Ahhh Edinburgh. The most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. Even a walk down any given street is a beautiful view, but here are a few recommendations for what to do and see during your time in this unforgettable city.

Hopefully this post will motivate you to book a trip to Edinburgh in 2025!

Explore Princes Street GaRDENS

The Princes Street Gardens is a really pretty park area, with tons of monuments and paths to explore. The most famous of these monuments is the Scott Monument, a beautiful gothic tower dedicated to the Scottish author Walter Scott. It’s a beauty to look at, as well as all of the rest of the Princes Street Gardens.

Hike up Arthur’s Seat

This hike may be somewhat strenuous, but it’s well worth it. At the top, you’ll get a 360-degree view of Edinburgh as well as the surrounding land and sea. Beware of the strong winds at the top though and maybe bring a rain jacket in case it randomly decides to start raining!

Hike up Calton Hill

This is a relatively easy hike (barely even qualifies as a hike) that will give you a nice view of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle and the beautiful architecture Edinburgh has to offer. You can find a place to sit and take in the view for a while, or walk around and check out the different monuments on the hill.

sEE A fILM AT THE sCOTSMAN pICTUREHOUSE

I had the pleasure of seeing Alien: Romulus here and it’s easily the coolest cinema I’ve ever been to. It’s old-school, with little lamps and trays next to every seat, and it’s a nice and intimate movie-going experience that you won’t forget any time soon. When I went it wasn’t super busy, but there is pretty limited seating so you may want to book a while ahead of time just in case.

Take a Harry Potter Tour

I could probably count the number of tours I’ve been on in Europe on one hand, and this was by far my favorite. The tour guide is always a fun local, and it’s super interesting seeing all of the different spots that served as inspiration for the Harry Potter books and movies. The one I went on also incorporated a fun trivia game with house points and all along the way, so it’s not just your average city tour. If you love Harry Potter, this is for you!

Here is where I booked my tour.

Visit Local Bookshops

Edinburgh has loads of small, locally owned bookshops that each have their own character and vibe. If you’re a reader, you’ll be amazed at the variety of bookstores that the city has and you can easily find yourself accidentally spending a couple hours wandering through them. You can find a good list of bookstores in Edinburgh here.

Walk the Royal Mile

This is probably a no-brainer and even if you don’t have this on your list already you would’ve somehow found yourself on the Royal Mile anyways, but as touristy as this street is, it’s something everyone has to do at some point in Edinburgh. It’s the most popular street in Edinburgh, and it’s kind of the central area that everything sprouts from. I recommend exploring the alleyways and streets that peel off from the Royal Mile, as that’s where you’ll find all the hidden gems.

Wander Down Victoria Street

Loaded with small shops and restaurants, Victoria street is the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. It’s a beautiful winding street that leads to Grassmarket Square, where there are even more shops and pubs to explore.

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Edinburgh is one of the prettiest cities on the planet, and I recommend everyone goes there at least once in their life. It’s a truly unforgettable place, and you will never regret it.

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday season and a happy New Year! Wishing everyone a fantastic 2025 with many good things to come.