As well as being the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is one of the most-visited cities in the world, thanks to its incredible collection of historic buildings, ancient castles, and atmospheric mediaeval streets. Discover a collection of the best things to do in Edinburgh for couples with this guide, which features information about each location along with useful visiting advice.
Tours of Edinburgh for Couples
Edinburgh is a great place for couples to visit. There are museums around every corner (and many of them are free), dozens of historic buildings to explore, beautiful parks to wander around, and top attractions that include Edinburgh Castle, the Camera Obscura, and the Scotch Whisky Experience.
While you could just wander about and see what you randomly find, it’s often best to join a guided tour, as you’ll get to see the most popular attractions as well as some that are off the standard tourist trails. There are dozens of tour operators willing to take visitors around Edinburgh, but the best ones are found on Get Your Guide.
If you’re visiting Edinburgh but aren’t sure where to go when you get there, I recommend at least booking a ticket for a hop-on, hop-off bus, which visits all of the main attractions in the city, from the iconic castle to the stunning Holyrood Palace.
Edinburgh Zoo
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to Edinburgh Zoo
No introduction needs to be given to Edinburgh Zoo. Not only is it one of the largest and most respected zoos in Britain, but it’s also one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Scotland.
The zoo is set across 82 acres of parkland on Corstorphine Hill, and it’s absolutely chock-a-block full of animals, from favourites such as lions, tigers, and giraffestos to beautiful tropical songbirds, fascinating creepy-crawly insects, and mesmerising creatures from the world’s oceans.
One of the highlights is the Living Links Centre, which is a collaboration with the University of St Andrews, focusing on studying primate behaviour. This facility offers visitors the chance to observe the fascinating world of primates, including capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys, in a complex designed to encourage natural behaviours and social interactions.
In addition to the monkeys, there’s also Penguin Rock, which is one of the largest and oldest penguin enclosures in the world. Edinburgh Zoo has the proud accolade of being the first zoo in the world to breed penguins, and the daily penguin parade is now the zoo’s most-watched event.
Mary King’s Close
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to Mary King’s Close
This attraction is located a few hundred yards up the Royal Mile from John Knox House, almost opposite St. Giles Cathedral. The attraction centres around Mary King, a real-life merchant who owned a successful shop on the Royal Mile in the 17th century. However, as with most of Edinburgh at that time, the alley where her shop was located fell into squalor, and it eventually became infected with the plague, a devastating disease that decimated the population of Scotland.
Today, visitors can explore the story of Mary King and ‘Auld Reekie’ with costumed guides who’ll take you beneath the modern city streets into the dark, enclosed alleyways that were covered over for hundreds of years but are now fully restored to how they would have looked during the time Mary King was alive.
You’ll walk through underground vaults and tiny rooms where entire families once lived, as well as hear the tales of the plague doctors that worked down there, and you might even feel the chill of one of the resident ghosts!
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to The Scotch Whisky Experience
This attraction is located opposite the Camera Obscura and next to Edinburgh Castle, so, as you can imagine, it’s a popular place for tourists. The Scotch Whisky Experience will take you on a voyage of discovery into Scotland’s best-loved export with a series of exhibitions and guided talks that delve into the history of whisky, how it’s made, and why each region of Scotland is able to create such subtle variations of single malt whisky.
The tour begins with a whisky barrel ride that shows you how a distillery operates before bringing you to a tasting room where experts will give you an overview of each of Scotland’s whisky regions while serving you a sample from each one.
There’s also a whisky collection to view (the world’s largest), an excellent café and restaurant to enjoy traditional Scottish dishes, and a very well-stocked shop where you can pick up a bottle or two of your favourite whiskies.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Scotland’s oldest purpose-built tourist attraction is located on The Royal Mile just a couple of minutes’ walk from the city’s iconic castle and more-or-less opposite the Scotch Whisky Experience.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions began life as a collection of telescopes created by renowned telescope maker Thomas Short in the early 19th century. The collection’s original home was sited on top of Calton Hill, but it moved to its present location on Castlehill in 1851.
Since that time, the main attraction, the Camera Obscura, has wowed countless tourists who are amazed by the 200-year-old camera, which projects an image of the city onto a giant whiteboard. Maybe it’s not quite so impressive in these days of high-tech gadgets, but it’s a fascinating thing to see nonetheless.
The remainder of the attraction is dedicated to optical illusions, and you’ll find an array of holograms, mirror mazes, and light and sound displays across six floors, with the upper-level opening up to a panoramic viewing terrace that offers superb views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town.
Calton Hill
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to Calton Hill
Edinburgh is well known for the number of historic buildings and monuments that are spread across the city. One of the best locations to see them is Calton Hill, a natural landmark that’s easily walked from the city centre. The hill lies to the east of Princes Street, sandwiched between the ever-popular OMNi Centre and the Scottish Government building on Waterloo Place.
There’s an incredible amount of history to discover on Calton Hill and it’s one of the best places in Edinburgh to stand and look at the stunning cityscape, with the twinkling waters of the Firth of Forth to the north, the mighty peaks of Holyrood Park to the south, and the hubbub of Princes Street to the west.
Highlights include the National Monument of Scotland with its stone columns that were built to mimic the Parthenon in Athens, and the Nelson Monument, which is a tower with a lookout platform that commemorates Admiral Lord Nelson.
Calton Hill has been further developed in recent years, and the site of the city observatory is now an art gallery, a museum, and a restaurant with panoramic views of the city.
Holyrood Park
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to Holyrood Park
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without visiting Holyrood Park. This enormous green space is one of the largest city parks in the world, sprawling across 650 acres to the east of Holyrood Palace.
