Edinburgh in 3 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

If you're planning a 3-day trip to Edinburgh, those 72 hours give you plenty of time to get the essentials, plus a trip to some of the wonderful sites around the city such as Loch Ness. And if you're lucky enough to be able to explore Scotland at your leisure, this itinerary gives you top tips on what to see and do in Edinburgh.

On the first day of the itinerary we will tour the historic city centre, also known as the Old Town. This area is very picturesque and we will be able to see the most important sights of the city of Edinburgh.

Start the day at Edinburgh Castle

Booking a tour of Edinburgh Castle is the first must-do activity on your tour. We start the day early in the morning by visiting its interiors and enjoying the views from the hill where it stands.

If you prefer, you can also book just the entrances, but do it in advance so you don't miss the chance to visit Edinburgh Castle.

• Opening hours: 9.30am-6pm from April to September; 9.30am-5pm the rest of the year. Every day.
• Tickets: from €21 online.
• Tour duration: around 2 hours.

Continue your walk through the historic city centre

Victoria Street is the first street down from the Castle and the most characteristic street in Edinburgh. You'll be greeted by colourful houses with colourful facades and perfectly decorated shops. You can make a technical rest stop at Grassmarket, a square with pubs and bars.

At this point, we are just a few metres from Greyfiars Cemetery and the statue of" Bobby". Legend has it that this dog accompanied his owner's grave for 14 years until he was finally buried within the walls of the cemetery. In commemoration of this story, a statue has been erected in his name.

We will then discover more of the Royal Mile, the main street of the Old Town. This is where the main shops and most important restaurants are concentrated. It also hides small alleyways, called closes, which will lead you to different little streets and squares with buildings full of history and unique architectural style.

Discover Mary King's Close and St. Giles Cathedral

Of all the alleyways on the Royal Mile, I would recommend Mary King's Close as it has a network of underground alleyways where you can take a tour and learn about the history of the city during the plague that struck the country for several centuries.

Directly opposite, you will find St Giles Cathedral, the most important church to visit in Edinburgh. Its gothic façade will leave you open-mouthed. But don't be satisfied with the exterior, as inside you can enjoy the stained glass windows, the great organ and famous frescoes.

Visit Holyrood Palace

At the end of our walk along the Royal Mile, I recommend you book tickets to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, located at the end of the street.

It is the royal residence where England's royals stay when they visit Edinburgh and is very popular because of the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, a green and ancient space that everyone wants to photograph, and why not, sit on one of its benches and contemplate the stillness.

Enjoy the sunset at Calton Hill

There are only a few hours left on our second day itinerary and what better way to end the day than by watching the sunset at one of the best spots in the city of Edinburgh**, Calton Hill**, while enjoying a panoramic view of the whole city. Don't miss it!

At the end of the 18th century, the inhabitants needed more space and the city sought to expand. The new part of the city was created : the New Town. Today it is mainly a residential area, but it has some attractions that you should not miss.

I've also included a visit to the National Museum of Scotland so you can learn all about the history of the country, finishing the day at another of the city's viewpoints

Discover the most popular streets of the New Town

The atmosphere of the New Town's narrow streets is charming and its elegant neoclassical and Georgian buildings, known as terraces, are well worth a visit. George Street is the most prestigious and was named after the reigning monarch at the time, George III.

Princes Street is one of the best known streets in the city as it is the centre of shopping in Edinburgh. A curious fact is that this street is named after the children of the King himself, both of whom were sons, and is therefore spelt with only one "s" at the end.

Finally, there are two streets that refer to Scottish landmarks: Thistle Street and Rose Street. Thistle Street means "the street of the Thistle", the flower of Scotland, and Rose Street is the street of the rose, the flower of England. Rose Street is also a pedestrianised street lined with pubs and restaurants, ideal for those looking to enjoy themselves.

Enjoy the scenery from Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is the most important green space in the centre of Edinburgh. They represent the division between the Old Town and the New Town and are famous for their floral clock and Victorian iron fountain. There are also beautiful views of the Old Town from the top.

Learn about Scotland at the National Gallery of Scotland

Just 5 minutes from the gardens, you'll find the National Gallery of Scotland, which is free to enter and houses world-renowned works by El Greco, Van Gogh, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Rubens and more.

Step into Dean Village, a village straight out of a fairytale

Our tour continues to Dean Village, a charming place worth including in your itinerary, as it is only a 15-minute walk from our last stop.

Its location is right next to the river, creating a truly film-like landscape. You'll enjoy its stone houses and bridges, surrounded by lush greenery.

National Museum of Scotland

I recommend a tour of the National Museum of Scotland if you are interested in Scottish history and other interesting exhibits. Admission is free.

Scott Monument, the last destination of the day

The last effort of the day is to climb the 287 steps of the Scott Monument. It may seem like a lot, but I assure you it's an easy climb. This grand city structure is a 61-metre high Gothic spire, where you'll find the 68 statues depicting characters from Walter Scott's novels.

It's a major attraction in Edinburgh, which also allows you to enjoy panoramic views at sunset, right in the middle of the whole city.

On this third day in the city, I suggest you go beyond the city boundaries and do some sightseeing that will allow you to see other attractions outside the city centre. For a more complete and different view of what Edinburgh has to offer, you can read my article on the best tours and excursions from Edinburgh.

First choice: Loch Ness

The first suggestion is to book a trip to Loch Ness, located in the Scottish Highlands known as the Highlands.

You've probably heard the legend about the monster Nessie. It is an unknown creature that many people spot every year, but it has not actually been proven to exist. I recommend a walk around the lake to see if you can spot him.

You can also learn a lot more about him by visiting the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre in Drumnadrochit, where the story is told and where you can buy a souvenir of Nessie in the souvenir shop. Here is my article on how to get from Edinburgh to Loch Ness so you have all the information you need for this visit.

Second option: Outlander locations

The second proposal is aimed at a special audience, but nowadays, there are a lot of them. Outlander is a TV series based on Diana Gabaldon's saga of novels, and many of its scenes were filmed throughout Scotland.

Thousands of tourists a year set out to book an Outlander tour around the Outlander locations. In fact, even if you're not a fan of the show, the places you'll be visiting are some of the most famous, iconic and beautiful in Scotland, so be sure to keep that in mind.

Third choice: Glasgow

Edinburgh is the star and its charm is unique, but Glasgow is Scotland's second largest city and has some very interesting sites to offer:

• St Mungo's Cathedral: the only medieval cathedral in Scotland still standing. It's free to visit and you can enjoy the Gothic style interior, with impressive stained glass windows.
• The Necropolis next to the cathedral.
• Its historic centre, very pleasant and picturesque, with George Square as its main tourist attraction.
• The Kelvingrove Museum: it has around 30 exhibits, including some on Ancient Egypt, and enviable architecture.

You can get to Glasgow very easily from Waverley train station, but you can also catch a bus from Edinburgh Bus Station. It doesn't matter which transport you choose, as the journey time is about an hour and a half. The main advantage is that you will be dropped off in the centre of Glasgow.