10 Best Things To Do in Edinburgh

Even with the rain, which is a constant presence, Edinburgh is a city that shines as it did in our imagination those landscapes of the fairy tales we were read as children. Here are the 10 must-see sights and activities in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle is without doubt the jewel in the city's crown. You can see it from almost anywhere in the city centre (and I recommend you look for different perspectives to photograph it from below) and it is open to the public for both guided tours and self-guided visits throughout the year.

Edinburgh Castle not only offers wonderful views of the city, but also houses important spaces such as the National War Museum and the Crown Jewels exhibition. You can walk up to the top or take any of the city's buses to get there. In this article about Edinburgh Castle Tickets and Tours you have all the information you need to make your visit a success and if you want more, I recommend you to read this post about the 10 best castles you can see in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a fairytale city not only for its landscapes, but also for the legends and stories behind each of its corners. Did you know that one of the city's mayors inspired the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? That there was a couple of thieves who stole corpses for medical purposes? All this and much more will be told to you on the various guided legend tours that take you on a walking tour of Edinburgh.

If I have to recommend one of these tours, my favourite is definitely the one through the Old Town, but there is also a foodie trail or a tour of the New Town as an option. Leaving Edinburgh without doing at least one of these would be a regret. Here is a selection of the best tours and excursions from Edinburgh.

Fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter saga are in for a treat. The author lived in this city during one of her hardest times and wrote many of the books in many of its cafés. In addition, many of the places in Edinburgh served as inspiration for the names of the characters in the book or for the setting of buildings such as Hogwarts School. If you are going to Edinburgh with children, you will love this plan.

The Harry Potter route through Edinburgh is already a classic in the city and if you want to hear the stories behind it, I recommend that you take a guided tour. You can watch a Quidditch match, visit Voldemort's tomb, walk down Diagon Alley or have your photo taken at Hogwarts Castle. Here's all about the Harry Potter tour in Edinburgh.

The Highlands of Scotland are not only home to the famous Loch Ness Monster, they are also home to some of the country's finest scenery, with mountains, castles and lochs. During your trip to Edinburgh, you have the opportunity to visit them on an organised day trip, or if you have a little more time and want to get a little more lost in these wonderful places, you can enjoy a two-day trip or get from Edinburgh to Loch Ness on your own.

In this article about the tours to Loch Ness from Edinburgh you have all the information you need to decide to see more of this wonderful country during your trip.

And if you're a fan of one of the most famous time-travelling series, you'll already know that you can take a tour of the Outlanders locations in Edinburgh.

When you visit a new city, it seems like every sunset is special, but few are as special as the one you'll see from this hill in the centre of Edinburgh. The climb won't take much effort and from here you'll see Edinburgh Castle on one side and the city's fabulous rooftops on the other. A postcard not to be missed.

Holyrood Palace was the official residence of the Queen of England in the 12th century and inside you'll find antique furniture and tapestries and baroque decorated rooms. However, what will really leave you speechless are the open-air ruins of the Augustinian abbey belonging to the palace; an ideal setting to let your imagination run wild and feel like you're in a fairytale. If you have a ticket for the Edinburgh sightseeing bus, there's a stop right outside the door.

Haggis is the traditional Scottish dish to try in Edinburgh. It's a spicy meal of pork offal and can be served on a plate with a side dish or as a kebab. For drinks, you can't forget the capital's much-loved Scotch whisky, and if you're a real fan of the stuff you'll enjoy the specialised tours that take you through the making and history of whisky in Edinburgh.

After strolling through the streets of Edinburgh it seems hard to find greener pastures than those you've already seen in the capital, but there are, and one of the most beautiful is Princes Street Gardens. You'll find this English-style public park at the foot of Edinburgh Castle; it's home to the Walter Scott memorial and in winter it's filled with Christmas stalls, making it a must-visit if you're visiting Edinburgh at Christmas. A stroll around the grounds is a soothing balm for any stress.

Halfway along Edinburgh's main avenue, the Royal Mile, stands this 12th century cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of Scotland. One of the most beautiful times to see the interior is at sunset, when the sun sets and passes through the stained glass windows.

On the banks of the River Water of Leith you will find this small village of bridges and stone houses. Nowadays, it's a real neighbourhood as it's only a 15-minute walk from Princes Street, but it's easy to forget about it after wandering the streets for a while and getting lost in the charm of the greenery.

Once you know what you're going to see and do in Edinburgh, the next step, if you haven't already done so, is to choose the best time to travel. Scotland's climate forces me to recommend that you visit Edinburgh in the summer, but, whenever you go, you'll find alternatives to the traditional sightseeing plans:

• Edinburgh in February
• Edinburgh in March
• Plans if you're visiting Edinburgh in April
• Plans if you're visiting Edinburgh in May
• Plans if you are visiting Edinburgh in July
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in August
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in September
• Plans if you are going to visit Edinburgh in October

If you don't plan to leave the city, two or three days will be enough to get to know Edinburgh, but if you want to visit the surroundings (you can go from Edinburgh to St Andrews or do a trip to Loch Ness) I recommend you to stay a bit longer in the city. In any case, here is a list of itineraries to plan your visit and remember that if you are in Edinburgh just passing through you can save time by planning in advance the transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre.

• What to do in Edinburgh in 1 day
• Things to do in Edinburgh in 2 days
• What to do in Edinburgh in 3 days
• What to do in Edinburgh in 4 days
• What to do in Edinburgh in 5 days