Things to do near Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a beautiful and historic city, but did you know there’s plenty to see and do outside its borders? With stunning coastlines and world-renowned attractions, a day trip outside the city can add a whole new experience to your city break. Keep reading for our top things to do near Edinburgh.
Hike up to Arthurs Seat
This extinct volcano is located in Holyrood Park, just east of the city centre. It offers one of the best views of the city and the surrounding countryside, with panoramic views that span across Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth Estuary. The hike is a moderately challenging route that takes around an hour and a half to complete. However, for those with accessibility issues, you could hop in the car and drive there. We’d recommend taking a picnic and going at dusk to watch the sunset over the city.
Click here to discover the route for Arthur’s Seat: Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat.
Stroll Around the Royal Botanical Gardens
The world-renowned botanical gardens are located just north of the city centre and make an excellent day out for anyone visiting Edinburgh. It features over 13,000 plant species from around the world, as well as several beautiful greenhouses, including the Victorian Palm House and the Temperate Palm House.
Click here to learn more about the Royal Botanical Gardens: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Relax at Portobello Beach
Escape to the coast by visiting this charming seaside town, located just east of the city centre. Here you’ll find a stunning sandy beach as well as many amazing restaurants, cafes and shops. Throughout summer it’s a great place to go for a swim, enjoy a picnic on the sand or stroll along the promenade.
Click here to plan your visit to Portobello Beach: Portobello Beach.
Discover Leith Port
This historic port district is located just north of the city centre and is home to several excellent restaurants, cafes and bars. Here you’ll also find the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was the Queen’s yacht from 1954 to 1997. Here, you can step aboard the yacht and discover the five different decks and follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments.
Click here to find out more about Leith and The Royal Yacht Britannia: Leith Visitor Guide.
Admire The Kelpies Sculptures
The Kelpies are two enormous horse-head statues that are located about 25 miles west of Edinburgh, near the town of Falkirk. They stand at 30 metres tall and are made of steel so are a must-see for anyone interested in sculptures, art or engineering. You can book to visit The Kelpies free of charge on any day, and even go inside a Kelpie on a tour for an exclusive look inside.
Discover more and plan your visit to The Kelpies: The Helix, Home to The Kelpies.
We hope that our blog has helped to provide you with inspiration on things to do around Edinburgh on your next staycation.
If you’re looking for a place to stay during your visit, you can check availability and book one of our rooms by clicking here: Hotel Indigo Edinburgh.
