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

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 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.

Arthur's Seat

★ 4.8 · 5,171 reviews

Climb Arthur's Seat, the volcanic summit that towers over Edinburgh's Old Town. Choose a path through Holyrood Park, reach the top, and take in the city and Firth of Forth spread out below.

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.

Witches & History Old Town Walking Tour

★ 4.8 · 1,406 reviews

Meet the real women behind Edinburgh's witch trials on the Witches & History Old Town Walking Tour. Follow your character guide along the Royal Mile and through hidden lanes, ending in Grassmarket with Maggie Dickson's remarkable story.

The Original Pub Crawl 7 Bars 7 Shots & Discounts

★ 4.5 · 934 reviews

Discover Edinburgh's Old Town after dark on The Original Pub Crawl, a guided night built for meeting fellow travellers. Hop between seven venues with your party guide, sipping included shots and a starter bomb while enjoying discounts and covered entry.

Water of Leith Walkway

Follow the Water of Leith Walkway for a peaceful riverside escape inside Edinburgh. Stroll beside the flowing water through shaded green corridors, at your own pace, in roughly two relaxed hours.

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.

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.

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.

3-Hour Guided Walking Tour

★ 4.8 · 840 reviews

Walk Edinburgh's Old Town with a local historian who knows its literary past. Cover the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket, and step into the Writers' Museum.

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.

Calton Hill

★ 4.8 · 6,983 reviews

Walk up Calton Hill for a classic Edinburgh viewpoint just minutes from the centre. Explore the neoclassical monuments at the top and look out over the castle, the Old Town and the rooftops.

Thorne Records

★ 4.9 · 176 reviews

Flip through the racks at Thorne Records, a well-loved Edinburgh vinyl shop. Dig through a broad selection, ask the staff for tips, and pick up a Scottish record as a souvenir.

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.

Tills Bookshop

★ 4.8 · 260 reviews

Browse Tills Bookshop, a small Edinburgh shop where new and second-hand books share the shelves. Check the translation corner and the bargain finds before choosing your next read.

Edinburgh Darkside Ghost Tour of Mysteries Murder & Legends

★ 4.8 · 1,523 reviews

Follow a local guide through Edinburgh's ghost legends from Calton Hill to Canongate. Hear the history behind the stories of witch trials and body snatchers.

Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky

★ 4.7 · 2,832 reviews

Join the Underground Vaults Evening Ghost Tour with Whisky for a night of Edinburgh's darker tales. You'll wander Old Town lanes, enter Blair Street's vaults, then settle into candlelit Megget's Cellar for more stories and a drink.

Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour

★ 4.6 · 7,409 reviews

Go from graveyard to underground vaults on the Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour. Hear tales of Greyfriars Bobby and Edinburgh's criminals, then descend beneath South Bridge for stories of its reported ghosts.

Dark Secrets of the Old Town Ghost Walking Tour

★ 4.6 · 2,591 reviews

Explore Edinburgh's darker side on an evening walk through closes and old graveyards. Hear about witch trials, plague and Burke and Hare as the light fades.

Old Town History and Tales Walking Tour

★ 4.8 · 2,849 reviews

Start your Edinburgh visit with the Old Town History and Tales Walking Tour. Walk from Mercat Cross to St Giles and the Grassmarket, hearing folklore, Enlightenment history and Potter connections along hidden lanes.

Broughton Street

Stroll Broughton Street, the independent-minded strip on the edge of Edinburgh's New Town. Browse antique and vintage shops and clothing boutiques, then settle into a café or restaurant for a relaxed lunch or evening.

Stockbridge

Wander Stockbridge, a village-style corner of Edinburgh beside the Water of Leith. Browse independent shops and delis, then pause at a café before following the riverside path.

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.

Cramond Beach

★ 4.7 · 2,030 reviews

Spend a relaxed morning at Cramond Beach, a peaceful stretch of Edinburgh's Firth of Forth shoreline. Walk the sand, time the tide for the island crossing, and finish with an ice cream.

Blackford Hill

★ 4.9 · 141 reviews

Head up Blackford Hill, a local favourite and nature reserve with a gentle climb. Wander between grassland and trees, watch for buzzards, and settle at a viewpoint for Edinburgh's skyline at sunset.

Portobello Beach

★ 4.6 · 6,967 reviews

Escape the city for Portobello Beach, Edinburgh's classic seaside stretch on the Firth of Forth. Walk the sand, follow the promenade, and warm up with a drink at one of the front-facing tea shops.

The Meadows

★ 4.7 · 7,589 reviews

Cross The Meadows, Edinburgh's big, tree-lined park just south of the Old Town. Follow the shaded paths, spot the Processions memorial, and join the locals picnicking or running across the grass.

Kilimanjaro Coffee

★ 4.3 · 1,347 reviews

Slip into Kilimanjaro Coffee for a slow morning in Edinburgh. Sink into a sofa with a freshly roasted coffee or chai latte and a panini or soup.

Surgeons' Hall Museum

★ 4.7 · 4,836 reviews

Step into Surgeons' Hall Museum, set in a neoclassical building from 1832. Examine historic anatomy specimens and trace how Edinburgh shaped modern surgery, ideally with the guided Blood and Guts tour.