A city set in one of the most beautiful countries of the world, Edinburgh is the place to be if you want to satiate your wanderlust feels. What makes it so amazing is the fact that there are plenty of free things to do, so if your budget is a bit tight, but you still want to go on that adventure, read on to find out how you can explore this vibrant city without breaking the bank.
The Royal Mile
The heart and soul of the Old Town, the Royal Mile derives its name from W. M. Gilbert’s Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century (1901), who gives a description of the city “…with its Castle and Palace and the royal mile between”.
Explore the closes (Scottish term for alleyway) that run off the main street – be sure not to miss Fairfax Close if you’re an Outlander fan, do some window shopping, admire the talent of buskers, and get a glimpse of the majestic Edinburgh Castle. What makes this High Street so unique is its mix of past charm and vivacious urbanity – it is this aura that draws us to it time and time again.
Princes Street Gardens
These two parks offer a relaxing break from the bustling crowds on Princes Street. They form part of the New Town and offer magnificent views of the famous landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, the North Bridge and Waverley Station.
Strolling along this green space in the city is a sure way of getting your mind off your troubles without having to take any form of transport to enjoy a spot of nature. Watch out for a bout of sunshine, take a packed lunch with you and enjoy a nice old picnic in these lush gardens. Such a simple yet grounding treat!
The National Gallery
Indulge the art lover in you and head to the National Gallery of Scotland, located on The Mound, close to Princes Street. Upon first glance, the Neoclassical style of the building imposes an impression of a majestically ancient Greek Temple. The vast art collection inside does no less to exceed the expectations of visitors. To top it all off, admission is free and you can roam about for hours!
Bronze Statue at the National Gallery of Scotland
Arthur’s Seat
Aptly described by Robert Louis Stevenson as “a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design”, this extinct volcano is the perfect hillwalking experience. We say so because although it felt as though we had travelled miles away from the crowds, we were, in fact, only a stone’s throw away from the city centre!
On top of that, once you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with the most spectacular panoramic views of the city. Definitely worth the climb! Be sure to wrap up nice and warm at the peak; it can get real windy. Most importantly, have good hiking shoes on – wet weather can make surfaces slippery. You really do not want to play Jill and tumble down that hill!
Calton Hill
If you wish to take a shorter and easier hike up a hill, then Calton Hill is the right walk for you as it involves some steps and a path laid out with tarmac. Deemed a UNESCO site, visitors can enjoy the monuments at the top, such as the Nelson Monument, as well as views over Princes Street Gardens.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoy visiting these beautiful places in Edinburgh as much as we did!
If you have any comments, feedback or questions, drop them down below! We’d love to hear from you!
Safe Travels!
Passport and Pathways x
Psst… Pin this post for later, or better yet, share it with your friends!
I’ve only been to Edinburgh once and spent most of it with my friends family. Though that was lovely I did miss out on a lot of these gems. Can’t wait to go back and see it properly- especially Arthur’s seat. A hike to an amazing view is just my thing. Thanks for the post!
You’re right, quality time with friends and family is always a special treat, and it’s also given you a good excuse to go back to Edinburgh to explore it some more! We never get tired of this city – there’s so much to see and do. Have a wonderful time on your next visit! And thank you for your comment 🙂
This post is perfect! I’m going to Edinburgh in a couple of weeks, and it’s given me plenty of wonderful ideas of places to go and see – thank you! 🙂
So glad to have been of help, Sophie! Thank you for your comment 🙂 Have a lovely trip!
I love Edinburgh so much – the gardens and the Royal Mile are such beautiful parts of the city. I like the view from Calton Hill as well, but am yet to conquer Arthur’s seat.
So do we! Living there is our dream 🙂 Arthur’s seat is definitely something to look forward to! Hope you get to do it soon!
I actually visited Edinburgh for the first time a week or so back and could’ve done with this handy guide. I visited the Royal Mile and Calton Hill but the Princes Street Gardens look amazing and I wish I’d gone. Next time I go away, I’ll definitely be back to your site for some more handy guides haha
Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for your appreciation of our post! 🙂 It’s great that you got to visit those places – the Royal Mile is super special for us because we are huge Outlander fans! Hopefully we will have written some more guides before you go back haha. Did you visit any castles? We wrote a post about castles you can visit by public transport. Hope it helps! Enjoy your next trip, Scotland is one of the most beautiful places on Earth!
Thanks for sharing, I love Edinburgh and often forget about all of the free things!
You’re welcome! They turn out to be a lot of fun most of the time 🙂
Some great tips! I will add these to my list for when I visit later this year.
Thank you! Have a wonderful time on your trip!
[…] Why don’t you check out this post on the Top 5 Things to Do in Edinburgh while you’re at it? Planning a trip to this vibrant city has never been […]