Edinburgh in 2 Days

I think you could easily spend 2 weeks in Edinburgh but most people allow 2 days. If that is the case for you, prioritizing is key. Most of historic Edinburgh is clustered around the Royal Mile which is actually slightly less than a real mile.

I have spent 2,500 days in Edinburgh and there are always new places to discover and explore. It is easy to get stuck in a museum and spend all day there but if you have only 2 days, then you have to plan carefully. It is also important to see places in the correct order so you don't waste hours ping-ponging between the extremities of Edinburgh.

Remember 2 days does not give you time to see other great sites within a few hours' of Edinburgh. Check out my day trips from Edinburgh post. Also see a fuller list of places to see in Edinburgh here.

Here is an example of a 2 day in Edinburgh itinerary.

Day 1

• Travel to Prince's Street to see the Sir Walter Scott monument - this is near the train station and also in the general vicinity where the airport bus terminates.
  
• Walk past the art museum (which is free but you don't have time on a 2 day trip)
  
• up the Lady Stair Close to the Writer's Museum (you can do this museum which focuses on Scottish authors like Sir Walter Scott, Stevenson and Robert Burns)
  
• Explore St. Giles on the Royal Mile
  
• Not to forget the Covenenters who signed the National Covenant and died for it, go to Greyfriar's Kirkyard.
  
• Visit the grave of Greyfriar's Bobby, the love-able dog, outside the kirkyard
  
• Also see the Elephant House where parts of Harry Potter were written
  
• Then progress to the Museum of Scotland on Nicholson St.
  
• On certain evenings of the week you might take the Christian History of the Royal Mile tour - or arrange a private tour in advance. The majority of tours are ghost tours other than this one. See their website at http://www.soulofscotlandtours.com/index.html
  

Day 2

• Visit Holyrood House in morning (give yourself 1.5 hours tops)
  
• Soak up atmosphere on the Royal Mile and explored Dunbar Garden Close, good for picnicking
  
• Pop into Museum of Edinburgh or Museum of Childhood, both free on on the Royal mile
  
• Spot the Heart of Midlothian outside St. Giles's main entrance
  
• Find the Mercat Cross near St. Giles
  
• Search for John Knox's grave under parking lot number 23 behind St. Giles
  
• In the summer months between 1-4 pm you can visit the Christian Heritage Centre in St. Columba's for an overview of the Christian history of the Royal Mile, plus free tea or coffee. This year there are delays with the building work so the Christian Heritage Centre team is taking to the streets.
  
• Edinburgh Castle for the remainder of the day
  

This is the sort of trip only an adult with a lot of energy could pull off. We do not recommend this itinerary for anyone traveling with children.

A two day trip with this itinerary means you don't have time for sites like the People's Story museum, the Royal Botanics, Arthur's Seat or the zoo.