Things to do for free in Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital is not only a haven for festivals, castles and haunted stories… it’s also renowned for being one of the world’s most welcoming cities. As you stroll through its cobbled streets and spend the afternoon in one of its traditional pubs meeting locals, you’ll realise that it’s hard to get bored here. If you don’t know where to start, read on. We want your Edinburgh experience to be unforgettable, so here are 16 things to do for free in Edinburgh?
1. Climb Arthur’s Seat
what to see in Edinburgh? The views from the top of the mountain will have you thinking about instagram hashtags for a while, as you’ll want to share them and tell everyone how much you love the city. This ‘Arthur’s Seat’ was formed through a system of volcanoes. It seems a bit strenuous at first, but once you’re there you’ll be able to sit back and take in the magnificent views. You can get there from the Royal Mile (the main thoroughfare of the Old Town). Turn right once you reach the end and walk up the mountain – you can’t miss it! Depending on how many times you’ve skipped the gym this month, it should take you just under an hour to get to the top.
2. Join the free guided tours
Yes, you read that right: free. We budget travellers will never stop getting butterflies in our stomachs when we hear that word. The dynamic of these tours is that you get in for free, and then it’s up to you to decide if you want to tip and how much you want to tip. Spoiler alert: you’re going to love it so much that you’ll definitely tip! If you search the internet for “free tour Edinburgh”, you’ll find several companies that do this, and one that we recommend is Sandemans Free Walking Tour, which offers several routes around the city. The general tour usually lasts 3 hours and departs from the Starbucks on the Royal Mile in the mornings at 10.00 and 11.00, and in the afternoons at 13.00 and 14.00 (in case Happy Hour got out of hand the night before). The tour takes in Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, Grassmarket, the original “Hogwarts” and much more. It’s the easiest (and quickest) way to see everything on your list of things to see in Edinburgh in one trip.
3. Stroll along the Royal Mile
what is the Royal Mile? It is several streets that together form a very long street that measures one Scottish Royal Mile, (1814 metres) hence its name. This street connects Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It has several distinct areas, such as Lawnmarket – the part where all the tourist shops are located – or High Street, the heart and soul of the city. Here you will find St Giles Cathedral and the Tron Church. At the end of the mile is Canongate, home to free museums, pubs and the city’s royal palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
4. Listen to free concerts in Whistlebinkies
Between High Street and The Bridges you’ll find Whistlebinkies. It’s one of the best places to enjoy live music from Edinburgh’s up-and-coming bands. Admission is free every day of the week (although on Fridays and Saturdays you’ll need to arrive before midnight).
5. Enjoy street entertainment in August
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Edinburgh in August, your plan should simply be to enjoy all the festivals the city has to offer! In August alone, Edinburgh hosts six festivals, including the Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Book Festival . But best known of all, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the largest arts festival in the world offering some 3000 performances of music, theatre, dance and comedy. Although you have to book your ticket for many events, there is one performance after another in August. For more information visit the official Edinburgh Festival Guide.
7. Visit St Giles Cathedral
Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, this cathedral dates back to 1120. There are over two hundred memorials honouring select Scots with an incredible collection of stained glass windows. It’s one of Edinburgh’s top attractions, so don’t miss it!
8. Climb Calton Hill
If you don’t have the energy to climb Arthur’s Seat, we have a plan b: Calton Hill. To get there, just walk east on Princess Street Gardens until you see an alleyway on your left. Walk for about five minutes and at the top you’ll enjoy a bird’s eye view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
9. Getting lost in Old Town
It may sound cliché, but Edinburgh is a beautiful city to discover on foot, especially the old part known as the Old Town. You can spend hours wandering through its streets, discovering its neighbourhoods (such as Cowgate and Grassmarket) and imagining what the city must have been like centuries ago – set aside a few hours for this activity!
10. Take a selfie with ‘Greyfriar’s Bobby’ statue and wander around Greyfriars Kirkyard
One of Edinburgh’s most famous legends is that of ‘Greyfriar’s Bobby‘, a small Skye Terrier who gained his fame in the 19th century for spending fourteen years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray. Today there is a statue of the dog on the corner of Candlemaker’s Row and St George’s Bridge. Directly opposite is Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, where there are large graves of famous Scots such as poet Allan Ramsay and author Henry Mackenzie, and a few souls on the loose… or so they say. Visit it at night for the full experience! ?
11. Inspire you to write the next Harry Potter-like saga
?@bai.payne
The Elephant House is part of the history of Harry Potter. Author J.K. Rowling used to sit at one of the tables at the back, overlooking the aforementioned Greyfriars Cemetery and Edinburgh Castle, to get inspiration for her writing. Some will see George Heriot’s school in the background, but true fans will see Hogwarts school, as the building is reminiscent to some extent of the one described in the books. It’s not the cheapest place to have a coffee(no place made popular by a film or book is!) but it’s worth popping in and having a look at the toilets to immerse yourself in true Potter fever: thousands of fans have left their messages on the walls, doors, mirrors, and all over the place!
12. Visit the Museum of Scotland
You’ll find it on Chalmers Street, just in front of Greyfriar’s Bobby. It’s one of Scotland’s most fascinating museums – and from here you’ll have spectacular views of the Old Town. This museum has everything from fossils to artefact collections, representing cultures from all over the world. You’ll also find Dolly the sheep, the first cloning of a living creature, and exhibits on early settlers.
13. Take the free tour of the Scottish Parliament
Situated at the end of the Royal Mile is Scotland’s award-winning Royal Parliament. As well as being the political centre of the country, it’s one of the city’s most visited attractions. Once there you can learn about its political history, watch live debates, and enjoy its unique architecture. Tours are free, just book your tickets before you go.
14. Relax at the Princess Street Gardens
You won’t find a park with a better view than this one. With Edinburgh Castle on one side and the city skyline on the other, it’s the best way to rest your sore, tourist-weary body! You’ll see it full on sunny days (which aren’t many, remember you’re in Edinburgh)?
15. Museum hopping on the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile has four free museums. One of them is the Edinburgh Writers Museum, a museum celebrating the lives of three of Scotland’s best known writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. The other museums are the Childhood Museum at 42 High Street, famous for being the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood; the Museum of Edinburgh at 142 Canongate, packed with the history and iconic objects of the capital; and finally The People’s Story (Canongate Tolbooth), dedicated to sharing the history of the Scottish capital and its citizens.
16. Visit the art galleries
Edinburgh is not only full of free museums, but also free entry art galleries, such as the National Gallery on The Mound in the city centre. There are two more, the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street (New Town) and the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art just off Bedford Road.
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