Since 2013, Flytographer has captured millions of vacation photos all around the globe and know our customers have the best travel tips to share! Explore their favourite things to do in Edinburgh, best restaurants in Edinburgh, and general travel tips to get fresh inspiration and start planning your trip to Edinburgh.
The Witchery! The Old Coffee Mill.
Makars Gourmet Mash Bar for traditional Scottish cuisine. We also loved Junk, they had a seven course tasting menu that was amazing!
New College School of Divinity for photos, and Bakehouse Close which was a filming location for Outlander and now Frankenstein.
Visited Edinburgh in September
Photo Shoot Location: The Royal Mile
Johnnie Walker Princes Street had good food and cocktails and a nice view of the castle.
Royal Yacht Britannia was great to visit, and had a nice tea time. The Fringe if going in August had some great programs just for kids.
Baby wear if possible! Check if restaurants allow kids after a certain time.
Visited Edinburgh in August
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Mama Roma. Great food!
Arthur's Seat Hike. Edinburgh Castle. Military Tattoo.
Visited Edinburgh in August
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Loved Vietnamese Restaurant House - off the main strip and just absolutely delicious. We went there twice.
We loved going to the open market that is situated right before heading to the castle
Hometown Shoot in August
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Spry Wines. Delicious wines and tapas and great service.
Calton Hill picnic and just walking around taking in all the sites!
You don’t have to see it all! Do what suits you and your travel mate(s) and not what you feel you are “supposed” to see.
Visited Edinburgh in July
Photo Shoot Location: Circus Lane and St Stephen Street
The witchery
Mary kings close
Visited Edinburgh in July
Photo Shoot Location: Circus Lane and St Stephen Street
The Dome! We were absolutely blown away by the historic building, exceptional service and delicious meal to celebrate our last night in the U.K. together!
Our hike up Arthur's seat was an easy and fun way to escape from the crowds for minute and take time to reconnect with each other and nature.
We spent the semester leading up to the trip watching every movie, show and reading every book that was set in the U.K. and pinned them on an oversized map we hung on our wall in our mudroom. It made the kids feel like they were stepping into a fairy tale come true when our plane landed!
Visited Edinburgh in July
Photo Shoot Location: Circus Lane and St Stephen Street
We loved a little sandwich shop near where we stayed in Grassmarket called Peppers Cafe & Sandwich Bar.
We loved climbing Arthur's Seat for great views of the city and the Firth of Forth, and of course seeing all the Harry Potter sights.
Visited Edinburgh in July
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Josie’s was amazing! Great service and food was authentic and delicious.
Hop On Hop Off bus and the castle are a must but the free Edinburgh Museum was a pleasant surprise, super interactive and fun for the kiddos!
Be prepared to walk and for cooler temps even in the summer months. I would say pulling our luggage through the cobblestone streets on arrival and departure was difficult for the little ones but doable. Staying in Grassmarket was a high plus given its central location.
The Witchery was such a cool experience for a splurge meal. If you like whiskey, we had fun trying it during the whiskey experience tour. I also recommending getting out of old town and exploring more of the city.
There are so many great walks and free museums that shouldn’t be missed!
Book popular excursions early during the high season. We were told things like, “the castle doesn’t sell out,” but it was when we were there. Even things like the hop on hop off busses could get super full later in the day, so get out and about early too.
We really enjoyed breakfast at the Edinburgh Larder. So many great options for families.
We loved doing the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions. And booking a tour with Andy the Highlander was the best thing we did in Scotland. We got to wear kilts, grab fake weapons, and have a family battle at a castle!
Don’t miss the National Museum of Scotland. There are lots of interactive things for kids as well as a full play area. And the museum is FREE.
I love the entire vibe of Edinburgh - if you are a Harry Potter fan like me, you MUST visit Edinburgh. We will be returning for sure.
Afternoon tea at the Georgian Tea Room in the Dome Hotel. They made my experience very special, greeted me by name, and the setup was delicious!
I loved the free ghost tour of Edinburgh by City Explorers. It was fascinating. I climbed Arthur's Seat on an exceptionally beautiful day. I also loved Princes Gardens.
Visited Edinburgh in April
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Duck and waffles, August37 (fantastic hamburgers), the Spence.
Royal mile, Edinburgh Castle. Shopping! Sticky toffee pudding was awesome
Dress warmly and carry an umbrella! Note that many hotels have no parking. You may have to walk a bit with luggage.
Visited Edinburgh in April
Photo Shoot Location: Circus Lane and St Stephen Street
The Kitchin - Michelin rated George IV - great cullen & skink
Food tour with Carlos Scotch Whiskey Experience Flytographer photo shoot on Calton Hill
The Kitchin for dinner
The Witchery
Visited Edinburgh in September
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Don't miss Dean's Village. A quaint, picturesque neighborhood in the middle of the city. There is a gorgeous path along the river that is a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Insider tip ask a driver to drop you at Dean's Path. Snap away. Make your way to the river and keep walking!!
Make reservations!!
We really enjoyed everywhere that we went, but we went to Contini George Street the night of the proposal and it was a great place with great food and drinks!
We really enjoyed touring Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill, walking on Victoria Street, and seeing the many great views like Ross Fountain that Edinburgh had to offer!
Visited Edinburgh in August
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Whiski on the Royal Mile. Such good burgers and drinks selections
Edinburgh Castle Princes Street Gardens Arthur’s Seat Hike
Visited Edinburgh in July
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Greyfriars Bobby pub is always amazing but I loved the Badger & Co! The food, the design, the people, the ambiance is wonderful!
Pantry. Amazing food and atmosphere and we just stumbled upon it.
The Real Mary King's Close was a surprise highlight. And our trip to the Highlands and especially Doune Castle was my favorite part.
Experiences > informational tours :)
Visited Edinburgh in July
Photo Shoot Location: Circus Lane and St Stephen Street
Theatre Room Bar. It was next to our hotel and had great food and service!
Walking around the city, seeing landmarks such as the Edinburgh castle and shopping!
Be prepared to walk!
Visited Edinburgh in June
Photo Shoot Location: Circus Lane and St Stephen Street
We really loved Piper's Rest, they had great service and (according to my husband) the best Haggis in town!
The historical tour of Mary King's Close is a personal favorite, you learn so much of the city's history and see a hidden "secret" part of the city as well. We also loved touring Holyroodhouse Palace as well as Edinburgh Castle, and definitely recommend doing the audio tours to get the full experience.
Check out the playground in Prince's Street Gardens, it has beautiful views of the castle!
Visited Edinburgh in May
Photo Shoot Location: Princes Street Gardens
Haggis Box was a cute stop for a quick lunch. The staff were very friendly and cared a lot about their food, where it comes from, and it had a welcoming atmosphere. Great place to have your first or second haggis of the day! We also enjoyed visiting many pubs - among our favorites were Guilford Arms, Kenliworth, and Salt Horse. If you're in the mood for dessert, we loved Mary's Milk Bar for ice cream.
We enjoyed just walking around, shopping, and taking in the sights. Loved people watching from many cafes in the old town. You can't miss the Royal Mile, Grass Market, the Edinburgh Castle, and hiking up Arthur's Seat and Calton Hill for great views.
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