Things to do in Edinburgh for a solo October day?

[ToffeePennie]

Asking for recommendations of things to do in Edinburgh.
I am lucky enough to be visiting the last week in October for 3 days. Day 1 will probably be travelling, then we have a meal out booked somewhere, but day 2 I have to keep myself occupied most of the day. That evening I’d love to go out somewhere special.
Im really into Harry Potter, so something connecting with that would be awesome, but I’ve never been to Scotland and I’ll have a whole day to myself to do something, so please, of there’s something special (or spooky, I love Halloween/true crime!!) that I shouldn’t miss, let me know!!

Don’t miss Mary Kings Close - the underground streets where people lived all stacked on top of each other, and where plague victims were walled up. One area is where a child was left to die by her family to escape the plague and it is DEFINITELY haunted. Enjoy!!!

To be honest, ignore the Harry Potter stuff, the links are all made up and the real history is so much more interesting! The castle is always good, as is Holyrood house. Some of the ghost tours are good, Mercat tours is probably my favourite. Just walking down the Royal Mile has loads!

There are a few ghost walks and a literary pub crawl - the ones I've been on have been excellent and funny and you wouldn't stand out being on your own. It's a great way of seeing the city and poking round old bits of the place you might not get to on your own.

National Museum of Scotland too. Also, if you walk down from the royal mile to Grassmarket the street is meant to be one of the Doahon Alley inspos and there's a v cool shop that sells swords at the bottom.

I went for half a day once because I'd never really seen the city and I regret not having longer (I had a very cheap train ticket from far away so couldn't really extend my trip), so having a whole day to wander around sounds amazing. Hopefully the weather will be good as there's lots of 'outdoors' to see.

Anything to do with HP in Edinburgh is tourist trap shite of the very worst order.

To be honest, in a day, I would just spend the time walking around the city. Bit of time in the new town/ Princess Street Gardens and then walk up to the Royal Mile and go from the castle all the way down to Holyrood.Then, if you are reasonably fit, go up Arthur's seat perhaps. Or, jump on one of the open top bus tours.

I wouldn't go to a specific tourist attraction as you'll only have time to do 1 and then you won't really get a feel for the actual city. For example, as good as the National Museum is, spending 2-3 hours there takes up most of your time without really giving an any insight into the city itself.

Mary king close tour you might enjoy and is on the royal mile

Arthur’s seat if the weather is kind

Surgeons' Halls Museum, I loved it and want to return for another look around. Not to everyone's taste as it has lots of bits of bodies in jars so not for the squeamish, but extremely interesting.

I was in Edinburgh for the first time recently.

Unless you are into hiking skip Arthur’s seat; walk up Carlton hill. The views are lovely and it’s less effort!

Save your energy for the Royal Mile and the Castle. If the weather is nice I also enjoyed a walk along the waters of firth out to Stockbridge and back - there is a wealth of amazing architecture, and there are lots of cute shops and cafes. It was a nice change of pace from the intensely touristy city centre.

The freshly renovated palm house in the botanical gardens opens on Saturday, it looks great. I've got tickets for the end of October.

This is definitely something I want to do now! It sounds amazing

There's brass rubbing good to while away a wee bit of time if raining etc it might be royal mile not sure it was years ago .it may have been in a church.

That's Calton Hill, and the Water of Leith.
Definitely wouldn't bother with Stockbridge if you only have one day to wander. It's mostly overpriced shops.

If you love Harry Potter, don't bother with the tourist trap shops. Instead take yourself to Greyfriars Kirkyard where JKR found inspiration for names of characters on the gravestones- she wrote the first HP in the Elephant House Cafe which used to be just in front of Greyfriars, but it's currently closed due to fire damage. There are some fantastic tours of the Kirkyard, some with an HP theme. Loads of other fantastic stuff to look out for there too - mortsafes from the days of the resurrection men, the Covenanters' Prison and the overall atmosphere of the place. I love it there.

Mary King's Close is good but I prefer the Mercat vaults tours of the vaults under South Bridge. Incredible and heartbreaking that people used to live in them.

The Museum of Scotland is fantastic, you could spend the whole day there and still not see everything. The Scottish galleries are fabulous, and will take you from prehistoric Scotland in the basement right up to the present day on the top floor. The view from the viewing terrace is breathtaking.

A walk up the Royal Mile from Holyrood to the castle is a good shout. Explore the closes and wynds off the main street, lots of good places to stop off for lunch (the haggis pasties at Mòr Bakehouse on Hunter Square are to die for and they're so huge you may well). The castle is one of my favourite places in the world - try and get there for the one o'clock gun and don't miss the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish crown jewels).

