What to see in Edinburgh, United Kingdom: places, when to go and how to get there

What to see in Edinburgh

The places in and around Edinburgh, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

And the other 191, by what you come to do:

History: National Monument of Scotland, Balmoral Hotel, Dunbar Castle, Roslin Castle, Lauriston Castle, Inchcolm Abbey, Melville Castle, Nelson Monument, Edinburgh, Barnbougle Castle, Bass Rock Lighthouse, Bavelaw Castle, Dugald Stewart Monument, John Knox House, Political Martyrs' Monument, Rossend Castle, Auldhame Castle, Dalmeny House, Dean Cemetery, Gladstone's Land, Hawthornden Castle, Bass Castle, Brunstane Castle, Craiglockhart Castle, Cramond Roman Fort, Cramond Tower, Elginhaugh, Fenton Tower, Liberton Tower, Mavisbank House, Melville Monument, Old Royal High School, The Dome, Edinburgh, Tyninghame House, Waughton Castle, Boghall Castle, East Linton Bridge, Cables Wynd House, Castle Terrace Car Park, Mercat Cross, Edinburgh, Elie Ness Lighthouse, The Georgian House, Edinburgh, Merchiston Tower, Penicuik House, Portobello Town Hall, Saltcoats Castle, Slateford Aqueduct, St Cecilia's Hall, St John the Evangelist Church, Portobello, Robin Chapel, Wrae Tower, Tally Toor, Newbridge Inn, Oldwoodhouselee Castle, Rosebank Cemetery, Yarrow Stone, Chester Rig, Cardon, Culter Parish Church, Coulter, Kilbucho Place, Stockbridge Market, St Stephen Place, Edinburgh, Gate House, Edinburgh Castle, Prince of Wales Fountain, 44 Promenade, Portobello, Edinburgh, Quarter House, St Bernard's Well
Nature: Inchmickery, North Berwick Law, Traprain Law, Carnethy Hill, Culter Fell, Scald Law, Caerketton Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Hare Hill, South Black Hill, Allermuir Hill, Bell's Hill, Braid Law, Capelaw Hill, Dunsyre Hill, East Kip, Malleny House and Garden, Turnhouse Hill, West Kip, Craiglockhart Hill, Fala Knowe, Harbour Hill, North Muir, Black Mount, Cairn Knowe, Chapelgill Hill, Dunbar’s Close Garden, John Muir Country Park, Mendick Hill, Nether Hill, Torduff Hill, Wallace's Cave, Whinny Hill, Bawsinch and Duddingston Nature Reserve, Belhaven Bay, Dunsapie, Erraid Wood, Milkhall Pond, Red Moss of Balerno Wildlife Reserve
Temples: Greyfriars Kirk, St John's, Edinburgh, Saint Stephen's Theatre, Edinburgh, Augustine United Church, Duddingston Kirk, Canongate Kirk, North Leith Parish Church, South Leith Parish Church, Reid Memorial Church, St David's Church, Dalkeith, St Mary's Star of the Sea Church, Leith, St Paul's and St George's Church, St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, Barclay Viewforth Church, Bellevue Chapel, Burntisland Parish Church, Sacred Heart, Edinburgh, Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church, Cramond Kirk, Dirleton Kirk, Dunbar Collegiate Church, Edinburgh: New Town Church, Old St Paul's, Edinburgh, St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Prestonkirk Parish Church, St Columba's-by-the-Castle, St Michael's Church, Inveresk, St Patrick's Church, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Synagogue, Corstorphine Old Parish Church, St Ninian and Triduana's Church, Edinburgh
Museums and art: Modern Two, Writers' Museum, Dynamic Earth, Museum of Edinburgh, Scottish Seabird Centre, Museum of Childhood, Museum on the Mound, Royal Scottish Academy Building, Trinity House of Leith, Fruitmarket Gallery, National War Museum, Talbot Rice Gallery, The People's Story Museum, Trinity College Kirk, Preston Mill, John Muir's Birthplace, Inverleith House, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum, The Museum of the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) and the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery
Architecture: North Bridge, Edinburgh, Barns Ness Lighthouse, Fidra Lighthouse, Regent Bridge, Dean Bridge, Inchkeith Lighthouse, Waverley Bridge, Leamington Lift Bridge, Oxcars Lighthouse
With kids: Deep Sea World, Edinburgh Zoo, Foxlake Dunbar
Beaches: Yellowcraig
Food and drink: Holyrood distillery, Barney's Beer, BellField Brewery, Campervan Brewery, Cold Town Brewery, Cross Borders Brewing Co., Edinburgh Beer Factory, Edinburgh Cider Co., Edinburgh Gin, Folly Spirit Labs, Lind & Lime Gin, Newbarns Brewery, Pilot, Port of Leith Distillery, Summerhall Distillery, The Biscuit Factory Distillery, Leith
Snow: Midlothian Snowsports Centre
Stargazing: 1894 Building
Hiking: Edinburgh core path - Claremont and Easter Road, John Muir Way (Edinburgh to Prestonpans), John Muir Way (Falkirk to Linlithgow), John Muir Way (North Berwick to Dunbar), John Muir Way (South Queensferry to Edinburgh), John Muir Way (South Queensferry to Edinburgh part 1), John Muir Way (South Queensferry to Edinburgh part 2)

When to go to Edinburgh

The best time to visit Edinburgh is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

JanBetter not7:19
FebPossible9:16
MarPossible11:27
AprBest time13:54
MayBest time16:02
JunBest time17:17
JulBest time16:45
AugBest time14:50
SepBest time12:26
OctPossible10:04
NovBetter not7:53
DecPossible6:43

Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight

In June there are 17 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 6 h 43. In June, 212 of the 215 places are at their best.

When to go to United Kingdom in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.

Getting to Edinburgh

The nearest main airport is Edinburgh Airport (EDI, Ingliston, Edinburgh), 9.5 km as the crow flies. How to get around United Kingdom (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.

Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)

Other towns nearby

And all of United Kingdom, in its country guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see in Edinburgh?

The best known: Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Scottish National Gallery, National Museum of Scotland, St Giles' Cathedral. In all, 215 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?

April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 17 h 17 of daylight, and in December, 6 h 43.

How do you get to Edinburgh?

The nearest main airport is Edinburgh Airport (EDI), 9.5 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.

How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Edinburgh as the destination and these 215 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Things to see in Edinburgh (United Kingdom): 215 places and when to go

In a nutshell