The Perfect Weekend in Edinburgh: Your Complete Guide

How will you spend your weekend in the enchanting city of Edinburgh? Whether you want history, shopping, gastronomy or cultural immersion, planning ahead will start to give you a sense of Auld Reekie, as the city is nicknamed in the Scots language. Here's a guide to two days in Edinburgh to help you get started.

Wherever you stay in Edinburgh, you're likely to see the majestic hilltop castle beckoning you from its peak. Head up and step inside to glimpse historic spaces where Scottish kings and queens once resided, including the Royal Apartments. If you want to dedicate a lot of time to the castle during your weekend in Edinburgh, there are three military museums within the complex to explore. To get straight to the core of the city's history, visit St Margaret's Chapel on the castle grounds, and you'll be able to say you've seen the oldest building in Edinburgh before it's even time for lunch.

To complete your Saturday tour of Edinburgh's much-loved cultural and historical sights, a visit to the National Museum of Scotland or the National Galleries of Scotland, with free entry, will help you to make the most of a weekend in Edinburgh on a budget. The National Galleries display fine art from Scotland and around the world, while the National Museum takes you on a journey through the country's natural, social and creative history. Don't miss the museum's rooftop terrace, offering skyline views.

Edinburgh Castle

• Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG
• Open daily from 9:30am–5pm (9:30am–4pm from 1 October to 24 December); opening times vary over Christmas and New Year
• Buying tickets online is advised to get discounts and to ensure availability

Even though there's plenty to see at Edinburgh's most famous locations, you should still make time to seek out a hidden gem or two before Saturday night calls. The Surgeons' Hall Museums, set in the headquarters of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, is definitely one of the quirkier museum visits in the Scottish capital, though depictions and exhibits on the history of surgery might not be to everyone's taste. For something cosier, visit the quaint rooms of The Georgian House to discover what life was like for an upper-class Edinburgh family in the 1700s and 1800s.

Surgeons' Hall Museums

• Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW
• Open daily from 10am–5pm (last admission is 4:30pm)
• Tickets cost £9.50 for adults, with concessions available for students, people over 60 and certain other groups

Most of the best places to eat and drink during a weekend in Edinburgh can be found within the city centre. For cutting-edge Scottish cuisine with local, artisanal ingredients, book a table at The Timberyard (10 Lady Lawson Street). Another option is to try Mosque Kitchen if you're on a budget (or if you're craving dinner right after visiting Surgeons' Hall Museums, which is right across the street). If you plan to catch an evening show, consider the pre-theatre menu at Mamma Roma (4-7 Antigua Street).

Saturday night in Edinburgh offers an abundance of choices, from opera at the Festival Theatre and musicals at the Edinburgh Playhouse, to world-famous rock and pop musicians at The Queen's Hall. If you like to take your time over dinner and rock up for some live music whenever you feel like it, drop into Sandy Bell's (25 Forrest Rd), a local pub where informal folk music sessions continue until late. You might even get to hear distinctive local folk music, known as Edinburgh Swing, and experience living heritage. Novotel Edinburgh Centre is less than 10 minutes' walk from Sandy Bell's and other Edinburgh attractions, so you can stroll back to your room or take a quick taxi.

Festival Theatre

• 13-29 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9FT

Start your Sunday in Edinburgh with a visit to the fittingly named Morningside, a leafy residential area known for its plentiful cafés and coffee shops. Morningside is just 10 minutes by taxi or 20 minutes by bus from central Edinburgh, meaning you can sit down to a traditional cooked breakfast while you plan your day. Alternatively, if you plan to spend Sunday in the city centre or head to the coast, enjoy breakfast at your Edinburgh hotel, then delve straight into your day.

Walk off breakfast with a bracing outdoor excursion, which Edinburgh offers plenty of. In Morningside, you're heading in the right direction for Pentland Hills Regional Park, an area of rugged natural charm just a few miles from Edinburgh. Other top outdoor activities to enjoy during a weekend in Edinburgh include a visit to sandy Portobello Beach, 5 km east of the city, and a round at Silverknowes Golf Course, which offers coastal views and can be found close to Lauriston Castle and Gardens.

If you plan to stay central, scale Arthur's Seat – an extinct volcano where panoramic views of the skyline are delightful in the Sunday morning sun, with a fresh breeze rolling in from the sea. Nearby, Calton Hill is another peak offering spectacular views, as well as attractions to explore at the top. Don't miss the National Monument, which is inspired by the Parthenon in Athens.

The 19-km-long Water of Leith Walkway runs right through the city centre, with coastal Leith in one direction and the historical village of Dean in the other. Bring your camera to capture shots of charming stone buildings lining the water.

Pentland Hills Regional Park

• Flotterstone EH26 0PP
• Open daily 24 hours

The Royal Mile stretches from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, and this famous street is so-called because of its length. You guessed it, it’s 1 mile! That's 1.6 km, if you use the metric system. As well as being a good place to shop for souvenirs towards the end of your trip, there are plenty of opportunities to squeeze another attraction or two into your itinerary. Stop off at Camera Obscura & World of Illusions museum, explore the elegant St Giles' Cathedral, or immerse yourself in the mystery of 17th-century Edinburgh amid the underground alleyways of Mary King's Close.

Very nearby, Grassmarket and Victoria Street are also excellent places to find shops and boutiques selling handmade items, antique books and other unique souvenirs. Take a moment to stop and admire Victoria Street as a visual spectacle. This curving, cobbled street, with its colourful shopfronts, was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books.

St Giles' Cathedral

• High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RE
• Open weekdays from 10am–6pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 1pm–5pm
• Entry is free (audio tours cost £5.50)

If you're ready for dinner right after shopping, there are plenty of places to eat in the area. Scotts Kitchen, set in a classic stone building on Victoria Street, offers hearty Scottish fare and a terrace overlooking the bustling street. International options around Grassmarket include Petit Paris French bistro, and Nok's Kitchen On The Castle serving fragrant Thai fare. Maybe you prefer an aperitif before dinner, in which case the White Hart Inn on Grassmarket is not only a good place for a drink but also a historical attraction of its own. Founded in 1516, it was said to have provided refreshments and hospitality to Oliver Cromwell, William Wordsworth and Robert Burns at various points throughout history.

If you finish off your city break with a nightcap, whisky is the natural choice in Edinburgh. Sip whisky, coffee (or both in the form of an Irish coffee) at the bar inside ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile - Hunter Square knowing that your room is just steps away. No need for taxis or designated drivers!

Scotts Kitchen

• 4-6 Victoria Ter, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
• Open Sunday-Thursday, 9 am–5 pm; Friday-Saturday 9 am–6 pm

Now that you have some ideas for your weekend in Edinburgh, it's time to start planning!