
The Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Fringe festival, Edinburgh
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Edinburgh
With an abundance of history, top quality attractions and beautiful architecture, Edinburgh is an incredible capital city. Spend your time there at unforgettable historic sites, world-class festivals and incredible cafes and restaurants. This is a UNESCO City of Literature, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Time Out's best top cities in the world.
Find experiences
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Things to see & do
Learn more about Edinburgh's history, explore beautiful outdoor spaces and go behind-the-scenes on a guided tour.
Port of Leith Distillery
What's New
You can now book a tour of the UK’s first vertical distillery, Port of Leith. This 9-floor distillery sits next to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. The tour and the bar offer incredible views of Leith docks, the Firth of Forth and bridges, and out across Edinburgh.
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15 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.
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Top 14 Things to Do in Edinburgh
Find a range of things to do, including top attractions like the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat and many more.
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Museums & galleries in Edinburgh
From science to medicine museums to portrait galleries, there's sure to be a place that will thrill you.
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Scotland Loves Local Edinburgh Gift Card
Sample all that the city has to offer using the Scotland Loves Local Edinburgh Gift Card.
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Free attractions in Edinburgh
Find free things to do in and places to go in Edinburgh, including the National Museum of Scotland, Botanic Gardens and more.
Inspiration for Edinburgh city breaks
The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh
Accommodation in Edinburgh
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.

Rosslyn Chapel
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.

Dancers performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
What is Edinburgh known for?
There are many things Edinburgh is famous for like its world-famous summer festivals, and amazing Hogmanay celebrations. It's also recognised for its literary heritage, and incredible Old and New Town history through UNESCO.
The Forth Bridge seen from North Queensferry
© VisitScotland/ Kenny Lam
New & unique experiences in Edinburgh
There's always something new to discover in Edinburgh. From original events to new museums, see what's happening this year in the capital.
Map of Edinburgh
Explore Edinburgh
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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.
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. Transpenine 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.
Travel overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper
Enjoy a 20% discount on off-peak tickets for Caledonian Sleeper customers.
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.
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 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.
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! Launching in May 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.
What's on in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Festival Theatre
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Edinburgh events & festivals
Discover Edinburgh's packed programme of events from music to art, theatre to sport, literature to dance.
Food & Drink in Edinburgh
From Michelin-star meals to incredible independent eateries, Edinburgh offers an amazing selection of places to eat.
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9 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.
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12 of the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh
Discover some of the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh to book.
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6 of the Best Pizza Places in Edinburgh, recommended by an Italian
What better way to visit a city than to combine food and sightseeing?
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10 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.
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Top 10 Whisky Tasting Bars in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has an amazing history which is soaked in the whisky industry.
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Guide to Restaurants in Edinburgh
Read this practical guide to restaurants in Edinburgh.
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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.
Explore further

Dunbar Cliff Top Trail
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
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.

Anstruther Harbour, Fife
Nearby regions
Edinburgh & The Lothians is surrouned by other interesting regions. Head to the coastal towns of Fife, explore 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

The Georgian House
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
Assistant iCentre Manager, Edinburgh
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