A Day Trip To Edinburgh: How To Visit The Empress Of The North in One Day

A day trip to Edinburgh is always a good idea. But it is clear from the start that visiting Edinburgh, a history-charged city with excellent restaurants, quirky cafes and fascinating museums in just one day is hard.

But not impossible.

There are a few not-to-miss items but also some overrated attractions that you might want to skip, mainly because they are overly expensive and not necessarily worth that money.

As we incorporated Edinburgh into our extensive Scotland road trip, we were very short on time ourselves.

So here's our idea of a perfect day trip to Edinburgh that includes all the major highlights and our personal favourites.

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What And Where Is Edinburgh?

Edinburgh in a nutshell

For some particular tours of Edinburgh doable in one day, check out the following well-rated activities:

Here's what our personal itinerary for one day in Edinburgh looked like:

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1. Start The Day With an Invigorating Breakfast

Start your day in Edinburgh early in the morning with a delicious breakfast in one of the numerous cafés on Edinburgh's Hanover Street.

We found that at Tani Modi Brunch House, a cute little breakfast place downstairs.

If you dare, have the American stack: pancakes with banana, bacon, marshmallows, cream, and maple syrup, topped with peanut butter whisky sauce. So good!

Or, if you prefer a healthier option: I had eggs and avocado on toasted sourdough, which was also very good.

Then walk down Hanover Street to get straight to Edinburgh Castle: the earlier you get there, the better.

2. Edinburgh Castle And The Crowds

One of Edinburgh's highlights, the Castle is considered a must-visit on a day trip to Edinburgh.

But is it really?

To be perfectly honest: while the castle is indeed imposing with a vibrant history and lots of different eras of Scottish history mingled in a complex architectural structure, it is also overly crowded during the high season.

You have to book your entry ticket days in advance!

The castle was initially built in the 11th century and was one of the significant matters in dispute during the English-Scottish conflict that lasted for hundreds of years. In 1314, Robert the Bruce even had the castle torn down to prevent it from falling into the hands of the English.

Due to never-ending conflicts, battles and attacks, most visible structures are from the 16th century onwards.

There are notable buildings like Saint Margret's chapel, the last remaining element of the 12th-century castle, the Royal apartments, and several museums about Scottish warfare and military.

Edinburgh's castle served alternately as a Royal residence, bastion, barracks and prison, depending on the century.

As it's the first item on our proposed route, you might want to head straight for the crown jewels. These are located in one of the Royal apartments, and there are long queues if you are not amongst the first visitors in the morning.

By visiting early in the morning, you escape the big busloads of people arriving around noon. But you also miss the traditional cannon shot at 1 pm from the castle walls, which used to be a time orientation for the boats passing by.

Edinburgh's Castle visit depends on your preferences: it can be as little as 30 minutes if you walk around, enjoying the magnificent views from the esplanade and just hop in for a quick tour of the main buildings.

But it can also easily stretch to a few hours with all the museums.

3. Grassmarket & The Legendary Greyfriars' Graveyard

From Castlehill, follow the Upper Bow and the W Bow until reaching the Grassmarket for a little break after a potentially wearisome visit.

As the name indicates, the Grassmarket was the main market square from 1477 until 1911. A tradition they restarted several years ago with a weekly market on Saturdays.

Besides the animated buy-and-sell activity, the Grassmarket also knew its fair share of executions, among which the 100 Covenanters during "The Killing Time" in the 17th century (see the Covenanters Memorial on the east side of the square).

Killings aside, Grassmarket is now a vibrant place with terraces for restaurants and pubs.

From here, several ancient streets depart in all directions, among which the colourful Candlemaker Row with very Potterhead vibes.

It is also the street you want to follow to reach Edinburgh's most famous cemetery: Greyfriars' Graveyard. The attendant church was built in 1620 and is one of the last churches in the city where masses are still held in Gaelic.

The graveyard itself has the reputation of being one of the most haunted places in Scotland. Though that is said for various other places we encountered during our Scotland road trip...

<Fun/eerie fact: some of the tombs are mounted by iron cages, so-called "mortsafes". These were necessary when snatching bodies from cemeteries proved very lucrative by selling them to the anatomy department of Edinburgh University.

Don't miss Bobby's monument outside the cemetery, Scotland's most photographed statue. Bobby was a very faithful dog, guarding his master's tomb for 14 years and is now a beloved cult figure.

From here, cross the National Cycle Route and enter Chambers Street to find the next highlight of our day trip to Edinburgh: the National Museum of Scotland.

4. National Museum Of Scotland

You could easily spend half a day here, believe me.

The National Museum of Scotland has a vast and rich collection of international reputation, all set inside a beautifully structured building with galleries axed around halls with a natural light source from the ceiling.

It doesn't feel like the usual dusty museum but rather a walk through time.

Many different sections offer all kinds of exhibitions: from natural history with all types of animals exposed, over fashion and design, to world cultures.

The science and technology building is more interactive, very didactic and especially interesting for kids.

Then there is a whole wing dedicated to Scotland, its geological formation and the first human presence on their territory. Very detailed and very well explained, traversing all the different eras up to the modern days.

If you don't fancy museums or are a bit short on time - after all, you are probably visiting Edinburgh in just one day if you're reading this blog - at least hop inside and walk up to the rooftop. The view from the big panoramic terrace is superb.

From the museum's entrance, walk back to the National Cycle Rte 75 you came from and head north to High Street.

5. The Mighty St Giles' Cathedral

Walk down the High Street until reaching the massive Saint Giles' Cathedral.

Here's a church you don't want to miss, with very ancient and massive columns dating back to the 11th century.

However, the rest of the building is primarily from the 15th century; this includes the elegant bell tower.

