A Solo Travel Guide to Edinburgh

Last Updated on 13th August 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Often referred to as one of the friendliest cities in the world, Edinburgh is easy to fall in love with and even easier to visit, it’s also one of the best places to travel solo!

Though the prospect of visiting a city you don’t know all too well alone might be daunting at first, going solo travelling can be one of the most rewarding ways to travel and experience the world. Read on for our top tips on going solo in Edinburgh and the best things to do on your own in Scotland’s fairytale capital city.

Things to know before visiting Edinburgh for the first time

So you’ve chosen to visit Edinburgh on your own? Good idea! Scotland’s capital city is a fairytale historic treasure filled with plenty of sights, friendly locals and tourists alike and it’s small enough that you’re unlikely to ever feel too lost when exploring.

Scotland’s main spoken language is British English, and the accent in Edinburgh is typically considered very light. They use the sterling pound as the currency, though you might notice that Scottish bank notes look different, they still hold the same value.

When walking around the city, be sure to have a comfortable pair of shoes on as it’s very hilly, and there are also a lot of cobblestoned streets. 

In terms of public transport, Edinburgh itself, only has one bus company, Lothian Buses, that serves the city centre and surrounding areas, making it a very easy public transport to navigate. You can just hop on a bus and pay contactless. There’s also a tram service which runs from Edinburgh Airport right through to Newhaven Harbour by the sea, serving the North of the city. 

When it comes to weather, be prepared! Edinburgh is a rainy (and sometimes very windy) city, due to its mountainous landscape and proximity to the sea. Always bring more layers than you think you’ll need, remember you can always layer down. Also, umbrellas usually prove useless in the city as there can be strong winds, so bring a good waterproof jacket.

Also, if you plan to visit Edinburgh during August, be aware that the International Fringe Festival is on, taking place for the whole month. This means that costs for accommodation are much higher, but you can always opt to stay a little further out.

If this is your first solo trip, read our step-by-step guide for planning your first solo trip, so that you can be as prepared as possible and feel a little more at ease before your travels!

Best Things to Do On Your Own

Take a self-guided walking tour of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a magical city and one of the best ways to experience its beauty is to simply explore it on your own two feet (so be sure to bring a pair of comfortable shoes). Of course, you can also opt to discover the city’s historic treasures and hidden nooks and crannies using a guided tour like this one.

But simply wandering around and seeing what you stumble across is one of the best ways to experience Edinburgh. After all, that way, you can stop to snap as many photos as you wish! You can also stop for snacks at whichever café most appeals to you, and you can generally enjoy the city at your own pace.

Visit a small and unusual museum

There’s nothing better than exploring a museum at your own pace and not having to constantly check around to see if your fellow companions have caught up or sped ahead.

Edinburgh is filled with small and unique museums and is also home to the National Museum of Scotland, which showcases a huge collection of Scottish history and culture. And, the majority of these spots are free to enter! Here are some of the more unusual museums to visit solo:

• Museum of Edinburgh – Showcasing the history of Edinburgh through a collection of stories, photographs and objects. A place where locals can reminisce and tourists can learn. (Free entry)
• Surgeon’s Hall Museum – One of the most unique museums of the city, this showcases one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the UK. Not for the faint-hearted, if you are fascinated by the human anatomy then here, you can see it all in jars right before you! (£9.50 visit)
• The Writer’s Museum – This tiny museum displays an insight into the life and works of some of Scotland’s most beloved writers. (Free entry)
• Museum of Childhood – This is the first museum in the world to specialise in the history of childhood, displaying a collection of toys and playthings. (Free entry)
• Camera Obscura – A world of illusion’, this tourist attraction on the Royal Mile was founded in 1835 and is five stories of fascinating illusions and insight into the magic of the camera, as well as one of the best rooftop views of the city (around £20 to visit).
• Harry Potter Museum – A small shop and exhibition space on Victoria Street, home to all things Harry Potter related, you’ll often see queues outside the door! (Free entry, though there are paid tours of Harry Potter locations available or you can take yourself on a self-guided tour)

