Epic 1 Day Itinerary for Edinburgh, Scotland
Short on time, but still want to dive into the incredible sights of Edinburgh, Scotland?
1 day is plenty of time to get a great overview of this beautiful city.
In the itinerary below, you’ll have an action packed time exploring historic castles, the Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, and hidden places in the Old Town.
I’ve included suggestions on where to sightsee, shop, dine, and stay, so that all you have to do is book everything, pack your suitcase, and start on an Edinburgh adventure you’ll never forget!
As with all of my guides, these suggestions are great for the entire family, but they’re also perfect for any first time visitor to Scotland.
My husband and I outside of the entrance to Edinburgh Castle at one end of the Royal Mile
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Getting to Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland, is well connected to the rest of the UK and Europe, so you’ll be able to get here easily no matter your starting destination.
Flying in
If you’re flying directly into Edinburgh, you’ll arrive at Edinburgh Airport (EDI). While the larger UK airports like London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports tend to have the lowest prices, you should also compare the flight prices at EDI.
You’ll have to weigh the difference in cost and time outlay between flying directly into Edinburgh versus flying into the larger Heathrow or Gatwick, and then taking a train.
We’ve done both, and it really comes down to how much your time is worth.
On the trip where my husband and I wanted to see both Edinburgh, the Scottish countryside, and London, we found super cheap tickets to Gatwick, then took the train to Edinburgh, rented a car for our time in Scotland, then returned for sightseeing in London via the Caledonian Sleeper Train.
(More on the train to Edinburgh below.)
But, if you were on a time crunch and didn’t want to waste your precious time on a train from London, flying direct to Edinburgh is the way to go.
From EDI, take the Airlink 100 bus to Waverley Station, which is just a few hundred feet from the Royal Mile in Old Town Edinburgh. This is the last stop on the Airlink 100 bus route, which makes it very easy to navigate.
From here, you’ll be steps away from our recommended hotel and all of the sights.
Taking the train
Outside of my recommended hotel on the edge of Old Town with Waverley Station and New Town in the background
If you’re coming from London or elsewhere in the UK by train into Edinburgh, you’ll want to make sure that you arrive at Waverley Station, as this is the closest train station to Old Town Edinburgh.
There is another station in Edinburgh, Haymarket, that more easily accesses New Town Edinburgh.
That’s another great area of the city to explore, but since you’re only in Edinburgh for one day, I highly recommend staying as close as possible to the sights of Old Town.
Once you arrive at Waverley Station, head to the pedestrian exit onto North Bridge Street follow the road towards the large stone building across the bridge that says “The Scotman” in gold lettering. (You can’t miss it.)
Once you’ve past The Scotman, you’re now in Old Town and can navigate to your accommodations.
NOTE: If you’re staying at my suggested hotel, you’ll need to take a different exit from Waverley train station. Look for the Market Street exit on the ground floor, and turn left onto Market Street when you get outside of the train station.
Follow Market Street underneath North Bridge Street for 0.2 miles. The Premier Inn Edinburgh City Center will be just past the intersection of Market Street and Cranston Street.
It’s a super easy to access hotel from the train station, even if you’re hauling suitcases.
(More on the hotel below.)
Old Town vs. New Town Edinburgh
When you come to Edinburgh, one of the biggest decisions that you’ll have to make is if you’re going to visit the Old Town area or the New Town area. Both are fairly close to one another, but with only one day to sightseeing, you’ll need to pick one or the other.
The Old Town was first grew up around 1200 CE, and it has retained its moody, mysterious and medieval feel all of these years. This part of Edinburgh is where you’ll find the Royal Mile, Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Castle, The Real Mary King’s Close, Arthur’s Seat, and St. Giles’ Cathedral.
The New Town was created in the 1700s after the gentry decided they needed a cleaner place to live than the (then) gross, unsanitary, and crumbling Old Town.
I think it's funny that what they call the New Town is actually older than 99% of the communities in the U.S.!
In the New Town, you’ll find Calton Hill and the National Monument of Scotland, the Scott Monument, multiple art galleries and museums, the seasonal Edinburgh Christmas Market, and the Queen Street Gardens.
While both areas are worth your time, I’d recommend sticking to the Old Town when you are limited on sightseeing time in Edinburgh.
To go to Edinburgh and not see the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, and/or Holyrood House is like going to New York City and bypassing the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Central Park.
You’ll probably still have a great trip, but you always want to hit the essentials first!
For that reason, this entire itinerary takes place in the Old Town and is easily accessed from my recommended hotels (below) and from Waverley train station.
Edinburgh 1 Day Itinerary
For your one day in Edinburgh, you’ll explore along the Royal Mile, which is a 1 mile street in the heart of Old Town.
On the western end of the street is Edinburgh Castle, and Holyroodhouse (sometimes referred to as Holyrood Palace) is on the eastern end.
