Things to do in Edinburgh

278 activities, venues and outings in Edinburgh, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 278.

Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

DoLive music venueOld Town
Usher Hall
The city's main concert hall, capacity 2200, and home to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. It was completed in 1914, funded by Andrew Usher the whisky distiller and blender.
Box Office Mon-Sat 10AM-5:30PM, Sun 1-2PMWheelchair accessible
DoOld Town
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Tour of the history and craft of whisky distilling, with expert guides - the basic or "silver" tour works well for beginners. They have a huge selection; the core of it is the 3384 bottles collected by Brazilian whisky enthusiast Claive Vidiz.
Daily 10AM-5PMBasic tour £23 adult, £21 conc, £10 child · Wheelchair accessible
DoLive music venueNew Town
Edinburgh Playhouse
Built as a cinema in 1929 and refurbished in 1980, this is now Scotland's largest performance space, with a capacity of 3059. That's about 1000 more than can comfortably be seated and 2000 more than they have toilet provision for. It's run by ATG, Ambassador Theatre Group.
Wheelchair accessible
DoLive music venueSouth
The Queen's Hall
Performance space for musical events across all genres. The neo-classical building was a chapel from 1824 and converted to a concert hall in 1979, with a capacity of 900.
Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
DoAmusement parkOld Town
The Edinburgh Dungeon
"Haunted House" experience, where you take a 70 min tour through 11 shows and 2 rides loosely based on Scotland's horrible history: William Wallace, Mary King's Ghost, cannibal Sawney Bean, Burke and Hare and more.
Mon-Thu 11AM-4PM, Fri-S 11AM-5PMAdult £19, child £15 · Limited wheelchair access
DoTheatreOld Town
Festival Theatre
Large performance venue, home of the Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera. It also hosts contemporary dance, ballet, musicals and panto.
Wheelchair accessible
DoCinemaSouth
Dominion Cinema
Art deco cinema opened in 1938 with plush leather sofas for an upscale experience.
Closed · opens 3 pm
DoCinemaWest
Edinburgh Filmhouse
The Filmhouse
A four-screen Edinburgh institution showing largely arthouse and some mainstream films. Additionally houses a 100-seat cafe-bar.
£12 adult, £10.50 concession, wheelchair users/access tickets £5, carers free · Wheelchair accessible
DoLive music venueOld Town
Reid Concert Hall
General Reid (1721-1807) endowed the School of Music at the University of Edinburgh. They put on occasional free lunchtime concerts here, especially on 13 Feb, Reid's birthday. You may also be able to look in on their collection of antique instruments.
DoWest
Heart of Midlothian
Hearts aka "the Jambos" and "the Gorgie Boys" play soccer in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier. Their home ground Tynecastle Park (capacity 20,000, all-seater) is a mile west of Haymarket station in the Gorgie area of the city; take any bus up Gorgie Road or a tram to Murrayfield.
DoTheatreOld Town
Traverse Theatre
Since 1992 this has hosted Traverse theatre company, dedicated to new works.
DoComedy clubOld Town
Monkey Barrel Comedy
Intimate comedy venue with several acts each night. Drink and some food available.
Venue 6PM-midnightAdult £8, student £6
DoCinemaWest
Cineworld
Mainly mainstream cinema with some art-house & foreign cinema. IMAX screen.
Wheelchair accessible
DoParkStockbridge and Canonmills
Inverleith Park
Large park with several sports pitches for rugby, football and cricket, and public tennis courts. The south of the park has a pond divided into a wildlife area popular with swans, and a boating pond which is often used for model boats. The banked area near the pond offers good views over the New Town of the Castle, and there is a small floral area in the Sundial Garden.
Do
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Fringe
As the name might suggest, this festival developed on the fringe of the main International Festival and offers more alternative performances, with an emphasis on comedy and avant-garde; it is now the largest arts festival in the world. Many shows offer cheaper preview tickets on the first two days of the festival or a 2-for-1 ticket special on two selected dates. There are a few sub-festivals that are part of the Fringe such as the Assembly Festival, Summerhall Festival and CtheFestival. Part of the Fringe are also many free events (with donation if you liked the show) across the city grouped mostly under the PBH's Free Fringe or Free Festival.
In August
DoTheatre
Edinburgh International Festival
The original that spawned all the rest. Founded in 1947 and still seen as more "high-brow" than any of its offspring. Surprisingly, tickets are often priced more reasonably than for many Fringe shows. Some events have preview performances at a much lower price.
In August
DoParkStockbridge and Canonmills
King George V Park
Park with a couple of children's play areas and many quiet benches to sit on. A path through an old railway tunnel links the park with Cannonmills Tesco, making this an ideal lunch spot.
DoTheatreOld Town
King's Theatre
Reopened in August 2026 after 4 years of refurbishment.
Wheelchair accessible
DoSummit
Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat is an ancient extinct volcano. It is the main peak of a group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park. Robert Louis Stevenson described it as "a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design".
251 m high
DoOld Town
The Lost Close
Underground experiences and tours led by expert Storytellers. Whisky, gin and beer tastings available - starting from £15.
