Edinburgh in 2 Days: everything you need to know

48 hours in Edinburgh will be more than enough time to see the main sites and enjoy the different attractions. With this itinerary you will be able to enjoy the two distinct parts of the city: the Old Town and the New Town. Read on to find out how to plan your holiday with useful and practical information.

The first day of the itinerary is strictly designed for you to see Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town, a must-see in the city no matter how much time you spend there. It is the most historic part of the city, where the city originated and the most picturesque.

You can discover the historic centre and its nooks and crannies, and visit some of the most important monuments. What should you see on your first day? Well, here's what to see.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

The best way to make sure you don't miss a thing is to book a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. It stands imposingly on a hill on the edge of the city and is the undisputed star of the city. It is the emblem of Edinburgh, and I would even go so far as to say that it is the main face of Scotland.

I recommend you buy tickets in advance and read this special post on how to visit Edinburgh Castle for more information on how to organise your visit.

Facts and figures:

• Opening hours: Open every day of the year from 9.30am to 6pm from April to September and 9.30am to 5pm the rest of the year.
• Tickets: Admission to the castle costs approximately €23 at the ticket office and around €21 online.
• Duration of tour: approximately 2 hours.

Continue the day by walking along the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the main street and artery of the Old Town. Almost 2 kilometres long, the Royal Mile is lined with restaurants and the city's main shops. Both ends of the street connect Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace.

But what drives all tourists crazy is the possibility of discovering little streets and squares, which peek through the famous "closes", alleys that open up between historic buildings. Don't miss the opportunity to explore them yourself.

Plus, if you book an Edinburgh Ghost Bus, this street will be included in the tour and you'll get to hear the spooky stories that this scenic backdrop has to offer.

Enter St. Giles Cathedral

Meet Edinburgh's most important church, with its attractive façade and interior. It's well known for its stained glass windows, the great organ and the Thistle Chapel, where you'll find the famous image of the angel playing the bagpipes. You can easily spot it on your walk along the Royal Mile, and it's free to enter. If you want to get there in comfort, don't hesitate and book the Edinburgh sightseeing bus.

• Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturdays from 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm, from May to September. All other months: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm.

Discover Mary King's Close

Of all the closes on the Royal Mile, this alley deserves a special mention as it has a network of underground alleyways. When you visit, you'll see a part of the city that holds many stories of how people lived and died during the time of the plague, which was so terrible for Scotland. In fact, one of my favourite things to do is to book a tour of Edinburgh's underground.

In particular, Mary King's Close is an unrivalled tour of old shopping streets and even victims' rooms. A true journey back in time to the era when this disease struck Europe, don't miss it!

• Visiting hours: Sunday to Thursday 10am to 5pm; Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm.

Stop off at Victoria Street

Victoria Street is a well-known street in Edinburgh's Old Town, characterised by colourful facades and independent shops. Everything you'll find here is of a very high standard.

It's also split into two levels, allowing you to get different perspectives of the Royal Mile, and take the best pictures of the Old Town. Get your camera ready.

Take a break in Grassmarket

The Grassmarket is a popular square that is home to pubs and taverns perfect for that beer you've been waiting for and one of the stops if you book a beer tour in Edinburgh. It's a great way to unwind from the rest of your first day's itinerary in Edinburgh.

Interestingly, in the past, public executions were held here for those with convictions, but today the atmosphere is all about food and fun. Can you imagine that?

Search for 'Bobby' at Greyfiars Cemetery

One of Edinburgh's most popular plans is to book a tour of the haunted crypts and cemetery. In particular, Greyfiars is most famous for its statue of a loyal little chap called 'Bobby'.

Legend has it that this dog accompanied his owner's grave for 14 years until he was finally buried within the cemetery walls, as it is against the law to bury a dog in a sacred place. In commemoration of Bobby, thousands of tourists visit the cemetery every year.

Visit Holyrood Palace

At the end of the Royal Mile, you'll finally come across one of the highlights of the itinerary: a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The highlight of the Palace is the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, as this is where kings were crowned in ancient times.

In addition to its beautiful architecture, it is a very photographed place for lovers of green and ancient spaces.

• Visiting hours: daily from 9.30am to 6pm from April to October; the rest of the months it closes at 4pm.

