Edinburgh is easily the most popular tourist destination in Scotland. The capital is oozed in historic charm and culture and, to top it off, has to be one of the prettiest places in Britain. We just love returning to this city and there is never a shortage of something to do. Whether it is your first time here or twentieth, my ultimate guide to 48 hours in Edinburgh has you sorted. Enjoy!
Getting to Edinburgh
Getting to Edinburgh is incredibly easy thanks to its excellent transport connections. If you’re flying in, Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is only 25 minutes from the city centre via tram or bus. There are direct flights from both British hubs, such as London or Manchester, and those that are international.
If you don’t fancy flying across the UK, the train services to and from Edinburgh are really regular. You can find services here from London, Manchester and Glasgow. To get here by car, simply follow the A1 from England or the M8 motorway from Glasgow. .
Where to stay in Edinburgh
There are plenty of places to stay in Edinburgh given the scale of tourism in the city. Here are some of my recommendations to suit all kinds of travellers.
| Traveller Style | Hotel Option |
| Budget Traveller | Motel One Edinburgh |
| Luxury Traveller | The Balmoral Hotel |
| Relaxed Traveller | Hotel Du Vin Edinburgh |
All of these are quite central locations which means that you can easily explore the city. As a disclaimer, I would say that Edinburgh itself is arguably the most expensive place in Scotland to stay. If you want to stay further afield with your 48 hours in Edinburgh, consider nearby towns that offer a reduced rate. Glasgow is also a good option as the train journey takes under half an hour and runs super regularly.
Day 1: History, Culture, and Stunning Views
Morning: Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
For your first day in Edinburgh, you just have to start with the main historic sites. Of course, Edinburgh Castle is high up on this list as a place to start. You can’t really miss it whilst you are exploring; it is perched high up on Castle Rock and has some incredible views of the city. The castle houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Scone (meaning “Stone of Destiny”).
Once you have explored the castle, head down to the Royal Mile, home of Edinburgh’s Old Town. You’ll see shops and restaurants galore, along with the impressive landmarks like St. Giles’ Cathedral. If you are feeling peckish, try either The Milkman on Cockburn Street (be aware that it gets busy) or the Edinburgh Larder on Blackfriars.
📍 Must-See: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, St. Giles’ Cathedral
🎟️ Cost: £17.50 for Edinburgh Castle (entrance fee). Top Tip: Make sure that you book this in advance as it can get very busy!
Lunch: Enjoy Traditional Scottish Fare
If you are still hungry after breakfast, make the most of being in Edinburgh with a delicious lunch; the Scottish way. A personal favourite pub-lunch spot of ours is The Albanach along the Royal Mile. There are a great selection of meals and, for a true Scottish lunch, over 300 different types of whiskies! Just 7 minutes away from the Royal Mile is an excellent Thai place called Ting Thai Caravan. Since our holiday to Thailand back in 2019, we are suckers for this food and we felt that this place does it very well. Not quite a Scottish lunch, but very tasty nonetheless!
Afternoon: Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Palace
After lunch, take a short walk to Holyrood Palace, which used to be the official residence of the Queen when she visited Scotland. If you want to go in to the Palace, you’ll find some stunning rooms to explore. After a large lunch, I would recommend a leisurely walk about before the next activity; the hike up Arthur’s Seat. This legendary walk is up an extinct volcano, giving you the best views in the city. The walk takes around 30-40 minutes and, in all honesty, is not too challenging! I think it makes for a perfect end of the first afternoon in the city.
📍 Must-See: Holyrood Palace, Arthur’s Seat
🎟️ Cost: Free for Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Palace (Palace entrance fee: £15.50)
Evening: Edinburgh’s Pubs and Whisky Bars
After a day of sightseeing, I would say that the perfect way to wind down is with tasty food and a delicious drink! A cool option is the Scotch Whisky Experience where you can try the national drink. If whisky isn’t your thing, there is an amazing cocktail bar called The Dome, one of the prettiest Georgian buildings in the city.
📍 Recommendation: The Scotch Whisky Experience, The Bow Bar
🎟️ Cost: Whisky tasting starts from £10
Day 2: Museums, Shopping, and Hidden Gems
Morning: National Museum of Scotland and Victoria Street
For your second day you’ll be exploring some more pretty impressive landmarks. I would start off your second day by visiting the National Museum of Scotland. It houses exhibitions about everything to do with Scotland, including history, art and sciences. The museum is super impressive and will take a good few hours to explore it all. It also houses Dolly the Sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal.
Next up is the perfect destination for anybody who loves Harry Potter. Victoria Street has to be one of the prettiest streets in Britain and, allegedly, inspired J.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley! Along the way up the street, you’ll see plenty of quirky shops, boutiques and cafés. One of the most obvious is Museum Context, colloquially known as the ‘Harry Potter Shop’. Along the road is also The Elephant House, supposedly being a place where J.K. Rowling would write chapters of her book. Incidentally, it is a perfect place to stop and enjoy a coffee.
📍 Must-See: National Museum of Scotland, Victoria Street, The Elephant House
🎟️ Cost: Free for National Museum of Scotland
Lunch: Trendy Stockbridge & New Town
For lunch, you have a few options – Edinburgh is certainly not short of places to eat. One great option is Stockbridge, which is filled with cafés and gastropubs. If you fancy pushing the boat out, try The Scran & Scale, a gastropub owned by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchen. It is a little on the pricey side, but it isn’t extortionate. Another good option is the Cowan & Sons.
After lunch, you have a few options. You could head to the Water of Leith and Dean Village, which is a cute little neighbourhood that sits way back in time. You could then walk into Circus Lane to see the New Town and maybe even stop at the Scottish National Gallery! Here you can see masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet and Turner!
📍 Must-See: Dean Village, New Town, Circus Lane
🎟️ Cost: Free
Afternoon: Explore Princes Street and the Gardens
For your final afternoon of your 48 hours in Edinburgh, I would take it easy and enjoy a stroll down Princes Street Gardens, giving you a different perspective of the Castle. You’ll also be able to see the Scott Monument. If you fancy shopping, then you also have Princes Street itself and George Street, which are both perfect for souvenirs and any branded gift you might want.
📍 Must-See: Princes Street Gardens, Scott Monument
🎟️ Cost: Free
Evening: Sunset at Calton Hill
The final moments of your 48 hour Edinburgh adventure should definitely be spent on Calton Hill. You can watch the sunset whilst enjoying the light cast over the city. I think it is the perfect way to end your time in the city and gives you an opportunity to snap some incredible pictures.
📍 Must-See: Calton Hill, National Monument
🎟️ Cost: Free
Final Thoughts | 48 Hours in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of my favourite staycation destinations. It is just so beautiful that my pictures definitely do not do it justice. Plus, there is so much to see and do in Edinburgh that you could easily extend your 48 hours into 72!
Have you visited Edinburgh before? What was your favorite part of the city? Let me know in the comments below!
