So, you’ve got a couple of days in Scotland’s capital, but
you’re not sure what to do? Look no further, for our guide to
spending 48 hours in Edinburgh has plenty of suggestions to help
you eke out every last bit of enjoyment from your stay in our
beautiful city. Compact and easy to get around on foot, Edinburgh
is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s first City of
Literature, meaning there’s plenty of history and culture to be
discovered.
Unlike our jam-packed Edinburgh 24 hour
essential experience, for the Edinburgh 48 hour essential
experience we’ve split up the days, with suggestions for activities
and attractions for morning, afternoon, evening and late night - so
you can mix and match to suit your tastes and mood. Take things at
a leisurely pace and be selective, or try and fit everything into a
whirlwind visit – it’s your choice.
Edinburgh’s a compact, walkable city, although you might want to
resort to bus or taxi to save on the shoe leather!
To make finding your way around Edinburgh as easy as possible,
all our itineraries are completely interactive, with each
suggestion marked by a numbered icon that corresponds with its
actual location on the expandable map at the top of the page.
Day 1
Morning
Edinburgh Bus
Tour 
(view in map)
At the foot of the Scott Monument, on Waverley Bridge, is where
the various Edinburgh Bus Tours depart from. If you’ve never been
to Edinburgh before, they’re a great way to your bearings and learn
more about some of the city’s most interesting features. Hold onto
your ticket though, because you can jump on and off the bus all
day, making it the perfect way to get around the sights.
Alternatively, you could plump for an all-day ticket from Lothian
buses if you want to make full use of the city’s extensive bus
network instead – great value at just £3.
Scottish
Parliament
(view in map)
The bus tour swings in past Scottish Parliament as part of its
loop, so alight here and take a look around. The seat of political
power in Scotland, Holyrood is home to the Scottish Parliament and
despite controversy surrounding the costs of the parliament
building at Holyrood, it is an architectural marvel and well worth
a visit. You can either take a free guided tour or, if parliament
is sitting that day, you can watch proceedings in the chamber from
the public gallery.
Scott
Monument
(view in map)
Hop back on the bus and let it take you back to your original
departure point. Time to work off some of those breakfast calories
with a bit of a climb - 200 ft or 287 steps to be exact. Trust us
though, the views from the top of this sandstone tower is more than
worth the effort. The tribute to author Sir Walter Scott is the
largest monument to a writer anywhere in the world and has
dominated the Princes Street skyline since its completion in 1846.
Bill Bryson likened it to a ‘gothic rocket ship’, and as you get
closer to the giant sandstone structure, you’ll see just how
appropriate his description is. It’s possible to stop a various
levels on the way up to catch your breath and the outlook changes
dramatically each time as you do so. At the very top, soak up the
magnificent view that lies before you and commit it to memory for
comparison - it’s just one of many fabulous vistas that you’ll
enjoy today.
St Giles'
Cathedral
(view in map)
Open virtually all year round, this magnificent crown-spired
cathedral on the High Street contains memorials to around 200
distinguished Scots, as well as some incredible stained glass
windows. Parts of the structure date back to the 12th
century and you’ll also find Scotland’s chivalric company of
Knights, the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle, located here
too.
Afternoon
National
Museum of Scotland
(view in map)
The superb National Museum of Scotland houses collections
celebrating the nation’s culture, history and people. It’s a great
way to explore Scottish history, from the primeval age right up to
the modern era, and the 360 degree views of Edinburgh from the roof
garden are spectacular. Entry’s free (although some special
exhibitions carry a cover charge), and although part of the museum
is currently undergoing a £46m upgrade, it is due to reopen fully
in summer 2011.
Greyfriars
Bobby 
(view in map)
Directly across the road from the National Museum, you’ll find a
little stature commemorating one of Edinburgh’s most well-loved
residents – a little Skye terrier known as Greyfriars Bobby. Made
famous by numerous books and a Disney film, Bobby faithfully
guarded over his owners grave in the nearby Greyfriars Kirkyard for
fourteen years. There’s just time for a quick photo with Bobby
before the next stop on today’s scheduled.
Edinburgh
Castle 
(view in map)
A trip to Edinburgh, especially if it’s your first, just isn’t
complete without a visit to the city’s most iconic landmark –
Edinburgh Castle. Towering over the city, perched on top of a
volcanic outcrop, you can see if from miles around. Aim for late
afternoon, because that’s arguably the best time to enjoy what the
Castle has to offer, as it’s usually quieter, and offers the chance
to look out over the city below as dusk falls. There is a lot to do
at the Castle however, so if you’re desperate to see absolutely
everything, it might be worth considering going in the morning, or
at least a little earlier, instead.
