Edinburgh in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Edinburgh is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Despite being quite small, it has so many unique sights, museums and iconic architecture that you can feel like you'll run out of time in just one day.

If you've been dreaming of exploring all of Edinburgh's attractions and getting a taste of Scottish culture...don't let anything stop you! Here's an itinerary to capture the essence of Scotland's capital in just 24 hours. Will you join me?

Edinburgh Castle is, without a doubt, the emblem and great protagonist of Scotland's history. This incredible fortress stands imposingly in the city's skyline on the main hill and is a must-see on your visit to Edinburgh and you can book your guided tour in advance.

As well as the breathtaking views from the top, it's interesting to learn about the history of this structure and its special features. For example, the castle includes a cemetery for pets, something totally curious given that its construction dates back to the 12th century. I recommend you read this special post on how to visit Edinburgh Castle for more information.

Interesting facts

• Opening hours: Open every day of the year from 9.30am to 6pm from April to September (inclusive) and from 9.30am to 5pm the rest of the year.
• Tickets: Admission to the castle costs approximately €23 at the ticket office and around €21 online.
• Duration of the tour: Please note that a full tour of the castle can take up to 2 hours, so don't hesitate to get up early to take it easy.

The Royal Mile is the main street of the city's Old Town. It is almost 2 kilometres long and links two main points of the city: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Holyrood Palace is another of the key points of the city and is well worth a visit, so we recommend that you book your tickets to see it.

In this street you will see all kinds of shops of everything you can imagine, and you can buy everything from souvenirs to drink the famous Scotch whisky.

But the main charm of this avenue are the famous "closes" that open between historic buildings: this is the name of the alleys that start from here and that you will easily recognise thanks to the plaques that you will see distributed throughout the street.

Each one tells a different story that will make you understand the logic of the city and they also have many myths and mysteries created around them. You can read more about it in this post about Ghosts and Mysteries tours.

My advice is to let your curiosity get the better of you and go exploring, as you will come across beautiful views and hidden squares.

If you are short on time and have to choose, I recommend you locate the Lady Stair's Close, close to the castle. As well as being very picturesque, there you will also find the Writers' Museum, which is completely free to enter. And, if you prefer, you can take a trip on the ghost bus to experience the legends and scary stories first hand.

Victoria Street is characterised by its colourful facades and independent shops, and when you stand in front of it you'll feel like you're inside a painting. Its stone buildings, typical of the Edinburgh landscape, are the perfect backdrop for your postcard in the city.

But the particularity of this street is that it has two levels. Yes, you read that right. On the upper level, you will find very good restaurants; and on the lower level you will find the little houses we talked about before and shops and taverns for all tastes.

A colourful fact: J. K Rowling is said to have been inspired by this little street to create Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. Test your imagination and see for yourself.

You may be wondering why I have decided to include a visit to a cemetery when you have so much to visit. This cemetery is far from being a gloomy and gloomy place, it has a great beauty and a lot of nature around it.

But its fame and popularity is due to a small and loyal friend called "Bobby". Legend has it that this dog (yes, he is a canine friend), accompanied his owner to his grave for 14 years. Finally, Bobby ended up being buried next to the walls of the cemetery so that he could remain by his owner's side as he would have wanted.

The law forbids burying a dog in a sacred place, but he didn't deserve to be separated after showing such loyalty. That's why you'll find a memorial to Bobby in tribute to this touching story.

At teatime, a good place to take a break is this site where J.K. Rowling wrote the first chapters of the Harry Potter saga. Edinburgh is full of representative and crucial sites for the creation of this fantasy character and his adventures, and I think it has earned a place among the must-see tourist attractions of the city.

Yes, it is a very touristy place, but I think the gastronomic offer is reasonably priced, even if you want to go and try their dishes.

If visiting The Elephant House has made you want to know more about the Harry Potter circuit, I leave you this post about the Harry Potter tour and let your imagination run wild.

This incredible 12th century architectural masterpiece is the most important church to visit in Edinburgh. Its beauty will captivate you both inside and out. Its dome in the shape of a royal crown attracts the eyes of all who pass through the area, but those who dare not enter will be missing out on the multi-coloured ceilings and magnificent stained glass windows that only St. Giles can offer.

Take a look up high and feast your eyes on the great organ and the Thistle Chapel, where you'll find the famous image of the angel playing the bagpipes.

Last but not least, if you look right in front of the cathedral, you will find a granite heart. The famous "Heart of Midlothian", which indicates the spot where the old prison of the city was located.

Interesting facts

• Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm, from May to September. In the rest of the months from: Monday to Saturday from 9hs to 17hs and Sundays from 13hs to 17hs.
• Admission: free

At the end of this dreamy tour of the Royal Mile, you'll come across Holyrood Palace, for which tickets are available for booking. This 12th-century infrastructure is the official residence of the Queen of England when she visits Scotland.

This baroque building also has an underground network that you can visit, but the star of the show is the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, the site where kings were crowned in ancient times and one of the most beautiful things to see on your visit to Edinburgh.

Interesting facts

• Visiting hours: every day from 9.30am to 6pm from April to October; the rest of the months it closes at 4pm.
• Tickets: I recommend booking in advance and you can even get discounts by booking online.

By this time of day you must be tired and nothing compares to going to the best spot in the city to watch the sun go down with a fantastic view of the city of Edinburgh. The classic postcard of the city you have in mind is taken from Calton Hill, a small hill at the end of Princes Street.

Don't worry about the climb, as there are stairs and it's perfectly set up for everyone. And the reward is exactly up to your expectations. If you pay attention, you'll be able to spot the Dugald Stewart Memorial in the foreground and, behind it, the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle.

If you still have some energy left, I suggest you walk around the hill to see all the angles of this beautiful city and the National Monument, a replica of the Parthenon.

If you want to see even more of the city, but don't want to waste any time, then I recommend getting a ticket for the city's sightseeing bus.

You can use it unlimited for the duration of your day trip to Edinburgh and it perfectly connects all the most popular sights. In addition, you can tailor your itinerary to suit you and manage your own time, the bus timetables are completely convenient and designed to make the most of your visit to the Scottish city.

On the other hand, you can also get a package that includes the main attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace in your ticket, which will save you money.

If you need more information, I recommend you this post this post about the best Edinburgh sightseeing bus

This famous square is the perfect place to stop off on a busy day of sightseeing. Grassmarket is home to bars and pubs perfect for that beer you've been waiting for.

But this is no ordinary square. If you look around, you'll find a raised circular platform. Right here was the site of public executions, in the middle of the market that took place on this very spot.

Fortunately, these practices and customs no longer exist. But what has remained is the bar "The last drop", whose name comes from the fact that here, the condemned took their "last drink" before their death. Did you imagine that?

Ana's Traveller Tip

When you finish your visit, don't forget to go to the viewpoint "The Vennel". It won't take you long. You only have to climb a few simple stairs, but the views of the castle will take your breath away.

This alley deserves a special mention as it is the gateway to a whole wonderful world, a journey back in time that you can't fail to experience. In the 17th century, the plague ravaged the city. During outbreaks, infected people would lock themselves indoors and indicate their status by displaying a small white flag out of the window.

Mary King's Close consists of a network of underground alleyways that tell their own story of how people lived and died during this terrible time for Scotland. You can see everything from old shopping streets to visiting the bedrooms of the victims. Simply something you can only do in Edinburgh and not to be missed.

Facts and Figures

• Visiting hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm; Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm.
• Tickets: I recommend you book well in advance, as it is one of the star activities in the city.