The Ultimate 3-Day Edinburgh Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
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Looking for the perfect weekend getaway in Scotland? This 3-day Edinburgh itinerary covers the best sights, historic landmarks, and hidden gems to make the most of your trip!
Edinburgh is the perfect location for a weekend trip or short trip. It is full of history, Scottish culture, and it is known for having inspired parts of the Harry Potter books. This itinerary will walk you through how to spend the perfect 3 days in Edinburgh and is perfect for first-time visitors looking for a short getaway.
I am convinced there is no bad time to visit Edinburgh, although the winters will be a bit cold. However, the city is beautiful and has many activities regardless of season. I visited in the fall, and I know many people visit around then to immerse themselves in spookier activities such as ghost tours of the city. Fall was a beautiful season to visit with the leaves changing colors and a chill in the air.
Edinburgh can be rainy so be sure to pack a rain jacket! You will also be walking quite a bit in this itinerary so I suggest bringing comfortable walking shoes. I loved these shoes in the fall because they kept my feet dry and warm.
Edinburgh Itinerary Day 1: Old Town and Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
A trip to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the famous Edinburgh Castle. Before you head up to the castle, swing by the Milkman and pick up a pastry and a coffee. The coffee here is great and the pastries are delicious.
You can book your tickets in advance for the castle with a time slot. If you want to be there for the firing of the cannons, you’ll want to push this back to later in the day so you’re there at 1:00 PM. There are walking tours around the castle or you can wander through the many wonderful exhibits on your own. It is well worth the visit!
The Royal Mile
After your visit to the castle, it’s time to walk down the Royal Mile. Take some time to check out the shops and the sights. Make sure to take some time to see St. Giles Cathedral and Victoria Street – the street that inspired Diagon Alley. While you’re on Victoria Street, stop by Oink to get a sandwich for lunch.
This would also be a great time to stop by the Writer’s Museum as you work your way down the Royal Mile.
Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat
At the end of the Royal Mile, head towards Holyrood Palace on your walk towards Arthur’s Seat. You really probably only have time to either go inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse or to hike up Arthur’s Seat but you’ll be able to look at the whichever one you don’t do.
I personally would choose to hike up Arthur’s Seat but that can also get a little bit challenging on particular windy days. Wear the appropriate footwear and be prepared for a lot of uphill walking if you choose to do this but the view at the top is spectacular.
After your afternoon/evening hike, head to Makars Mash Bar to get some of the best Scottish food in Edinburgh. After your meal, you could go to a local pub, go to a whiskey tasting, or book a potions class at one of the many magic or Harry Potter-themed bars in the area.
Edinburgh Itinerary Day 2: History and Different Neighborhoods
Stockbridge and Dean Village
Head to Stockbridge to explore the neighborhood and grab a pastry from Lannan Bakery. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, check out Stockbridge Market. Otherwise, just enjoy exploring the neighborhood and its cute shops and cafes.
When you’re ready, walk along the Water of Leith Walkway towards Dean Village. This picturesque neighborhood feels like you’re stepping into a storybook and is a wonderful place to spend some time and take some pictures while you explore.
Museums or Whiskey
You have a choice this afternoon between the National Museum of Scotland or a whiskey tasting. For the whiskey tasting, I recommend The Scotch Whiskey Experience.
Princes Street Gardens and Calton Hill
Which one of these you go to first is going to depend on which option you chose this afternoon but both are worth checking out! I would try to time the walk up Calton Hill with the sunset so you can get a beautiful view of the city at sunset at the top. This is much less challenging than Arthur’s Seat.
After your hike up Calton Hill, it’s time to get some dinner. I enjoyed Bertie’s Proper Fish and Chips.
Edinburgh Itinerary Day 3: Day Trip or Harry Potter
Option 1 on the third day of our trip is to go on a day trip to the highlands. There are so many wonderful tours that will take you to a few different spots out of Edinburgh. You can see Loch Lomond or Loch Ness, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, or Stirling Castle. Most of the tours combine a few locations together but you’ll be gone for most of the day.
Option 2 is to check out all of the spots around Edinburgh that relate to Harry Potter, mostly by inspiring locations or names in the books. Check out Greyfriars Kirkyard to see the gravestones that inspired some names from the books, take a stroll down Victoria Street which inspired Diagon Alley, or visit the Elephant House Cafe where parts of the books were written. There are also plenty of tours that will take you around the city to all of the Harry Potter-related sights.
In the evening, you can head to a pub for your last night out in Edinburgh or check out a ghost tour. If you’re doing the highlands tour, I would recommend doing the ghost tour on Day 2 instead.
Edinburgh is a wonderful place to visit and a lot can be done in even just a short 3-day trip. As always, customize this itinerary to fit what you are hoping to get out of the trip but this is a great starting point.
Have you ever been to Edinburgh? What was your favorite part of your trip? Let me know in the comments!
