24 HOURS IN EDINBURGH

There is so much to see in Scotland, and the country’s capital is definitely one of them! If you have never been to Edinburgh and you are trying to pack in as much as you can into one day of sightseeing, this itinerary is for you. 

Start your day with breakfast at The Ivy on the Square. Then head over to Edinburgh Castle, which stands on the plug of an extinct volcano. Buy your tickets in advance and arrive when the castle first opens to visitors, as it gets very crowded. After that, walk the Royal Mile and head inside St. Giles’ Cathedral. 

Edinburgh Castle

Both Edinburgh Castle and St. Giles’ Cathedral are in Old Town, where you can pick up a few souvenirs or walk around and take in the sights, sounds, and crowds for the remainder of the morning.

Old Town

For lunch, walk to Kyloe, a steak restaurant with paintings of cows all over the walls. CJ and I both had the beef wellington and it was perfection. Kyloe was also not skimpy on the pâté that was stuffed into the delicious puff pastry! If you are there on a Sunday, try their Sunday roast menu. After lunch, walk Princes Street, a major street in central Edinburgh with a lot of shopping opportunities. 

In the afternoon, walk up Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill to witness beautiful views of the city from above. As Arthur’s Seat is a longer hike, your choice will depend on how you are feeling that day! After you burn off your calories from lunch at the hill of your choosing, visit Holyrood Palace, which is between the two hills. 

view from Arthur’s Seat

End your day by walking through Dean Village. Then mosey across Dean Bridge and have dinner at Scran and Scallie, a rustic-chic restaurant with a modern Scottish menu. CJ and I had the steak pie, which was wonderfully cozy and filled our bellies.

Dean Village

For more details on the sights mentioned above, head to my post on Edinburgh Must Sees.