Edinburgh Recommendations?

[LouH5]

Hello!
Currently in the car travelling to Edinburgh for the next couple of days with my boyfriend. I’ve got a travel guide on my lap and google on my phone but asking for some recommendations from people who live there/have visited for must-see things to do.
We’ve booked the Castle for tomorrow but otherwise are open. Are there any restaurants you’d really reccomend? Our budget is relatively normal (as in, would look to pay no more than £30/40pp for a meal- no alcoholic drinks needed).
Thanks in advance!

Which area are you staying? Last time, we were staying just off Dalry rd. I don't know what the area is called, but its to the West of the city centre and there were several lovely restaurants.
First Coast specialised in local ingredients and Locanda Di Gusti- an Italian restaurant. I've also been to the Witchery, near the castle, but its not expensive. They do have lunch specials though.

For things to see do, it really depends what you are into and how many days you are there?:
National Museum of Scotland- free, absolutely massive and so interesting
St Giles Cathedral was interesting and some beautiful stained glass windows
The national galleries had some beautiful artworks
I vaguely recall Palace of HolyroodHouse being expensive and not as interesting as the above places
You could also just walk along the Royal Mile and see the sights.
Another time I went to see the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith

I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will come along to help.

Aw amazing, that’s a great list!

We are staying in a country club type hotel about 20mins from the centre so will drive in when we visit. Staying from today until Sunday. I’ll have a little look now for the Dalry road area, we will check out the restaurants around there. Really handy to know that the museum is free and a must-see, that’s a great insight!

Thank you 😊

Dishoom for brunch. Or dinner.

I avoid driving in if at all possible - public transport isn't that bad and park and rides are easy

I found some more notes from my last visit, but this was pre-covid.
I also went to the Surgeons Hall museum- a pathology museum which was interesting. I work in healthcare, so might not be something everyone likes!

There was a farmers market at the foot of the castle, but it was fairly small and I only went as walking past anyway- wouldn't go out of my way to go otherwise.

Along The Royal Mile, was The Museum of Edinburgh (not to be confused with the massive National Museum of Scotland). Again, this was pre-covid so it might have changed. It was free, but a maze of little rooms, dark, dusty and no logical way to walk around. Some interesting things to see though.

There is also greyfriars bobby, a statue of a dog. Certainly some history, but if short of time, I wouldn't go out of my way to see a dog statue personally.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby

Thank you for this- I wouldn’t have even really thought of that but that’s good to know, we can ask the hotel for the best public transport from there!

@JC03745 amazing, thank you! I love a farmers market so will deffo keep an eye out for that when we’re at the castle! Pathology museum sounds cool- I love stuff like that too!

I definitely recommend climbing Arthur's Seat if you have a dry day. The zoo is really good too - I was surprised at how big it is. The ghost/vaults tour is really good and you get to hear a bit about the history of Edinburgh too. Calton Hill is nice and not too much climbing involved.

Bonnie & Wild was great for food - lots of choices there too (recommend the pancakes personally)

Howie's was a restaurant we went too and the food was fab.

I only went for the first time last year and fell in love with the city, so went again a few months later. Have a great time!

Absolutely love Edinburgh, amazing city!
So many gorgeous restaurants and cafes, lots of different vibes but I love the laid-back cafe culture Edinburgh does so well. It would be helpful to know what side of Edinburgh you're staying closest to, to give you some suggestions.
Climb Arthur's seat if the weathers good, gorgeous views across the city. Botanical Gardens also great for a stroll away from all the buzz elsewhere. Stockbridge and Bruntsfield areas have lots of lovely independent shops, cafes and restaurants to explore and give you more of a neighbourhood feel.
Lots of other ideas but I'm sure others will come on with more.
Have a fantastic time!

The ghost tours under the city are brilliant and perfect for Halloween 🎃

I hate Edinburgh Zoo with a passion, but am not in the majority.
Dean Village, and then walk along the Water of Leith to Stockbridge, would be a classic way to spend a couple of hours. Loads of great pubs and restaurants in Stockbridge. Word of Mouth cocktail bar is a fave. If you like modern art then the two National Galleries of Modern Art are close to Dean Bridge, and you can then walk straight down to Dean Village for lovely autumnal views.

