A few ideas of your day trip in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Holiday Guest House (2024)

• January 17, 2021

• Published on January 17, 2021

In this article, I will give you some routes suggestions for your day trip in Edinburgh. If you are looking for a list of Top Attractions of Edinburgh. (click the link to read our another article.)

Your walking day trip from Edinburgh south to the centre

The map below starts from our guest house, Edinburgh Holiday Guest House at Newington. And the suggested route try to cover as many famous sightseeing locations as possible. Even if you are not travel from our guest house, just ignore the starting point, the rest of the walking route may still be useful.

It can be chosen as your planning for 1 day or multi-day trip.

Centre Route 1: Classic old town trip – Day Trip in Edinburgh centre

It can be done pretty easy in 1 day in walking. You will go through Edinburgh old town (Castle, Grassmarket, Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Calton Hill, Princes Street etc.). It takes 3-5 hours depending on how much time you spend on each site. ALternatively, an intensive tour can split this route into 2 parts for two days tour. Walk around the old town for one day and walk beyond to new town for another day.

Alternative Centre Route 2: Hike the top and explore the old town

If you prefer some natural environment or hill hiking, this alternative route to the centre may be your choice. It also covers most of tourist attractions in Edinburgh. You can choose to climb up to the summit of Arthur’s Seat to overlook the Edinburgh city, including Portobello beach on east, Pentland Hills on south. Then along the path to the Holyrood Palace and Scottish Parliament. After passing the lower part of Royal Mile, go to Calton Hill and then go to the Edinburgh Castle via the Mount. After castle, walk along the higher part of Royal Mile and then head to the Grassmarket for your shopping and eating. You may also consider to join a walking tour to explore Edinburgh underground town with a few ghost storytellings.

Route 3: Outside the centre – day trip to Edinburgh

This part is not for a single route but to recommend a few good places to explore outside the city centre of Edinburgh. Here a list and how to get there.

• Edinburgh Zoo – Good for family, take bus No.37 directly from Edinburgh Holiday Guest House or No.26 from Princes Street
• Royal Botanic Garden – superior natural outdoor and indoor environment, take bus No.8 to there directly.
• Royal Britanian – good experience onboard, and good shopping and leisure place, taking bus No.22 fro Princes Street.
• Scottish National Gallery of Modern Arts at Dean Village and Water of Leith – if you are modern art enthusiastic, this gallery might be your choice. Don’t forget to walk down to the 19th Century’s Dean Village nearby. Take bus No.3, 30, 33, 31, 37 to get there from Edinburgh Holiday Guest House
• Forth Bridge – it takes 30 mins to get there from the Waverley Bridge/Princes Street. Check Three Bridges Bus and Boat experience for timetables.
• Rosslyn Chapel – seen in the last scene of movie “The Da Vinci Code”? You may be interested in seeing this 15th Century Chapel with elegent detailed architecture by yourself. Take bus No.37 (Roslin) directly outside the guest house.

In summary, we are happy to answer your any question regarding to your visit, please do not hesitate to contact Edinburgh Holiday Guest House or Airdenair Guest House.