Things To Do
Edinburgh Castle
The castle tour is really fun and you get great views of the city from here! Lots of interesting military history in particular, and you won't want to miss the great hall and the cannons at 1pm.
Grassmarket
This is an area of town where there are lots of pubs and places to eat. You'll find some good live music, great ice cream at Mary's Milk Bar and it's a short walk up Victoria Street to the Royal Mile in Old Town.
Princes Street Gardens
These are in the heart of the city, sandwiched between the bustling Princes Street, where all of the public transportation picks up and the castle on the hill. The gardens have stunning views in September, with flowers, monuments, and an iconic fountain that was recently restored to colorful glory.
Dean Village
Situated five minutes away from Princes Street, visitors can find the Dean Village, a beautiful oasis right by the Water of Leith. This is one of the most photographed places in Edinburgh and is just a charming little sight to see. It's close to downtown and I recommend walking along the Water of Leith walkway for awhile, as well. It's a beautiful nature path and you'll see lots of bridges, statues, waterfalls and more along the way. The walk from Dean Village to the Modern Art Museum is a fun one, as well. Dean Village was previously where milling of water mills took place, of which remains of this can still be seen by visitors. Hidden in the village, you will come across a variety of mill stones and stone plaques decorated with baked bread and pies. The Dean Bridge can also be found if you walk along the walkway following the Water of Leith. The Bridge and St Bernard's Well were both designed by Thomas Telford.
Calton Hill
You'll recognize this location from our Save the Dates! Calton Hill is located at the end of Princes Street in the New Town. Marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Calton Hill has some of the city's best views and if you get up early, the best sunrises. Calton Hill is also resident to some iconic Scottish monuments and buildings. Monuments include the National Monument, Dugald Stewart Monument, Nelson's Monument, the Old Royal High School, Robert Burns Monument, Political Martyrs' Monument and also the City Observatory.
National Museum of Scotland
This free museum is a wonder of both architecture and history! It's located on Chambers Street, by the intersection with the George IV Bridge, in central Edinburgh, right near The Meadows and the University of Edinburgh. The National Museum of Scotland is a museum of Scottish history and culture. It was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum, with international collections covering science and technology, natural history, and world cultures.
The Scotch Whisky Experience
More than just a typical distillery tour, this awesome experience gives you the opportunity to learn about the history of scotch whisky making in Scotland, explore how regional differences create unique flavor profiles for each whisky and taste test something from different regions! The tour is super fun, or you can stop in and pick up some unique souvenirs for folks back home, as well.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Great activity for the whole family and all ages! This is located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's Old town and immerses you into a world of illusions. The original attraction was founded by entrepreneur Maria Theresa Short in 1835 and was exhibited on Calton Hill. Outlook Tower has been a museum since the late 1890s and is currently home to 100+ interactive exhibits, including the original Camera Obscura and 5 floors of hands-on illusions.
Waterstones
One of the loveliest big name bookstores in Edinburgh! This three-story bookstore is on the west end of Princes St (just steps away from the Premier Inn Princes St if you opted to stay in that hotel listed on our wedding website) and has a magnificent collection of books for all ages and interests. Plus, there's a cafe on the third floor that has windows with an awesome view of the castle, great hot cocoa and delicious cupcakes!
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel is a beautiful, 15th Century chapel in a nearby town. It's a bit more difficult to get to but is accessible via public transportation. It's a point of interest because of it's prominent feature in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and the accompanying film. It's a beautiful place to visit and there's some cool history associated with the church, which was originally built as a Catholic collegiate church.