Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital City
Edinburgh Castle on its volcanic rock, the medieval Old Town, the Georgian New Town and the Firth of Forth on the doorstep. Here is what to see, what to do and where to stay, plus private tours for when you want a local guide.
- 5.0 on Google
- From £600 per vehicle
- Hotel-door pickup
Where Is Edinburgh in Scotland?
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, on the east coast on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. It lies about 47 miles east of Glasgow and roughly 400 miles north of London, and is home to over half a million people. You can see where it sits on our map of Scotland.
The city is built around Castle Rock, an extinct volcano, with the medieval Old Town running down the Royal Mile and the Georgian New Town laid out to the north. Together they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Edinburgh is one of the easiest cities in Europe to explore on foot.
It is also the natural base for seeing more of Scotland. Stirling, St Andrews, the Scottish Borders and the Highlands are all within a day trip, and every one of our private tours starts at your door in the city.
Edinburgh at a Glance
About 47 miles east, around an hour by car or 50 minutes by train
About 400 miles north, 4 to 5 hours by train or just over an hour by air
May to September; August for the festivals, December for Christmas and Hogmanay
Compact but hilly, with cobbled closes and steps. Comfortable non-slip shoes are a must
£600 per vehicle for up to four guests
Collected from your Edinburgh hotel, Edinburgh Airport or the cruise terminal.
What to See in Edinburgh
These are the sights most visitors come for, all within a short walk or drive of the city centre. Edinburgh is compact, so you can see most of them in a day or two.
Edinburgh Castle
Scotland’s most famous castle stands on Castle Rock above the city and holds the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles. Book tickets ahead in summer.
The Royal Mile & Old Town
The medieval spine of the city runs downhill from the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, past St Giles’ Cathedral. Step off it into the narrow closes to find hidden courtyards and views.
Arthur’s Seat & Holyrood Park
An extinct volcano rising 251 metres right in the city, inside the royal park beside Holyrood Palace. The summit looks out over the whole city to the Firth of Forth.
Dean Village
A former milling village on the Water of Leith, about ten minutes’ walk from Princes Street, with old stone mills and a riverside path. One of the prettiest corners of the city.
Princes Street Gardens & the Scott Monument
The gardens fill the valley between the Old and New Towns beneath the castle. At their eastern end, the Gothic Scott Monument is one of the largest monuments to a writer anywhere.
Want a local to show you the city?
Tell us what you would like to see and your driver-guide plans the day around it, including the quieter closes and viewpoints most visitors walk straight past.
Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland
Wondering what to do in Edinburgh once you have seen the castle? These are the experiences our guests enjoy most, from a volcano walk to a festival night.
Walk the Royal Mile
Start at the castle and walk downhill for about a mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Look into St Giles’ Cathedral on the way and duck into the closes for views over the city.
Climb Arthur’s Seat
The path to the 251-metre summit takes most people around an hour from Holyrood Palace. It is steep and rocky near the top, so non-slip shoes are a must.
Watch the Sunset From Calton Hill
A short climb from the east end of Princes Street brings you to the National Monument and one of the best views along Princes Street to the castle, at its best at sunset.
Wander Dean Village and the Water of Leith
Follow the riverside walkway from Dean Village towards Stockbridge for a quiet hour away from the crowds, past old mills, stone bridges and St Bernard’s Well.
Go to the Edinburgh Festivals
Every August the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the International Festival fill the city with thousands of shows. In winter, the Christmas markets and Hogmanay at New Year take over.
Take a Day Trip Out of the City
South Queensferry and the Forth bridges are under half an hour away and Rosslyn Chapel about 30 minutes. Stirling, St Andrews and even Glencoe can be reached in a day.
What Is Edinburgh Famous For?
Edinburgh is famous for its castle, its medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. It has been Scotland’s capital for more than 500 years and is home to the Scottish Parliament.
In the 18th century the city was at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment, home to thinkers such as David Hume and Adam Smith, which earned it the nickname the Athens of the North. Its writers range from Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson to J.K. Rowling, who wrote early Harry Potter books in the city’s cafés.
Your driver-guide can tell the stories behind the closes, kirkyards and monuments as you go, from Greyfriars Bobby to the body snatchers Burke and Hare.
Edinburgh on Screen
The city has starred in some of the best-known films shot in Scotland. We can stop at the locations as you explore.
Private Tours From Edinburgh
Four private ways to see Edinburgh and the country around it, from the city’s own sights to the Borders, Fife and Northumberland. Every tour is just for your party, starts at your hotel door and is priced per vehicle for up to four guests.
The best of the city in one day: Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town, Victoria Street and Dean Village, then out to the seaside village of South Queensferry and the three Forth bridges.
- Edinburgh Castle & the Old Town
- South Queensferry & the Forth bridges
- Best for: first-time visitors
The carvings of Rosslyn Chapel, then south into the Borders for Melrose Abbey, Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, and the view from Scott’s View.
- Rosslyn Chapel
- Melrose Abbey & Abbotsford
- Best for: history and quiet roads
The Old Town closes linked to the books, then through the Borders to Melrose and Jedburgh and on to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, Hogwarts in the first two films.
- Harry Potter’s Edinburgh
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
- Best for: film fans and families
Across the Forth bridges to St Andrews, the home of golf, with its ruined cathedral and the Old Course, then the fishing villages of the East Neuk: Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem.
