24 Hours In Edinburgh – 1 Day Edinburgh Itinerary

Last Updated on 15th September 2023

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Are you planning to spend 24 hours in Edinburgh but you’re not sure what to see, do or eat! I’ve got you covered with my ultimate 1 day Edinburgh itinerary!

Edinburgh is one of my favourite UK cities for a weekend break. With its breathtaking architecture, fascinating history, friendly people and a vast amount of awesome hotels, Edinburgh is a place that you could easily spend as little as one day to one month exploring!

If you’re taking a day trip to Edinburgh and wondering how much you can see and do in just one day in the Scottish capital, I’ve got just the post for you! I’ve spent just 24 hours in Edinburgh on many different occasions, so I know exactly how to plan your time to ensure that you experience as much as possible in just one day in Edinburgh!

Here’s the perfect itinerary to see Edinburgh in a day!

Is 24 hours in Edinburgh enough?

24 hours isn’t enough time to see and do everything in Edinburgh, but it’s a great place to start to see most of the city’s top sights. I think 2-3 days would be the preferred amount of time to spend in Edinburgh, but let’s see how many things you can see/do in Edinburgh in 24 hours!

24 hours in Edinburgh itinerary summary

• Dean Village
• Edinburgh Castle
• Princes Street Gardens
• Scott Monument
• The Real Mary King’s Close
• Victoria Street
• Royal Mile
• Calton Hill
• Palace of Holyroodhouse

24 hours in Edinburgh map

As you can see from the map above, it’s possible to see most of Edinburgh’s highlights in 24 hours by foot. Of course, you can also take advantage of the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours to make your time in Edinburgh easier, but it is also possible to see everything on foot in just one day.

Dean Village – 24 hours in Edinburgh (morning)

Your 1 day in Edinburgh itinerary begins with the magical Dean Village; a picturesque residence village just a little outside of the city centre.

While there’s not actually lots to do in Dean Village, it is worth the wander out of the city to see the charming houses, cobblestone streets and winding streams.

It’s arguably one of the most picturesque villages in the UK, so it’s definitely worth having on your Edinburgh itinerary.

Edinburgh Castle (morning)

Next up, it’s time to head to one of the most iconic sights in the city; Edinburgh Castle. The castle is thought to date all the way back to the 11th century and if you take a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle, you’ll learn all about its fascinating and turbulent history, as well as see the most important rooms and attractions inside the fortress.

This guided tour of Edinburgh Castle takes approximately 90 minutes, so you’ll still have plenty of time to see more of the city’s highlights.

Princes Street Gardens (morning)

From Edinburgh Castle, you can enjoy a leisurely walk to Princes Street Gardens. This area of Edinburgh is brilliant regardless of the time of year that you visit.

In the winter, the gardens play host to Edinburgh’s Christmas Market, complete with fairground rides and attractions, plenty of delicious, festive food and an abundance of Christmas market stalls.

In the summer months, Princes Street Gardens is a wonderful place to hang out in the city. It’s a great place to people-watch, enjoy a picnic lunch or simply just bask in the sunshine (if you’re lucky enough to experience some!).

Scott Monument – 24 hours in Edinburgh (morning)

Directly adjacent to Princes Street Gardens, you’ll find the iconic Scott Monument, which is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott.

You can climb to the top of the Scott Monument (an exhausting 287 steps!) to be rewarded with wonderful views of Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Lunch at Oink (afternoon)

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the Victoria Street branch of Oink; one of the best sandwich shops in Edinburgh!

I always try to eat at Oink whenever I’m in Edinburgh as the food is so delicious and it’s the perfect lunchtime stop.

The Real Mary’s King Close (afternoon)

Suitably stuffed, head down High Street, past St Giles’ Cathedral, to the Real Mary King’s Close.

Located underneath the buildings of the Royal Mile and the Old Town, Mary King’s Close is a well-preserved historic close that transports you back in time over 400 years. It’s a super cool and interesting tourist attraction in Edinburgh that’s unlike anything else in the city!

Victoria Street – 24 hours in Edinburgh (afternoon)

From the Real Mary King’s Close, it’s just a few minutes walk to one of the most beautiful streets in Edinburgh; Victoria Street.

Lined with brightly coloured storefronts and plenty of excellent cafes and restaurants, Victoria Street is well worth a stroll down during your 24 hours in Edinburgh.

The Royal Mile (afternoon)

The Royal Mile is a centuries-old street that connects Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Home to some of Edinburgh’s most famous bars, restaurants and attractions, The Royal Mile is such a gorgeous part of the city that’s worth spending a little while exploring.

Palace of Holyroodhouse (afternoon)

At the end of The Royal Mile, you’ll arrive at the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is the only official royal residence of the monarch in Scotland.

You can go inside the Palace and take a tour of the royal apartments and the historic rooms, as well as the beautiful gardens.

Calton Hill (sunset)

To conclude the tourist activities during your 24 hours in Edinburgh, head to the top of Calton Hill in time for sunset to enjoy magnificent views of the city.

Many people would argue that Arthur’s Seat offers a better vantage point of the city, but the walk to the top is much more strenuous than to Calton Hill so I’d always recommend the latter!

Dinner at Makars Mash Bar (evening)

Enjoy dinner at Makars Mash Bar; a brilliant restaurant serving Scottish fare with sides of mashed potatoes! It’s one of my favourite places to eat in Edinburgh and it’s also one of the most highly rated and recommended.

Once you’ve gorged on delicious Scottish cuisine accompanied by a variety of different types of mashed potato, it’s time to head back to your hotel of choice for a relaxing evening.

Where to stay in Edinburgh

There are so many great hotels in Edinburgh, with some of my personal favourites being The Scotsman Hotel, 28 York Place and The Raeburn.

28 York Place is a great hotel in the centre of Edinburgh that feels more like a cosy B&B, whereas The Scotsman is much higher end, boasting a spectacular penthouse suite that I could have quite happily lived in forever!

If you’ve only got one night in Edinburgh, I’d recommend a hotel that’s super conveniently located right in the heart of the city centre so that you’re as close to the action as possible.

How to get to Edinburgh

Edinburgh is super easily accessible from most major cities in the UK by train, car or even plane.

My favourite (and probably the easiest) way to get to Edinburgh is by train as it’s just one and a half hours from Glasgow , two and a half hours from York and four and a half hours from London .

You can purchase tickets online in advance to get them for as cheap as possible.

How to get around Edinburgh – Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

The best way to ensure you see as much as possible in Edinburgh in 24 hours is by purchasing a 1-day Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket that takes you on an exciting journey to some of the city’s top sights.

I always love using the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours in different cities around the world (I’ve done the one in New York three separate times because I love it so much!) and the one in Edinburgh takes you around the best attractions in the city, such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Palace of Holyroodhouse and many more!

Related posts:

• 26+ Top Things To Do In Edinburgh For A Magical Visit – Ultimate Guide
• The Best Places To Stay In Edinburgh For Every Budget
• 26+ Best European City Breaks To Take All Year Round
• The Scotsman Hotel Review – Best Place To Stay In Edinburgh
• The Ultimate UK Bucket List: 101 Best Things To Do In The UK

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Have you ever spent one day in Edinburgh? What’s your favourite thing to see/do there? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter at @imjustagirl_16.