Discover Edinburgh’s 200 best Summer spots for your trip

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nelson Monument

★ 4.6 · 2,300 reviews

Climb the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill, a tower honouring the hero of Trafalgar. Ascend to the top and take in the view across the city rooftops to the Firth of Forth.

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.

Edinburgh Zoo

★ 4.3 · 14,860 reviews

Spend a day at Edinburgh Zoo, a hillside parkland in Corstorphine with generous animal enclosures. Join keeper talks, try hands-on animal encounters and hop on the free hilltop safari ride.

Portobello

Escape to Portobello, Edinburgh's easygoing seaside suburb on the Firth of Forth. Walk the promenade, stroll the sandy beach, and finish with a coffee or ice cream by the water.

National Monument of Scotland

★ 4.7 · 3,188 reviews

Climb Calton Hill to the National Monument of Scotland, an unfinished Parthenon-style memorial. Stand among the stone pillars and look out across the city and the Forth.

Scott Monument

★ 4.7 · 8,042 reviews

Look up at the Scott Monument, Edinburgh's soaring Gothic tribute to its most celebrated author. Climb the 287 steps to the top for views across Princes Street and the Old Town skyline.

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.

Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour with Entry Ticket

★ 4.7 · 14,286 reviews

Learn how Edinburgh Castle shaped Scottish history on a guided walk up Castle Rock. After the outdoor briefing, enter with your ticket and explore the museums, prisons and royal buildings freely.

Circus Lane

★ 4.6 · 636 reviews

Stroll Circus Lane, one of the New Town's prettiest little streets. Walk the curve of cobbles between stone mews houses and trailing greenery, camera in hand, before the crowds arrive.

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.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Highlands Day Tour

★ 4.6 · 9,379 reviews

Spend a day in the Scottish Highlands, from Glencoe to the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Hear the stories behind the glens and walk to a viewpoint on the way.

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.

Cold Town House

★ 4.4 · 3,512 reviews

Discover Cold Town House, a lively spot in Edinburgh's Grassmarket with a rooftop terrace overlooking the Old Town. Share a creative pizza and a craft beer or cocktail among the historic rooftops.

Loch Ness, Scenic Walk, Glencoe & Whisky Day Tour

★ 4.8 · 586 reviews

Mix walking with sightseeing on the Loch Ness, Scenic Walk, Glencoe & Whisky Day Tour. Stroll to the Hermitage waterfalls, pause at a distillery, then continue to Loch Ness and Glencoe in a small group.

Edinburgh Castle 120-Minute In-Depth Tour with Expert Guide

★ 4.9 · 3,252 reviews

Go deeper inside Edinburgh Castle with an expert guide. You will climb past Crown Square and the gun to the panoramic viewpoints, then stay on to browse the museums at your own pace.

Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour

★ 4.6 · 20,737 reviews

Cover the best-known corners of the Highlands on the Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour. Ride through Glencoe, stop by Fort William, and explore Loch Ness before heading home via Inverness.

Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walking Tour

★ 4.8 · 1,193 reviews

Start your Edinburgh trip on the Royal Mile with a local guide. You will walk past St Giles, Victoria Street and the Grassmarket, then head into the castle to explore its interiors at your own pace.

Loch Ness and The Highlands Tour with Cruise

★ 4.7 · 1,304 reviews

Cross the Highlands in a small minicoach on the Loch Ness and The Highlands Tour with Cruise. Drive through Glencoe and Rannoch Moor, then take to the water on Loch Ness before returning via the Cairngorms.

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.

Craigmillar Castle

★ 4.7 · 3,212 reviews

Explore Craigmillar Castle, a genuine medieval fortress on the edge of Edinburgh. Roam its corridors, cellars and prison, then climb to the roof for sweeping views over the city.

Rosslyn Chapel & Scottish Borders Tour

★ 4.7 · 708 reviews

Trade the city for Rosslyn Chapel and the rolling Scottish Borders. You will visit Roslin, lunch in Melrose by its abbey, then stop at the Wallace monument and Scott's View.

Scottish Highlands Tour with Whisky Tasting

★ 4.8 · 702 reviews

Leave Edinburgh behind on the Scottish Highlands Tour with Whisky Tasting. Walk through woodland to Black Linn Falls, take in the view at Queen's View, and finish with a tasting at Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery.

Hairy Coos & Highland Views: A Short Escape from Edinburgh

★ 4.5 · 583 reviews

Trade the city for lochs and shaggy cattle on the Hairy Coos & Highland Views day trip. Ride through the Trossachs, pause at Loch Katrine and photograph Highland coos before returning by the Queensferry bridges.