Edinburgh 3-Day Itinerary
A curated 3-day trip plan for Edinburgh, UK — featuring Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, The Real Mary King's Close.
Day 1
Castle and Royal Mile
- 9:00 AMEdinburgh Castle2.5 hours
Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcolm III in the 11th century, and the castle continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century, the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as a military garrison. Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half.
- 11:45 AMRoyal Mile1.5 hours
The Royal Mile is a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage.
- 1:15 PMThe Real Mary King's Close1 hour
Descend into this haunting underground 17th-century street preserved beneath the modern city.
- 2:30 PMSt Giles' Cathedral45 minutes
St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is one of three cathedrals in Edinburgh, Scotland. The existing building was begun in the 14th century and extended until the early 16th century; significant alterations were undertaken in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the addition of the Thistle Chapel. St Giles' is closely associated with many events and figures in Scottish history, including John Knox, who served as the church's minister after the Scottish Reformation. The cathedral is administered by the Church of Scotland.
Day 2
Palace, Museums, and Monument
- 9:00 AMPalace of Holyroodhouse1.5 hours
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, also known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining.
- 10:45 AMNational Museum of Scotland2.5 hours
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a museum of Scottish history and culture.
- 1:15 PMMuseum on the Mound1 hour
Discover Scottish banking history and money in this surprisingly engaging small museum near the National Museum.
- 2:30 PMScott Monument45 minutes
The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is the second-largest monument to a writer in the world after the José Martí monument in Havana. It stands in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, opposite the former Jenners building on Princes Street and near Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station, which is named after Scott's Waverley novels.
Day 3
Camera Obscura and Local Exploration
- 9:00 AMCamera Obscura & World of Illusions1.5 hours
Experience optical illusions and the historic camera obscura projecting live Edinburgh views from the Royal Mile.
Want to adjust the schedule, swap attractions, or add more cities? SnipTrip lets you customize any itinerary in minutes.
Plan this trip for free →