Short on time for your Edinburgh adventure? Congratulations! Your ultimate travel companion awaits right here!
Welcome to the best 24-hour Edinburgh travel guide, where I cover all the must-do activities, dining spots, and accommodation options in Scotland's capital—all conveniently packed into this FREE guide!
While this itinerary is designed for a jam-packed day in Edinburgh, it can easily be split over two days if you prefer a more leisurely pace.
Without further ado, let's dive into our guide which includes:
👉🏼Essential Insights about Edinburgh
👉🏼How to Get Around Edinburgh
👉🏼Best Places to Stay (with Options)
👉🏼Detailed 1-day Itinerary
👉🏼Cheap Eats
👉🏼Smart Budgeting Tips
👉🏼Your Vacation Preview: What to Expect in Edinburgh
Walking is the best way to explore and appreciate the beauty of Edinburgh, and it helps you save money too. However, for your commute from Edinburgh Airport to the city center, the Airlink 100 bus is the most efficient and cost-effective option, taking only 35 minutes.
You can pre-book round-trip tickets online or buy single-ride tickets directly on the bus, which is what I did. If you prefer to book online, visit the official Airlink 100 website here:
Let's be honest, accommodation in Edinburgh can be ridiculously expensive and might be the priciest part of your trip if you scored a good deal on flights. Here, I'll share some budget-friendly accommodation options to help you save on your stay in the city!
By booking through this guide, you will support my small business at no extra cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Great location but the rooms are small. The price point is very good for Edinburgh city center: 130€ a night
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Detailed 1-Day Itinerary
Maximize your time and enjoyment by following the listed itinerary and activities in chronological order. This ensures the most efficient and rewarding experience during your trip.
Read the comments I added to each place to know what to expect as well as some important information and tips!
Beautiful park right at the heart of Edinburgh. Enjoy a stroll as you admire the castle above you. Doing a picnic in the park is also a great option if you are on a budget ;)
Free art museum. If you enjoy paintings and learning more about Scotland you should definetly make a stop. The location of the gallery also offers a great bathroom pit-stop if you are on the go or a rain shelter in case you get unlucky with the weather
Probably the most beautiful view point in Edinburgh reachable with only 20/25 minutes walk from the city center (Royal Mile). There is a short climb at the end of the path but I would say it is very easy. Be mindful about visibility conditions on a rainy day
This one is a bit of an hike (approximately 30/35 minutes from Calton Hill). I would keep it optional in the itinerary depending on how much time you will be spending in Edinburgh and the weather conditions. I would skip it on a rainy/low visibility day
This graveyard contains all the charm and moody atmosphere of Edinburgh. One of the highlights of our day in Edinburgh. Once there, try to spot the grave of famous "Tom Riddle"
My personal favorite viewpoint in Edinburgh. This is a quiet street offering perfect views of the Edinburgh castle surrounded by typical Scottish houses
Paid attraction. The Edinburgh Castle will be the last stop of our itinerary. You will see it multiple times throughout the day but if you want to visit it inside you need to buy a ticket. In that case I strongly recommend to book the tickets in ADVANCE
Great way to experience typical Scottish cuisine. I perosnally really liked this traditional restaurants. the stuff was friendly and the food very tasty
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Extra Time?
If you have some extra time to spend in Edinburgh consider adding these activities to your plan.
Explore this lovely village just outside of Edinburgh and enjoy the breathtaking views over the castle
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Cheap Eats
Dining out in Edinburgh can easily drain your wallet, but there are plenty of budget-friendly restaurants to choose from. If you’re looking for a grab and go-style meal for less than 5 pounds in Edinburgh, you are in the right place ;)
👉🏼Walks, Parks and Green Spaces. Take advantage of the outdoors (especially if the weather is good) all for FREE!
👉🏼Visit the FREE attractions & Museums. The Writers’ Museum, The Royal Botanic Garden, The Scottish National Gallery, St. Giles Cathedral, and The Scottish Parliament are just some examples!
👉🏼Don't visit in August!
The largest arts festival in the world – The Fringe Festival – takes place over the course of three weeks every year in August, and accommodation prices skyrocket!
👉🏼Walk. Edinburgh is an incredibly compact and walkable city, and the best way to explore is by foot – especially since most attractions are located within neighbouring Old Town and New Town.
How Your Vacation Will Look Like
If you want to get an insight on how your vacation will look like check out my instagram highlights!
We've reached the end of this guide, and I sincerely hope you can make the most of it and enjoy the city as much as I did! Thank you for reading my advices, and if you ever want to follow along with my journey, you can find me on Instagram at @martaplore or drop me a comment.
Hi there, I'm Marta 👋🏼
I am an Italian traveler 🇮🇹 with a passion for exploring the world and discovering new cultures!
💕 ABOUT ME
During high school, I spent a year living in the United States 🇺🇸, which ignited my love for travel and cultural immersion. After returning to Italy, I moved around Milan and Turin, earned an engineering degree, and relocated to The Netherlands 🇳🇱 to work in the space industry 🛰️🪐
However, my desire to keep learning and exploring led me to the South of France 🇫🇷, where I am currently living while pursuing a PhD in satellite remote sensing 🌱. I've committed to living an exciting life and seizing every opportunity to travel the world 🌍✈️
🌎 WHERE I'VE TRAVELED
I've visited 21 countries so far: Italy 🇮🇹, France 🇫🇷, The Netherlands 🇳🇱, Spain 🇪🇸, The United States 🇺🇸, England 🏴, Scotland 🏴, Germany 🇩🇪, Sweden 🇸🇪, Malta 🇲🇹, Croatia 🇭🇷, Greece 🇬🇷, Morocco 🇲🇦, Belgium 🇧🇪, Montenegro 🇲🇪, Hungary 🇭🇺, Bosnia 🇧🇦, Portugal 🇵🇹, Switzerland 🇨🇭, Turkey 🇹🇷, and Monaco 🇲🇨
🗺️ MY TRAVEL STYLE
For every trip, I focus on three key elements:
1️⃣ Research: I gather extensive information to create a custom itinerary tailored to my interests
2️⃣ Budget: As a PhD student, I aim to maximize experiences without overspending. I proudly consider myself "Bougie on a Budget"
3️⃣ Memories: I prioritize creating and preserving memorable experiences, so my itineraries are packed with diverse activities
📖 WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM ME
📌 Travel Itineraries: Detailed guides on where to go, must-try experiences, dining spots, cost breakdowns, and tips
📌 Maps: Ordered itineraries, food recommendations, scenic viewpoints, and more
📌 Customized Travel Planning: Let me plan your next vacation, tailored to your preferences and budget
📸 HOW DO MY TRAVELS LOOK LIKE?
Check out my Instagram @martaplore 😉
