- Home
- Places to go
- Scotland's Cities
- Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is Scotland's capital; a city filled with history, culture, engaging attractions and beautiful architecture. Spend your time exploring its cobbled streets, hidden closes, world-class festivals and lively food and drink scene. Find out what makes Edinburgh so special, from its status as a UNESCO City of Literature and UNESCO World Heritage Site, to being named one of Time Out's top cities in the world.
Things to do in Edinburgh
Learn more about Edinburgh's history, explore beautiful outdoor spaces and go behind-the-scenes on a guided tour.
14 Hidden gems and things to do in Edinburgh
Explore some of Edinburgh's best hidden gems from stunning city views to a tranquil Japanese Friendship garden.
10 Amazing free attractions in Edinburgh
Find free things to do and places to go in Edinburgh, including the National Museum of Scotland, Botanic Gardens and more.
Leith: one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods
Discover what makes Leith one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, from Michelin star restaurants to quirky pubs and festivals!
Museums & galleries in Edinburgh
From science to medicine museums to portrait galleries, there's sure to be a place that will thrill you.
7 Local shops to visit in Portobello
Head to Edinburgh's seaside hidden gem and explore the local shops in Portobello.
Inspiration for Edinburgh city breaks
Places to stay
Whether you’re looking for an elegant 5-star hotel, a quirky B&B, a self-catering apartment or a budget friendly hostel, there are lots of accommodation options throughout Edinburgh.
Tours, routes & trails
Edinburgh offers a fantastic range of tours, including walking, ghost and history tours around the city centre. Get ideas for how to spend your time here with our itineraries, or head out for a city walk to soak up the sights.
Unique experiences in Edinburgh
There's always something new to discover in Edinburgh, but it's pretty special to be able to explore three UNESCO sites in the city which celebrate its architectural, engineering and cultural heritage.
Edinburgh, UNESCO City of Literature
Storytelling and writing is the beating heart of Edinburgh's art and culture scene. Discover the home of many literary superstars past and present.
Lost Shore Surf Resort
Come and visit Europe’s largest inland surfing destination, open now!
Edinburgh Old & New Towns
Its historic heart is one of the most striking and architecturally significant in the world.
Map of Edinburgh
Explore Edinburgh
Loading
Javascript is needed to show this map.
Javascript is needed to show this map.
How to travel to and around Edinburgh
Edinburgh is linked to by an extensive network of roads, rail services and flights which makes travel to the city possible from every corner of the world, while the city's compact size makes exploring easy.
Getting to
Bus and coach
There are many frequent and affordable bus services that travel from various main cities to Edinburgh daily. Most buses to Edinburgh arrive at the Edinburgh Bus Station that is located on St Andrew Square in the city centre.
Tram
Edinburgh Airport is directly linked through the west of the city, into the city centre and north and east down to Leith and Newhaven via a quick and convenient tram network.
Pre-book your tram ticket online via the Edinburgh Tram Ticket website so you’re ready to go as soon as you arrive. You can access lots of offers and money saving discounts by showing your Edinburgh Ticket at a range of attractions too.
Train
There are fast and frequent services to Edinburgh from major UK cities. LNER trains run along the east coast from London, York and Newcastle, while Avanti West Coast run along the west coast from London, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Carlisle. Transpennine Express run from Manchester to Edinburgh.
There are two stations - Edinburgh Haymarket to the west of the city centre, and Edinburgh Waverley sits at the east end of Princes Street.
Book with Transpennine Express
Travel overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper
ScotRail provides an express rail service direct to Edinburgh from many major Scottish cities.
Flying
Edinburgh Airport is situated only 5 miles (8 km) to the west of Edinburgh. You can travel from the airport to the city centre in around 30 minutes by bus, tram, taxi or car.
Driving
Edinburgh is well linked to the rest of Scotland and UK through an extensive road network, making access to the capital easy by car.
