops on time, and every time slot was already waitlisted. So please make sure to register for this experience in advance if you want to check it out!
This would be another great idea for a group trip to Edinburgh!
8. Scotch Whisky Tour & Tasting
What could be more classic than a Scotch whiskey tour and tasting? There are many of these whiskey tours based in Edinburgh, but we highly recommend going through Get Your Guide to make sure you’re being connected with real, local guides with great reviews!!
9. Holyrood Palace & Abbey
Holyrood Palace is the traditional residence of the Royal Family in Scotland … like the Buckingham Palace equivalent in a way. And right behind the palace are the stunning ruins of Holyrood Abbey! The tour of the palace and abbey is an expensive ticket at £25, but includes an audio guide and is very worthwhile if you’re a history fan.
You learn a ton about the history of the Monarchy in Scotland, particularly about Mary Queen of Scots. And the Abbey ruins are truly stunning!
10. Bookshop Crawl
Edinburgh is famous for its cozy, academic atmosphere, so it is maybe the best place in the world for a bookshop crawl! We did an entire post covering the 10 best bookshops in Edinburgh (with links to their Google Map locations), which you could use to plan a whole day of exploring independent, second hand, and antique bookshops throughout the city center!
11. Vintage Shopping
Another super fun activity to do in Edinburgh is to hop around the many Vintage clothing and jewelry stores near Grassmarket. Vintage stores give you a feel for the local style and culture, and vintage items are way more fun as souvenirs!
We’ve provided a whole list of the best vintage stores in Edinburgh city center, but I would especially recommend checking out Armstrong’s for second-hand kilts if you’re looking for a super cool souvenir!
