Edinburgh for the weekend (well 3 full days) What not to miss

Glasgow.

For architecture, try and wander through the Dean Village and Stockbridge. The views from up Arthurs Seat are worth making the effort for (it's only a 30/40 min walk up)

Generally, if your looking for architecture, just wandering around the city centre anywhere from the Royal Mile in the south  to Cannonmills in the North and From Dean Village in the West to Borughton Street in the East and you'll find plenty and can't go wrong really. Loads of great wee cafes too!

Piles of rubbish in the streets, unless the binmen are back...

Calton hill has good views and the scott momument is good to go up. Open top tourist buses can be a good way of getting around. You can hop on and off at any point on the route

Leith is a real foodie hub these days. Ship on the shore for good seafood at not too ridiculous prices. Malt and hops or carriers quarters for old school boozers

I see you've timed it do you'll miss TJ 😉

Ship on the shore for good seafood at not too ridiculous prices

Yep, we went here after walking down the Water of Leith from the Botanic Gardens, was excellent.

HMS Brittania was reasonably interesting if you're down in Leith too.

Botanic gardens are fab, as is breakfast at di georgio on the way.

Usually some good music on, usher hall is a top venue.

Botanic gardens are fab, as is breakfast at di georgio on the way

This, although you'll want to make an early start if trying for castle at 10:30!

Slightly unhelpful suggestion but South Queensferry is really nice, some stunning beaches if you walk under the Forth Bridge and back towards Edinburgh. Also some new foody stuff along at Port Edgar, I can recommend Down the Hatch!

Dean Village +1, and the back streets of Stockbridge to stumble across some nice old boozers.

I don't go into Edinburgh much these days (live just outside) but was strolling down Leith Walk on a sunny evening recetnly and it had a nice "vibe" - nice foodie smells, pubs etc. Just ignore the tram works where they're still going.

Dean Village +1, and the back streets of Stockbridge to stumble across some nice old boozers.

Or to indulge your fetish for cobbled streets, if you suffer like I do. Gotta ride them all! 😎

Bit of an odd recommendation but Warriston cemetery is worth a detour and you can fit it in between the Botanics and Dean Village.

Wonderland Models!
https://www.wonderlandmodels.com/

Definitely a day-trip to Stirling.

Edinburgh Zoo?

Some good old school record shops on Leith walk, nice cafe is word of mouth just behind. I asked on here ages ago and was recommended word of mouth, di georgio, Kilimanjaro, all top finds I go to whenever there.

Nice cycle to queensferry and across the causeway to Garamond, but check tides.

Like other folk have said, Dean Village if you like architecture. And from there a walk along the Water of Leith path to the Modern Art Galleries (though part of the path has a diversion still I think).

New Town is also nice to wander round if classical architecture is your thing. Very like bits of Bath.

Blackford Hill is a nice alternative to Arthur's Seat for a walk. Or Corstorphine Hill. Or if you want a challenge do the Seven Hills walk.

There are still some good "traditional" pubs around such as the Blue Blazer, Bow Bar, Cloisters, Bennett's and a few others. The Canny Man's is worth a visit though it has a bit of a love it or hate it reputation.

Avoid eating on the Royal Mile unless you enjoy being ripped off. However there are some good Royal Mile tours you can do, just avoid the Moore obviously touristy ones. A chap called Eric Melvin has written a couple of excellent guides to the Royal Mile and New Town that are well worth a read (I could lend you them if you like).

I’ve just done a couple of days in Edinburgh and used to live there. The National Museum of Scotland is definitely worth a look both for the architecture and the contents, but be warned that it could take you a morning just to get round the lower ground floor displays!

The glasshouses in the botanical gardens are currently closed, so I might not put it so high up the list - though perhaps you’re planning to park on Arboretum Place? It’s about £15 parking for the day I think. In which case, a quick stroll through the gardens to the bus stop is what I did. It’s a fair schlep up hill from there through the New Town to the castle. I’d give serious consideration to taking the bus instead and taking in the sights from there instead of on foot.

The tourist bus takes an interesting enough route but is expensive. Just using the Lothian bus tap on-tap off option gives you a lot more flexibility on locations. Use the same debit card all day long and it’ll work out the cheapest ticket at the end of the day - I think it’s £4.60 maximum for riding the bus as many times as you like wherever you like. The Lothian bus app is a bit clunky but between it and the public transport directions on Google maps you can get a very good idea of which bus is coming soon etc.

The Parliament is a must. I’d recommend booking on one of the free 45 minute tours to get the most info and access, although if it’s quiet you’ll find that a lot of the security staff know plenty about the building.