DoArts centreSouth
Summerhall
Contemporary art exhibitions and event venue in a confident Edwardian building, home of Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies from 1916. In 2011 the vets moved out to Easter Bush campus, birthplace of Dolly the Sheep. See below for the distillery, brewery and pub within Summerhall.
Limited wheelchair access · Wheelchair accessible
DoLive music venue
Hidden Door
Annual non-profit art, music, theatre, etc. event taking place in unused spaces in the city that change from year to year. End of May/beginning of June.
DoStockbridge and Canonmills
Glenogle Swim Centre
Council-run Victorian swimming pool with partial glass roof. Also has a gym and sauna.
Mon-Fri 7AM-10PM, Sat Sun 8AM-3PMPool £6.30
DoSouth
Midlothian Snowsports Centre
This has a main slope of 400 m, a loop alongside, 3 nursery slopes, a chairlift and 2 tows. Equipment hire is available or bring your own. Wear long trousers, long sleeves and gloves as the dendrex matting will skin you when you fall. Some disruption as a restaurant and other facilities are being built, and limited parking.
Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM, Sat Sun 9AM-7PM
DoSouth
Royal Commonwealth Pool
The pool was built for the Commonwealth Games in 1970, and was used again for the 1986 and 2014 games.
Mon-Fri 5:30AM-9:30PM, Sat 5:30AM-8PM, Sun 7:30AM-8PM
DoOld Town
Cameo Cinema
Mainstream, arthouse and alternative films, with an Edwardian interior.
DoWest
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
formerly Ratho Adventure Centre
Huge indoor and outdoor climbing centre in a disused quarry, developed from 1995 but taken over and completed by Edinburgh City Council in 2007.
DoLeith
Hibernian FC
The "Hibs" play soccer in the Premiership, Scotland's top tier. The all-seater stadium, capacity 24,000, is at the south edge of Leith. Hibs have played at Easter Road since 1893; in 2000 the pronounced slope of the ground was levelled out. Their traditional city rivals are Hearts. Buses 1 and 35 run down Easter Road but there are more frequent buses down Leith Walk just west or along London Road (A1) just south.
DoWest
Murrayfield Stadium
The main stadium has a capacity of 67,000 and hosts all Scottish rugby internationals. The premier tournament is the Six Nations held each February-March: in odd-numbered years, Scotland hosts Wales, Ireland and Italy, and in even-numbered years the visitors are England and France. These games almost always sell out, and the city is mobbed when they're on; you've more chance of tickets and accommodation for other internationals which take place each November, or, if it's a Rugby World Cup year, warm-up friendly games in the summer. Stadium tours are available on non-match days.
DoWest
Royal Highland Showground
An exhibition ground with several halls and large grounds. The premier event is the Royal Highland Show for 4 days in late June. Other events are held throughout the year, some of these are public, others are trade only.
DoStockbridge and Canonmills
The Grange
This is the usual home ground for the Scottish national team, the Saltires. They play 50-over and 20-over matches but not five-day Tests. Gen!us Grange play in the domestic leagues.
DoCinemaNew Town
Vue
Large multiplex cinema showing mainstream releases.
Wheelchair accessible
DoWest
Spartans
The Spartans play soccer in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier. Their ground Ainslie Park (Vanloq Community Stadium) holds 3612, of which 534 are seated. It's in Pilton, northwest of the city centre.
Do Not mapped
Edinburgh Art Festival
Some permanent outdoor commissions which can be seen all year, and temporary exhibitions and events during the festival.
In August
Do Not mapped
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Takes place in a temporary village of marquees at Charlotte Square Gardens (West End of George Street, New Town).
In August
Do Not mapped
Edinburgh International Television Festival
Predominantly a "closed shop" for industry professionals only.
End of August
Do Not mapped
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
One of the iconic images of Edinburgh for millions worldwide is the yearly Tattoo, kilted pipers skirling below the battlements of Edinburgh Castle. Although tickets sell out well in advance, persevering individuals are likely to find one or two tickets still for sale due to cancellations. Just be prepared to ask, ask, and ask again! There are usually fireworks at the end of the shows which can also be seen from e.g. the Grassmarket area.
In August
DoOld Town Not mapped
Escape The Past
Immersive escape rooms and outdoor puzzle trails based on Edinburgh's history. Experiences include historically accurate props, live actors and special effects. Housed in the basement of a 19th Century Methodist Church. Highlights include "The Anatomist" a 60 minute escape room based on Edinburgh's grave-robbing-era medical history.
11AM-9PMFrom £22 per person
DoWest Not mapped
Murrayfield Ice Rink
Popular ice rink with leisure skating sessions, and ice-discos on Friday and Saturday nights. It's the home rink of the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team, who play Sept-March in the Scottish National League, the UK second tier. (Their rivals Murrayfield Racers folded in 2022.) The curling club also play here on a separate rink.
Mon 2-7PM, Wed Thu 2-9PM, Fri Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 11:30AM-7PM
DoEast Not mapped
Portobello Swim Centre
Traditional Victorian baths with pool, gym, sauna and Turkish Baths. Visitors often find the place cold and dirty.
Mon-Fri 7AM-9PM, Sat 8AM-4PM, Sun 9AM-5PM

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).