The Royal Mile has multiple street names along different sections, including Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, and Canongate.
Start with breakfast.
In the morning, you can either have breakfast at your hotel or head further into Old Town for other options.
I will note that the breakfast at the recommended hotels below are a great choice with baked beans, bacon, eggs, pastries, coffee, and juice.
It isn’t the most memorable of atmospheres since it’s just a hotel restaurant, but what it lacks in vibes, it makes up for in convenience.
If you’d rather start your day off with a unique offering, head over to the Elephant House on George IV Bridge, about 0.6 miles from the Premier Inn on Market Street, and a 15 minute walk.
In this cute cafe, you can get tea and coffee, savory filled croissants, and ham and cheese rolls.
Aside from its cute cafe atmosphere, the Elephant House has another claim to fame that will interest Harry Potter fans: this is where J.K. Rowling would often come to work on the first draft of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The Elephant House has leaned into that fame, and now offers their own version of Butterbeer, which is quite tasty.
If you need more Harry Potter in your visit to Edinburgh, you can take this self-guided Harry Potter themed walking tour, which is a lot of fun. You could easily start and stop it as you do other elements of this itinerary.
If you also happen to be visiting London your trip, and want more Harry Potter fun, you should also plan to get tickets to the Harry Potter Studios, which are fantastic. You can read my guide to the Harry Potter Studios experience here.
Greyfriars Bobby
After you’ve lingered over your tea and pastries, head about half a block away from the Elephant House to the Greyfriars Kirk, or church.
Out front is a little statue of a cute dog, known as Greyfriars Bobby.
This terrier was so devoted to his master, policeman John Gray, that he guarded the man’s grave for 14 years before his own death. Today, you can visit Bobby’s grave, which is not far from his master’s in the churchyard.
NOTE: If you take the recommended Underground Edinburgh tour in the evening, you’ll circle back here to learn about the supposed haunting and creepy happenings elsewhere in the graveyard and church property.
OPTIONAL: Islander Handbag Workshop
If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, this is the place to go. It’s also less than half a block from the Greyfriars Bobby statue, so it’s a good place to visit while you’re in this part of Old Town.
In the guided workshop, you’ll design your own Islander mini tote from the company’s variety of leather straps, handles, tweed fabrics, and finishings.
This 90 minute workshop is super fun if you’re visiting Edinburgh with your tween or teen daughter and want to share a fun, hands-on experience with her. (It’s also great to do on your own, as the staff and other guests are welcoming!)
These bags are beautiful, and they last a long time. I’ve had my tweed Islander backpack for years, and it looks just as great now as it did when I bought it.
If you’re in a hurry but still want a purse to remember your time in Edinburgh, there is a wide variety of grab-and-go purses and backpacks in the gift shop.
Edinburgh Castle
From the statue of Greyfriars Bobby and the Islander workshop, you’re only an 8 minute walk to the next must-see stop: Edinburgh Castle.
From the church, walk along George IV Bridge until you reach the Royal Mile, then turn left. Continue walking along the Royal Mile towards the large castle in the distance. You can’t miss it!
Edinburgh Castle, like nearly every building in Europe, has a long and fascinating history.
This property has been important as a stronghold and lookout point since the Iron Age, and that continued until parts of the current structure were built in the mid-12th century. While there was a much older castle here, all that remains from that period is St. Margaret’s Chapel, which was built for her by her son.
You can still peek inside it today as long as there isn’t a wedding or ceremony going on.
The rest of the castle you see today was built in fits and spurts to meet the needs of the Scottish kings and queens from the 1100s onward.
It’s the single most attacked place in all of the UK, thanks to its highly attractive location on the top of a hill. Often, that position helped the castle against invaders, but occasionally, it just wasn’t up to the challenge.
The fastest that anyone ever captured the castle was just 30 minutes! In 1639, Alexander Leslie took control of the castle during the Bishops’ Wars.
Today, you can wander through the castle’s many rooms as you listen to the audio guide.
Be sure to check out Mons Meg, the massive cannon in the courtyard that was a gift to King James II in the 1400s.
While that’s not operable anymore, the castle does honor its military heritage with the 1 PM firing of the aptly named One o’Clock gun everyday. That ceremony is included in your ticket.
If you’re not able to time your visit with the firing of the gun, don’t worry. You’ll be able to hear it anywhere in Old Town.
To truly explore the castle, you should plan to stay 2-3 hours. This will give you time to hit the highlights of the castle and linger over anything you find interesting.
For a more in-depth and interactive tour of Edinburgh Castle, consider taking a guided tour. This guided tour of Edinburgh Castle includes entry fees, a live narration of the castle’s rooms, and a walk around the grounds. You’ll also be able to sail past the lines at the ticket booth with the pre-paid entrance ticket.
Lunch time
From Edinburgh Castle, make your way east along the Royal Mile.
