3 days in Edinburgh

Scotland

This is the free preview of the Wayfinder guide to Edinburgh: a realistic three-day plan with a morning sight, a specific lunch spot, an afternoon walk or museum, dinner before drinks, plus hotels for every budget, how local tickets work and the best day trips nearby.

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Day-by-day plan

Day 1 — City Essentials

☀️ Morning · 09:00 – 12:00
Edinburgh Castle
First entry, One O'Clock Gun.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · First entry, One O'Clock Gun.
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍕 Lunch · 12:30 – 14:00
Mary's Milk Bar
Artisan gelato in Grassmarket.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Artisan gelato in Grassmarket.
Other great options nearby
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar · €€ · Modern haggis.Map
Oink · €€ · Spit-roast pork sandwiches.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Mary's Milk Bar from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🏛️ Afternoon · 14:30 – 18:30
Fortitude Coffee
Specialty coffee in New Town.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Specialty coffee in New Town.
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Fortitude Coffee from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍷 Dinner · 19:30 – 21:30
Dinner at Timberyard
Seasonal Scottish cuisine.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Seasonal Scottish cuisine.
Other great options nearby
Mary's Milk Bar · €€ · Artisan gelato in Grassmarket.Map
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar · €€ · Modern haggis.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Dinner at Timberyard from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍸 Nightlife · 22:00+
Panda & Sons
Speakeasy behind a barbershop.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Speakeasy behind a barbershop.
Other great options nearby
Sandy Bell's · €€ · Live folk music.Map
Fortitude Coffee · €€ · Specialty coffee in New Town.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Panda & Sons from Princes Street · 10 min · £2

Day 2 — Neighborhoods & Local Flavor

☀️ Morning · 09:00 – 12:00
Arthur's Seat
45-min climb, full panorama.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · 45-min climb, full panorama.
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Arthur's Seat from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍕 Lunch · 12:30 – 14:00
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar
Modern haggis.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Modern haggis.
Other great options nearby
Oink · €€ · Spit-roast pork sandwiches.Map
Mary's Milk Bar · €€ · Artisan gelato in Grassmarket.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Makars Gourmet Mash Bar from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🏛️ Afternoon · 14:30 – 18:30
Dean Village
Picturesque village on the Water of Leith.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Picturesque village on the Water of Leith.
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Dean Village from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍷 Dinner · 19:30 – 21:30
Dinner at Timberyard
Seasonal Scottish cuisine.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Seasonal Scottish cuisine.
Other great options nearby
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar · €€ · Modern haggis.Map
Oink · €€ · Spit-roast pork sandwiches.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Dinner at Timberyard from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍸 Nightlife · 22:00+
Sandy Bell's
Live folk music.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Live folk music.
Other great options nearby
Fortitude Coffee · €€ · Specialty coffee in New Town.Map
Dean Village · €€ · Picturesque village on the Water of Leith.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Sandy Bell's from Princes Street · 10 min · £2

Day 3 — Art, Coffee & Hidden Gems

☀️ Morning · 09:00 – 12:00
Royal Mile & closes
Hidden medieval alleyways.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Hidden medieval alleyways.
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Royal Mile & closes from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍕 Lunch · 12:30 – 14:00
Oink
Spit-roast pork sandwiches.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Spit-roast pork sandwiches.
Other great options nearby
Mary's Milk Bar · €€ · Artisan gelato in Grassmarket.Map
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar · €€ · Modern haggis.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Oink from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🏛️ Afternoon · 14:30 – 18:30
Scottish National Gallery
Free classic collection.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Free classic collection.
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Scottish National Gallery from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍷 Dinner · 19:30 – 21:30
Dinner at Timberyard
Seasonal Scottish cuisine.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Seasonal Scottish cuisine.
Other great options nearby
Oink · €€ · Spit-roast pork sandwiches.Map
Mary's Milk Bar · €€ · Artisan gelato in Grassmarket.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Dinner at Timberyard from Princes Street · 10 min · £2
🍸 Nightlife · 22:00+
Panda & Sons
Speakeasy behind a barbershop.
⭐ 4.5 · €€ · Speakeasy behind a barbershop.
Other great options nearby
Dean Village · €€ · Picturesque village on the Water of Leith.Map
Sandy Bell's · €€ · Live folk music.Map
Getting there: Bus / tram Local network · Panda & Sons from Princes Street · 10 min · £2

Day trip idea: Stirling & Loch Lomond · 1h by train from Waverley → Stirling · ≈ £12

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Budget / boutique

Top-rated boutique stay

Edinburgh · central district · ⭐ 8.6 · €€ · ≈ €80–120 / night

Check availability

Mid-range

Top-rated 4★ hotel

Edinburgh · walking distance to the centre · ⭐ 8.9 · €€€ · ≈ €150–220 / night

Check availability

Luxury

Top-rated 5★ hotel

Edinburgh · best location in town · ⭐ 9.2 · €€€€ · €300+ / night

Check availability

Flying in from overseas

What travelers from the US, Canada, Australia and Asia need to sort out before a long-haul trip to Edinburgh.

Flight time & jet lag: Most long-haul flights land in Europe early morning. Plan a light first day — a walk and an outdoor lunch beat a museum. This 3-day plan keeps day 1 gentle so you can push through to a local bedtime.
Entry requirements: US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, Korean and Singaporean passport holders enter the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, but must register for ETIAS online before departure. Passport should be valid 3+ months past your return date.
Phone & data (eSIM): Skip roaming charges: install a Europe-wide eSIM (Airalo, Holafly or your carrier's international day pass) before you leave home. One eSIM covers the whole trip, including day trips across borders.
Power adapters: Type C/F outlets at 230V. US and Canadian travelers need a plug adapter; check that hair tools are dual-voltage.
Money & cards: Tap-to-pay works nearly everywhere in Edinburgh. Use a card with no foreign transaction fee, always choose to be charged in the local currency, and carry about 20 in small bills for markets and restrooms.
Airport to city: Book nothing in advance for the airport run — Edinburgh has a train or express bus that beats a taxi on both price and time. The transport section below has the official operator and ticket app.

Full long-haul planning guide

Practical tips for Scotland

Transport & tickets: Single tickets or a 24h pass · validate before boarding, look for the city app
Tipping & payments: Tipping optional · round up or leave 5-10% for good service · Tap & Go with a contactless card or Apple Pay directly at the validators in Edinburgh.
Emergency numbers: 112 (EU-wide emergency number)
Power sockets: Type C / F · 230V

When to go: events in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Christmas Market
Nov – Jan · Christmas market
A market at Princes Street Gardens, with the Big Wheel.
Fringe Festival
August · Festival
The world's biggest arts festival.
Hogmanay
Dec 31 · Festival
The New Year's party and fireworks at the Castle.

Day trips from Edinburgh

Stirling & Loch Lomond
1h by train · from Waverley → Stirling · ≈ £12
Castle · Wallace Monument · Loch
Highlands – Glencoe
full-day tour · from Edinburgh → Glencoe · ≈ £60 tour
Dramatic landscapes · Loch Ness · Distillery

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3 days in Edinburgh, Scotland — an hour-by-hour plan with real restaurants, hotels at every budget and local transit tickets. Built for travelers flying in from the US, Canada, Australia and Asia.

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