Edinburgh Awaits: A 7-Day Itinerary

Day one is all about settling in. An easy tourist spot to hit that’s a bit off the beaten path is Dean Village. After dropping your things at your hotel, Dean Village is a nice spot to check out that doesn't involve much more than walking in nature and seeing some beautiful spots like the village itself and St Bernard’s Well (Goddess of Health). If desired, you can also follow the path all the way to Stockbridge and go bar hopping!

End the night at a restaurant nearby and convenient to your hotel—for me, that was Murrayfield Hotel (a gorgeous boutique hotel with pleasant staff and close to the bus stop), so I ate at the restaurant at the hotel, The Bothy.

The first full day is a great day to see Edinburgh Castle—it's a must-see on the trip, and should definitely be booked in advance, preferably with a tour if possible to get the most out of your experience.

If you’re staying outside of the town, somewhere like Murrayfield Hotel, your bus will most likely drop you off in New Town. Here, you can see the historic Scott Monument, which was built in the 1840s for Sir Walter Scott, who ramped up Scottish Highland culture at a time when it was endangered. It costs 8 euros to climb the 200-foot "Gothic Rocket."

Arrive before your tour time for the castle in order to get your audio and booklet, and meet up with your tour guide. The tour will get you into rooms and areas you may not have found on your own, or may not have had access to without. After the tour, you will still have the rest of the day to explore more of the castle on your own. I did end up staying the whole time until close—there is just so much to explore!

After the castle, do some walking around the general area and hit some sightseeing spots—New College is a four-minute walk away and a gorgeous photo op if you can time it to walk into the courtyard while it's open to the public, with the Hub towering in the distance. Advocate's Close is another five-minute walk away—an alley with another gorgeous photo op spot with a neat view, and medieval origins from 1544. St. Giles Cathedral (founded in 1124) is right nearby, but, depending on when you hit it in the day it may be closed—it opens at varying times but closes at 5 or 6 depending on the day, so this may have to be a midday excursion. Sometimes, the Thistle Chapel, where knights would gather in the cathedral, is also open.

The Boozy Cow is a fun dinner spot in New Town, just a 10-minute walk away. It's on the casual side, definitely funky, and has plenty of different delicious loaded fry options. There are plenty of pubs in the area to end your night.

Today is the day for Harry Potter lovers! (And a great shopping day for everyone in general.)

Start at the Elephant House cafe, where Harry Potter was first written. The original location burned down but has since been rebuilt, but I visited the new location on Victoria Street, which isn't too far away. It's decked out with everything Harry Potter, and has the charm of a quaint cafe, perfect for a tasty sandwich and a refreshing butterbeer!

Now you're ready for a day of shopping on Victoria Street, named after Queen Victoria and found on the Royal Mile (which stretches from the castle to the palace). There are so many shops to pop in and out of on this colorful street, including some Harry Potter shops, shops with knick-knacks for travelers, and a very cool movie/TV replica shop called The Knights Vault, which has swords and necklaces and everything in between. There’s a cool Harry Potter picture spot at the top of one of the shops, Museum Context, so head to the top floor!

Once you've had your fill of shopping, head to Grassmarket, which is only a few minutes' walk away. There is a secondhand antiquarian book shop here called Armchair Books, which is an eclectic bookshop with loads of old original copies of classic stories for sale if you know where to look!

For Harry Potter fans, some other spots to check out in the neighboring area are the Greyfriars Kirkyard (graveyard), which has many tombstones with names that inspired characters from the books like Moody, McGonagall, and Thomas Riddle. At the back of the cemetery, you can see the George Heriots School, which was inspiration for Hogwarts. If you're prepared for a bit of a farther walk, head to Potterrow Port Underpass, which both shares the Potter name and looks like where Harry and Dudley were attacked by Dementors in fifth movie.

Finish out the day with a delicious meal from Cold Town House, and eat on the rooftop for great vibes, gondola booths, and a view of the castle up in the distance. The prices are normal, and the menu is great! The beer garden has its own microbrewery as well.

Don't leave Scotland without taking a tour in the Highlands! Some more common routes are around Loch Ness and to visit some Highland castles. I took one that included the Glenfinnan Viaduct—featured in Harry Potter, of course—which was well worth it. Beautiful scenery and history, and we even stumbled across a bagpipe player up in the highlands! The tour is going to take the entire day, so be prepared for that. We stopped in Pitlockery on the way back, which is a little town in the Highlands. Definitely stock up on snacks for the trip, but they will stop for lunch on the way as well.

Dinner at Castle Arms on Victoria Street is a perfect end to the night—they had a surprisingly tasty menu. Again, a more casual spot, but I ended up with a delicious steak, and then tried haggis for the first time—better than you’d expect!

There is more on the Royal Mile than just Victoria Street—farther down, closer to the Holyrood Palace, is the rest of the Royal Mile, which is worth exploring! A great spot to grab breakfast is Ensign Ewart, which was my favorite local pub in the area. I also recommend stopping at the Milkman Cafe for coffee.

Princes Street has lots of shops to pop in and out of as well, with pubs to break up the day. World's End is a popular and historic pub that you should definitely visit. If it's open, definitely book a ticket to see the Holyrood Palace, home of Mary, Queen of Scots. The Gently Mad Book Shop is a bit out of the way, but a must-see for book lovers. End the day at Beehive Inn for dinner, a charming inn with decent prices for a good menu, and back to Ensign Ewart for a drink—typically, live music can be found here as well! It’s the perfect mix—easily accessible for tourists, but with an authentic local feel.

Spend today climbing Arthur's Seat, an 822-foot extinct volcano. You will have a beautiful hike in nature all the way to the top, where you will have views of the city. The easiest climb is when you begin at the palace parking lot and go from Queens Drive to Dunsapie Loch and straight up, but there are multiple routes to climb up. You can pack a nice picnic for the top, or, if you plan on climbing up, enjoying the view for a moment, and heading back down, you will have plenty of time left in the day for more activities.

I personally wanted to grab another butterbeer, so I headed back to Victoria Street to the Elephant House cafe, and then from there headed to a nice lunch at the most gorgeous restaurant in the area: the Witchery. It is definitely a pricier stop, but is much more affordable at lunch time if you are budgeting, and just as good. The food was remarkable, the service is wonderful, and the decor is divine.

Next, head to the Islander Workshop, where you can put together your own Scottish Harris tweed bag—a very easy class that's led by an instructor and should be booked prior, and which leaves you with an incredible keepsake from your trip!

If you're up for another workshop-like experience, head to Department of Magic, a cocktail bar where you can engage in escape room activities, or potion (cocktail) making experiences!

Spend your final day with one more new experience. For me, this meant a high tea at the Dome first. This was a worthwhile experience, with attentive service and very tasty food options—a great chance to unwind and relax from running around and sightseeing! It provides a calm, elevated environment to reflect on your trip and enjoy some coffee, tea, or bubbly.

After finishing up at high tea, revisit your favorite part of the trip. For me, that meant a trip back down Victoria Street. I stopped in for a final butterbeer, purchased last-minute gifts and trinkets, and had a drink on the rooftop of Castle Arms overlooking the bustling street. Grab dinner at Badger & Co in New Town for a cool tavern inn with Scottish classics on the menu to wrap up the experience. Stop by Ensign Ewart or any other pub along the way home!