My husband standing on the Royal Mile near the entrance to Edinburgh Castle
You’ve probably worked up an appetite what with all of the walking and sightseeing, so let’s head to lunch on the way to your next stop.
I recommend the casual but memorable Makar’s Mash, which is one block off of the Royal Mile.
The Real Mary King’s Close
From Makar’s Mash, walk back towards the Royal Mile, and turn left onto the main road.
You’ll come to your next stop, the Real Mary King’s Close in less than 3 minutes.
The Real Mary King’s Close will be on your left.
Holyrood House and Arthur’s Seat
Depending on your appetite for castles, you can either head to Holyroodhouse or to Arthur’s Seat.
Holyroodhouse is a working property in the British Royal Family, and it was the late Elizabeth II’s summer home.
I adore old buildings and history, so visiting here was a no-brainer, even though we’d seen Edinburgh Castle just a few hours before.
The two are very different: while Edinburgh Castle has a heavy military aspect to its mainly-Scottish history, Holyroodhouse is much more a residence and is closely tied to the English historical presence in Scotland.
While Edinburgh Castle has the older St. Margaret’s Chapel, Holyroodhouse has the Gothic ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
The Abbey actually pre-dates the palace, and it was built by David I after he saw a stag with a cross (or "rood") between its antlers while he was out hunting.
While at Holyroodhouse, you’ll get to walk through the abbey, see the lavishly appointed rooms, admire the art collection, and see some of the jewelry and costuming that the royal family has worn through the years.
Holyroodhouse is probably best known for the murder of David Rizzo, who was the secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots. You can learn more about that moment in history here.
If you’re completely over castles and need some outdoor activity, head over to Arthur’s Seat instead.
To maximize your understanding of this important geological feature, I recommend joining a guided hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat. There are amazing views of Edinburgh and the surrounding area from the top of the hill.
Arthur’s Seat as seen from the front courtyard at Holyroodhouse
Both Holyroodhouse and Arthur’s seat are on the same end of the Royal Mile, and, if you hustled, you could probably fit both of them into your itinerary. Don’t feel like you have to do both, though.
You are, after all, getting at least one castle into your itinerary here, and you can see Arthur’s Seat from anywhere in Old Town.
Explore Underground Edinburgh.
To finish off your time in this incredible city, head underground.
It’s hard to believe while you’re walking around doing the rest of this itinerary, but there are dozens of vaults.
While they weren’t built to be houses, the poverty that invaded the city in the 1800s caused the most desperate of residents to seek out accommodations wherever they could find them.
And that included living below ground in the stifling, dark vaults that were originally built for storage.
You can go deep into these vaults, and learn some chilling history along the way, on the Underground Edinburgh ghost tour.
If you visited the Real Mary King’s Close earlier in the day, this is still worth a visit as the two had very different intended purposes. The city’s closes were built to house people, and so, you’d find shops and houses there. Underground Edinburgh started as storage, but become illicit housing out of necessity.
Learn more about the history of the underground and the people who retreated down here in this hour and a half long tour. It’s spooky, but just fine for kids in elementary school and up, as there aren’t any particularly gruesome stories or actors jumping out at you.
Recommended Hotel in Edinburgh
The view from our Premier Inn hotel in Edinburgh. You can see Arthur’s Seat in the upper left hand corner.
Since you have such a limited amount of time in Edinburgh, you’ll want to stay as close to the action as possible.
Thankfully, there are many hotels on or just off of the Royal Mile in Old Town Edinburgh that will put you a few steps from everything on this itinerary.
I am always looking to stretch my travel budget as much as possible, so my family and I tend to take in accommodations that are easy on the wallet but still have a few amenities and perks.
For our time in Edinburgh, I chose the Premier Inn Edinburgh City Center, both for its incredibly easy access to Waverely Station and its budget friendly pricing. Even when prices climb in Edinburgh during the peak summer months, this hotel is easily $50-150 cheaper than other hotels in this area.
NOTE: the hub by Premier Inn is right next door, and is a great, budget friendly option for single travelers or couples. (No families as they don’t have large enough rooms.)
I’ve stayed at Premier Inn locations in both the UK and Germany, and they’ve always been clean, comfortable, and well located.
So, the one in Edinburgh seemed like an easy pick, especially when I realized it was less than a block off of the Royal Mile.
The room that we stayed in was similar to the other Premier Inn rooms that I’ve had. They’re not wildly spacious, but there are the basics in the bedroom and bathroom, and an onsite cafe.
We had the breakfast, which is filling and tasty, and up to 2 kids can eat free with a paying adult, which is another great way to keep your budget lower.
This is a good time to mention that finding family hotel rooms in Europe can be challenging since the hotel space there is so much smaller than what we’re used to here in the U.S.
While it can feel like a squeeze, the Premier Inn does offer extra travel cots and fold out couches to accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 kids in their rooms, making this a great choice for families.
