The Perfect One Day in Edinburgh Itinerary

Edinburgh should be on every bucket list because it is the most beautiful city in Scotland, in my opinion! The city has so much history and some of the most stunning architecture. Trust me, you will be in awe of the beautiful buildings.

Picture this: a stunning castle on a tall hill, towering monuments, gothic castles, and beautiful ocean views. And yes, it is as breathtaking as it sounds. You will love spending at least a day in the city! It is also a great place to start your trip when you visit Scotland since you can fly right into the nearby airport.

Although you can spend a few days exploring the city, you can see most must-see attractions by spending one day in Edinburgh. This guide has everything you need to know about spending the perfect one day in Edinburgh when you visit Scotland!

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Tips for Visiting Edinburgh in One Day

Use public transportation if you are staying outside the city. Edinburgh has great public transportation, including buses and trams. These are fantastic for getting to and from the city.
Edinburgh’s weather is unpredictable. We all know the weather in Scotland is rainy, so I recommend bringing a rain jacket.
Wear comfortable shoes. This one day in Edinburgh itinerary has a lot of walking, so it is important to have comfortable and supportive shoes. I always recommend wearing supportive sneakers because they provide great support and comfy socks.
Get discount cards to help save money. Your one day in Edinburgh does not have to be expensive. There are many ways to save money, including discount cards, discount codes, or purchasing tickets in advance to must-see sights. There are also many free things to do in Edinburgh!

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

If you are spending the night during your one day in Edinburgh, you have many accommodations and areas to choose from. Honestly, you really cannot go wrong with any area near downtown, but a few of my favorites are Old Town, New Town, Dean Village, Stockbridge, Haymarket, and West End.

If you want to be in the middle of the city, Old Town and New Town are great places to stay. If you want accommodation in a quiet area, Dean Village, Stockbridge, Haymarket, and West End are for you. Keep in mind that the closer you stay to the city, the more expensive the accommodations will be. But no matter where you stay, you can easily use Edinburgh’s public transportation to get around!

Map of Edinburgh One Day Itinerary

The Perfect One Day in Edinburgh Itinerary

This one-day in Edinburgh itinerary is flexible, so you can move things around depending on where you want to start. The city is walkable, allowing you to make the most of your one day in it.

Dean Village

Dean Village is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Edinburgh and should be on every itinerary! It is often overlooked because it is about a 5-minute walk from Prince Street, but I recommend starting your day here. Trust me, you will quickly fall in love with this cute area!

Note: Dean Village is a residential neighborhood, so please be respectful when visiting.

I recommend walking around Dean Village to enjoy the stunning views and architecture. A few of my favorite photo spots are Bell’s Brae Bridge, Water of Leith Walkway, and Dean Village View Point. The architecture is stunning, so I know you will quickly fall in love with this cute area.

If you want a delicious breakfast to start your day off right, I recommend eating at the Painted Rooster. We LOVED our breakfast here. The food was delicious, and it was pretty quiet when we visited. And it is right outside Dean Village!

Edinburgh Castle

Visit Edinburgh Castle

I am sure you have heard of the iconic castle in downtown Edinburgh sitting atop a hill formed by a volcano, and if you have not, I am here to put it on your itinerary for you! Edinburgh Castle was built in 1103 and was a royal residence until around 1633. It was also a military base for many years because of its views overlooking the city.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular things to see in the city because it is stunning. The architecture and castle grounds are beautiful, making it a great place to visit in the morning.

Although you can see the castle from various viewpoints throughout the city, I recommend visiting its grounds! If you want to go into the castle, there is a fee, but you can enjoy the castle views from the castle esplanade outside the gate for free.

The line getting into the castle was incredibly long when we visited midday, so I recommend going in the morning. No matter what time of day you visit, there will be crowds, but the views are worth it!

Vennel Street

If you would rather view Edinburgh Castle for free from a beautiful viewpoint, look no further! Vennel Street has one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle, in my opinion. After you finish exploring the castle grounds, I recommend walking over to the top of the steps on Vennel Street and enjoying the stunning view of the castle. The best view is right before the top of the steps and is pretty picture-perfect!

If you are looking for a little snack before continuing your journey through the city, I recommend going to Mary’s Milk Bar! It will likely have a line to get in, but it is worth it because their homemade gelato is delicious! And they have coffee if you need a little pick me up before continuing through the city.

The Royal Mile

Go on a Royal Mile Guided Walk

The Royal Mile is the iconic walk in Edinburgh connecting Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse through its old town. This 1-mile road has some of the most beautiful views in Edinburgh, making it a fun addition to your one day in Edinburgh.

Although you can walk the Royal Mile without stopping, I recommend taking your time and enjoying the stunning architecture, exploring the historic buildings and museums, and visiting its shops and restaurants. It is also a great place to get lunch during your one day in the city!

