Edinburgh in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

Edinburgh is one of the cities that arouses most curiosity among tourists visiting Britain. The capital of Scotland has a lot to see and do and if you've decided to come for five days you'll be able to explore all its streets without any pressure and get to know its neighbourhoods, its history and its tradition.

The city has an aura of mystery due to its medieval past and a strong contrast between the old and new areas. That's why, in this five-day itinerary through Edinburgh, I've organised routes through Old Town, New Town, great monuments such as Edinburgh Castle, excursions to the surrounding area and a few surprises if you're a Harry Potter fan.

You've just arrived in Edinburgh and, although you still have many days ahead of you, I suggest you get a first taste of the city by spending the day touring one of its oldest and most iconic neighbourhoods: Old Town.

You'll visit one of the city's most important museums and walk along the main avenues, ending the day at one of its most characteristic viewpoints.

Visit the National Museum of Scotland

If you've never been to Scotland and want to learn a little more about the history and culture of this impressive country, one of the first stops you should make is the National Museum of Scotland.

Located in the heart of **Edinburgh'**s Old Town, this museum is completely free and offers a meticulously curated collection spanning the whole of Scottish history.

The building has a very interesting and striking exterior façade, the result of the 2006 merger of the Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland. Inside, it has an impressive stained glass gallery and a beautiful upstairs terrace with views across the city.

You can choose to tour the museum on your own or follow the chronological route to understand the passage of the centuries. I recommend going in the morning as the museum closes at 5pm.

Grab some lunch on the Royal Mile

After an intense first morning of museum-going and learning, you'll want to stop for a break to rest and recharge your batteries with a tasty, local lunch.

There are many picturesque places in the historic centre of Edinburgh but, for today, I have a real gem in store for you in the middle of the Royal Mile.

It is the famous restaurant The Witchery, designed with a medieval aesthetic that will transport you to the most ancient and mysterious Edinburgh. Remember that you are in one of the cities with the most ghost legends on the continent, and here you can not only eat typical Scottish food, but also get into the bucolic spirit.

Get a good view of the city at Calton Hill

After lunch, I'll leave the afternoon free for you to wander around some of the surrounding streets of the Royal Mile and get acquainted with its cobblestone streets and wraparound architecture. However, in the evening, I suggest you go and watch the sun set over one of **Edinburgh'**s most iconic landmarks: Calton Hill.

From where you are, you'll be just a short walk from this prominent hill that crowns the entire city. At the top, you'll find a neoclassical monument similar to that of the city of Athens. Here you'll have one of the best views of Edinburgh to end your first day.

On the second day, you'll get to know one of Edinburgh's greatest attractions: Edinburgh Castle, one of the oldest sites in the city and where the city was founded.

You can also visit the Palace, another of the city's must-see sights, and finish the day with an interesting tasting of local whiskies.

Edinburgh Castle in the morning

It could be said without exaggeration that Edinburgh would not be Edinburgh without its castle. Located in the centre of the city and crowning the end of the Royal Mile. This imposing castle was the place where the city was founded and is perfectly preserved, having been named a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Since you will have enough days to see the rest of the city, I suggest that you dedicate a whole morning to let yourself be conquered by this historic place. Its impressive medieval architecture, its exhibitions, the numerous memorials and its famous canyon of one deserve to be seen at your leisure.

Whatever the season, the castle is always crowded with tourists, as it is the main attraction. Therefore, I recommend that you book your tickets to Edinburgh Castle in advance so that you can see it without hassle. Tickets are usually around €15 and it is open every day of the year.

See Holyrood Palace and grounds

I'm sure the Castle has left you open-mouthed, but there's more to come. There's Holyrood Palace , which you can buy tickets for here. The Castle and Edinburgh Palace are the two oldest buildings and are just over 20 minutes walk from each other.

Before entering, you can have lunch at one of the most emblematic places in the area and located at the gates of the palace, the Cafe at the Palace.

Once you have recharged your batteries, you can enter, for approximately 20€, inside the Palace and discover all its baroque structure that seems to be taken out of a fairytale.

On the way out, if you have time, you can stop by to see the incredible ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, located in Holyrood Park. It's only a 10-minute walk from the Castle and from there you'll not only see the ruins of a 15th-century chapel, but you'll also have beautiful views of the city.

Do a whisky tasting

Today has been a busy day full of great sightseeing and non-stop sightseeing. That's why, to round off the day, I suggest one of the most idle and interesting activities in Scotland. I'm sure you know that this country is one of the biggest exporters of whisky. This national drink can be drunk all over the world but it is here that you can learn more about its nuances.

My suggestion is that you go on one of the many whisky tastings around Edinburgh, as well as beer tastings, where you can try various strains and learn to differentiate and enjoy these drinks that will warm you up and finish the day in a relaxed way.

Edinburgh is history and tradition and you can explore all its streets on a typical bus tour, which you can book here; but it is also forward-thinking and modern, and there is no better neighbourhood to reflect this than New Town, one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city.

Today I have in store for you a morning of shopping in the main shops, a pleasant picnic in one of the largest parks in the area, and an afternoon where you'll end up having a drink in **Edinburgh'**s most exclusive restaurant.

Morning shopping on Princes Street

You are at the halfway point of this fantastic trip around Edinburgh and for the morning of your third day I have prepared a tour of the best galleries in the city.

