Discover Edinburgh’s 200 best spots for a Senior Travelers' trip

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

★ 4.7 · 25,207 reviews

Spend a slow morning at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a 70-acre collection of plants from around the world. Walk the manicured paths, pause on a bench, and finish with a cafe stop.

Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour

★ 4.3 · 1,237 reviews

Get your bearings with the Edinburgh Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour. Ride past the Castle, Grassmarket, Holyrood and the Royal Mile with audio commentary, and step off wherever something catches your eye.

City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

★ 4.6 · 7,821 reviews

Hop on and off in Edinburgh to see the castle, the Royal Mile and Holyrood at your own pace. Listen to commentary in your language, with a special version for children.

The Royal Yacht Britannia Ticket

★ 4.9 · 3,285 reviews

Board Britannia, the royal family's former floating home, in Leith. With audio interpretation you will tour five decks, from the State Apartments to the crew quarters and engine room.

Festival Theatre

★ 4.7 · 4,176 reviews

Catch a show at the Festival Theatre, home to Scotland's largest stage in central Edinburgh. Watch national ballet, opera or a touring production in a handsome, well-run venue.

Usher Hall

★ 4.6 · 5,806 reviews

Attend a concert at Usher Hall, Edinburgh's celebrated auditorium on Lothian Road. Settle in for classical music or a visiting pop or jazz act, in a hall known for its acoustics.

Queensferry: 'Firth of Forth' Three Bridges Sightseeing Cruise

★ 4.7 · 2,759 reviews

Set sail on the Firth of Forth Three Bridges cruise from South Queensferry. Glide beneath the rail, road and cantilever spans while commentary fills in their story, and keep an eye out for seals, seabirds and porpoises along the coast.

Princes Street Gardens

★ 4.7 · 27,304 reviews

Step into Princes Street Gardens, the green valley beneath Edinburgh Castle. Follow the paths past floral displays, memorials and a historic fountain, then settle on a bench with the castle in view.

Edinburgh Playhouse

★ 4.4 · 6,041 reviews

Take a seat at the Edinburgh Playhouse, the city's 3,000-seat 1920s theatre. Catch a touring musical, comedy or live gig in a grand auditorium built for big nights out.

Dr Neil's Garden

★ 4.7 · 1,041 reviews

Slip into Dr Neil's Garden, a tranquil hideaway in Duddingston beside a still pond. Follow winding paths past flower beds and take a bench to enjoy the calm.

Royal Attractions with Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

★ 4.7 · 3,162 reviews

Cover Edinburgh's royal highlights with the Royal Attractions and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus pass. Tour the castle, Holyroodhouse and Britannia, using the three bus routes to move between the centre and Leith.

St Giles' Cathedral

★ 4.6 · 13,535 reviews

Walk into St Giles' Cathedral, the crowned Gothic landmark at the heart of the Royal Mile. Inside, take in the carved details and calm atmosphere that contrast with the busy street outside.

Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh

★ 4.9 · 2,785 reviews

Discover Topping & Company Booksellers, Edinburgh's grand bookshop of towering shelves and rolling ladders. Browse a broad range, enjoy tea in a warm atmosphere, and linger into the evening, as it stays open until 21:00.

National Museum of Scotland

★ 4.8 · 60,185 reviews

Start your Edinburgh day at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street. Wander from industrial relics to natural history displays and world cultures, all free to enter, with a cafe for a mid-visit break.

Vintage Bus Tour with Afternoon Tea or Gin

★ 4.3 · 813 reviews

Climb aboard the Vintage Bus Tour for afternoon tea on wheels in Edinburgh. You'll sip prosecco, work through sandwiches, scones and cakes, and watch the city's landmarks roll past, with the option of a gin cocktail in a teapot.

National Galleries of Scotland: National

★ 4.7 · 17,523 reviews

Walk into the National Galleries of Scotland: National straight off Princes Street. In about 90 minutes you can stand before European masterpieces and Scottish works without paying for entry.

Edinburgh New Town

Wander Edinburgh's New Town, the Georgian counterpart to the medieval Old Town. Follow its ordered streets and garden squares, admiring honey-coloured townhouses and long views across the city.

National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

★ 4.7 · 5,932 reviews

Step into the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait on Queen Street and meet the faces of Scottish history. Walk the grand Victorian halls reading the stories behind each portrait.

Valvona & Crolla

★ 4.6 · 1,314 reviews

Step into Valvona & Crolla, Scotland's oldest Italian deli, open since 1934. Browse shelves of regional Italian produce, pastries and wines, then sit down in the attached cafe for something to eat.

The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse

★ 4.4 · 718 reviews

Visit The King's Gallery beside the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a rotating display from the Royal Collection. Study art and antiquities in a calm Victorian setting before wandering the surrounding grounds.

Edinburgh Castle

★ 4.6 · 110,311 reviews

Climb to Edinburgh Castle, the fortress that dominates the city skyline. Explore the Crown Jewels, the National War Museum and the ramparts with sweeping views over the Old and New Towns.

St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral

★ 4.7 · 2,589 reviews

Discover St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, the soaring Gothic landmark many visitors walk straight past. Step inside to take in the scale of the nave and, with luck, catch the choir rehearsing.

Edinburgh Old Town

Explore Edinburgh's Old Town, the medieval heart of the city beneath the castle. Walk the Royal Mile, slip down narrow closes, and take in centuries of stacked stone architecture.

Dunbars Close

★ 4.6 · 568 reviews

Find Dunbars Close, a secret courtyard garden just off the Royal Mile. Step through the passage and wander its parterres and hedges for a quiet break from the Old Town crowds.

Golden Hare Books

★ 4.9 · 431 reviews

Settle into Golden Hare Books, an independent Edinburgh bookshop warmed by a wood-burning stove. Follow the handwritten recommendation notes across fiction, local authors and a well-stocked children's section.

The Georgian House (National Trust for Scotland)

★ 4.6 · 1,218 reviews

Step inside The Georgian House on Charlotte Square, an Adam-designed townhouse from the 18th century. Walk its grand staircase and period rooms, taking in Scottish art and furniture that bring New Town life back to view.

Saughton Park

Head west to Saughton Park, a relaxed local green space that suits families and unhurried walkers alike. Spend an hour on the paths, enjoying the park's tidy, attractive setting.

St Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room & Music Museum, The University of Edinburgh

★ 4.9 · 107 reviews

Slip into St Cecilia's Hall, an 18th-century concert room that doubles as a music museum. Browse early keyboard instruments up close and listen as knowledgeable volunteers demonstrate how they sound.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

★ 4.6 · 23,633 reviews

Walk through the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Stuart dynasty's historic seat at the end of the Royal Mile. Follow the multimedia guide through royal reception rooms, then explore the atmospheric ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

Canongate Kirk

★ 4.4 · 317 reviews

Pause at Canongate Kirk, a quiet 17th-century church on the lower Royal Mile. Walk among the kirkyard's old stones, find Adam Smith's grave and step inside to see the building's design.