I lived in Edinburgh for 7 months while pursuing the final year of my degree, though it would've been 10 months if it weren't for the global coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, I cherished every second living in this beautiful city, which is no doubt one of my favourite places on earth. Every inch of this city is picturesque but here are my top picks for places to go to when visiting the Scottish Capital.

Princes Street

This 1.2KM long street is the main shopping street of the capital which marks the edge of the New Town and it is extremely accessible by bus and tram. On one side it's lined with hotels, branded shops, department stores and souvenir shops while on the other side there's the Scott Monument and Princes Street Gardens, which is overlooked by the Edinburgh Castle. Take your time to stroll along the street and you can also get a good view of the Edinburgh Old Town from here.

It's also worth exploring George Street which is right behind Princes Street. It's a newer area of the city and has more upmarket shops, bars and restaurants.

Princes Street Gardens

Between the Old Town and the New Town are two public parks which is one of the best spots to hangout especially during warmer days. There's the Ross Fountain which is right below the Edinburgh Castle, making it one of the top-rated spots for photos.

Every year at Christmas, the East Gardens is transformed into a Christmas Market, which sells food and Christmas gifts and there will also be amusement park rides. It's one of the reasons to visit Edinburgh between late November to Christmas Day.

Royal Mile 

One of Edinburgh's most famous and oldest streets, the Royal Mile is the heart of Scottish's historic capital. Located in the Old Town, it connects the Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is approximately a mile apart. Here you can find Real Mary King's Close, St. Giles Cathedral, shops, pubs, and many other tourist attractions. There are also street performers playing music or performing magic tricks on the street.

Victoria Street

For Harry Potter fans, this is a must visit place when you're in Edinburgh. This charming cobblestone street is where author JK Rowling got some of her inspiration for her books. The narrow curved street is another top spot for tourists, it's famous for its colourful shop fronts. While you're here, I'd recommend trying Oink, a pulled pork sandwich shop which is hard to miss with its bright pink shop front. 

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle from Grassmarket

I personally have never been to Edinburgh Castle because I didn't think the entrance fee was worth it but it's one of the top rated tourists attractions here. The historic fortress sits above an extinct volcano, and it's located at the top of Royal Mile. There are a lot of spots in the city to get a nice photograph of the castle. Royal Mile and Princes Street are the two best places to get a good view of the castle from below.

Carlton Hill

View of the city from Carlton Hill

Carlton hill is situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and it's included in Edinburgh's UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view of the city from up here is pretty familiar since most photographs of the postcards of Edinburgh you see in souvenir shops are taken from up here. This beautiful hill is home to several monuments, including the National Monument of Scotland.

Fun fact, while we were visiting Carlton Hill, they were actually filming Fast & Furious 9 in Old Town! You can see the green cranes on the right which is part of the film setup.

Dean's Village

Dean's Village is a quaint and quiet residential area that is quite some distance away from the city's  main tourist attractions. There are no buses stopping directly here but it isn't too far to walk from the nearest bus stop. There isn't a big tourist crowd here like in the Old Town but you can see most people taking photos on a bridge where you'll get a view of the Water of Leith and houses of the village.

Circus Lane

This is not one of the famous tourist attractions you'll find in most Edinburgh travel guides but I'm including it in this list because it's definitely one of my favourite photo spots in the city. It's about 15 minutes from Dean's Village by foot and you'll enjoy the quiet walk if you're looking to step away from the tourist crowd. The cobblestoned street is filled with quaint terraced houses with colourful doors and it's really pretty when I visited during autumn. 

Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden

We visited the botanic garden right before fall ended, when it was still filled with pretty autumn hues. It's a nice stroll around the garden especially when the sun is out (it's a pretty rare event since it rains a lot in Scotland!). There is also a Glasshouse visit (with an entrance fee) which has 10 magnificent Glasshouses, each having a different climatic zone.

Arthur's Seat

If you're up for a little hike, climb Arthur's Seat which is located at the end of Royal Mile in Holyrood Park. It is an extinct volcano covered in grass, so it's fairly easy to climb. There are many routes you can take to get up to the peak but it take around 30-60 minutes depends on how fast you go and which route you take. It can get muddy and slippery after a rainy day so make sure you wear appropriate shoes. The view of the hike is amazing, my photos don't do Arthur's Seat enough justice but it's definitely worth it, you also get a nice view of the city from up here.

There's so much more to explore around in Edinburgh especially in Old Town. There are also many scenic places to visit beyond the city one of them being the Highlands which I wished I had the time to visit. I hope these recommendations are helpful in planning your trip to Edinburgh and if you're still considering to come visit, I hope this had encouraged you to go and see this incredibly beautiful city for yourself.