Why go
- The Old and New Towns together are a UNESCO site — you can walk 900 years of city planning in an afternoon.
- You can climb an extinct volcano, Arthur's Seat, for a Highland-style view without leaving the city.
- In August the Fringe turns the whole place into a theatre; the rest of the year it is calmer and cheaper.
- Whisky, hearty food and a serious literary history — this is a UNESCO City of Literature — give the drizzle something to do.
History
Edinburgh grew up the spine of Castle Rock, a defensible volcanic plug, its medieval Old Town packed into tall tenements down the Royal Mile. In the 18th century the draining of the loch and the building of the ordered New Town made it a showpiece of the Scottish Enlightenment — the city of Hume, Smith and Scott. Capital of Scotland through union and devolution alike, it now houses the Scottish Parliament at the foot of the same Royal Mile.
Major sights
The fortress on the rock — crown jewels, the Stone of Destiny, and the One O'Clock Gun. Book ahead; go early to beat the Royal Mile crowds.
The Royal Mile & closes
The Old Town's spine from castle to palace, threaded with narrow closes and wynds worth ducking into. Free, and the heart of the place.
Arthur's Seat
An extinct volcano in Holyrood Park with a 360° view over city and firth. A 45-minute climb from the Palace — the best free thing in Edinburgh.
The monarch's official Scottish residence at the foot of the Mile, with Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers and a ruined abbey.
New Town & Calton Hill
Georgian terraces, Princes Street Gardens below the castle, and the folly-topped Calton Hill for the classic postcard view.
Dean Village & Water of Leith
A former milling hamlet of tucked-away cottages, ten minutes from Princes Street along a river walk to the modern-art galleries.
When it rains (often)
National Museum of Scotland
Everything from Dolly the sheep to Pictish stones under a soaring Victorian glass roof — free, huge, and the definitive wet-day move.
Scottish National Gallery
A compact, first-rate collection on the Mound between the two towns — Titian to the Scottish colourists. Free.
The Scotch Whisky Experience / a good bar
Learn the regions, or skip the tour and let a knowledgeable Old Town bar pour you a flight while the rain passes.
Writers' Museum & a literary pub
Burns, Scott and Stevenson in a 17th-century close, then the Oxford Bar or a snug for a pint. This is a City of Literature, after all.
Airports
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) 7.3 mi to the centre
Ingliston, Edinburgh, SCT, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 24 airlines (easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe, Jet2.com…) · direct flights to 88 destinations incl. London, Paris, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Barcelona… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 24 airlines, 88 direct destinations
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 32 routes: Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Belfast, Berlin, Bodrum, Bristol, Copenhagen, Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Geneva, Hamburg, Heraklion, Keflavik, Krakow, Lisbon, London, London, London, Lyon, Madrid, Milano, Mulhouse, Munich, Naples, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris, Prague, Southend, Tenerife
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 30 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona, Beziers, Bologna, Bordeaux, Bratislava, Bremen, Charleroi, Dublin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gdansk, Gothenborg, Gran Canaria, Hahn, Kaunas, Kerkyra/corfu, Krakow, Malaga, Malta, Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Poznan, Rome, Rygge, Santander, Tenerife, Weeze
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400, D38, Embraer 175, Saab 340, ARJ) · 13 routes: Belfast, Birmingham, East Midlands, Exeter, Jersey, Kirkwall*, Manchester, Norwich, Paris*, Southampton, Stornoway*, Sumburgh*, Wick*
- Jet2.com LS (737-300) · 10 routes: Alicante, Budapest, Dubrovnik, Faro, Malaga, Menorca, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Prague, Venice
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800) · 4 routes: Bergen, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
- Aer Lingus EI (ATR 72) · 3 routes: Cork*, Dublin*, Shannon*
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, A321, 734, 767, Embraer 190…) · 3 routes: London*, London, London
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (737-700, 717, 737-800, 737-700, 737-800) · 3 routes: Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm
- Air France AF (F50, AR8) · 2 routes: Cardiff*, Paris
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, A321) · 2 routes: Barcelona*, London*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A319, A320, A321, 757-200, A320) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Newark*
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 2 routes: Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- United Airlines UA (757-200, Dash 8-400) · 2 routes: Brussels*, Newark
- Alitalia AZ (AR8) · 1 route: Paris*
- American Airlines AA (A320, A321, 767) · 1 route: London*
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, AR1) · 1 route: Brussels
- CityJet WX (F50) · 1 route: Cardiff
- Germanwings 4U (A319) · 1 route: Cologne
- Kenya Airways KQ (AR8) · 1 route: Paris*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737, EMJ) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Transaero Airlines UN (A330-300) · 1 route: London
- Turkish Airlines TK (737-800, 737-900) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A320) · 1 route: London*
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320) · 1 route: Barcelona
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Castleton Farm 9.1 mi to the centre
SCT, GB
Latch Farm Airstrip 11 mi to the centre
SCT, GB
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Glasgow Airport (GLA) 48 mi to the centre
