Edinburgh is an excellent city for a weekend away and it’s full of epic adventures to be had. It can be an expensive place to stay and eat out in so give your wallet a rest with some of these free activities that you can enjoy! I’ve split the activities into four different categories: Museums, Art Galleries, Outdoor Activities & Areas to Explore so you can navigate to the one that you’re most interested in!
Museums
Art Galleries
Outdoor Activities
Areas to Explore
Museums
1. National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh has a number of free museums which are great for learning some Scottish history and great for a rainy day as well! The National Museum of Scotland is first up and it’s somewhere I visited frequently growing up, both as a family day out as well as for school trips. There are plenty of exhibits here to make your way around from Dolly the Sheep to the Lewis Chess Pieces. Train lovers will be enthralled by Industry & Empire whilst science & tech lovers will find the Natural World and Making It galleries.
Head up to the roof terrace for a beautiful (free!) view of the rooftops of Edinburgh’s Old Town and a view to the Castle.
Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting Edinburgh from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!
Holafly
2. Writers’ Museum
The Writers’ Museum is hidden away down Lady Stair’s Close off the Royal Mile and is set in the most stunning building (a favourite of photographers to capture). This museum is a must for anyone that enjoys the greats of Scottish literature as the museum celebrates three of them. The items on view here include portraits, personal objects (such as boots) and manuscripts belonging to Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Scott and Robert (Rabbie) Burns.
3. The People’s Story Museum
The three stories of The People’s Story Museum are interesting look into the lives of ordinary citizens of Edinburgh during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Words taken from Edinburgh citizens are mixed with objects and displays that show how people worked and then spent their free time. It highlights history, crafts, opinions and work to help transport you back in time to understand how the people of Edinburgh have lived in the past.
4. Museum of Childhood
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The Museum of Childhood is a classic if you’ve got children although it’s a lot of fun for big kids as well! The museum features all things to do with childhood with lots of books, games and toys from the 1800s onwards. It’s fascinating to see how all of these have changed over the years whilst at their heart and purpose remaining the same. Afterwards head next door to The Fudge Kitchen to taste some delicious samples and watch how they make it!
5. Museum of Edinburgh
Just about opposite The People’s Story Museum you’ll find the Museum of Edinburgh which is also free. It’s an interesting place to learn about the city’s history and uncover some of the secrets of its intriguing past. This is made all the more atmospheric by its location in the 16th century Huntly House. You’ll even find Greyfriars Bobby’s collar and bowl here. If you recognise the building it’s because Bakehouse Close, just to its right (as you look directly at the museum) featured in Outlander!
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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Art Galleries
6. The Scottish National Gallery
Edinburgh doesn’t just have plenty of free museums but it also has free art galleries as well making history and culture accessible to anyone that visits the city! First up is The Scottish National Gallery which is situated on The Mound and overlooking the East Princes Street Garden. At the Scottish National Gallery you can see breathtaking works of art by both Scottish and International artists in a beautiful setting. There are artworks by Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer as well as a host of Impressionist paintings by the likes of Sisley, van Gogh and Monet. Nearly half of the art in the National Gallery is by Scottish artists so you can admire portraits and landscapes by Raeburn, Peploe and Sir Charles Rennie Mackintosh. If you enjoy the greats of art history then this is the place for you!
7. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
If modern art is more your scene then make your way across town to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Even the setting feels contemporary where the gallery is split across two buildings, Modern One & Modern Two and two sculpture parks (look out for sculptures by Henry Moore, Joan Miró & Anthony Gormley) with artwork across all four spaces. Modern One is home to the contemporary pieces whilst Modern Two takes art a step further and delves into even more elaborate and compelling compositions. It’s fun, it’s weird and it makes you think.
Continue along the Water of Leith towards the Firth of Forth from here you’ll reach the Dean Village (18).
8. Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is housed in a purpose built building on Queen Street. The striking Neo Gothic architecture coupled with the russet hued bricks make for an impressive setting before you even enter the door. The interior of the Portrait Gallery is just as breathtaking with beautifully designed rooms. The Great Hall in particular is a work of art in itself. The Portrait Gallery collection consists of paintings and photos to celebrate the greats of Scotland. As you explore you’ll meet with the likes of Rabbie Burns, Mary Queen of Scots and Sean Connery! Who is your favourite Scot immortalised on these walls?