Explore cute bookshops

Spend a few hours exploring the cute bookshops of the city. From exploring independent places to the second-hand and rare copies that reside in Edinburgh’s abundance of bookshops. Here are some top suggestions of where to go:

• Armchair Books – A quirky crammed to the brim family-run bookshop filled with a huge selection of second-hand and rare treasures.
• Blackwell’s Bookshop – Edinburgh’s oldest bookshop, which boasts over 3 million copies!
• Waterstones – Set over several floors, this is home to a café with one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle.
• Rare Birds Book Shop – A bookshop that exclusively celebrates works by female authors.
• Argonaut Books – A locally owned community bookshop in the heart of Leith.
• Typewronger Books – A non-profit company in the heart of Edinburgh selling new titles.
• McNaughtan’s Bookshop – Next door to Typewronger, this antiquarian bookstore is the place for old, hard-to-find & unique titles.

Topping & Company is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful bookshops in Edinburgh. Set across three levels, in the shadow of Calton Hill, this independent bookstore boasts over 70,000 books! One of the more unique aspects of the store is that you have to climb small ladders to get a closer look at the books on the top shelves. 

Edinburgh’s “Little Free Libraries” – Another thing to watch out for while exploring the city is the wonderful book-sharing movement that has made its way throughout Edinburgh. Coming in all shapes and sizes, you may find spy out various nooks around the city that state ‘free library’. The concept of this is that you may take a book from inside, so long as you replace it with a different book. Magic!

Read in a cosy café

A personal favourite thing about solo travelling is being able to stop at any given spot (whenever you want) and be absorbed in a book, taking small moments to watch the world go by in between.

You’re completely spoilt for choice when it comes to cosy cafés in Edinburgh. Here are just a few top suggestions of places to go and where to find them:

• Lovecrumbs West Port, 155 West Port, Edinburgh EH3 9DP
• Black Medicine Coffee Co, 2 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
• The Milkman,  7 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1 1BP
• Margot, 7-8 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP
• Cairngorm Coffee, 1 Melville Pl, Edinburgh EH3 7PR

Climb an extinct volcano

One of the most magical things about Edinburgh is the fact that there is a world of hiking right on your doorstep! Home to seven hills, most of which are the remnants of volcanic activity from over 340 million years ago and boast captivating views from their peaks.

The most popular and famous and popular hill to climb is Arthur’s Seat, an iconic landmark where you can admire the breathtaking panoramic views of Edinburgh’s landscape and beyond.

It’s worth noting, that all of these hills are close to the city centre meaning they typically always have people up them, so in the case of getting lost or into difficulty, there will always be a friendly stranger to ask for help!

Check out filming locations

Thanks to the city’s many landscapes and proximity to the sea, Edinburgh offers a magical setting from which to film. This means that it has often been used as the backdrop for many films and TV shows, so a fun activity to do out on your own could be to spy out filming locations from popular culture that interests you!

Perhaps most famously known as the setting for the 1996 film Trainspotting, Edinburgh also served as the sweeping romantic setting for the recent 2024 Netflix adaptation of One Day, check out the filming locations here.

Although no filming of the beloved world of wizardry films took place here, if you are a fan you might be interested to know about the locations around Edinburgh that inspired the Harry Potter novels.

Admire art in a gallery

Like a scene from a movie, be the solo traveller who strolls through the art galleries alone, filling your creative mind! Edinburgh’s art galleries are filled with Scottish and international art from as far back as the 14th century to now. Here are some of the main galleries worth checking out:

