Free Things to Do in Edinburgh

The oldest part of the Scottish capital, Old Town is one of the several obligatory places to visit for any tourist. This district of Edinburgh retains much of its medieval and Reformation-era architecture. The highlight of this location is the famous Edinburgh Castle; although there is an entrance fee, you can take some photos in front of the castle and explore its surroundings for free. Other notable landmarks and places of interest include the Royal Mile, the National Museum of Scotland, St. Giles Cathedral, and the Scott Monument. We recommend exploring this slice of Edinburgh's history with the help of an audio tour that will guide you to various points of interest in Edinburgh's Old Town.

Best time to visit
From May to September

Perfect for
Sightseers and history buffs

One of the most prominent and well-known free places in Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat sits in the middle of Holyrood Park. Formerly an active volcano, this place offers a breathtaking view of the city and a welcome break from chaotic and bustling city life. Arthur's Seat has several hiking trails that range in difficulty, and even inexperienced hikers can find an accommodating route up the hill. However, we recommend checking the weather forecast in advance and carefully choosing the time to climb Arthur's Seat. You don't want to end up there during heavy rain or at night. Hiking up Arthur's Seat is a popular activity among locals and visitors.

Best time to visit
At dawn, in the morning, or afternoon

Perfect for
Sightseers and hikers

The Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is another popular option among many free attractions of Edinburgh. About one mile north of Edinburgh's city center, this garden is a beautiful and charming place divided into several different zones like the Rock Garden, the Arboretum, the Woodland Garden, the Chinese Hillside, and the Biodiversity Garden. This garden is not only a tourist attraction but a research center dedicated to studying plant life, its diversity, and conservation. The Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and walk through beautiful gardens without leaving the city.

Best time to visit
Any season of the year

Perfect for
Sightseers, families, couples, and children

The National Museum of Scotland is among the best free museums in Edinburgh. Covering a wide range of topics from natural history to science and art, this is a treasure trove of knowledge and a fun place to visit for anyone. If you're exploring Edinburgh with kids, Family Galleries is a must-see destination: they are an exciting and easy way to spend quality time at the museum and learn many new things. For those who want a more structured experience, we recommend taking our audio tour, which will take you to the most popular exhibits.

Best time to visit
On weekdays, in the morning or afternoon

Perfect for
Families and children

Home to the largest collection of European paintings and sculptures in Scotland as well as many works by Scottish artists, the Scottish National Gallery is one of the best art galleries you can visit for free in Edinburgh. This art gallery at the heart of the city displays its permanent collection in several exhibitions. Among these exhibitions are Impressionism and French Modernism, Italian Renaissance 1470-1600, Scottish Art 1670-1840, Rococo to Revolution, and Painting as Spectacle. We also recommend the audio tour of the Scottish National Gallery; it will take you through the highlights and key artworks on display.

Best time to visit
On weekdays, in the morning or afternoon

Perfect for
Art lovers

Situated southwest of Edinburgh Old Town, Holyrood Park is a wonderful place for several days out you can spend admiring its scenery and landmarks. The main highlight of Holyrood Park is Arthur's Seat, as we've covered in a previous entry, but there are plenty of other points of interest scattered throughout the park. Chief among them are the ruins of St. Anthony's Chapel, St. Antony's Well, St. Margaret's Well, and three lochs (lakes) – St. Margaret's Loch, Dunsapie Loch, and Duddingston Loch. It's the perfect choice for a fun day outdoors since there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the daytime

Perfect for
Sightseers and hikers

This location at the heart of Edinburgh is the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town district. The Royal Mile used to be the site of royal processions in the past; that's how it got its name. With Edinburgh Castle at one end and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other end, this location is an amazing place to explore. Here, you can go shopping, have fun at a pub, or explore several visitor attractions. Among the most notable landmarks are St. Giles Cathedral, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Parliament Square, the Writers' Museum, and Tron Kirk. We recommend exploring the Royal Mile with the help of the audio tour for the most comfortable experience.

Best time to visit
From May to September

Perfect for
Sightseers and history buffs

If you want to learn more about prominent Scottish writers, the Writers' Museum is the place to go. Located on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh Old Town, this museum displays exhibitions about three legendary Scottish writers – Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and Robert Louis Stevenson. The museum's collection included paintings, books, manuscripts, and personal items of the three writers, like Stevenson's riding boots and his ring, Burns' writing desk, and Scott's old rocking horse. A visit to this museum is a perfect activity if you're a fan of Scottish literature.

Best time to visit
On weekdays, in the morning or afternoon

Perfect for
Literature fans

For the next entry on our list, we're staying in Edinburgh's city center. Calton Hill is a small hill at the heart of the Scottish capital. This location offers a superb view of the city streets, a pleasant and easy walk, and several interesting landmarks to examine. There are several monuments you can find on Calton Hill, including the Robert Burns Monument, the Nelson Monument, the National Monument, the Political Martyrs' Monument, and the Dugald Stewart Monument. Another point of interest is the Collective Gallery housed within the former City Observatory and City Dome buildings.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the day

Perfect for
Sightseers, hikers, and art lovers

If you're tired of modern city architecture, visit Dean Village, a beautiful pastoral area northwest of the city center. This former village has been a vital grain milling area for hundreds of years. Nowadays, it's a small island of serenity in the otherwise bustling streets of Edinburgh. Among the highlights of Dean Village are former mills converted into other buildings, memorial plaques, the Dean Cemetery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and a well-preserved stone bridge. You can explore Dean Village and all it has to offer with our audio tour.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the day

Perfect for
Sightseers, hikers, and history buffs.

