A castle on a volcanic rock, a medieval Old Town and a Georgian New Town
Edinburgh packs a castle, a royal palace, an extinct volcano and two centuries of town planning into a city you can cross on foot. The medieval Old Town climbs a ridge to the Castle; the Georgian New Town stretches out below it in straight lines.
Together the Old and New Towns are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around them sit village-like neighbourhoods, a working waterfront at Leith and hills with city views.
Areas
Each area has its own mini guide with 119 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
The Castle, the Royal Mile and a maze of medieval closes
Open the mini guide →
Georgian squares, grand galleries and Princes Street Gardens
Open the mini guide →
A royal palace, a Parliament and two hills with city views
Open the mini guide →
A riverside village, a botanic garden and Edinburgh's best-loved suburb
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A historic port with a royal yacht, a lively waterfront and some of the city's best food
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A market square under the Castle, Greyfriars and the city's main museum
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The theatre district, the canal basin, the rugby stadium and the zoo, all west of the Castle
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Leafy southern suburbs with local high streets, Blackford Hill and a hillside observatory
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A sandy beach and Victorian promenade on the Firth of Forth, about 5 km east of the centre
Open the mini guide →Sights
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Fortress on Castle Rock above the city, home to the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish National War Memorial and the One O'Clock Gun.
Public gardens below the Castle rock, between the Old Town and Princes Street.
The monarch's official residence in Scotland, at the foot of the Royal Mile, with historic State Apartments and the abbey ruins beside it.
Former milling village in the Water of Leith valley, with old mill buildings, a weir and a riverside path.
Former royal yacht, now moored at Ocean Terminal as a floating museum.
Historic market square below the Castle rock, once the site of public executions and now lined with pubs, restaurants and shops.
Scotland’s national rugby stadium and the largest in the country, with a capacity of 67,144.
Hill of 164 metres with an ancient hill fort on the summit, wide views over Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills, and paths for walkers.
1 / 12Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Edinburgh guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
Edinburgh ZooZoo, Haymarket & Murrayfield
Dynamic EarthScience centre, Holyrood, Arthur's Seat & Calton Hill
City ObservatoryObservatory, Holyrood, Arthur's Seat & Calton Hill
Royal Yacht BritanniaMuseum ship, Leith & the Waterfront
Royal Observatory EdinburghObservatory, Bruntsfield & Morningside
Portobello BeachBeach, Portobello & the Coast
The Real Mary King's CloseUnderground tour, Old Town & Royal MilePractical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Edinburgh.
Theatre
12 theatres and performance venues across 3 areas: see where each one is, how to get there and where to find what is on.
Filter 12 venues by area, type of show and step-free access.
Open the directory →One link to each venue's own programme page, plus seasonal highlights.
See what's on →A very large all-seated theatre at the top of Leith Walk that hosts touring musicals, comedy and live music.
Venue page →Itineraries
Short routes that stitch the areas together.
Getting there
Edinburgh has an international airport west of the centre, two main railway stations and a central bus station. Always check the operator for current times, fares and disruption.
Edinburgh Airport is about 8 km west of the city centre. The trams and Lothian's Airlink bus both quote a journey time of around 30 minutes to the centre.
Edinburgh Trams run between the airport and Newhaven via Haymarket, Princes Street, St Andrew Square (for Waverley) and Leith.
Trains arrive at Edinburgh Waverley, in the middle of the city, and at Haymarket to the west. Operators include LNER, TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper and ScotRail.
Edinburgh Bus Station is in the city centre. National Express and Megabus serve it, and Traveline Scotland lists timetables for Scottish services.
Journey times on this page are the operators' own headline figures. We do not publish timetables or fares.
The Old Town and New Town are compact, but the Old Town is steep and cobbled in places. Allow extra time for hills and stairs.
Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams accept contactless payment. Lothian says adults who tap the same card or device each time are charged no more than the cheapest daily fare.
Check access before you travel: Visit Edinburgh has a disabled access guide, and each tram has two spaces for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams
ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)
Best time to go
Edinburgh works all year, but the city changes with the festival calendar.
A good time for hill walks and the gardens, before the summer crowds arrive.
The longest days and the biggest festivals. Book rooms and tickets well ahead for August.
Quieter streets once the festivals finish, and good light for the Old Town skyline.
Short days but a lively Hogmanay, and the museums and cosy pubs come into their own.
The Fringe's 80th edition, with shows across the city.
edfringe.com →The annual military show in Edinburgh each August.
edintattoo.co.uk →A torchlight procession, concerts and the Street Party, followed by a free live-music trail on New Year's Day.
edwinterfest.com →Day trips
Ideas for a day away from Edinburgh. Check the operators for times and tickets.
A richly carved 15th-century chapel in the village of Roslin, south of the city.
rosslynchapel.com →
A seaside town with a harbour and beaches, facing the Bass Rock. The Scottish Seabird Centre is on the harbour.
Scottish Seabird Centre →
A historic city with a hilltop castle and the National Wallace Monument.
Stirling and the Trossachs guide →
A UNESCO-listed railway bridge on the Firth of Forth, beside the town of South Queensferry.
theforthbridges.org →FAQ
Two to four days covers the Old Town, the New Town, Holyrood and one or two neighbourhoods at an easy pace. Add a day if you want a trip out of the city.
Edinburgh Trams and the Lothian Airlink bus both run to the centre, and both quote a journey of about 30 minutes. Taxis and coaches also serve the airport. Check the operators for current times.
The 2027 Fringe runs from 6 to 30 August, according to the organisers. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs from 6 to 28 August 2027.
Yes. The main sights in the Old Town and New Town are within walking distance, though the Old Town is steep and cobbled in places. Trams and buses cover longer distances.
Edinburgh charges a visitor levy of 5% of the accommodation cost, before VAT, on stays from 24 July 2026 (for bookings made on or after 1 October 2025). It applies to the first five nights. Check the council's page for exemptions.
The Old Town and New Town put you within walking distance of the main sights. Stockbridge and Leith are quieter and more local, with good places to eat.
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995, recognising the medieval Old Town and the planned Georgian New Town.
Nearby places
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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