I suggest a morning of shopping in one of Edinburgh's most exclusive shopping streets. In Princes Street you can find all kinds of shops and galleries with international and national brands.

You won't leave here without taking home a treat or a good bargain. Besides, it's not just about spending, but also about discovering a more residential and new area of the city that will give you another perspective of the Edinburgh lifestyle.

Stroll and Picnic in Princes Street Gardens

Just off Princes Street is one of the largest gardens in the whole of New Town. Precisely named Princes Street Gardens, it is a very pleasant place to take a stroll and enjoy a bit of nature.

For something different from other days, you can have a picnic in the park and have lunch outdoors.

Nearby the park you can find take-away food shops or supermarkets where you can buy something simple and practical to eat on the lawn.

During the summer in Edinburgh, this park tends to fill up, so if you're here and the weather is good, take the opportunity to enjoy a little paradise in the middle of the city.

Walk around New Town and finish with a drink in The Dome

This third day is coming to an end and I suggest that, before going to dinner, you take a stroll around the new quarter. You can go up to see the Walter Scott Monument, from where you will have a beautiful view of the whole of Edinburgh's New Town or, if you prefer, go inside the National Gallery of Scotland, where you can see the best examples of Scottish art.

Whatever you choose, I'll take care of dinner, because in this area of Edinburgh you will find one of the best restaurants in the city: The Dome. You'll be able to spot it easily as its exterior looks like the Pantheon itself with several neoclassical columns.

However, although it looks like a museum, inside you'll be able to sample some of the best local cuisine. If you can afford it, you can eat a knife and fork menu for around €50, but if not, just a bite to eat and a drink will be worth it.

If you're a film buff and a fan of the Harry Potter saga, you're in the right city as it was here that J.K. Rowling brought the iconic character to life. This fourth day will be spent seeing the main sets from the films, grabbing a bite to eat at the famous The Elephant café, taking a cruise and finishing with a spooky tour of the mysteries.

Take a tour of all the film locations

The city of Edinburgh has been home to many of the locations featured in the Harry Potter saga. If you follow the story of this young wizard and want to see for yourself the places where the big scenes took place, one of the best plans is to book a tour that takes you around all the Harry Potter landmarks, telling you anecdotes and taking pictures at strategic locations.

These types of tours usually last between 2 to 3 hours and, for less than £20, you can spend the whole morning touring Edinburgh in a different way and, without a doubt, full of magic.

Lunch at the café where the magic began

If you want to keep with the Harry Potter theme, I can't think of a better place to stop for lunch than The Elephant House, the café where J.K. Rowling began writing and bringing the stories to life.

The menu is quite simple, with affordable menus and lunches. However, beyond the food, the essential part of this stop is being able to sit in the very place where the magic of Harry Potter began.

Embark on a cruise through the Firth of Forth

After lunch I have a very entertaining plan for you that will put you on board a boat for a ride of about 2 hours. This is a cruise that takes you over the three major bridges of Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth.

To get there, you will take the tram, which will drop you off at South Queensferry Quay in just 20 minutes.

The ride allows you to see Edinburgh from a distance and the surrounding countryside, as well as crossing the World Heritage-listed Forth Rail Bridge. It's worth around €25 and is the perfect afternoon activity, as the evening will leave you with an activity that will take your breath away.

Take a tour of the mysteries

I have reserved for you for the evening of the fourth day one of the most popular activities for tourists. Since you've just come from a day full of magic and mystery, what better way to end it than by getting up close and personal with all the mysteries and legends that Edinburgh has carried for centuries?

The city offers numerous tours of Edinburgh's mysteries, with prices ranging from 20€ to 40€, which take you in the dark of night through the canals, tunnels and alleys where, years ago, all kinds of misfortunes and horrors took place.

Edinburgh has always boasted of being one of the most mysterious and ghostly cities on the continent and with this tour you can find out if it's real or not, do you dare?

You've already seen the highlights of the city of Edinburgh over the last few days, but there's still more to see in the surrounding area. For this last day, I'm going to propose a full day trip where you'll visit Scotland's most iconic landscapes: Glencoe Valley, Loch Ness and the breathtaking Highlands.

Discover the incredible Glencoe Valley

There are numerous tours and excursions to the Highlands, Loch Ness and other Scottish highlights. Many of these routes pass through one of the most incredible sights in the country, Glencoe Valley, the gateway to the famous Highlands and shaped by volcanoes and glaciers over centuries.

This incredible natural environment is just 2 hours from the capital and most tours stop off to allow you to spend some time touring the valley and taking photos of a place so incredible that it has been the setting for numerous James Bond films.

Get into the heart of the Highlands

The Highlands are a region in their own right and are one of the largest natural parks in Britain. With tours departing from Edinburgh, you can take in some of the most iconic sights and see these imposing mountains up close in a vehicle suitable for all types of terrain.

Pay a visit to the Loch Ness Monster

To finish the tour, most tours stop at one of its most famous landmarks, Loch Ness. This place has gained enormous fame due to a legend that says that in its depths lies an ancient monster.

I can't guarantee that you'll see monsters, but the view of the loch with the mountains in the background is one of the best postcards to round off your visit to Edinburgh.