Here’s our guide to ‘how to spend 24 hours in Edinburgh’, including free things to do in Edinburgh and some of the must-see attractions.
Edinburgh is the perfect city to get away from it all, whether you’re planning a weekend away or a tour of Scotland. From the moment you arrive you’ll breathe in the rich history, culture and spirit of our friendly city!
The first thing to do in Edinburgh is get your bearings and a little perspective, there are a couple of ways we’d suggest doing this-
- Take an Edinburgh Tour Bus, the full tour takes 75 minutes and starts on St Andrews Square, just a few minutes’ walk from Frederick Street. Visit the website for more information. You can buy tickets from us, online or at the start of the tour.
- Join a FREE SANDEMANs walking tour, this takes about 2.5 hours and starts at 130 High Street. Visit the website for tour times and more information. The tours are gratuity based free tours, this means there is no fee but you can choose to tip at the end.
Visiting Edinburgh Castle is probably one of the most popular things to 
do in Edinburgh, and worth it! It’s a great family friendly activity, you can follow one of the many suggested itineraries depending on how much time you have. If your there for one o’clock you’ll hear the infamous gun being fired! (Watch for locals checking their watches, we know the gun is always at 1pm but we can’t help but check!!). Booking your visit is recommended and can be done on their website.
After the castle, you could visit The Scotch Whisky Experience on Castlehill. There are lots of tour options available on their website, you’ll be able to taste different whiskies and learn about them from your guide.
While over in the Old Town, take a wander down Victoria Street to the Grassmarket, both are filled with boutiques and lots of places to stop for lunch or a quick rest. If you like ice cream, then head to Mary’s Milk Bar!
If you still have the energy, climbing Arthurs Seat will give you some great views of the city, it takes about 30-60 minutes to climb depending on your route (we’d recommend trainers rather than your good shoes). Calton Hill is at the end of Princess Street, it is a little more accessible and from there you’ll get great views of Arthur!
Edinburgh is one of the most magical cities on earth and has been known as one of the most haunted! Beneath the Old Town there are underground vaults, unchanged since the 18th century, take a Ghost Walk to learn the truth!
Once you’ve filled your boots with history and culture in the Old To
wn, the New Town (which is also pretty old, built more than 200 years ago), is a great place to return to. The New Town is a World Heritage site and as you could imagine, is packed with classical architecture, beautiful lanes, terraces and magnificent buildings. The New Town has three national art galleries very close together, the Scottish National Gallery, Scottish Gallery of Modern Art and the National Portrait Gallery.
We like to recommend guests take a walk to visit Stockbridge, it is a less touristy area filled with lots of local shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops. A great place to spend an evening eating and drinking, or a Sunday afternoon at the Stockbridge Market! The Royal Botanic Gardens and Inverleith Park are just a short stroll from Stockbridge, where you’ll find beautiful view of the city skyline- a perfect way to end your 24 hours in Edinburgh!
Of course, you could spend so much more time in Edinburgh, we grew up here and still find things to explore! Keep and eye out for more itinerary ideas or explore our website for other recommendations!
Visit our reservations page to book your stay in Edinburgh!