The National Gallery of Scotland is wonderful and the gift shop is especially good, as is the new café.

Surgeons' Hall Museum is fascinating, shocking and humbling in equal measure.

The Botanics are gorgeous, particularly at this time of year (a wander through Stockbridge on the way is always nice). In fact autumn is imo the best time to see Edinburgh full stop - you're very lucky! I used to live there and get back whenever I can.

My best advice is to read about Edinburgh before you go - the history is fascinating and you'll get right under the skin of it as it were.

Have fun OP!

Surgeons Museum is fascinating if you have even the vaguest interest in medical things.

National Museum of Scotland is free and you can spend several hours in there, something for everyone.

Personally not keen on Edinburgh Castle as it's very military which isn't for me. The Scottish Crown Jewels are on display if you want to mock the biggest damp squib ever 😆.

Mary King's Close is great if you can tolerate the rather embellished made up stories the guides tell you, definitely need to take with a pinch of salt but it is a very well done activity.

Sounds like Mary Kings close is deffo a place to visit! And Kirkyard. Not sure I can fit it all in, but I’m excited to try!!

I did one of the bus tours in Edinburgh, and found it really enjoyable. It didn’t take very long, but it was lovely to have a sit down and see some of the sights. It’s also a fine city for just strolling around for the sights and the atmosphere.

Oh, and keep an eye out for the golden jobby. Once seen, never forgotten.

We’ve went for a week recently. Don’t try to do everything because there’s loads and you’ll want to go back for longer I expect.

We’re not at all into haunted/spooky/ grim stuff. We really enjoyed:
the Botanics, even though the palm house wasn’t open when we went, with a walk along the waters of Leith.
the National museum - we didn't try to see everything just the Scottish history wing. It’s well displayed with a nice amount of info.
Holyrood palace was good, more interesting than I’d expected. We had a look in the Parliament building too (partly to critique how it could have cost so much) … but cheap tea in its cafe.
A couple of the old houses - Gladstones Lands (national trust) and the John Knox house.

Castle is a bit so-so, but good views from it. We didn’t bother queuing for the ‘honours of Scotland’ which from what PP said was a good move. In some ways the best bit is the national war memorial which looks like a big church in the middle, rather wonderful stained glass windows.

Royal Yacht Britannia - wouldn’t bother if only there for a day but it was, again, more interesting than I’d expected. Meanest portion of soup ever in its tearoom though.

Holyrood palace & King's Gallery are lovely - if it's a nice day then seeing the Castle then walking down the Royal Mile with a detour down Victoria St & Grassmarket, the onto Hoyrood Palace & a wee wander in Holyrood Park would be a full day out. The new Virgin Hotel at the top of Victoria St has a roof terrace with great views.
If it blowing a hoolie then the National Museum is free, Surgeons Hall museum is nearby, or the new Palm Houses at the Botanics.
Elephant House cafe is near National Museum and has reopened.
Botanics is the other side of town but good bus links. Cafe there is nice but pricey.
National Galleries are free & great if you like art - there's 2 on the mound, the Portrait Gallery near Harvey Nicholls & 2 modern art galleries inbetween city centre & Stockbridge.

I'd second the idea of enjoying an open top bus tour and taking a general wander around the Old Town and New Town. Maybe take a walk up Calton Hill as it's a nice panorama from the top. Greyfriar's kirkyard is atmospheric, and the Botanical Gardens are great if you're lucky enough to get good weather.
The Castle and the Royal Yacht Britannia are 2 of the main tourist draws, if you like that sort of thing. The tram will get you down to the Royal Yacht, it's a full morning or afternoon of your time in total though.

Very much weather-dependent, but some great suggestions here. I did the Real Mary King's Close and found it very interesting but rather than just guide you the guides act as well and I found that cringey and annoying.

If you want to go to Victoria Street (and you really should, this is the Diagon-alley one and very attractive) go early before all the crowds turn up and then down to the Grassmarket to look up at the castle from the far end. It is close to the Royal Mile, Greyfriars Kirk, The National Museum, Greyfriar's Bobby, The Castle.

Also - take comfy, grippy shoes. Lots of walking, lots of steps, slopes, cobbles.

Just what I was going to say ! Quite gory but absolutely fascinating!!

Yes to this did it about 10 years ago , it was fascinating. Would definitely do it again

I'm not even vaguely a Royalist or even that interested ... but I found the Royal Yacht fascinating. But then I do like a bit of gleaming engine room.