Two Day Edinburgh Itinerary: Things To See & Do in 48 Hours

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This post will be sharing a Two Day Edinburgh Itinerary for those who want to explore the city quickly.

In December, I decided to take my first post-COVID international trip.

The last time I went abroad was in Paris in January 2020.

I was planning to visit Dublin in April 2020 when the lockdown happened.

I’ve tried not to let this whole thing get to me.

Instead, I decided to use the opportunity to explore England.

I’ve taken about a dozen day trips so far, which has renewed my interest in British history, and I honestly cannot be more grateful for this experience.

This is why I was so excited to plan my trip to Barcelona.

Since I have been double vaccinated, I would have a few travel restrictions.

Just the day before my departure, the UK Government announced that all arrivals would need a pre-departure test.

I was gutted, and my anxiety went through the roof.

While I could still make the trip, my mind wasn’t settled enough.

I was restless and didn’t want to be stranded in a foreign city, so I cancelled the trip.

I’ll share some lessons I’ve learned while planning a post-COVID trip in a subsequent post

There was no way I would give up that week, so I decided to go to the next best city: Edinburgh.

My itinerary was to spend about four days in Scotland, exploring Edinburgh and Glasglow.

I did; I’m back and ready to share my experience.

As a result of my somewhat extensive itinerary, I’ve decided to split the trip into two, focusing on each city.

Without further ado, let’s get right into it!

How To Plan A Two-Day Edinburgh Itinerary

In case you didn’t know, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, one of the countries in the United Kingdom.

It’s a compact, hilly city that dates back to the 15th Century, and as such, there are many things to see and do.

I wasn’t precisely expectant.

I just wanted a replacement for my cancelled trip.

I did not think I would be that impressed, and Edinburgh would become one of my favourite cities in the UK.

I had the time of my life exploring Edinburgh in two days.

While two days isn’t remarkably enough as you can explore the city in one week and still have things to do, two days is just perfect.

The itinerary will be split into two for this post: Day 1 will cover the city centre, while Day 2 will cover the outskirts/neighbourhoods.

You don’t necessarily have to follow this, but this convenient guide helped me make the most of the city.

So much so that when I left, I was having withdrawals and couldn’t wait to go back.

At the same time, I felt pleased and satisfied.

As I mentioned earlier, it is a pretty compact city, so it’s easy to walk everywhere, but I must warn you, it is hilly, so prepare for some workouts and wear comfortable shoes.

Here’s a handy map for a self-guided walking tour.

DAY 1 – City Centre

Edinburgh Castle

What better way to start your trip than from one of the most iconic castles in the UK?

I was so impressed by how marvellous this castle is, mainly how it just sits on an extinct volcano in the city’s centre.

Imagine casually living in a city where you see a castle every day.

That is a surreal experience if you ask me.

Fortunately, my hostel was just opposite the castle, so I got to soak in all that history throughout my trip.

The Royal Mile

The castle’s entrance connects to several iconic streets that make up the Edinburgh Old Town, the oldest part of Edinburgh.

Along the Royal Mile, you’ll find a bunch of ancient landmarks, shops, pubs and attractions, including;

Tartan Weaving Mill and Exhibition
The Scotch Whiskey Experience
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Gladstone’s Land
St Giles’ Cathedral
The Real Mary King’s Close

Don’t forget to take some extra cash along to get some authentic cashmere scarfs on the Royal Mile.

You won’t be able to resist the temptation, trust me.

The Cashmere scarf retails for about £45, while Lambswool goes for £12 – 20.

Keyrings, fridge magnets and other cheap souvenirs start from £3-4.

National Library of Scotland

A slight detour from the Royal Mile will take you down to the National Library of Scotland, where you’ll find the legal deposit of Scotland.

It also happens to be one of the largest libraries in Scotland. It is entirely unmissable.

Museum On The Mound

It’s incredible how I walked past this iconic Bank of Scotland Head Office building, and I didn’t realize it also houses the Museum On The Mound.