- St Andrews & the Old Course
- The East Neuk fishing villages
- Best for: golf fans and the coast
Nothing to pay to ask for a quote, and no obligation to book.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is compact, so wherever you stay you are rarely more than a short walk or bus ride from the centre. These are the four areas most visitors choose.
The Old Town
Hotels and apartments on and just off the Royal Mile, steps from the castle, the closes and the Grassmarket. Lively and full of atmosphere, but busy in August.
Best for: first-time visitors
The New Town
Elegant Georgian streets and squares with the city’s best shops and restaurants, a short walk from the Old Town and close to Waverley Station.
Best for: shopping, dining and easy transport
Leith
Edinburgh’s old port, now known for its waterfront restaurants and the Royal Yacht Britannia, a short tram ride from the city centre.
Best for: food lovers and quieter nights
Stockbridge
A leafy neighbourhood on the Water of Leith with independent shops, cafés and a Sunday market, about ten minutes’ walk from the New Town.
Best for: a relaxed, local stay
Staying a few nights? Our multi-day tours start and finish at your Edinburgh hotel. Rooms in August and over Christmas and New Year book up months ahead, so plan early.
Why Choose Tycoon Tours for Your Scotland Trip?
Your own Range Rover and a local driver-guide, all day
Many tour companies in Scotland sell seats on a shared coach — and that’s often what a travel agency in Edinburgh will book for you. Tycoon Tours is an Edinburgh-based tour operator in Scotland that runs every tour privately, in our own Range Rover with a driver-guide who actually lives here — so the day belongs to you, not to a timetable.
Private, never shared
Your own vehicle and your own guide for the whole day. No strangers on board, no coach park, no waiting on anyone else’s schedule.
A driver-guide, not a driver
Thirteen years of Scottish history, folklore and local stories, told properly along the road by someone who grew up with them.
Your day, changed on the day
Linger where you love it, skip what you don’t. The itinerary bends around you — not the other way round.
Comfort on Highland roads
A 4×4 Range Rover or executive vehicle, collected from your Edinburgh hotel door and returned there at the end of the day.
Edinburgh, Scotland: Your Questions Answered
Quick answers on where Edinburgh is, what it is famous for, how long to stay, where to stay and how to see more of Scotland from the city.
Where is Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, on the east coast on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. It is about 47 miles east of Glasgow and around 400 miles north of London. You can see it on our map of Scotland.
What is Edinburgh famous for?
Edinburgh is famous for Edinburgh Castle, the medieval Old Town and Royal Mile, the Georgian New Town and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe every August. Its Old and New Towns are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is known as the Athens of the North for its role in the Scottish Enlightenment.
What are the best things to do in Edinburgh?
Visit Edinburgh Castle, walk the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, climb Arthur’s Seat, watch the sunset from Calton Hill and wander through Dean Village. In August, see a show at the festivals. See our full list of things to do in Edinburgh.
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
Two to three days is enough to see the castle, the Old Town, Arthur’s Seat and the New Town at a relaxed pace. Add a day or two if you want to take day trips to places like St Andrews, Stirling or the Highlands.
What is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May to September brings the longest days and the mildest weather. August is the liveliest month because of the festivals, but also the busiest and most expensive. December is atmospheric, with Christmas markets and Hogmanay at New Year.
Where is the best place to stay in Edinburgh?
First-time visitors usually stay in the Old Town, close to the castle and the Royal Mile, or the New Town for shops, restaurants and Waverley Station. Leith and Stockbridge are quieter, with a more local feel. See where to stay in Edinburgh.
How far is Edinburgh from Glasgow?
Edinburgh is about 47 miles east of Glasgow. The drive takes around an hour, and frequent trains between the two cities take about 50 minutes.
Is Edinburgh a walkable city?
Yes. The Old Town, New Town and Princes Street are all within walking distance of each other. The city is hilly, with cobbled streets and steep closes, so wear comfortable, non-slip shoes.
Is Edinburgh worth visiting?
Yes. Few cities pack so much into such a small, walkable centre: a castle on a volcano, a medieval old town, Georgian streets, a royal palace and a hill you can climb, all within a mile or two. It is also the best base for day trips across Scotland.
What day trips can you take from Edinburgh?
Popular day trips include South Queensferry and the Forth bridges, Rosslyn Chapel and the Scottish Borders, St Andrews and the Fife coast, Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond, and Glencoe and the Highlands. Compare them on our day tours from Edinburgh page.
How much does a private Edinburgh tour cost?
Our private tours start from £600 per vehicle for up to four guests for the 8-hour Edinburgh and South Queensferry tour. Every price is for the whole vehicle, not per person, and is confirmed in writing before you book.
Where do your tours pick up?
From your hotel, apartment or guest house anywhere in Edinburgh, from Edinburgh Airport or from the cruise terminal, and we bring you back to the same door. Pickup from Glasgow can be arranged on request.
What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation and refund terms are set out in full in our terms and conditions, so you can read them before you book.
Ready to Explore Edinburgh?
Tell us your dates and what you’d love to see. We’ll plan the day around you, in the city or beyond it, with one clear price for the whole vehicle.
Online, by phone or WhatsApp. There is nothing to pay to ask.
A suggested itinerary and a written per-vehicle price within 24 hours.
Your driver-guide meets you at your Edinburgh hotel in the Range Rover.
One price for the whole vehicle, confirmed in writing before you book.
Private tours only, in our own Range Rover
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