What are the best things to do in Edinburgh?

Have you ever seen a capital like Edinburgh sitting at the top of a hill? We haven’t! And that’s why, as we enter the joyous year 2024, Navaway felt it was our duty to introduce you to this medieval city with an electric aura. It’s typically the kind of place with a regal allure that exudes mystery and curiosity. Edinburgh is undoubtedly one of the most precious places on earth: castle, endless gardens, neoclassical buildings… And here, we’re just giving you the broad strokes. If you’d like to find out more about this region in the centre-east of Scotland, follow us as we take you on a “pictorial” journey through our writings… Until you get there for real!

What to do in Edinburgh

1) Edinburgh Castle

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: It’s only natural for us to put THE emblematic monument of the country and its capital at the top of this list: Edinburgh Castle is a huge medieval fortress which is now one of the most visited castles in the world. And with good reason? It welcomes more than a million visitors every year, and is located on the legendary Castle High hill. There’s so much to see that it takes several hours to visit it! These include St Margaret’s Chapel, which bears the image of the mother of David I, King of Scotland, and is the oldest building in the country; and The Honours of Scotland, the jewels of the Crown, with a sword, crown and sceptre. We advise you to get there just before 1 p.m. so as not to miss the cannon shot, in keeping with British punctuality. Edinburgh Castle is open from 1 April to 30 September from 9.30am to 6pm, and from 1 October to 31 March from 9.30am to 5pm.

2. Take part in a sporting activity

Category: €€/Sports

Description: Let your sporty, adventurous side take over and enjoy a game of rugby or football. If you prefer a gentler sport, you can also play a round of golf or go hiking. You can also attend matches at Murrayfield Stadium, which plays host to national and international rugby lines every year. It’s the perfect kind of evening activity to do with friends, isn’t it? Sports fans, this is sure to be your favourite activity! The matches generally take place from February to March in particular, so make sure you book your holiday! Scotland’s capital has a varied sporting scene to suit all tastes. It’s a great way to take a break from your cultural and historical sightseeing and do a bit of exercise.

3. Stroll around the city and drink a delicious Scotch whisky

Category: €€/Cultural/Gastronomic

Description : After a sporting activity, it’s good to relax a bit, don’t you think? Don’t we say “after the effort, the comfort”? In the evening, take a stroll around town to discover the villages and little stone houses, some of which are centuries old. Then stop off at an Edinburgh bar or restaurant. It’s here, dear friends, that you’ll taste the best whisky of your life: pure Scottish nectar, whisky, also known as “scotch”, is without doubt THE national drink of the country. It has a range of flavours that generally leave no one indifferent, and its colour, like a fiery sunset, literally sweeps you off your feet. With an alcohol content of over 40°, it is partly thanks to ageing in oak casks that this low-calorie, fruity-tinged drink is produced. A real little marvel!

4. The National Museum of Scotland

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: Going to Scotland means eating good food, drinking fine food and enjoying a wide range of sporting activities, but it also means learning something new. And to do that, you really must visit the National Museum of Scotland, a veritable sanctuary of rare objects. In all, you’ll find almost 10,000 jewels, weapons and works of art within these robust walls, open to the public every day from 10am to 5pm, and located in Chambers Street. Come in and discover Scotland’s history in depth. By going through different eras with objects that tell the ‘great periods’ of them, you will discover more about this country, focusing on certain things that you won’t find in a history textbook. Among the exhibitions you should see first, we strongly advise you to visit the fourth and fifth floors, which mark an important turning point in the country’s history: the Scots moving from the fields to the cities. A fantastic story!

5. Visit the vaults and alleyways of the underground city

Category: €€/Cultural/ Unusual

Description: If there’s one activity that stands out and defines Edinburgh, it’s its darkest secret, its vaults and alleyways buried deep within its very being. As you explore, you can explore what was once the daily life of the city’s inhabitants in Old Town. In your journey through time, you’ll have the chance to handle (carefully) authentic objects dating back to around the 19th century, which have been found in good condition in the vaults. Isn’t that absolutely sensational? Your guided tour will give you a better understanding of how people lived in those days, long before our era. This activity is ideal for those who are fascinated by history with a touch of the supernatural, and it’s clear that you’ll come away with chills all over your body: listening to captivating and terrifying tales of bloody, mysterious and thrilling stories. Get ready to discover an even more fascinating side of Edinburgh.

6. An afternoon in Princes Street Garden

Category: Cultural

Description: To round off your stay, after having had the best scares of your life in the city’s narrow streets and vaults, why not spend some time in the “Prince Street Gardens”? These date from 1820 and separate the Old Town from the New Town. This is Edinburgh’s most emblematic urban park, which you can visit at any time of year, and which offers a unique landscape in every season. It’s definitely your favourite place to spend an afternoon with family, friends or your significant other: you can spread a pretty tablecloth on the freshly cut grass, and set up your picnic while enjoying the fresh Scottish air. With dimensions easily reaching 150,000 square metres, you’ll have all the space you need to spend an unforgettable moment! Here you can admire the Ross Fountain, built in 1872 and one of Edinburgh’s most important landmarks. What’s more, during the festive season, Princes Street Garden is a great place for Christmas markets!