- From Newcastle - 2.5 hours
- From Manchester - 4 hours
- From Birmingham - 6 hours
Getting around
Walking
Edinburgh is easily explored on foot with most key attractions within walking distance of each other. Attractions beyond the city centre can be reached cost effectively by public transport and again explored further by foot.
Bus and coach
Lothian Buses run a service across the city 24 hours a day, while First Buses connect Edinburgh with towns and villages in the Lothians.
Plan your journey within Edinburgh with Lothian Buses
Plan your journey further afield with First Group
New self-driving bus route to Fife
Sit back and take in the views across the Firth of Forth on a self-driving bus! Having launched in 2023, you can travel between two transport exchanges across the Forth Road Bridge.
It’s the most ambitious and complex autonomous bus pilot in the world!
Tram
Trams run from Newhaven through Leith to York Place in the city centre and onto Edinburgh Airport which takes just under an hour.
Find ticket prices and plan your journey with Edinburgh Trams
Tours
Want to relax and let someone else drive?
Book a tour and hear from a knowledgeable local tour guide as they highlight points of interest, stop off at the best hidden gems and visit the iconic landmarks you’ve heard all about.
Taxi
There are over 1,000 cabs circulating around the city. You can hail one in the street or pick it up from one of the taxi ranks within the city centre.
Low Emission Zones (LEZ)
If you’re travelling by car to Edinburgh, your vehicle must comply with emission standards. You may be fined if you drive through an LEZ zone. This mostly impacts diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006.
What's on in Edinburgh
Events in Edinburgh
Soak up the incredible atmosphere of the capital with a range of events and festivals to get involved in. Whether theatre, art, comedy, circus, literature or culture is your thing, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.
Places to eat in Edinburgh
From Michelin-star meals to incredible independent eateries, Edinburgh offers an amazing selection of places to eat.
7 Heavenly hot chocolate spots in Edinburgh
Discover some heavenly hot chocolate spots in Edinburgh. Including Moo Pie Gelato, Uplands Roast, Aemilia, Mimi's Bakehouse and more!
10 Quirky places to eat in Edinburgh
Check out Edinburgh's most unique and quirky dining experiences and discover your new favourite places to eat in the city.
8 of the best pizza places in Edinburgh, recommended by an Italian
What better way to visit a city than to combine food and sightseeing?
9 Best coffee shops to try in Edinburgh
Discover the best coffee shops to try in Edinburgh. Including Machina Espresso, William & Johnson, Brew Lab, Lowdown, Fortitude and more.
Top 9 whisky tasting bars in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has an amazing history which is soaked in the whisky industry.
Gin cocktails to try in Edinburgh
Discover the gin cocktail and cheese experience at Pickerings Gin in Edinburgh, including a distillery tour and making your own seasonal cocktails.
12 of the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh
Discover some of the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh to book.
Explore further
Edinburgh & The Lothians
It's really simple to take time out of Edinburgh and explore the nearby Lothians. Head to the beach or forest parks, discover more about the heritage of the area, or enjoy some incredible outdoor activities.
Nearby regions
Edinburgh & The Lothians are surrounded by other unique and fascinating regions to explore. Extend your trip and take the chance to slow down and really connect with Scotland. Head to the coastal towns of Fife, soak up the colourful history of the Scottish Borders, or enjoy the scenery around Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. You can easily pop over to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, too.
A tip from your local expert
Fancy a spot of time travel? Visit The Georgian House and join an expert guide through the sumptuous 18th century interiors reminiscent of Jane Austen novels. Use the dressing up box to get into Regency character, too! A fascinating gem.
Lesley
VisitScotland
Find experiences
JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.
Other things you might like
Nature spotting in the city
Scotland's 8 cities
13 Taylor Swift inspired trips in & around Edinburgh
Scotland Loves Local Edinburgh Gift Card
The Highlands
Top 7 things to do in Dunfermline
7 Incredible trips you could take this weekend
Join our newsletter clan
Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.