Edinburgh recommedations please

[ShiningforLeeBertie]

I have nearly 3 days in Edinburgh next week with my partner, apart from the obvious such as the castle can anyone recommend some must sees?

I have booked a ghost tour and also a treasure hunt so that will take in a lot of the sights, and any recommendations for places to eat that are not chain. We like trying local and new things and would prefer to avoid chain places if possible. Staying on Princes St so very central.

Thank you!

Google covers Edinburgh too. 🙂

If everyone who Google instead of asking questions here, this site would have about 4 threads a day.

It's a chat board, I was chatting. But thanks for your input

Camera obscura

Botanic gardens

Walk up the hill

Beach at portabello

From your hotel on princes street, the castle will be in front of you. From there walk to Victoria street and the grassmarket or a longer walk towards Holyrood Palace…all downhill. Less touristy option is to head towards George street behind princes street which marks the start of the beautiful New Town (actually very old), keep going downhill towards Stockbridge and the Botanic gardens. Have lunch there. You will have missed the Scottish half term break so that’s good.

As PP said, walk over George Street, down towards Stockbridge and see the Botanics, have a drink/dinner in Stockbridge. A couple of new places have opened there that I want to try and have heard good things - Little Capo and Sotto.

Lots of lovely places, the museum and central library and national library all close together. Arthur’s seat if not slippery. There’s a pub as you get down to the bottom called The Salisbury which I would recommend for lunch after your climb. Portobello also lovely.

I liked the National Gallery of Scotland.

Also Calton Hill, great views.

You will have the National Gallery on the Mound right in front of you, and also very close is the National Portrait Gallery. Both free and have some gems. The upper floors of the Portrait Gallery were the most interesting to me. Also both have excellent cafes, especially the National Gallery (beautiful views over Princes St gardens and lovely food from, I think, a local family restaurant).

The botanical gardens are free and lovely, and there are lots of nice local shops and charity shops and artisan cafes/in Stockbridge nearby. You can walk over via Inverleith Park. Then walk up via the Water of Leith to Dean Village - truly beautiful short river walk. You could finish at the Modern Art Gallery up that way (another nice cafe too!)

Calton Hill is nice for a short walk in the city centre with great views over Edinburgh.

The Royal Mile
Britannia (incredible)
Surgeons Hall museum

A walk up to Carlton Hill just before the sun sets if the weather is clear

We enjoyed the Bank of Scotland, the Museum of Edinburgh and the National Museum and the Library

We also enjoyed The Real Marys Kings Close

One really nice day we took the bus down to QueensFerry and took a walk over the bridge

When we go we always hit an Indian restaurant , cant mind the name of it even though we have eaten there three times - its along on past the cinema on the opposite side of the road , about 4 or 5 doors up from the corner - food is a delight

I like to visit The Dovecot as they have interesting exhibitions and I like to see the weavers working.

If you like art the City Art Gallery is also interesting.

Dishoom is a chain but it's fab.

Go to the Royal Yacht Britannia. It's fascinating. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would.

Lots recommended on this thread from the other week if that helps? ☺️ https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/uk/5268775-edinburgh

The Museum of Scotland is amazing, mooch in the Old Town and Royal Mile, the St James Centre is good for shopping and Bonnie & Wild for food.

Mother India? It's across the bridges on the street to the Festival Theatre. It's nice. Definitely the national museum and the Art Gallery on the mound. Princes Street Gardens are nice but not at this time of year. Too cold!

Definitely Calton Hill - and yes ideally at sunset. It's the classic view of Princes St you see on TV.
The National Museum is one of my favourite places ever.
Camera Obscura is a good laugh, if pricey.
There are lots of wonderful independent places to eat. We love Fior which will be a short walk. Ardfern is my second favourite, but is a little away from Princes St. Also Leftfield, Pomelo and Mara's Picklery in Marchmont/Bruntsfield. If you have £ then one of the Stewart Ralston restaurants in the town centre.
Have a great trip!

Some good ideas here, do remember it will be freezing so perhaps include some inside things such as the museums and galleries.
For places to eat, as previously mentioned the National Gallery Cafe is very good and you can go at any time of day and make it as light or heavy as you choose. The Spence in the Edinburgh Townhouse on St Andrew's Sq is exceptional. It can be pricey if you want it to be but breakfast is a good shout too. I like Tattu for good Chinese in a nice space. The Scotsman Hotel on NorthBridge has a big cafe style dining room which serves drinks and food all day,
Valrona and Crolla on Elm Row is an amazing deli with a cafe attached, very good.
You will not go hungry.

Baba on George St for Middle Eastern food.
Edinburg Street Food can be fun for different things when not too busy. Have fun!

The Museum has some of the Lewis chessmen. Guessing that you don't have a car? Stirling Castle on a sunny frosty morning is stunning.
There's a little museum https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum that is well worth a poke about.

The Modern Art Galleries are well worth a visit, as is nearby Dean Village. It’s a nice short walk from there to Stockbridge, along the Water of Leith.
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery-modern-art

I like the Rose Leaf (nothing overly special, but it used to be my local) https://www.roseleaf.co.uk

The other castle (Craigmillar) is great, and if gardens are your cup of tea, Dr Neil’s Garden is worth a visit.