🏰 Edinburgh: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary, Pubs & Restaurants
Edinburgh is one of those cities that is best explored slowly, with plenty of time to wander through cobbled streets, discover hidden closes, stop for a drink in a cosy pub and admire the dramatic architecture.
I spent my time walking around the city and found that the best way to experience Edinburgh is to mix the famous landmarks with quieter corners and a few good food and pub stops.
🗓️ Day 1: Old Town & Edinburgh Castle
Start at Edinburgh Castle, dramatically perched on Castle Rock. Allow around 2 to 3 hours to explore the castle and enjoy the views across the city.
From there, walk down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood. Take your time exploring the tiny closes and alleyways along the way.
Don’t miss:
📍 St Giles’ Cathedral
📍 Victoria Street
📍 Grassmarket
📍 Writers’ Museum
📍 Dunbar’s Close
For lunch, Makars Mash Bar is a fun option if you want to try traditional Scottish food, including haggis, neeps and tatties.
In the afternoon, explore Victoria Street and Grassmarket, two of my favourite areas for photography.
For the evening, head to a traditional pub such as The World’s End or Royal Mile Tavern.
For dinner, Wedgwood The Restaurant is a good choice if you want a more refined Scottish meal.
🌄 Day 2: Arthur’s Seat, New Town & Dean Village
Start early at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s famous volcanic hill. The views from the top are spectacular, stretching across the city and towards the Firth of Forth.
If you don’t want a challenging hike, you can explore the easier paths around Holyrood Park instead.
Afterwards, head towards Princes Street Gardens and the Scottish National Gallery.
Spend the afternoon exploring Edinburgh’s elegant New Town:
📍 George Street
📍 Rose Street
📍 Charlotte Square
📍 Princes Street
📍 Circus Lane
Then make your way to Dean Village, one of the prettiest and most peaceful parts of Edinburgh. Walk beside the Water of Leith and, if you have time, continue towards Stockbridge.
For dinner, The Scran & Scallie is a great place to experience Scottish food in a relaxed pub setting.
Later, try Panda & Sons if you fancy cocktails in a more unusual setting.
🌊 Day 3: Holyrood, Calton Hill & Leith
Start your morning around Holyrood and visit The Palace of Holyroodhouse, located at the bottom of the Royal Mile.
If you still have energy, explore part of Holyrood Park before heading towards Calton Hill.
Calton Hill is one of the easiest viewpoints in Edinburgh and gives you an incredible panorama of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and the city skyline.
In the afternoon, head to Leith, Edinburgh’s historic port district.
Walk around the waterfront, explore the independent cafés and restaurants, and enjoy a slower side of the city away from the busiest tourist streets.
For a special dinner, Heron in Leith is worth considering.
🍺 Best pubs to try
Edinburgh has an incredible pub culture, and I would definitely include at least one traditional pub evening during your visit.
🍺 The World’s End
Historic atmosphere right on the Royal Mile.
🍺 Royal Mile Tavern
A classic choice when exploring the Old Town.
🍺 Dirty Dick’s Pub
Cosy, traditional and full of character.
🍺 The Piper’s Rest
A lively option for Scottish pub atmosphere.
🍸 Panda & Sons
A fun choice if you prefer cocktails rather than whisky and beer.
🍽️ Restaurants worth adding to your list
For Scottish food:
The Scran & Scallie
Makars Mash Bar
Wedgwood The Restaurant
Amber Restaurant & Whisky Bar
For something different:
Dishoom
TIMBERYARD
eòrna
For the atmosphere:
The Dome is particularly beautiful inside and is a great place for breakfast, drinks or afternoon tea.
📸 My Edinburgh photo checklist
If you’re creating a travel post, I would definitely photograph:
🏰 Edinburgh Castle from the Old Town
🌈 Victoria Street
⛪ St Giles’ Cathedral and the Royal Mile
🌄 Edinburgh from Arthur’s Seat
🏘️ Dean Village
🌆 Edinburgh skyline from Calton Hill
🍺 A cosy traditional pub
Edinburgh is compact enough to explore mostly on foot, but I would leave some room for spontaneous stops. Some of my favourite moments in the city were simply wandering without a plan, turning into a tiny close or stopping somewhere that looked interesting.
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“🏰 Edinburgh: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary, Pubs & Restaurants
Edinburgh is one of those cities that is best explored slowly, with plenty of time to wander through cobbled streets, discover hidden closes, stop for a drink in a cosy pub and admire the dramatic architecture.”@WorldTraveller_ · 17 days ago