Edinburgh 5-day Itinerary

Begin on a street steeped in history. The Royal Mile in the medieval Old Town is topped and tailed by the brooding Castle and gracious royal Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Spend the morning exploring the castle then dip into the Scotch Whisky Experience for a barrel ride through the distilling process before lunch at the restaurant, Amber. Then descend beneath the pavements for a glimpse of gritty 17th-century life in The Real Mary King’s Close.

Continue to meander down the Royal Mile to the 17th-century palace and striking 20th-century Scottish Parliament via the 12th-century St Giles Cathedral and 15th-century John Knox House.

In the evening, shuck shellfish at the White Horse Oyster and Seafood Bar in what was the city’s oldest inn.

Take a tour of Holyrood Palace in the morning then check out the striking National Museum of Scotland before weaving through the buzzing Grassmarket with its cafes and bars before winding up Victoria Street, a curve of colourful shopfronts. Cross Princes Street Gardens to the elegant Georgian New Town, strolling the leafy boulevards and crescents.

Lunch at farm-to-fork favourite, The Gardener’s Cottage at the foot of Calton Hill, then hike to the top to meander the mosaic of monuments soaking up panoramic views of the city, before descending to visit the neo-Gothic National Portrait Gallery.

Book dinner at Aizle one of Edinburgh’s most inventive restaurants then head to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for a nightcap.

Starting in pretty Dean Village, walk 4 miles along the wooded, riverside path towards the gentrified docklands of Leith. Stop by the Museum of Modern Art and the Royal Botanic Gardens, and grab lunch in Stockbridge, one of Edinburgh’s village neighbourhoods peppered with cafes, delis and independent boutiques.

Leith is a gourmet pocket, home to Michelin-starred restaurants and seafood eateries. It’s also where you can hop aboard and wander around the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Head back to The Shore and swing by wine café Toast for an aperitif before dinner at striking steak restaurant, bar and butchery, The Chop House.

Head seven miles south of Edinburgh to the pretty village of Roslin and the intricately carved, myth-laden 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by Dan Brown’s novel ‘The Da Vinci Code‘.

From here drive to the Bridge Inn in the little hamlet of Ratho, 25 minutes away, a gourmet canalside pub for lunch. Then continue on (it’s just over 5 minute’s drive) to Jupiter Artland, a striking contemporary sculpture garden in the grounds of Bonnington House.

For dinner splash out on Fhior with its 7- or 10-course seasonal Scottish tasting menus.

Go to the seaside. Veer east along the coast, fringed by glorious sweeps of dune-backed sand, to the quaint seaside town of North Berwick (45 minutes by car or 30 minutes by train).

Visit the state-of-the-art Scottish Seabird Centre, then take a boat trip out to seabird spot on the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth. Return for fish and chips on the harbour from the Lobster Shack and ice cream on the shore.

Stay with the seafood theme back in Edinburgh and dine at chef Dean Banks’ relaxed restaurant Dulse.