Edinburgh trip. What to do see/how many days?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Hi. I’ve never been to Edinburgh and was thinking of going with 18yo dd for a trip by train. Interested in museums, galleries, normal tourist stuff, any Harry Potter type tours, a bit of shopping, maybe the zoo?

loved Edinburgh. Did 3 nights with then 14 & 12 year old. Travelled by train from London using Family & Friends railcard, stayed in a central Premier Inn. We visited:

Sorry pressed send too soon!

Visited Camera Obscura
Climbed Arthur's seat & Calton Hill
Walked round the castle (didn't go inside)
National Museum of Scotland (free)
Greyfriars Bobby (right near museum)
Gladstone's Land (National Trust old house - v interesting)
The Real Mary Kings Close

Obviously loads more to do - great weekend!

What time of year are you thinking of going?
Adding to PP’s list:
Holyrood Palace
Royal Yacht Britannia

The Portrait Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art are both good.
Walk along the section of the Waters of Leith around Dean Village
Dynamic Earth
Botanic Gardens in Inverleith Park
Have a walk through the Grassmarket and up and down the closes off the Royal Mile
For a special meal, The Witchery

Hi, was thinking of going mid June. Though we do have the option of going in August for the fringe which might be nice....but is it absolutely heaving?

August will be rammed with fringe tourists
Add gilmerton cove to your list

Yes, absolutely heaving and astronomical accommodation prices for the fringe. It is good but if you're interested in museums, tours, shopping etc then there's plenty to entertain you without the fringe shows. You could see what's on at one of the many theatres - there's always something worthwhile.

I think others have covered the sights I'd suggest. If you fancy pushing the boat out, book in at The Kitchin if you can - lunch is a good value way to go.

If you go in August stay outside Edinburgh and travel in as the prices in the city are high. I would highly recommend the fringe. Great experience and there are two days at the start where tickets are 2 for 1 which makes it more affordable. A lot of the shows are free and just ask for a donation.

See as much as you can. Good recommendations in the previous posts.

Someone always says the Witchery on these threads. It is very overrated, and so dark you can barely see your food. Try somewhere like eg The Gardener's Cottage, The Lookout by the Gardener's Cottage, Kitchin, Timberyard to mention but a few alternatives. I'd second walking by the Water of Leith and down to the Botanics, through the New Town. Don't spend all your time in Old Town tourist traps.

Another recommendation for the Camera Obscura

Mary kings close is fascinating. It’s an old street which has been built over. It’s a great demonstration of how people used to live in Edinburgh and very spooky.
The Grain Store in the Grassmarket is a great place to eat.

The dungeons,the surgeons museum and a poltergeist tour.

I live here! Agree to heaving in August, and expensive. But an experience

100% agree with National Museum (free but you can donate) I've spent MANY an afternoon there, you can spend hours and not see everything.

Surgeons hall Yes!

Mary kings close yes!

There are thousands of amazing restaurants in the city for all different cuisines, I would wander off the main streets and find them. Although on the royal mile I love the royal McGregor

Happy to give recommendations on particular restaurant types 😊

Give yourself time to just wander too.

Edinburgh Dungeon is great. We bought itison vouchers and got in for £9 instead of £27.

Another vote for Camera Obscura

To eat, if you want Scottish fare, try Pibroch. Amazing

Another vote for Mary kings close

Our whisky loving family member enjoyed the Scotch Whisky experience.

Arthur's seat and Dynamic earth

For the Harry Potter fan we cant recommend the Department of Magic escape rooms and Potions making highly enough! In fact we loved it so much we crammed in doing their second one before our flight home!!

Also there are two good Harry Potter shops we saw called the Great Wizard. One on RM and one on Haymarket. Our kids spent an hour in there! Opposite the one on Haymarket is a hog roast place called Oink- amazing!

We went on a fun and free Harry Potter evening tour. Really good.

Some great ideas. Think I’m going to need a week! Thanks everyone.

The Gardeners cottage looks nice. Though Dd is vegan, coeliac and various food allergies so we tend to stick to chain restaurants when anywhere new.

Edinburgh is great for vegetarian coeliacs - Gardner's cottage will cater for her if you speak to them in advance. Also plenty of choice at Hendersons and the Apiary/Educated flea/Three birds. Also pubs like the Holyrood 9A , the southern, and loads of Indian restaurants too.

The Grassmarket is a great location for gluten free. Try the Hula Juice Bar, which is a terrific little spot and caters well for allergies. They serve some of the best gluten free breakfasts in Edinburgh. Another Grassmarket favourite, Pumpkin Brown is a new café/coffee place, serving vegan, free-from and just delicious takeaway and eat in food.
A really lovely top-of-the-range restaurant on the Royal Mile, right opposite Parliament Square, Angels with Bagpipes is a real treat. They cater really well for dietary requirements and much of the food is naturally gluten free.

Thrive in Bruntsfield is a really lovely vegan restaurant (incl GF options!)

Dynamic Earth is pretty cool as well.

Museum of Childhood is great, too. Its on the Royal Mile.

David banns for vegetarian food