• National Galleries of Scotland – There are two buildings in front of one another, both showcasing Scottish and international art that spans right from the beginning of the Renaissance up to the start of the 20th century. (Free entry)
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery- Set within a Neo-gothic palace, this beautiful space houses the national collection of portraits and the national collection of photography, most of which are by Scottish artists. (Free entry)
• National Galleries of Scotland One – There used to be two galleries until 2023, hence the ‘one’ however, today there’s just one, showcasing a permanent collection of contemporary art as well as rotating exhibitions. (Free entry)
• Stills – Dedicated to showing exhibitions on photography, this gallery space also has a dark room where you can purchase workshops and explore the process of developing photographic film. (Free entry)
• Fruitmarket – A contemporary exhibition space that hosts a range of international and local contemporary artists of all kinds of mediums. (Free to visit, exhibitions sometimes cost)
• Talbot Rice – Owned by the University of Edinburgh, this exhibition space holds touring artists and their works, which tend to be centred on cultural issues. (Free entry, dependant on exhibitions)
• City Art Centre – A collection of historic and modern Scottish paintings, photography, sculpture and handcrafts. (Free entry)
• Dovecot – This is one of two working tapestry weaving studios that still exist in Britain. Set within a former Victorian public bathhouse, this magical space is where history is woven by a team of full-time weavers who are commissioned to create tapestries of famous artworks, sometimes taking several months to complete! (Free entry to see the weaving floor, exhibitions are paid)

Visit the fairytale view of Dean Village

Discover the quaint and romantic little pocket of Dean Village which is tucked away and not too far removed from the normal hustle and bustle of Edinburgh city life. This hidden little gem is situated along the Water of Leith and has a history that traces back to the 12th century, for its original purpose as a milling settlement.

From here you can stroll along the path that follows the Water of Leith right through to one of Edinburgh’s neighbourhoods, Stockbridge, which is a gorgeous area filled with cosy cafés, second-hand shops and a bookshop called Rare Birds Book Shop, which is dedicated to celebrating female authors and sharing the best of women’s fiction. 

Go vintage shopping

The most popular and iconic places to get vintage clothes from is Armstrong’s & Son, which is a vintage clothes shop that was established in 1840, making it one of the oldest of its kind in the UK. Here, you smell the age of the clothes, and you’ll be able to find any vintage fashion era you can imagine!

Soak up sunset from Calton Hill

Enjoy the warming shades of orange, yellow and red as the sun melts into the horizon. Calton Hill is a popular spot as it’s a 5-minute walk to the summit and you’re not too far from local bars and restaurants to head to straight after. The hill offers 360 panoramic views too, so you can choose to sit at whichever side your preferred view is.

Also, aside from boasting the most iconic and beautiful views overlooking Edinburgh’s skyline and onto Arthur’s Seat, found atop some of Edinburgh’s most important historical monuments!

Listen to live traditional folk music

To have a true experience of Edinburgh, head to a local pub and enjoy a local Scottish beer or whisky (or get a half-and-half, which is a half pint of beer with a dram of whisky) and see some live traditional folk music!

There are so many historic pubs across the city that show live music and welcome visitors to enjoy and embrace the jovial atmosphere. Plus, Edinburgh is filled with solo travellers and friendly folk, so heading to a pub is a great place to meet people (and also possibly get some great recommendations!)

Dance at a ceilidh!

Feeling brave? Why not learn the traditional Scottish dance at a local ceilidh club? Pronounced kay-lee, this traditional dance is accompanied by Gaelic folk music and is a lively and social affair, perfect for meeting people and having a great time.

Enjoy dining solo

Have you ever dined alone? You may find yourself surprised by just how many people do! And what a joy it can be.

Whether you bring a book along or simply soak up the ambience and people-watch, one of the best ways to enjoy a meal on your travels is alone. For more solo dining inspiration, check out our tips on

And finally… Is Edinburgh safe for solo female travellers? (As well as safety tips!)

Scotland’s capital city is both accessible and safe, both with its friendly atmosphere and well-patrolled streets I would say this is one of the best places for female travellers to go, especially if trying out solo travel for the first time.

Of course, as with anywhere you go (especially as a solo female traveller), you should always proceed in certain situations with caution. I suggest wearing a crossbody bag or bag which is easily secured and fastened, though pickpockets aren’t known to be a big problem in Edinburgh.

Also, if drinking alcohol be sure to do so responsibly as you are responsible for your safety and getting home ok. And never leave your drink unattended, if you are in a pub you can either ask the bartender to keep your drink behind the bar while you use the toilet or wait until you have finished. Although in most cases you will be fine, it’s always better to be on the side of caution.

A final note, I recommend checking in with someone back home once every day or two, mainly for the peace of mind of the people who may worry about you exploring a different place on your own!

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