End the day at Calton Hill

What better way to end your first day of sightseeing than by watching the sunset at one of the best spots in the city of Edinburgh. Calton Hill is a hill where you will have an enviable panoramic view. The climb is not at all difficult and it is well laid out so that it is accessible to everyone.

From the top, you'll be able to spot the Dugald Stewart monument in the foreground and, behind it, the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle. And if you're really tired from the day, don't hesitate to hop on the Edinburgh sightseeing bus.

In the late 18th century, what is now the new part of the city of Edinburgh was built. Yes, of course, it's not that new. But the reality is that the Old Town was becoming too small for the number of people who lived there, and the wealthier families decided to create a suburb on the outskirts.

It is considered a masterpiece of urban planning by experts in the field and is still residential today, but also houses commercial and office areas.

Start the day at the Scott Monument

Our first stop may sound exhausting as it involves climbing the 287 steps of the Scott Monument. This grand city structure is a Gothic spire no less than 61 metres high, whose main attraction is the 68 statues depicting characters from Walter Scott's novels.

In addition to the beauty of the monument, the panoramic views are beautiful from this point in the city. A recharge of energy and motivation to start this second day.

• Opening hours: from April to September: daily from 10am to 7pm. From October to March: daily from 9am to 4pm.

Stroll Princes Street Gardens

Continuing our day's stroll along Princes Street, we came across Princes Street Gardens, which separate the Old City from the New City. They are regarded as Edinburgh' s favourite park and if you're wondering why, it won't take long to find out the answer.

As well as being a great place to relax in the heart of the city centre, they're also at a great elevation that allows you to enjoy views of the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle. The distinctive features that everyone wants to photograph are the giant floral clock and the old Victorian iron fountain.

Visit the Scottish National Gallery

Once you've finished your tour of the gardens, just off to the side you'll find the Scottish National Gallery.

You'll be able to access the exhibitions for free and enjoy world-renowned works that, even if you're not an art aficionado, you'll recognise easily. Works by El Greco, Van Gogh, Velázquez, Rembrandt or Rubens, among other great masters, can be found here.

Discover the charm of Dean Village

From here, we'll head a little way out of the centre to visit Dean Village. This village is a charming place worth including in your itinerary, as it sits beside the river and looks like something out of a medieval fairytale.

You'll enjoy a landscape of stone houses and bridges, surrounded by greenery, just a ten minute walk from the National Gallery of Scotland. How about that?

Get to know the main streets: George Street and Rose Street

These avenues are the most famous in the New Town and a stroll along them is truly delightful.

The elegant neoclassical and Georgian buildings, known as terraces, and the facades decorated with coloured columns and doors, make you feel like you're walking into a real painting.

Don't miss the National Museum of Scotland

Our next point of interest is the National Museum of Scotland. If you want to discover the history of this country from the age of dinosaurs to the technological revolution of the future, you can take a tour of all the exhibition rooms.

Fun fact: you can meet Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, and see a Tyrannosaurus rex.

• Opening hours: every day, from 10am to 5pm.
• Admission: free

Climb Arthur's Seat: the best viewpoint in the whole city

And finally, the list of things to see and do in Edinburgh. We crown the day with another great sunset at Arthur's Seat. It's about a 20 minute walk, but if you prefer, you can check out the information about the best tour bus in Edinburgh and save yourself some physical energy. This site is located in Holyrood Park, the highest point in Edinburgh, and is famous for its truly magnificent views.

From the top you can play at identifying different monuments of the city you've been touring over the past two days, or look out over the Firth of Forth. No visit to Edinburgh is complete without visiting this part of the city.

Of course Scotland has more to offer, so here's an alternative if you're curious about Edinburgh's surroundings.

Another possible option is to follow the itinerary on day 1, seeing the Old Town and its key sights, but spend the second day taking a trip to the outskirts to get a more comprehensive view of the country in general. If so, don't miss the opportunity to do the best tours and excursions from Edinburgh.

If instead you prefer to spend your day getting to know another city in this beautiful country, I leave you the post about how to go from Edinburgh to St Andrews or how to go from Edinburgh to Loch Ness. Choose your own adventure!