Flamboyant Gothic vaults on the inside and very chivalresque-looking side chapels. That is because one of them, the Thistle Chapel (added in 1911), is actually dedicated to The Order of the Thistle, initially created in the 9th century.

The Order still exists today under the name "Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle" but is a newly formed version from the 18th century.

They still get together in the chapel every year, each having their assigned seat with an emblem.

6. The Royal Mile

When walking down High Street, or the Royal Mile, towards the east, admire some of Edinburgh's oldest buildings.

For proper Harry Potter vibes, turn left and get into Cockburn Street, J.K. Rowling's inspiration when she was imagining Diagonal Alley.

The locals, of course, take advantage of that fact, and you can find several "nerdy" shops selling all kinds of Harry Potter memorabilia. One of them is particularly beautiful, called the Museum Context.

Get back up to High Street and if you fancy a refreshing drink before the next visit, check out the quirky pub The World's End.

From here, continue down Canongate past dozens of kitsch souvenir shops and tweed and fudge vendors until reaching Canongate Kirk, in front of the Museum of Edinburgh set in 16th century Huntly House.

Hop inside or don't, depending on how much time you have left from your one day in Edinburgh.

A few meters further, you can add a quick peak at the Dunbar's Close Garden on the left - a lovely spot for a picnic if the weather allows it.

Then follows the Scottish Parliament House on the right, which can also be visited. This has been, as the name indicates, the seat of the Scottish Parliament since 2004.

The building is a distinct architectural creation, with a strange combination of different construction materials dominated by glass and wood. The architect wanted to show what his work represents; the symbolism is very tangible.

7. Palace Of Holyroodhouse

The Palace Of Holyroodhouse is also one of the major highlights on a day trip to Edinburgh, and with good reason.

It was always the Queen's official residence when she was visiting Edinburgh; consequently, it's King Charles III who stays here. The Royal visit used to happen every year in early July, and the Palace was then closed to the public.

I couldn't find out whether this was going to change under Charles or not. Visit their website for timely and up-to-date information.

Construction of Holyrood House began at the end of the 15th century, under James IV, but the palace underwent several transformations until its current, Renaissance-style appearance.

It takes approximately one hour to visit with the audio guide. Of course, it's much shorter without it, but you will miss some exciting anecdotes about how the palace functioned.

Photography is not permitted, but an official souvenir book with plenty of pictures is available in the shop.

The apartments, salons and reception rooms are profusely ornated with heavy wall hangings, wooden panelling and plastering on the ceilings.

The most notable parts are probably the throne room and the gallery, with 110 portraits of the Kings and Queens of Scotland.

Upstairs is the apartment where Rizzio, Mary Queen of Scots' secretary, was abducted by Lord Darnley to be killed brutally.

The visit ends with the majestic ruins of the abbey outside in the gardens, which we didn't savour as we were literally blown away by rain and wind the day we visited.

If One Day in Edinburgh Isn't Enough

There are plenty of other visits to add for a multiple-day visit to Edinburgh. Here are but a few:

The Royal Britannia

The Royal Britannia, the "queen's floating palace", has been anchored since 1997. But for 44 years, it served as the Queen's main transportation means to visit the Commonwealth. The yacht also had notable guests such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.

The visit starts with an introductory historical exhibition, then comes the control cabin, the Royal apartments, and even the engine room, crew lodgings, hospital ward, and so on.

There's a possibility to enjoy a little teatime on deck with lovely views of the harbour.

The Royal Britannia is included in the Royal Edinburgh Ticket. It's more convenient also because it is a bit too far to reach by foot. The bus will get you there in no time.

Dean Village

Formerly a little town of millers, Dean Village was incorporated by Edinburgh in the 19th century.

Now, the beautiful facades along a vivid river invite you to stroll around and get away from the city centre's hustle.

This area used to have 11 active water mills during the 17th century. There is a lovely walk underneath Dean Bridge, considered one of the world's highest bridges in 1832, to get to Stockbridge, another village worth a visit.

Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano no less than 251 m high. It's located in Holyrood Park and accessible by foot. It can be very crowded during the high season and on Sundays as Scottish families also enjoy the views from up the mount.

There are marked paths for cosy hikes of 1h30 to 2 hours.

The Royal Botanic Gardens

With more than 28 hectares of fauna and flora, the Royal Botanic Gardens were created in the 18th century. Several beautiful greenhouses shelter a vast collection of flowers, bushes and trees.

Beautiful place to walk and picnic here as well.

Around Edinburgh

If you have a car and want to extend your Edinburgh visit, check out the viewpoints on the Firth of Forth nearby Newton.

A bit further, there is Craigmillar Castle, famous from the Outlander series, the lovely 15th century Rosslyn Chapel and the fascinating National Mining Museum Scotland.

You could even drive to Linlithgow to admire Mary Queen of Scots' birthing place, the palace, and the quirky 16th-century town centre.

More Outlander-flair? Midhope Castle, known in the series as Jamie Fraser's Lallybroch, isn't far from Edinburgh either.

One Day in Edinburgh: What You Should Remember

A day trip to Edinburgh is undoubtedly a fine idea, but one day probably isn't enough. If you really want to enjoy the Scottish culture, you must plan at least two days in Edinburgh, if not more.

But if one day is all you have, definitely go for something like the Royal Ticket I mentioned earlier: it saves a lot of time thanks to the perfect bus route system, and you avoid long waiting queues for major highlights such as the castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Remember: if you only do the castle, these tickets must be booked way ahead of your visit, at least one to two days during the high season.

I hope you had fun following along on our little day visit to Edinburgh, and feel free to comment, pin and share this post or just hit us with any other questions.

As ever

xx

Cyn

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