Glasgow, SCT, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 26 airlines (Flybe, Jet2.com, easyJet, Transavia France…) · direct flights to 63 destinations incl. Arrecife, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Alicante, Amsterdam… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 48 mi from Edinburgh · Flybe, Jet2.com, easyJet · Getting around Glasgow, Scotland →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 26 airlines, 63 direct destinations
- Flybe BE (Saab 340, Dash 8-400, DHT, Embraer 175) · 17 routes: Barra*, Belfast, Benbecula*, Birmingham, Campbeltown*, Dongloe*, East Midlands, Exeter, Islay*, Jersey, Kirkwall*, Leeds*, Manchester, Southampton, Stornoway*, Sumburgh*, Tiree*
- Jet2.com LS (737-800, 737-800, 737-300) · 16 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona, Bodrum, Dalaman, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Rhodos, Rome, Tenerife
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 14 routes: Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast, Berlin, Bristol, Faro, Jersey, Kos, London, London, London, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paris
- Transavia France TO (75W, 787-8) · 13 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Bodrum, Cancun, Dalaman, Faro, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Larnaca, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Thomas Cook Airlines MT (757-200) · 7 routes: Antalya, Arrecife, Dalaman, Enfidha, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife
- Thomsonfly BY (75W) · 4 routes: Arrecife, Funchal, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, A321, 734, 767, Embraer 190…) · 3 routes: London*, London, London
- Condor Flugdienst DE (330, 757) · 3 routes: Arrecife*, Cancun*, Orlando*
- Aer Lingus EI (ATR 72, AT4) · 2 routes: Cork*, Dublin*
- Air Transat TS (310, 330) · 2 routes: Calgary, Toronto
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, A321, 757) · 2 routes: London*, Philadelphia
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (757-200, CRJ-900) · 2 routes: Duesseldorf*, Newark*
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 2 routes: Gdansk, Warsaw
- Air France AF (F50) · 1 route: Cardiff*
- Air Malta KM (A320) · 1 route: Malta
- Alitalia AZ (737) · 1 route: Amsterdam*
- CityJet WX (F50) · 1 route: Cardiff
- Delta Air Lines DL (747-400) · 1 route: Orlando*
- Emirates EK (777-300ER, 777-200LR) · 1 route: Dubai
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, A321) · 1 route: London*
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737, EMJ) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Qantas QF (777-300ER, 777-200LR) · 1 route: Dubai*
- United Airlines UA (757-200) · 1 route: Newark
- US Airways US (757-200) · 1 route: Philadelphia
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (747-400) · 1 route: Orlando
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) 62 mi to the centre
Prestwick, South Ayrshire, SCT, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 1 airline (Ryanair) · direct flights to 21 destinations incl. Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona, Carcassonne, Dublin… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 62 mi from Edinburgh · Ryanair · Getting around Ayr, Scotland →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 21 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 21 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Barcelona, Carcassonne, Dublin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kerkyra/corfu, Londonderry, Malaga, Malta, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Reus, Riga, Rome, Tenerife, Warsaw, Wroclaw
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Cruise Liner Terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.8 mi from the centre
Inchcolm
Ferry terminal · 8.4 mi from the centre
Hawes Pier
Ferry terminal · 8.9 mi from the centre
Rosyth Cruise Terminal
Ferry terminal · 12 mi from the centre
Hawes Pier - Inchcolm Island
Ferry route · Maid of the Forth
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The long-day, greener half of the year. August is the festival peak — thrilling but heaving and expensive, so decide whether you want the Fringe or want to avoid it.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter with decent light and lower prices — a good compromise for the sights without the August surge.
Worth avoiding
November – February (for weather), August (for crowds)
Winter is dark by mid-afternoon and properly cold and wet, though Hogmanay is a spectacle; August is wonderful but you must book everything far ahead.
Getting there & around
Getting there. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is 30 minutes to the centre by tram or Airlink bus. Waverley station sits in the valley between the two towns, with trains to Glasgow (50 min), London (4h20) and across Scotland; long-distance buses use St Andrew Square nearby. By water: 4 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: Cruise Liner Terminal, 3.8 mi); routes include Hawes Pier - Inchcolm Island.
Getting around. The centre is compact and walkable — steep and cobbled in places, so wear real shoes. Lothian Buses cover the rest well (exact change or contactless, tap on), and a tram runs from the airport along Princes Street. You will not need a car, and Old Town parking is a headache anyway.
Local transit
Bus, tram · Edinburgh's buses; Edinburgh Trams run airport to Newhaven. · Fares: Contactless tap or app · Airport: Airlink 100 bus or Edinburgh Trams to the city
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Scotland's national rail operator; Edinburgh–Glasgow runs every 15 minutes. · Glasgow, Scotland guide →
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
About three and a half hours to the Highlands. · Inverness, Scotland guide →
The 900 service every 15 minutes between Buchanan and St Andrew Square bus stations. · Glasgow, Scotland guide →
Overnight and daytime coaches, about nine hours; the train takes four and a half. · London, England (UK) guide →
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Broker, marketplace · Operator network worldwide · Online charter marketplace, part of Directional Aviation; instant quotes.
Marketplace · Operator network · Transparent on-demand jet charter marketplace showing the operator and tail.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing
Sightseeing