Edinburgh in 2 days

Trip at a glance

Your first day

Add your first day to see each day's date, weather, sunset and closing days.

Day 1: The castle, the Old Town and Rose Street

The castle and the Royal Mile, lunch in the Grassmarket, the National Museum and Greyfriars, then a pub dinner on Rose Street.

1
9:30 AMBook aheadEdinburgh CastleBook a time slot and allow about 2.5 hours. The One O'Clock Gun fires every day except Sunday.About 2 hours 15 min here
Entry: £23.50 (about $32) · Online price; walk-up tickets cost more
Official fees: Historic Environment ScotlandLast verified Nov 3, 2026
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Walk about 10 min
2
12:00 PMRoyal MileStep into St Giles' Cathedral and the narrow closes off the street.About 45 min here
Free to visit
Walk about 5 min
3
12:45 PMVictoria StreetBrowse the small shops on the way down to the Grassmarket.About 15 min here
Free to visit
Walk 2 min
4
1:00 PMGrassmarketLunch in one of the old pubs around the square, with the castle rock above you.About 1 hour 15 min here
Pay as you go
Walk about 10 min
5
2:30 PMNational Museum of ScotlandFree; finish on the rooftop terrace for the view of the castle.About 2 hours 15 min here
Free
Walk 3 min
6
4:45 PMOptionalGreyfriars KirkyardFind the statue of Greyfriars Bobby by the gate, then wander among the old tombs.About 1 hour 30 min here
Free to visit
Walk about 15 min over the Mound
7
6:30 PMRose StreetA pub dinner: look for haggis, neeps and tatties, and a Scotch whisky to finish.
Pay as you go

Before you go

Book these aheadEdinburgh Castle (day 1): timed tickets, or tickets that often sell out.
Wear shoes with gripThe Old Town is steep and cobbled, and Arthur's Seat is a real climb, so wear shoes with good grip.
Buses and trams take contactlessLothian buses and the trams accept contactless cards and phones, so you need no cash to ride.
Check the bill before tippingRestaurants often add a service charge, so check before you tip. Nobody expects a tip at the bar in a pub.
August is festival monthThe festivals fill the city in August: book rooms early and expect crowds on the Royal Mile.
Refill from the tapTap water is safe to drink, so refill a bottle before you climb Arthur's Seat.

Where to stay for this plan

Stay in the Old Town or the New Town: day 1 is on foot, and buses reach Stockbridge and Leith on day 2.

Hotels in Edinburgh

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