Your Ultimate Guide to Edinburgh — Destination Dreamer Diaries

Edinburgh is one of the most unique cities I have ever been to in my life. Covered in medieval charm, rolling hills, and little pubs – this is cute city has its own personality that deserves ample amount of time to explore in full.

View of Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh; September 2024

How many days should I stay in Edinburgh?

While you can see all of the major sites in Edinburgh within 2 days, it’s better to opt for 3-4 full days to ensure you cover all of your basis at a slower pace. We opted for 5 nights in Edinburgh, with a day trip to Glasgow.

Top 12 Things to Do While in Edinburgh

1. Edinburgh Castle – Although touristic, it really is one of the most impressive and biggest Castles I have ever seen in Europe – try to go earlier as it gets packed with tourists, but even at 5pm it’s do-able.

View of Edinburgh Castle; September 2024

2. Scottish Whiskey Experience – Even as someone who doesn’t drink, I think this is a must-do while in Edinburgh – it is one of the most visually and sonically immersive tours I’ve ever been on. It’s clear the people who work there love their job, and you’ll get to taste some whiskey (or as we Americans called, “scotch”) too!

3. The Royal Mile – This is absolutely covered with tourists, but rightfully so – it’s extremely pretty and filled with lots of pubs and unique souvenir shops. You’ll end up walking this a few times anyways during your stay just as it’s in close proximity to many other touristic sites such as the castle and the Scottish Whiskey Experience.

4. Princess Street Gardens – Reminiscent of Luxembourg with its deep crevices and stunning greenery, this is perhaps the prettiest place in Edinburgh – decked with floral and an unmatched ambiance on a Sunday afternoon.

Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh; September 2024

5. Dean’s Village – Less than a 20-minute walk away from New Town, this residential part of Edinburgh is worth exploring for it’s warm colored architecture in the middle of a forest and quintessential creek.

Dean’s Village in Edinburgh; September 2024

6. Circle Lane – Although it’s nothing more than a picturesque street, it’s worth the visit just because of how quiet, quaint, and cute this curved lane is.

Circle Lane in Edinburgh; September 2024

7. Old Town & Victoria Street – This is the place to go for all of your cute pubs, colorful photos, and witchy souvenirs.

Victoria Street in Old Town Edinburgh; September 2024

8. The Vessel – If you don’t mind climbing some stairs, this will be the shot for Edinburgh Castle.

View of Edinburgh Castle from The Vessel; September 2024

9. New Town – Charming and reminiscent of downtown Bethesda, this is the place in Edinburgh to wander for more modernize shopping, pubs, and different cuisines – such as Mexican food and other trendy restaurants.

Restaurant in New Town with Pink Flowers and Opaque Blue Chairs; September 2024

10. Newhaven Harbor & Waterfront – Eerily quiet during shoulder season and a couple miles north of the main tourist attractions in Edinburgh, this is worth the trip for those who enjoy seafood and walking alongside the water.

Newhaven Harbor in Edinburgh; September 2024

11. Calton Hill – If you’re down to climb a series of stairs, this is probably the best unobstructed view of Edinburgh.

View of Edinburgh from Calton Hill; September 2024

12. Edinburgh Market – Open year-round on Saturdays from 9AM-2PM, this is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in Scottish culture. From food to souvenirs, this is the local’s place to buy fresh produce and small gifts. I even found vegan desserts and vegan haggis role! Check out my vlog at the bottom of this blog post to see the market in action.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

When staying in Edinburgh, you’ll be relatively equidistant from everything – meaning that whether your hotel is in Old Town or near Edinburgh Waverly Train Station, you’ll be close to all of the major tourist attractions.

If you want to stay a little further away from the touristic stuff, you can opt for a hotel west of Princess Street Gardens or North of New Town.

View of Edinburgh from Edinburgh Castle; September 2024

Walking in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city made for walking! Be sure to bring walkable shoes, and furthermore – for lots of stairs and steep inclines at times. In this sense, Edinburgh is like a baby version of Monte Carlo, Lisbon, and the city I find it to be most alike – Luxembourg City.

Driving in Edinburgh

If you’re going to rent a car from Edinburgh to drive to the Isle of Skye like we did, beware – driving in Edinburgh city is somewhat of a nightmare. There are sharp U-turn-like right turns, narrow lanes, and roundabouts where locals go too fast.

Take your time, stay focused, and limit distractions when driving in Edinburgh.

Uber is available if you need, though they tend to avoid driving to the exact place – so be ready to message the driver your exact address.

Royal Mile on a Cloudy Day; September 2024

Our Recommendations on Where to Eat in Edinburgh (Both Vegan and Non-Vegan with Vegan Options)

· The Festival – Vegan beyond meat burger cooked to perfection with incredibly flavorful vegan chili.

· Innis & Gunn – Typical pub that gets the job done if you’re in a crunch and hungry!

· The Mad Hatter – The best vegan burgers we had in Edinburgh, with the cutest atmosphere – hands down.

· Holy Cow – Hard to find as it’s underground and away from major tourist sites, but a great place to go if you need a break from pub food.

· The Chanter – Can get noisy on a weekend with locals, but incredible vegan cauliflower wings, burgers, and mushroom tacos!

Is it hard to be vegan in Scotland?

Not at all! We found that nearly every single pub had a vegan burger option, or even other creative vegan dishes beyond soup or salad.

I’m guessing the reasoning behind this is their use of local produce and also wanting to ensure that all friends with various dietary restrictions can all meet up at the pub and enjoy their time.

We even found vegan places, vegan groceries, and oat milk in the middle of nowhere in the Isle of Skye.

Amazing vegan burgers at the Mad Hatter!

The Best Coffee Shops in Edinburgh

· Union Brew lab

· Lowdown

· Hideout Café

· Soderberg

· Lovecrumbs

· The Milkman

· Artisan Roast

· Thomas J Walls

Ultimately, Edinburgh is a charming medieval style city with West Village style town homes, greenery, and super friendly people. You’ll have a blast on your trip. I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Edinburgh!

Want to see our trip to Edinburgh in action? Watch the vlog below!

Need more advice for your trip to Scotland? Click here for blog posts on Glasgow and the Isle of Skye.