Evening
The Stand
(view in map)
Try and get tickets for one of the country’s most iconic comedy
clubs – The Stand. All the top jokers on the circuit have stood
behind the microphone here, and with shows every night of the week,
you could be chuckling away to comedy legends or catching the next
big thing.
George Street
(view in map)
This long, wide boulevard in the elegant New Town is home to
some of the swankiest, most stylish bars you’ll find anywhere in
the UK. Sip specially-created cocktails in fabulously cool
surroundings like Tempus, Le Monde, Tigerlily, Lulu and Opal Lounge
(to name just a few).
Cabaret
Voltaire
(view in map)
Known to all and sundry as Cab Vol, this little nightclub
consists of two caverns and is one of the coolest late-night
hangouts in town, hosting some of the country’s best club nights.
Featuring everything from big name DJs to underground cult
favourites, it’s the perfect place to party until the wee small
hours.
Day 2
Morning
Arthur’s Seat
(view in map)
An amazing view to start your day, but you’ll have to work for
this one. By now, you’ll no doubt have spotted Arthur’s Seat, the
251m high extinct volcano that sits in the middle of Edinburgh.
There’s a variety of ways to get to the top, but probably one of
the quickest is to take a taxi to Dunsapie Loch, from where it’ll
only take about 30 minutes of easy climbing. Offering an amazing
panorama of the entire city and far, far beyond in each direction,
watching the sun rise over Edinburgh is an unforgettable
experience. Just make sure you’re wrapped up warm!
Princes
Street Gardens
(view in map)
After your early morning exertions, ease yourself back into the
pace in with a gentle, relaxing stroll in Princes Street Gardens.
Lying in the shadow of the Castle on the south side of Princes
Street, this beautiful public park separates the New Town from the
Old Town and its various levels are home to a plentiful supply of
status, monuments and floral displays, including the floral clock.
During the summer, they’re a popular hang-out and the buzz is
fantastic, but the best time to enjoy the Gardens is arguably in
the early morning light, with no-one else around.
National
Galleries of Scotland
(view in map)
Just two minutes walk from Jenners, at the foot of The Mound,
you’ll find the National Galleries of Scotland complex. Comprised
of Royal Scottish Academy building and the National Gallery of
Scotland, two magnificent neo-classical designs by William Henry
Playfair, it houses works by many old masters, including Titian, Da
Vinci, Raphael and Vermeer, as well as other pre-eminent artists
such as Monet, Degas, Constable, Turner and Cezanne. Best of all,
entry is free (although there is sometimes a small charge for
dedicated exhibitions). There are three other buildings that make
up the NGS – the Dean Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art in the West
End, and the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street.
Afternoon
Jenners
(view in map)
How about indulging in a spot of retail therapy this afternoon?
Kick things off in the city’s most famous department store. The
upmarket Jenners is an Edinburgh institution, occupying the grand
old corner building directly across the street from the Scott
Monument. Known as the ‘Harrods of the North’, it’s been located at
the same site since it was founded in 1838.
Multrees Walk
(view in map)
Tucked away off St Andrew Square, Multrees Walk plays host to
top labels, including Mulberry, Armani and Louis Vuitton. It’s also
home to Scotland’s only Harvey Nichols store – five floors-worth of
luxury featuring the latest trends in clothing, accessories, beauty
products, not to mention a food and wine store stocked with lots of
decadent treats. Even better, after a hard afternoon’s shopping,
you can relax with a cocktail in their gorgeous fourth floor bar
and roof terrace.
West End
Village
(view in map)
At the West end of Princes Street, centred around the colourful,
cobbled William Street, lies the West End Village – a picturesque
haven of individual boutiques, quirky accessory stores, and unique
gift shops. Just a couple of minutes walk from the city centre, but
away from the hustle and bustle, it’s destination shopping at its
best.
Evening
Theatre Show
The world-famous Fringe and International Festivals might take
place in August, but don’t worry if your visit doesn’t coincide.
Instead, get a flavour of the festival experience and take a trip
to one of Edinburgh’s many theatres instead. There’s a host of
dedicated venues, including the likes of the Playhouse
(view in map), the largest working
theatre in the UK, and the Traverse
(view in map), which showcases the
best new writing.
Late-night drinks
There are plenty of bars in the vicinity of the Grassmarket to
choose from, but two standouts are the hip and trendy Under the Stairs
(view in map) and the award-winning,
super-cool
Bar Missoni
(view in map).
North
Bridge 
(view in map)
Another tremendous view awaits now. From a vantage point on the
North Bridge, with one of the city’s most impressive buildings on
either side (the Scotsman and Balmoral hotels), you’ll be able to
see both the Old and New Towns lit up at night. From here, you can
spot many of the sights you’ve visited all in one go, including
Jenners, Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, and the National
Galleries complex.
For more ideas and suggestions for things to do and see in
Edinburgh, take a look at our 24 hour,
weekend and VIP itineraries.