9. Edinburgh City Art Centre
The City Art Centre is in a rather different building to the others on this list and is located inside an old nine storey warehouse overlooking Edinburgh Waverley train station. The Art Centre contains over 4,500 pieces making it one of the most extensive collections of Scottish art in the city. There are plenty of temporary exhibitions as well as the main collection which features artwork by Raeburn, Ramsay, Eardley in addition to more contemporary artists.
Outdoor Activities
10. Free walking tour
The best way to learn about Edinburgh’s colourful history is through a tour and luckily there are some free walking tours that you can join and tip at the end if you would like to. Alternatively, try a self guided walking tour (I’m going to be writing a series so keep your eyes peeled and make sure to subscribe to find out when these become available!).
Take a look at the below to see if there’s one that catches your interest:
11. Arthur’s Seat
Edinburgh is built on seven hills one of which is Arthur’s Seat. It’s rather unusual to be able to climb an extinct volcano in the middle of a city centre park so if the weather is in your favour it’s an absolute must do in Edinburgh. Whilst climbing Arthur’s Seat is not as difficult as heading up north to bag some Munros, it is still a steep and tough walk if you’re not used to climbing hills. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear and layers because the weather in Edinburgh changes by the hour! When you make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with epic city views across Salisbury Crags all the way across to Fife on a clear day!
12. Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh is lucky to have lots of green spaces in the city and one that’s not just green but all sorts of colourful shades is the Royal Botanic Garden. It’s free to visit and take a stroll around to enjoy soaking up some nature after you’ve spent time hitting the cobble stones. The gardens have been cultivated for over 350 years and there are an array of different areas to admire. Wander through the rock garden, gaze up at the splendid arboretum and see the collection of plants in the Alpine Houses.
13. Calton Hill
Another great hill to climb is Calton Hill. This is more centrally located (not too far from Waverley train station) and it’s a very short walk to the top. When you reach the top you get a fantastic view across central Edinburgh towards the Castle and along Princes St. which is an epic spot to watch sunset from. On top of Calton Hill you can get a closer glimpse of the National Monument and Nelson’s Column.
14. Portobello Beach
If you’ve had enough of the city sights or you happen to be (very) lucky and get a warm day in Edinburgh then you’ll need to head to the seaside! The north of Edinburgh is bounded by the Firth of Forth which stretches out into the North Sea. This sea boundary means that Edinburgh has a handful of beaches within the city (and plenty more nearby if you have access to a car). The best known are Crammond & Portobello with Portobello the focus of this number. Portobello beach stretches two miles along the water’s edge with a promenade full of cafes, chippies and ice cream vans on a sunny day.
15. Princes Street Gardens
As I’ve mentioned, Edinburgh has a brilliant share of parks that you can relax in – especially if the weather is good! Another of which is Princes Street Gardens which straddle along beneath the castle. The Gardens were not always as pleasant as fresh because they used to be a loch that was part of the castle’s defensive strategy. Drainage of the Nor Loch began around 250 years ago before becoming the charming space of greenery we have to enjoy today. As you explore the East & West Gardens there are a number of interesting spots to look out for which include the Ross Fountain, Great Aunt Lizzie’s Cottage, the Floral Clock and the Scott Monument. During December (and the second half of November) the Gardens fill with rides, stalls and food trucks as they’re taken over with Christmas spirit! And Edinburgh is one of the best cities to enjoy a festive weekend!
16. Greyfriar’s Kirkyard & Greyfriar’s Bobby
One of Edinburgh’s most famous residents of history is a little dog named Greyfriar’s Bobby. Bobby became known in the city when he refused to leave his master John Gray’s grave after he died for fourteen years. His story is a lesson in loyalty and dedication and when you see his rather sweet statue will soften nearly every heart. An unfortunate tradition has become to rub the little dog’s nose for good luck but this has led to Bobby’s nose needing replacement on a regular basis so perhaps just pose for a photo instead.
After saying ‘hi’ to Bobby, some people will want to venture into Greyfriar’s Kirkyard. It may sound a little morbid to include a graveyard as a ‘free thing to do’ but the reason for that is linked to Harry Potter. JK Rowling took inspiration from the gravestones in the Kirkyard. The most clear of which is Tom Riddell which you can find towards the back. Keep your eyes peeled for McGonagall, Scrymgeour and Moodie.
