7 Things To Do On Your Next Visit To Edinburgh

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(This trip was hosted by Visit Scotland Tourism. However, the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own. View my full disclosure here.) 

Are you looking for ideas on fun things to do in Edinburgh?

I have wanted to visit Scotland for as long as I could remember.  So has my husband.  So of course when planning our 10th Anniversary trip to Europe we had to include Scotland as one of our destinations. Unfortunately, we only had a 3-day window to visit. So we decided that for this trip to spend the entire time in Edinburgh. 

We loved our time in Edinburgh. Our one regret was that we couldn't have stayed longer. The city is old and enchanting and I can totally understand why it was given world heritage site status. 

Here are 7 things will totally want to see and do on your next trip to Edinburgh, Scotland

1-Visit Edinburgh Castle

Really you can't visit Edinburg and not go see Edinburgh Castle. It is a central point of the city found at the end of the Royal Mile. Home of great kings and queens of Scotland this old castle is full of history. 

2-Edinburgh Tours

This Hop on and off bus tour is a great way to get around to all the hot spots of the city while being regaled with stories by a live tour guide. Your ticket is good for 24 hours so it doesn't matter what time of day you get your bus ticket. 

3-Camera Obscura

Found on a corner near the Edinburg Castle, Camera Obscura is a place where illusion meets reality. With multiple floors each dedicated to different kinds of optical illusions, this place is soo fun to visit. 

4-The Real Mary Kings Close

The Real Mary Kings Close is a walking tour through an actual 17th-century close. (or private street between buildings where the servants, the working class and the very poor of the city lived.)  right on the Royal Mile. We walked through rooms smaller than my bedroom that made up the entire living quarters for whole families.  As we went we were told the stories of those who had lived there. We learned about the poverty, the plague and the perseverance of those poor souls. If you love history you will love this experience. 

5-Mercat Tours

If you are looking for a good walking tour to learn the history of Edinburg I totally recommend Mercat Tours. They have several days and night tours that you can take. On our visit, we took one of their evening Ghost tours that took us on a journey through Edinburgh dark past. We walked through the streets of Edinburgh then down into Edinburgh's catacombs. 

6-Shopping on the Royal Mile 

There are sooo many fun shops and restaurants to be found on and nearby the Royal Mile in Edinburgh (including more than one Harry Potter shop.).  If you like shipping there are many fun treasure to be found in Edinburgh. 

7-Visit Museums & Monuments

There are multiple museums and monuments throughout Edinburgh. The national museums are free to the public (like the National Museum of Scotland which was pretty cool) As for monuments there are several throughout Edinburgh. My favorite two were the monuments in honor of Sir Walter Scott and the monument to Admiral Horatio Nelson. 

Like I said we totally fell in love with Edinburgh during our visit. We wished we could have spent more time there. We can't wait to go back with our kids and next time set aside time to visit other awesome cities in Scotland. 

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