What to do in Edinburgh for a day?

[Marax]

We are travelling up to Scotland on Sunday and our first port of call is Edinburgh, for the day.

Any suggestions on things to do for a 12 and 13 year old?

National museum

Fringe festival and the International Festival are on - loads of events, check out the apps.

The zoo then the Lego shop.

What apps would you recommend to check?

Thanks

With the Fringe on, everywhere will be very busy, with lots going on just out and about in the streets

The Fringe festival app and the International festival app…

Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags. No other city comes close.

This! It's August which only means one thing....

Go see the Pandas at the zoo - they are going back to China in October
lots of street entertainment with the festival
ghost walks - but book early as they are popular
Mart Kings Close - also popular
be near the castle at 1 o’clock- to hear the gun being fired

I agree, there's no need with children of OP's ages to go buying tickets for anything else. The Fringe is experience enough in itself.

GRAYSON PERRY EXHIBITION.

The festival is on. Walk up the Royal Mile, watch some stuff on the stages, get flyers and see what takes your fancy.

I really enjoyed this www.realmarykingsclose.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxPD16enDgAMVEAGLCh0WMwz-EAAYASAAEgJixvD_BwE

And with the Fringe, check the free shows too, not just paid, that way you can see loads.

The Fringe is amazing!

MARY KING CLOSE IS A MUST FOR A 12/13 YO...ANYONE REALLY....BOOK IT!!!

This is the main website.https://www.edfringe.com/

And the free shows. https://freefestival.co.uk/

Mary Kings close definitely is a must see , quite spooky really and a real sense of the past .

Treasure Trails are awesome for exploring places.

I live in Edinburgh. I'd honestly recommend driving further north for a stop over spending a day wandering around the city centre in August. It will be packed. The zoo might be OK but for the rest, come back another time!

We are heading up and will be staying in Dundee on Sunday night.. just a flying stop really

The National Museum, it's great for that ages. As others have said with the festival being on a walk up the royal mile to the castle would keep them entertained with everything going on. It is busy though

https://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_campaign=GMB_Website
The Optical Illusion museum is fantastic for a half day

Yes camera obscures is fantastic also Edinburgh dungeon and Edinburgh zoo

The plaza at the side of the National Gallery on Princes Street is the traditional place for free entertainment during the Festival. Lots of caricatures, artists and craft stalls too.
From there cross The Mound to get to Princes Street Gardens and see the floral clock (on the hour and half hour). Walk up The Mound to the Royal Mile, continue to Chambers Street for the National Museum. See Greyfriars Bobby on the way plus the cafe where JKR wrote the first Harry Potter book.
Retrace your steps to the Royal Mile and tour Mary Kings Close (book in advance).
Edinburgh Zoo, Lego Shop, Portobello Beach, climb Arthur’s Seat taking in Dynamic Earth and a paddle in the Scottish Parliament pools.
Ghost tour in the evening once it’s getting dark around 9.30pm.
Plus thousands of events on at the Festival and Fringe.

A segue from the centre of town to Portobello and back will take ages. A bit over-ambitious.