17. Hunt film locations
Edinburgh is a stunning and also rather romantic city and this has not gone unnoticed but the film industry! Edinburgh has featured in lots of big films from one of the blockbuster Avengers films to romantic drama One Day to the gritty Trainspotting 1 & 2. Take your own film tour and find the locations shared in my post 11 famous film locations to find in Edinburgh.
Areas to Explore
18. Dean Village
Due to its popularity on Instagram, for many the Dean Village is a tranquil slice of colour in Edinburgh’s New Town. For me, it reminds me of violin exams which I took in a building on the way into the Dean Village 😂 It’s somewhere that I didn’t really appreciate when I grew up here and was forced into Saturday afternoon cycles along the Water of Leith in the rain which would pass by the Village.
It really is a charming part of the city and worth visiting alongside Stockbridge (21). Make your way down Bells Brae and past the ochre yellow building on your left to see that fantastic view of Well Court. Cross over the bridge that traverses the Water of Leith (and capture that classic shot) before making your way back up the other side. When you meet the stone road bridge, continue along the Water of Leith to pass St Bernard’s Well before coming out at MacKenzie Place.
19. Royal Mile
You can very easily spend a whole morning or afternoon (even a whole day!) strolling down the Royal Mile. This stretch of road joins Edinburgh Castle at the top with the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. If you’re confused as to why it’s not actually a mile, that’s because it’s a Scots Mile 🙃
This is one of the most important streets in Edinburgh and it’s also one of the busiest, especially during the month of August when the Fringe festival is on. This does mean some great (and some not so great) free entertainment from comedians, jugglers and escapologists to name a few.
It’s best to start early at the Castle end and make your way east as the Holyrood end of the mile is usually quieter than the Castle end. You can get a great view of the city from the castle esplanade for free although if you do want to head inside (it is pricey) then you can buy your fast track tickets here.
There are so many quirky buildings and closes to spot along the Royal Mile and it’s a great place to imagine how life might have been like in Edinburgh through the centuries. Look out for the Museum of Childhood (4), the Writers’ Museum (2), The People’s Story Museum, The Museum of Edinburgh, White Horse Close, the John Knox House, the Tolbooth Tavern and Dunbar Close garden.
Once you arrive at the Palace of Holyrood House you can admire the palace through the gates (or book your ticket here if you do want to go inside) and then head into Holyrood Park where you can choose to climb Arthur’s Seat (11). If you do make sure you have water and food with you – if you started at 9am then it may be lunch by the time you get here!
20. Grassmarket
Another beautiful area of the city to explore is The Grassmarket. Start at George IV Bridge and first of all make your way down colourful Victoria Street. This has become one of the most popular places to visit in the city as it is reminiscent of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and allegedly said to have inspired JK Rowling in her conception of the Alley. Head up the stairs about halfway along Victoria Street to see it from above looking down from the Victoria Terrace. As Victoria Street curves downwards it briefly turns into West Bow and then becomes the Grassmarket after you pass Bow Well.
From the 1400s this place was (as you can guess for the name!) a marketplace for the city and remained as such for a long time. In the 1800s and 1900s the Grassmarket was a cramped and dirty place where houses slept far too many people in far too small rooms. Since the 2000s it has developed to become the hotspot it is today with lots of pubs, restaurants and shops to browse. Save your pounds for a scoop of ice cream from Mary’s Milk Bar in the summer 🍦
Once you’ve admired the architecture around the Grassmarket (Cold Town House is beautiful with the view up to the castle) then make your way up The Vennel steps. When you get to the top of the steps, turn round and admire the striking view of Edinburgh Castle in front of you. This walkway is particularly atmospheric at night when the lamps are turned on.
21. Stockbridge
Stockbridge is located between Edinburgh’s New Town and the historic Dean Village (18) and it’s a lovely area of the city to explore. The most iconic spot in Stockbridge is Circus Lane which is a charming cobbled street with mews houses along each side. Once the stables to wealthy houses behind, these homes are now some of the most desirable in the city. Other places to look out for include the ever blooming staircase garden at 33 NW Circus Place, the old Stockbridge Market sign and St Stephen’s Church. If you have some spare cash then stop at a coffee shop (Artisan Roast & Söderberg are favourites) and on a Sunday pick up some goodies at the Stockbridge Market for a picnic.
Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours
My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇
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Cat x
If you’re looking for more things to do and places to see in Edinburgh then make sure to check out my other Edinburgh posts and subscribe to keep up to date with everything I’m sharing!