Going back to the city center, we head for the Museum on the Mound, a modest but noteworthy visitor attraction. The exhibitions here primarily revolve around money and economics. Here, you can observe the evolution of the concept of money, learn more about the Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank, and explore a unique building specifically constructed for the Bank of Scotland. You can also see the working places of the bank's employees from different periods and learn the history of British building societies. How many other museums in Edinburgh let you try to crack a safe? None is the answer.

Best time to visit
On weekdays or in the morning

Perfect for
Families, groups of friends, and history buffs

One of the most prominent landmarks on the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral serves as the principal church of Edinburgh and a popular visitor attraction. Built on top of a smaller 12th-century church, this cathedral witnessed many important events in Scottish history, like the Scottish Reformation and the Covenanters' Rebellion. This church went through many revisions and expansions throughout its history, and the building we see today is the amalgamation of several different periods. Today, St. Giles Cathedral is still active and hosts services, concerts, and other events. We recommend exploring St. Giles Cathedral via our audio tour.

Best time to visit
On weekdays or in the morning

Perfect for
History buffs

Another popular art gallery in Edinburgh, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is an art museum located in Dean Village in two buildings: Modern One and Modern Two. If you're fond of modern art, you must visit this place. Modern One resides within a neoclassical 19th-century building that used to be a refuge for fatherless children. Modern Two occupies the former building of the Dean Orphan Hospital, across the road from Modern One. This art gallery is home to a variety of art from the 1900s to the modern day; it regularly hosts various temporary events like exhibitions, workshops, and lectures.

Best time to visit
On weekdays or in the morning

Perfect for
Art lovers

Visiting the Scottish Storytelling Centre is one of the best free things to do in Edinburgh for families. Another visitor attraction on the Royal Mile, this place is the perfect destination for anyone interested in the art of storytelling. The goal of this center is to preserve and promote the Scottish cultural heritage through the mediums of music, dance, theater, and, of course, storytelling. The Scottish Storytelling Centre is home to the annual Scottish International Storytelling Festival and is a venue for the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This place also regularly hosts theater performances, art exhibitions, workshops, and lectures.

Best time to visit
On weekdays or in the morning

Perfect for
Families and children

Named after Greyfriars Kirk, a parish church located nearby, this graveyard lies on the edge of Edinburgh's Old Town and is the last resting place for many notable inhabitants of Scotland. However, the most famous monument in this cemetery belongs to a dog called Bobby, who loyally guarded the grave of his master for 14 years. Several of the names on the tombstones were an inspiration for character names in J.K. Rowling's now classic book series Harry Potter since she wrote this book series in Edinburgh. You can learn more about the influence of Edinburgh and Greyfriars Kirkyard on the Harry Potter series in our audio tour. Alternatively, if you're in the mood to explore Edinburgh's dark history, this tour got you covered.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the day

Perfect for
History buffs, true crime story lovers, and Harry Potter fans

Just south of Edinburgh's city center, this public park is the perfect place to have a picnic or take a slow walk. This public park used to have a loch (a lake), but it was drained over several centuries. An arch made from whale's jawbones stood on the Jawbone Walk path, but it was removed for reconstruction. Sadly, the jawbones turned out to be too damaged to be restored, but there was a proposal to build a bronze replica of this arch. Aside from plentiful trees and pathways, this park also has a kids' playground, several tennis courts, and pitches for other sports. If you want to spend a quiet or active day outdoors, the Meadows is a good choice.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the day

Perfect for
Sightseers, families, couples, and children

Princes Street Gardens offer plenty of free activities for any visitor: there are many benches to relax on, the surroundings are beautiful, and usually, a lot of people are milling about. Located next to the famous Edinburgh Castle, these public parks offer a small reprieve from chaotic city life. These gardens are some of the most famous parks in Edinburgh and a great place to spend a few quiet hours. Among notable landmarks in Princes Street Gardens are the Scott Monument, the Ross Fountain, the Royal Scots Monument, and the world's first floral clock.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the day

Perfect for
Sightseers and nature lovers

This public walkway is one of the most popular options for hikers and sightseers coming to Edinburgh. It runs along the bank of the River Leith and offers spellbinding views of the city as well as an opportunity to stretch your legs and get out of the city center. While following the Water of Leith Walkway, you can observe and explore several places of interest, including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Dean Village, the Dean Bridge, and the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh. It's an easy and scenic route that will be a good option for inexperienced hikers.

Best time to visit
From May to September, during the day

Perfect for
Sightseers and hikers

The Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is one of two cathedrals in Edinburgh, commonly known as St. Mary's Cathedral. The cathedral we're talking about in this entry is an imposing Gothic building from the 19th century. This landmark is one of the few cathedrals in the United Kingdom with three spires; the main spire is 295 feet tall, which makes this cathedral the tallest building in Edinburgh. This beautiful cathedral is home to many events, including masses, services, and concerts. St. Mary's Cathedral also serves as a venue for the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Best time to visit
On weekdays or in the morning

Perfect for
History buffs

Portobello is a suburb of Edinburgh, about 3 miles east of the city center. The highlight of this suburb is a beautiful sandy beach, which has many free and cheap things to do for its visitors. This beach is the perfect place for a fun day out spent swimming or sunbathing, while the promenade is home to several bars, cafes, restaurants, and gift shops. Portobello also hosts many events throughout the year, like the Art Walk Porty Festival, Big Beach Busk, volleyball competitions, and triathlon events. Sure, the weather in Edinburgh is not often sunny and warm, but if you're lucky, you might have a fun and pleasant memory of a sunny day at Portobello Beach.

Best time to visit
From June to August, during the day

Perfect for
Sightseers, families, couples, groups of friends, and children.