I will dive into some of the best things to do along the Royal Mile after this, but here is a list of some of the places you should stop at along the Royal Mile:

Edinburgh Castle
Camera Obscura
Scotch Whiskey
St Giles’ Cathedral
The Real Mary King’s Close
The Scottish Parliament
The Palace of Holyroodhouse

Victoria Street

Victoria Street is a small side street off the Royal Mile that is so cute! It is one of the most photographed places in Edinburgh! The street has many small shops and restaurants, but the true beauty is in the colorful buildings.

It is also a place Harry Potter fans love! It is said that Victoria Street may have inspired J.K. Rowling when creating Diagon Alley. Regardless of whether you are a Harry Potter fan, Victoria Street should be on every Edinburgh one-day itinerary!

St Giles’ Cathedral

St Giles’ Cathedral was one of my favorite buildings in Edinburgh along the Royal Mile because of its gothic architecture. It is stunning! I wanted to call this out of the other must-see sights along the Royal Mile because it is just too beautiful not to.

St Giles’ Cathedral was established in 1192 and has been a working church for over 900 years! How crazy is that? You can enjoy the beautiful architecture along the Royal Mile or visit inside the church to see more of its beauty. Trust me, it is stunning and worth going inside!

Cockburn Street

Ready for another little side street off of the Royal Mile? Cockburn Street rivals the beauty of Victoria Street, in my opinion. It is the perfect place to enjoy a side trip off of the Royal Mile to enjoy the cute street.

You can enjoy a quick walk along the road or visit its small cafes and shops. The picturesque street is beautiful, so I know you will love visiting it during your one day in Edinburgh!

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Did you know Edinburgh has a royal residence near its downtown? The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the royal residence of the monarchy in Scotland and one of the last things along the Royal Mile. The palace was built in the 16th century and has been a royal residence ever since!

You can enjoy its beautiful architecture from the grounds outside or walk through its interior. Although it is actively a royal residence, it is open to the public year-round! It is really cool to be able to explore its grounds.

Arthur’s Seat

Edinburgh has trails with beautiful views?! Yes, it does! Arthur’s Hill is a more strenuous hike but has the better views of Edinburgh, in my opinion. Carlton Hill is a smaller hill with an easier trail and still offers great views overlooking the city. You can hike one or both!

Arthur’s Seat is the iconic hike in Edinburgh on an ancient volcano over 800 feet tall. At the top, you can enjoy expansive views of the city and beyond and visit a 2,000-year-old fort. It is really cool!

The best trail to Arthur’s Seat is a 2.6-mile round-trip loop using the Green, Red, and Orange Trails. This route includes a precarious descent on the Red Trail, so if you want to avoid that, I recommend hiking out and back on the Green Trail. Regardless of how you hike to Arthur’s Seat, it will quickly become one of your favorite viewpoints in Edinburgh!

Carlton Hill and National Monument

If you are still up for a small walk to another historic hill, I recommend crossing the street towards Carlton Hill. The 1-mile loop on Carlton Hill is less strenuous than Arthur’s Seat, making it a great alternative if you are not up for the longer hike.

Carlton Hill is a volcanic hill over 300 feet tall with a historic monument. The National Monument may look familiar because it was designed to be a replica of the Parthenon in Greece. Unfortunately, it was never completed, and only half of the structure was built.

Although Carlton Hill is shorter than Arthurs Seat, it does not lack views. The hill provides breathtaking views overlooking Edinburgh that will leave you in awe! It is worth the walk to the top!

Scott Monument

After Arthur's Seat and Carlton Hill, you can walk along Princes Street towards downtown. It has many beautiful buildings, but the Scott Monument is one of my favorite structures because it is stunning. It was made for Sir Walter Scott and is one of the largest structures in the world for a writer. Pretty cool!

The gothic architecture stands out on Princes Street, so you will not miss it. It is right on the edge of the Princes Street Gardens, and you can walk right up the monument to get an up close and personal view.

And the best part? You can also walk up to the third floor of the monument to get incredible views of the surrounding city. If you have the time, I highly recommend enjoying the walk to the third floor.

Regardless of how you want to experience Scott Monument, you will fall in love with the beautiful structure. Trust me, it will take your breath away.

Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is next to the Scott Monument and adds a splash of vibrant green to the center of the city. The 37-acre gardens separate old town and new town in Edinburgh, making it a great place to relax during your one day in Edinburgh.

It is a great spot to enjoy a quick stroll, eat a snack, or relax. Since the gardens are right on Princes Street, you can grab dinner before you relax or get dinner to go and enjoy a picnic in the park.

And the best part? The gardens are beautiful year-round! If you visit in the warmer months, you can see its stunning flowers. In the winter, the Princes Street Gardens transform into a beautiful Christmas market. It is one of the best in Scotland, so if you visit near the holidays, I highly recommend going!

If you want to visit Edinburgh, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about spending one day in Edinburgh.