Join us in Edinburgh for a weekend you’ll never forget. We’ve
come up with some great ways to help you make the most of your
precious days off with a city break to one of the most beautiful
and compact locations in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage
Site and world’s first City of Literature, there’s so much to see
and do that you can’t hope to cram it all in, but this weekend
itinerary should give you a flavour of the city and leave you
wanting more. In fact, chances are that come Sunday evening, you
won’t want to go home.
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.
Friday Night
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 you could be chuckling away to
comedy legends or catching the next big thing, making it the
perfect remedy to a long week at work.
Guided ghost tour
Time to explore the spooky goings-on in Edinburgh throughout the
centuries by getting under the skin of the darker side of the city
with a guided ghost tour. Discover shadowy, subterranean vaults,
hidden cities beneath the ancient streets or brave a late night
expedition to a graveyard and scare yourself silly while learning
about the interesting history of the Old Town too. There’s plenty
to choose from, but Mercat Tours
(view in map) and The Real Mary King’s
Close 
(view in map) are two
of the best.
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).
Saturday Morning
Edinburgh
Farmer’s Market
(view in map)
A good feed will see you right and fortify you for the day of
wandering and exploring ahead. Make tracks for the award-winning
Edinburgh Farmer’s Market on Castle Terrrace, and enjoy a healthy
breakfast in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
Princes
Street Gardens
(view in map)
After your late night, 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)
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.
Saturday Afternoon
Royal Botanic
Garden 
(view in map)
Recharge your batteries and escape from it all with a tranquil
afternoon, beginning at the Botanics down in Inverleith. A little
over a mile from the city centre lies 70 acres of perfectly
manicured gardens, as well as the mightily impressive Victorian
Palm Houses. On top of all that, the Botanics offers great views of
the Edinburgh skyline too.
Water of
Leith
(view in map)
From the Botanics you can follow the winding Water of Leith down
to this evening’s destination down at The Shore. Despite running
right through the heart of a busy thriving city, you’d be forgiven
for thinking this peaceful water walkway, teeming with wildlife, is
deep in the countryside instead. If you’ve got time, head west a
mile or so beforehand and check out the charming Dean Village, a
former grain-milling hamlet, nestled on the banks.
Saturday Night
The Shore
(view in map)
Leith has undergone a remarkable regeneration in the past couple
of decades, and is now one of the most vibrant and exciting areas
of Edinburgh. The picturesque backdrop provides the setting for a
number of excellent bars and eateries, including three of
Edinburgh’s Michelin-starred restaurants - The Plumed Horse, Martin
Wishart and The Kitchin. Soak up the atmosphere on The Shore with
dinner and drinks before heading up town for the remainder of the
evening.
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).
Electric
Circus 
(view in map)
Showcase your moves in style on the dance-floor or party into
the night with your very own sumptuous private karaoke booth at one
of Edinburgh’s coolest nightclubs. There’s also live music too, and
it’s one of the best places to catch hotly-tipped, up-and-coming
acts.
Sunday Morning
Glenogle
Baths 
(view in map)
After another late night, you’ll probably need something to
refresh and revitalise your body and spirit. Lucky for you then
that Edinburgh has a number of tiled Victorian bath houses open to
the public. One of the best examples is ‘Glennies’ down in
Stockbridge, so dig out your swimming costume and make a
splash!
Edinburgh Bus
Tour 
(view in map)
Now you’re feeling a little more perky, time for a whistle-stop
tour of some of central Edinburgh’s main attractions. 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.
Arthur’s Seat
(view in map)
An amazing view awaits, 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 shine over Edinburgh is an unforgettable experience.
Sunday Afternoon (pick two from
four)
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.
Camera
Obscura 
(View in map)
Camera Obscura and
World of Illusions has enthralled visitors
with its fascinating optical illusions and panoramic views
of Edinburgh for over 150 years. Watch incredible live
moving images of the city and its inhabitants projected onto a
table by a giant periscope, whilst your guide tells stories from
past and present.
Jenners
(View in map)
How about indulging in a spot of retail therapy this afternoon
before you head home? 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.
For more ideas and suggestions for things to do and see in
Edinburgh, take a look at our 24 hour,
48 hour and VIP itineraries.