You’ll have no problem finding Holyrood Park as you simply need to point yourself in the direction of its highest point, Arthur’s Seat, which is an 800-foot hill that dominates the city skyline. Pretty much every visitor to Edinburgh makes a beeline to this volcanic plug as it offers stunning 360° views from the top.
Other highlights of Holyrood Park are the ruins of St. Anthony’s Chapel which is the oldest surviving building in the city, Salisbury Crags where the science of geology began, and the Radical Road which is a historic path that runs through the park.
There are also a couple of lochs (it’s best to check Google Maps to find them) and lots of grassy areas where you can hide away from the busy city amongst the heady vanilla-smelling scent of gorse bushes. Holyrood Park is basically the perfect spot for a summer picnic.
John Knox House
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to John Knox House
John Knox House on the Royal Mile is one of the few surviving mediaeval buildings in the city. Thanks to its most well-known occupant, John Knox, this historic house has survived Victorian demolition, unlike the majority of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Knox was one of the most influential men of his era and his battles against Mary Queen of Scots are almost as infamous as the exploits of the house’s other famous resident, the royal goldsmith James Mossman.
You’ll discover the stories of both men when you visit John Knox House, as well as artefacts from the time of Knox, and information panels that explain the history of Edinburgh before it became the centre of the Scottish Enlightenment.
This 550-year-old building isn’t the biggest attraction in the city, but it’s certainly one of the most interesting, and it’s a good destination for any couple with an interest in history.
St. Giles Cathedral
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to St. Giles Cathedral
This is another historic attraction located on The Royal Mile, but unlike Mary King’s Close and John Knox House, St. Giles Cathedral is completely free to enter (although you can give a voluntary donation at the entrance).
The cathedral has served as the centre of worship in Edinburgh for more than 900 years, but the structure we see today is a ‘new’ addition that dates to the 14th century following the original building’s destruction in a fire.
It’s a truly stunning building, perhaps not quite as impressive as Glasgow Cathedral, but certainly more decorative with its Gothic spires, distinctive steeple, and enormous stained-glass windows. The fact that it’s in the middle of the Royal Mile also means it’s one of the city’s most-visited attractions.
Inside, you can marvel at the medieval stone carvings dotted around the nave as well as the extraordinarily ornate Thistle Chapel. Perhaps the best feature though is the stained-glass windows which flood the inside of St. Giles Cathedral with dazzling displays of multi-coloured lights.
If you can, I recommend joining one of the free guided tours that allow you to view the cathedral’s rooftop, where you’ll get a highly memorable view across Edinburgh. If the rooftop tour isn’t running, you can return later in the day to join a free guided walking tour that explains the history of the cathedral and the role it played in Edinburgh’s past.
Leith
Out About Scotland Complete Guide to Leith
Leith is a district of Edinburgh that you’ll find two miles to the north of Princes Street. Once a busy fishing harbour, it’s now best known as the trendy place to go if you want to enjoy the best bars and restaurants outside of the city centre.
There are a couple of reasons why Edinburgh’s locals choose Leith for a drinking session instead of Princes Street. First off, because it’s not as much of a tourist haunt, the prices are usually cheaper. Second, it’s one of the best places in the city to enjoy a summertime drink, thanks to the scenic Water of Leith and the bars that face it.
A recommendation for a memorable place to eat is The Kitchin, which is a Michelin-starred restaurant that’s frequently cited as one of the best in Scotland. This restaurant serves a blend of Scottish and French cuisine that’s unparalled, along with one of the best whisky menus I’ve seen in Edinburgh to date.
A Room in Leith is situated close to The Kitchen, but it primarily focuses on game and seafood. The restaurant serves local produce along with locally crafted beers and spirits, and they even have a waterfront pontoon, which makes a great space to relax in the summer.
Leaving food and drink behind, if you walk a half-mile west you’ll find Ocean Terminal which is a good place to do a spot of shopping, as well as the Royal Yacht Britannia which is one of the highest-rated tourist attractions in Scotland.
The former royal yacht is permanently moored there and is a genuinely fascinating place to visit, and the restaurant on the upper deck serves lip-smacking cream teas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Edinburgh located?
Edinburgh is located in Southeast Scotland, south of the Firth of Forth estuary, east of the North Sea coastline, and north of the county of West Lothian.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city and it is one of 32 council areas in the country. It is Scotland’s second-most-populous city and the seventh-most populous city in the United Kingdom.
Why is Edinburgh famous?
Edinburgh is best known for its fabulous tourist attractions that can be found throughout the city centre. The most famous of these is Edinburgh Castle which is Scotland’s most-visited attraction, regularly drawing over 2 million visitors each year.
Other top-rated attractions include Holyrood Palace, The National Museum of Scotland, The National Gallery of Scotland, Holyrood Park and The Royal Mile.
When did Edinburgh become a city?
Edinburgh has existed for over 1,000 years, and it was originally a settlement centred around Castle Rock that was occupied by the powerful Votadini tribe.
Because the fort on Castle Rock was so simple to defend, it eventually became a royal palace, and in 1633, Edinburgh received full city status by royal decree.
Why is Edinburgh called ‘Edinburgh’?
The name Edinburgh is thought to originate from the occupation of Castle Rock by King Edwin of Northumbria in the 7th century.
In Old English, burgh means fort, and it is believed the name given to the castle – ‘Edwin’s burgh’ – transitioned over time into ‘Edinburgh’.
What top attractions are a must-see in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is a city with a rich history and many cultural attractions. Some of the top attractions that are a must-see in Edinburgh include:
Edinburgh Castle
The Royal Mile
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
The National Museum of Scotland
Arthur’s Seat
The Scott Monument
The Royal Yacht Britannia
Dean Village
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
