3 Days in Edinburgh!

Edinburgh is an amazing little city with so much to see! Explore endless castles, climb the royal mile, become a whisky connoisseur, hike to Arthur’s seat, and so much more. There is something for everyone in Edinburgh, and 3 days is the perfect amount of time to see and do it all!

This was my first trip to Scotland, and we only had 3 nights in this beautiful country, so we wanted to see a little bit of the city and the countryside. Check out some of my favorites from our 3 days in Edinburgh!

The Royal Mile!

Located on an extinct volcano, the royal mile is in the old town of Edinburgh and within a world heritage site. With so much to do along the mile, you just can’t miss it! We started at the top of the mile at Edinburgh castle and walked down, so that we wouldn’t get too pooped from all the walking (make sure to wear good shoes).

Towering over the city, Edinburgh Castle is the centerpiece and should not be missed! With excellent views over the city, the castle dates back to the 12th century and is steeped in history. There are daily tours, however the crowds can get a little crazy in the summer months, so make sure to get there early. If you’re planning on taking a tour, check out some helpful tips at “Edinburgh Castle: Things to Know Before you go.”

After checking out the castle, meander down the royal mile and explore the many shops, restaurants, and attractions. Check out the popular Camera Obscura (fun for families with kids) and Scotch Whiskey Experience (fun for adults) along the way.

End your walk down the Royal Mile with a hike up to Arthur’s seat. Located at the highest point in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s seat is an extinct volcano that gives you incredible views above the city. Take the trail that begins at Dunsapie loch for the easiest hike to the top, and you can get there in about 20 minutes.

Take a Day Tour to the Scottish Countryside.

Edinburgh is a really cool city, but since we were only in Scotland for a few days, I wanted to experience more than just the city, and I’m so glad we did! Our tour with Rabbie’s was one of the highlights of our trip, and their day options from Edinburgh are quite affordable.

We chose the the Castles and highlands tour, and we were able to visit Doune Castle (Where Outlander, and the pilot of Games of Thrones was filmed), Inveraray castle (where Downton Abbey’s Christmas special was filmed), as well as several loch’s (unfortunately no loch ness monsters were spotted). I can’t recommend Rabbie’s tours enough; our guide was a Scottish local and filled our day with traditional Scottish music and stories of legendary fables.

Explore Edinburgh Old Town.

Dating back to medieval times, Edinburgh’s oldest neighborhood is lined with wool shops, pubs, and mom and pop stores. Nothing compares to the old town, there is history everywhere, and the people there are extremely friendly! Considered part of the Royal Mile, make sure not to miss this section where the old colorful Georgian buildings are laid out in a grid pattern.

In Scotland there are more sheep than people with almost 7 million sheep populating the country. So don’t forget to pick up a tartan wool scarf in the old town, where there are numerous quality wool shops.

Hit the Pubs!

One pub in particular we frequented SEVERAL times while in Edinburgh was the chain of Great British Pubs. Now I’m no pub aficionado (being from an island in the middle of the pacific), but they had AMAZING Scotch pies (like a chicken pot pie, but way better). They also had minced meat pies, classic fish and chips, and delicious vodka tonics (my drink of choice). I know, I know, when in Scotland you’re supposed to drink beer or scotch, but I had my fill of free scotch at our bed and breakfast =).

Scottish High Tea.

Traditionally served in the afternoon, in old times high tea was for the affluent members of society and was more of a social thing, enjoyed over several hours. During our visit to Scotland there were some gloomy chilly days, so what better way to warm up than with some afternoon tea.

We enjoyed high tea at Dalhousie Castle located 8 miles from Edinburgh in the countryside, and it was an amazing experience. We each had a selection of teas, champagne, and an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and sweet treats. Dalhousie Castle is a 13th century fortress surrounded by acres of woodlands, it looks like a fairy tale castle, and has an aqueous day spa. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing spa day with the girls, followed by high tea overlooking the gardens.

Edinburgh is a magical town with so much to do and see, and I will definitely be back! If you like this write up, please share it on your favorite social media and leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you! =)