Princes Street is pretty miserable - it’s only worth checking out the gardens briefly so you can look across at the view of the Mile.

The underground history tours are good (there are ghost versions too if you prefer). They take you into the underbelly of the Royal Mile and it’s pretty amazing what’s down there.

Enjoy!

Thanks for all the responses, even the Glasgow recommendation 🙂 I was there not so long ago so will be visiting again soon. Stopping at Botanic gardens is just a convenient location to walk into the city before the Castle visit. I am sure the garden itself will be several hours so need to fit that in.
Thanks for the tips on pubs, will look out for those!

Added:
Dean village and Stockbridge
HMS Britannia was on my list already but forgot to note it

Thanks again all

Quick pint in Kays bar on the way up the hill

As above, the National Museum,and over the road from it, Greyfriars Kirk and cemetery, loads of huge mausoleums/tombs, read about its history, and where they imprisoned many Covenantors.
The National Gallery is always great. The Portrait Gallery is worth a visit too. Climb the stairs to the top of the Scott Monument, great city views there, and on a clear day, views over the Forth and onto the hills in the North. Tea at the Balmoral Hotel would be great too, but be dressed smart.
Visit the Parliament to see the poor finish of the concrete walls (it's designed like it apparently), and wonder at the cost of it, for what is not a great building in my opinion.
A pint at the Bannerman Pub, which has been used loads of times for TV and films. I was nearly arrested there many years ago, totally pissed, a scuffle broke out, turned into a full on fight with 6 or 7 people involved, luckily my mate dragged me out, just before the Police arrived, he reckoned they dont mess around,and anyone in the place would be taken in for the night to cool off, whether you were involved or not. its a bit more upmarket now.

First thing to do is find out if you can cancel the castle. What you actually want to do is go up Scots monument for views and markings close for history.

I wouldn't choose the botanical for walking in. You must have forgotten the bastarding hill! Visiting the gardens is for sure worth it.

I rate Britannia as interesting even for the staunch anti royalist. Arthur's seat if you fancy a walk up a hill. Water of Leith if you fancy a walk on the flattish.

National museums and all the art galleries.

Tour of the underground chamber below the trongate (often includes a hugely over the top ghost walk type experience but they put in a lot of effort and it's quite good fun.)

The busses are contactless and capped at three single journeys then you are free so unless you want to walk place to place just hammer the busses.

just hammer the busses.

Not to be mixed up with just hammer the Bucky 😀

First thing to do is find out if you can cancel the castle

Now you're just trying to hard to be cool 😎

We only recently discovered the castle through the eyes of our 5 year old. Yes, the tickets are an absolute scalping, but otherwise it's a great way to kill an hour or two. I'd go for the views alone but letting your five year old clamber about on Mons Meg and filling his head with ideas about skeletons and secret passages is definitely worth the ticket price 😎

Also, imagine finishing a cobbled one-day race up the Royal mile, over the drawbridge, and up the cobbles through the castle grounds. It would equal the finale of the Strade Bianche or the RvV for sure.

Now you’re just trying to hard to be cool 😎

Ha. Well I think it's boring and unbelievably priced. The castle is the view of Edinburgh not the point from which to view it.

If you're looking for reasonably priced food Bonnie Burrito is very good as is the Mosque Kitchen. Both on the south side. There's also the museum at Surgeon's Hall which is interesting.

Nelson monument on Carlton hill is a nice alternative to Scott Monument if that is busy.

Jolly Judge and Ensign Ewart are 2 good pubs at the top of the mile.

Water of Leith and GOMA.

Portobello if you want a beach.

I’d go for the views alone

Decent views from the roof of the Museum of Scotland if you’re there. You may not realise, without being told.

I spent this morning at Dalkeith Country Park, which is worth a visit if you have an extended amount of time (although not ‘Edinburghy’). Has GoApe there too. Lovely weather today.

Check out the council website to see which streets, buildings and venues are affected by the Queen passing away.

Revisited Edinburgh recently having lived there 25 years ago. Walking around is still as lovely as it was, unbelievable how many Americans are there now.

If you like whisky, I visited the Johnnie Walker Experience at the west end of Princes St for a work meeting and was hugely sceptical (I hate anything visitey) but was very impressed. A really slick and entertaining mix of theatre, interactive and science. The views from the rooftop bar are epic.

We enjoyed visiting Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Surgeons Hall museum is fascinating.
Another vote for the Royal Mile underground tour too. Be glad you aren't an Edinburgh resident of yesteryear..