Tried and tested! Discover Elise's itinerary suggestions for free time in the Scottish Capital - Edinburgh.

Edinburgh: Scotland's magnificent capital city known for the iconic centuries-old Edinburgh Castle, sitting proudly on the peak of Castle Rock. From stunning medieval architecture to sites haunted by ghosts, this city is bursting with culture and curiosity which fuels the many sinister stories told of it's past. Our Sales and Marketing Executive, Elise recently travelled North for a long weekend in Edinburgh. Keep reading to find out what she got up to and feel free to use her itinerary as inspiration for your future trips to the Scottish Capital. 

Myself (Elise) and my partner travelled up to Scotland recently, staying at the Holiday Inn Edinburgh. We quickly checked in, dropped off our bags and freshened up to head straight to the city centre to grab some food and enjoy a few drinks. With an abundance of bars & restaurants, we were completely spoilt for choice. Before arriving, I had made arrangements to visit the Department of Magic which is a hidden cocktail bar specialising in potion making experiences. Here, you indulge in a self-guided cocktail class where you concoct your very own delicious potion. A unique immersive experience that I would highly recommend to any alchemy fans. 

Saturday brought us a jam-packed day of exploring a number of sites in the city centre – made possible by the City Sightseeing Edinburgh hop on hop off bus tour. For a very reasonable fee, we were able to purchase a 48-hour ticket to join the bus tour at a number of stops throughout the city. Saving time and many, many steps between each destination we had on our list. With an audio guide available we learnt about the history of the city as well as many facts related to buildings and historic figures of Edinburgh. 

On our list of destinations were: Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, The Royal Mile, Scott’s Monument, The National Gallery and The National Museum of Scotland. As well as some Harry Potter hotspots such as: Museum of Context, Victoria Street and City Chambers (J.K Rowling’s handprints). 

On Sunday, we used the hop on hop off bus again – this time on the Britannia Tour route. First stop was to the North of Edinburgh to the port of Leith. Here, we got to see The Royal Yacht Britannia –  late Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace. Having sailed over 1 million miles in it’s 44 years of service, the yacht is an outstanding example of British Royal history. Tours onboard are available to purchase from inside the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre as well as a fascinating gift shop, free to enter without buying a ticket for the tour. 

Afterwards, we travelled to the beautiful village of Stockbridge. Sunday is market day here and so we picked up some keepsakes as well as fuelled up on the delicious food options available. Before setting off on a walk to Dean Village, pub stops along the way were obligatory. From here, we got back on the bus towards city centre. 

We finished off the day with a guided tour of Mary King’s Close, considered the most haunted location in Scotland. Hidden beneath the lively streets of Edinburgh’s busiest thoroughfare, The Royal Mile. Learn and experience over 400 years of history through the eyes of people who lived and died within it. Both of us enjoyed this very much and would highly recommend a visit here. 

Monday came around and it was the day for us to travel home. But not before a visit to Edinburgh Zoo, situated very conveniently next door to our hotel. An amazing attraction for people of all ages, we spent a few hours looking at and learning about the animals being housed here. My personal favourite being the penguins. With wonderful memories made in Edinburgh, we drove home. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on Edinburgh...feel free to send us an email on your top attraction within/close to the City Centre! - elise@ashleynewey.co.uk

Feeling inspired? Here are some available tours we have available featuring the Scottish Capital in 2026:

Edinburgh, Stirling & River Forth Cruise 

Stone of Destiny & Edinburgh Christmas Markets - Turkey & Tinsel Package