This museum is a must-visit if you are curious about money, coinage, and UK/Scottish economics.

Thankfully, it’s tiny so that you can go around it in less than two hours.

Interestingly, the museum was almost shut down in 2017.

Thankfully, after public protests, it has remained open.

Princes Street Gardens

When you leave the Edinburg Waverly station, the first thing that will jump at you is the sights from the Christmas Markets in Princes Street Gardens.

I was so carried away that I didn’t even have time to thoroughly look around the gardens.

Every December in Scotland, just like most major cities in the UK, the East part of the gardens are transformed into Winter Wonderland, which comprises the Edinburg Eye, ice rinks and a bunch of other amusement park rides.

Scott Monument

While in the Princes Street Gardens, you might check out the iconic Scott Monument right at the edge of the park.

It is the second-largest monument in the world dedicated to the legendary Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott.

Scottish National Gallery

Can your two-day Edinburgh itinerary be completed without a trip to the Scottish National Gallery?

I had not planned to go into this gallery until one afternoon.

There were wintry showers, and I had to find somewhere to stay until the rain had stopped.

Plus, it was freezing; I did not want to be outdoors in that weather.

So, off I went, only to behold one of the most extensive national collections of fine art that dates from the Renaissance to the 20th Century.

Best believe that I was overwhelmed.

It was just so much to take in and appreciate.

Plus, it was a bit crowded, so that didn’t help.

Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture

Two Day Edinburgh Itinerary: Things To See & Do in 48 Hours

Just opposite the Scottish National Gallery is the Royal Scottish Academy, a national art academy promoting contemporary art.

It’s interesting to see that their buildings face each other as they complement each other.

A handy guide will be to start from the Scottish National Academy for Ancient Art before proceeding to the Royal Scottish Academy for Contemporary Art.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The National Galleries of Scotland currently control the three main national galleries and two partner galleries, including;

Scottish National Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

I wasn’t planning to visit the Scottish National Portrait Gallery as I accidentally stumbled upon it.

Boy, did I love exploring the compelling portraits of famous Scots?

From Tilda Swinton to Horse McDonald and Emeli Sande.

DAY 2 – Neighbourhoods

Calton Hill

Another area I stumbled on while walking outside the city centre was Calton Hill.

NO ONE told me that I was going to go hiking. I honestly was not prepared!

But what could I do? I was there already, so I might as well climb the hill.

Getting to the top of Calton Hill felt like being on top of the world.

There are no words to describe how I felt at that top.

Despite the freezing weather, I marvelled at the Edinburgh skyline.

It’s been three days since I’ve returned, and I’m not over that experience.

At the top of the hill, you’ll find some historic monuments, including:

National Monument of Scotland
The Nelson Monument
Dugald Stewart Monument
City Observatory
Old Royal High School

I tried to enjoy my experience at Calton Hill, but I could only do so much in that weather.

After a while, I returned down the hill to continue my journey and promised to return for a proper hike during the Summer.

The Scottish Government

Down the southern slope of Calton Hill lies the headquarters of the Scottish Government.

It accommodates the offices of the First Minister and Deputy Minister of Scotland and private offices of cabinet secretaries in the justice and health departments.

Scottish Parliament Building

Although the Scottish Parliament Building is officially closed to the public, I couldn’t help but marvel at the unique architecture juxtaposed with the Holyrood Palace with a backdrop against the Authur’s Seat, an ancient volcano.

Oh, the view was simply breathtaking.

I stood there for a bit, taking in all the sights, hesitant to leave.

Holyrood Palace

Perhaps the second most iconic place to visit on your two-day Edinburgh itinerary is the Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland.

Every year, at the beginning of the Summer, she’s here for one week to carry out official duties.

This palace was entirely out of my way, but I had to walk about 30 minutes to find it.

It turns out it was located at the bottom of the Royal Mile at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle.

Even if I did know that initially, I probably wouldn’t have made my way there on my first day; while it was closed and secured, there was nothing to see aside through the gates, but it felt good to be so close to the Queen’s residence.