No need to drive into the centre
I would just wander around for a few days, drink coffee and soak up the city

Climb Calton Hill
Stroll down the Royal Mile past St Giles and through Holyrood Park / climb Arthur's Seat
Mary Queens Close
Dean Village
Victoria Street
You can walk over the Forth Rd Bridge then have lunch in South Queensferry

Have a drink or meal at the Dome for the experience
The food at Taisteal is excellent

Enjoy

LOL at the Dalry Road recommendation! Who wants to spend their holiday in deepest Gorgie?!

Just leaving right now- so I'm jealous of you arriving!
Depends on your interests.
Lots of art to see.
Lots of little cafes
Lots of architecture.
I go lots, but this visit I :
went to Bloom and Wild, Dovecot studios, walked along the river to Dean village. walk up the mile in the evening- there's loads of entertainment around.

It's a very compact city to walk about- just loads of hills/ steps.

It's Halloween too- spooky day for a spooky city- ghost walk?

Don't drive in, parking is impossible.

Real Mary Kings Close
The Witchery

Just a heads up that the rugby is on this Saturday so the whole city will be mental. Expect a deluge of very cheerful, pretty tipsy people 😅 The city is a great vibe on match days but the pubs along the whole length of the tramline will be rammed

Cockburn street is very photogenic.

The Dome for cocktails is wonderful

Botannic gardens worth a wander if the weather is dry. AMAZING chinese not too far from zoo is The Chinese Manor House (that is about 3 miles out from city centre though)

And there's a fab italian near Chambers st museum called Chio Roma on South Bridge st (that is the st that Chambers st ajoins - not the Greyfriars bobby end - the other end of Chambers st)

If memory serves me right, restaurant is directly next to a Tesco Express.

Calton Hill gives decent views and if you are shopping in St James Quarter, grab a coffee in the top floor cafe of John Lewis. Window seat views are fantastic.

Royal mile has castle at top, Camera Obscura (good clear day only)

St mary's close. Go under edin streets and find out about old tenament living conditions

Museum of childhood - free

People's story museum - free

Chocolate experience just off bottom of royal mile pre booking essential.

Or do a bus tour.

You will find lots to do.

Go up Scott Momument in Princes st gardens

Chocolatarium tour was definitely worth the money. The Three Bridges boat tour is fab, saw seals and porpoises last time. Underground vault tour was good. The Fish Market restaurant in Leith was amazing.

National Museum of Scotland, Botanic Garden, climb Arthurs Seat or Calton Hill, visit Scottish Parliament building, Holyrood Palace

It is a leftfield suggestion of location (although it’s not Gorgie). But those restaurants are genuinely very nice and less touristy than many suggestions on here.

absolutely do not drive into Edinburgh city centre unless you have a death wish and a small fortune to spend on parking!
Where are you staying because I can't think of anything that constitutes a country club within 20min of the city centre. Is Dalmahoy?
If there isn't a bus direct from your hotel then a park & ride is your best option. Find a park and ride – The City of Edinburgh Council

It is the Dalmahoy!
That link will be so useful, it wouldn’t have crossed our minds otherwise and we would’ve just driven!

Thank you everyone so much for the recommendations, I am so impressed! So many of these ideas look brilliant, and a great range!
Thanks especially for the heads up about the rugby- we might go to the zoo on the Saturday to keep away from all that haha!

ha, good luck getting from the Dalmahoy to the centre of Edinburgh in 20minutes!! Your best option is to park at Ingliston park & ride and use the tram into the city centre. There's also a park & ride at Hermiston Gait on the A71 which is closer to your hotel but I once lost a day of my life on the bus into town from there.
Going to the zoo will not help you get away from the rugby unless you time it to leave while the match is on (5:40pm KO but I suspect the zoo closes earlier as it's dark by then). It's about as close to Murrayfield as you can get!