The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is an exciting city explore, from its Fringe Festival in summer to the iconic Edinburgh Castle – a hub of many iconic events throughout the year and home to rich Scottish heritage.
Wander the city by foot, discover the impressive Palace of Holyroodhouse, experience the Edinburgh Dungeon, or embark on a Seafari Adventure – browse our city guide for more Edinburgh attractions.
See what else Edinburgh has to offer and book a romantic city break.
Camera Obscura & The World of Illusion
A truly unique attraction, the Camera Obscura show offers an unusual way to view the city, learning about Edinburgh from entertaining and friendly guides who share stories of the city’s past and present.
The world of illusions offers a range of ‘hands on’ exhibitions playing with light, illusions, and the way we see the world, from the ‘magic gallery’ to the ‘fun, games & stairway’ illusion lab. Admission costs £14.50 for adults and £10.50 for children, and opening times depend on the time of year.
Camera Obscura is a walk from our Edinburgh hotels.
The Royal Yacht Britannia
Explore the state apartments, crew’s quarters, the bridge, and the engine room of the now berthed Royal Yacht Britannia. The floating home of the Queen and the Royal family for over 40 years, a tour of the Britannia offers a glimpse into life on the yacht, following in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Rajiv Gandhi. Before embarking on the audio tour around the Britannia, visitors can learn about the history of the Royal Yachts and peruse the displays and photographs of this impressive royal residence.
Opening times vary depending on the time of year, and admission costs £15 for adults and £8.50 for children (5-17), with under 5’s entering for free. The Royal Yacht Britannia is a short drive from our Leonardo Edinburgh Hotels.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Housed in a beautiful red sandstone neo-gothic palace, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery offers a range of different displays to tell Scotland’s story. With portraits of famous historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, and Robert Burns, as well as more recent Scottish heroes and heroines of science, sport, and the arts, the gallery allows visitors to immerse in history, surrounded by incredible architecture.
Admission is free and the gallery is open daily 10am-5pm, closing at 7pm on Thursdays. The portrait gallery is a short walk from our Edinburgh hotels.
The Writers’ Museum
Celebrating the lives of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson, The Writers’ Museum is filled with artefacts, portraits, rare books, and personal objects of the writers, from Burns’ writing desk to Scott’s rocking horse. The museum is housed in the historic Lady Stair’s House, dating as far back as 1622, and is filled with first editions, manuscripts, and the printing press on which Scott’s Waverley novels were printed. This museum is a ‘must’ lovers of books and literature, especially admirers of iconic Scottish writers!
The museum offers free entry and is open Monday – Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sundays 12pm to 5pm (August only). Our Leonardo Edinburgh hotels are a short walk from The Writers’ Museum.
Scottish Opera
Experience something new and exciting during your visit to Edinburgh with Scottish Opera! The Scottish Opera stage many productions in Edinburgh's theatres throughout the year, for current and future productions, please visit the Scottish Opera website.
Edinburgh Zoo
With more than 1,000 rare and beautiful animals, Edinburgh Zoo offers a fantastic day out for all. From the Penguins Rock to the Giant Panda Experience, there is plenty to explore and learn at Scotland's largest and most exciting wildlife attraction.
Tickets cost £19.00 for adults and £14.55 for children aged 3-15, with opening times depending on season. Edinburgh Zoo is a short drive from Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh and Leonardo Edinburgh Murrayfield.
Our Dynamic Earth
Enjoy the most fantastic journey on Earth at one of Scotland’s hottest attractions. Our Dynamic Earth offers an interactive experience that will engage, excite, and teach even the most reluctant! You will dive deep beneath the oceans, get caught in a tropical rainstorm, become shaken by earthquakes, and even fly over glaciers. You will have the opportunity to travel back in time and witness the Big Bang with the brand new Deep Time Machine.
This immersive experience costs £13.50 for adults (16+) and £9.00 for children (3-15) on the door, however tickets can be purchased slightly cheaper online. Opening times are dependent on season but are roughly 10am – 5.30pm. Our Dynamic Earth is situated a swift walk from our hotels in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Dungeons
The ultimate thrill-filled journey through Scotland’s murky past! The Edinburgh Dungeons brings together an amazing cast of theatrical actors, special effects, stages, scenes and rides in a truly unique and exciting walkthrough experience that you see, hear, touch, smell and feel. It’s hilarious fun and it’s sometimes a bit scary.
‘On the door’ tickets cost £17.50 for adults aged 16 and above, with a child ticket (under 15) costing £13.50. Cheaper online tickets are available. Opening times are dependent on season as well as day of the week, take a look at the full list of opening hours. The Dungeons are just a short walk from Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh and Leonardo Edinburgh City.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle sits in the heart of the city and is arguably the centre of Scottish culture and heritage. Affording beautiful views of Edinburgh city centre, as well as offering a fantastic day of immersion into Scottish history, this castle is an attraction that just should not be missed.
An adult ticket costs £16 for over 16s with a child ticket costing £9.60 for ages 5-15. Edinburgh Castle opens 9.30am – 6pm (closing an hour earlier October- March) with last entry one hour before closing time. The Castle is an enjoyable 15 minute walk from Leonardo Edinburgh Haymarket.
Lauriston Castle
Travel back to 1926 as you explore the artefacts, ornaments, collections, artwork, and elegant furniture of Lauriston Castle. With parts of the castle dating as far back as 1593, the family home has a long history, however, today the interior reflects the décor of its last owner and is filled with Eastern carpets, intricate line engravings, Crossley wool mosaics, and Southern Italian furniture. The exterior offers beautiful views from the garden, overlooking Firth of Forth and Cramond Island.
The castle is only available by guided tours, which run at 2pm Sunday to Thursday, April to October, and at the same time on weekends only November to March. The tour costs £5 for adults and £3 for children, and Lauriston Castle is a less than a 20 minute drive from our Leonardo Hotels in Edinburgh.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
This magnificent Baroque palace offers a fantastic day out for all visitors. Grand, stunning, and bursting with Scottish history, Palace of Holyroodhouse is a popular Edinburgh attraction because of its close link with Scotland's monarchy as well as being home to the famous Mary, Queen of Scots.
Opening times at the palace depend on season. Admission includes an audio tour and costs £16.90 for adults and £9.50 for 5-17 year olds. The Palace is located under a short walk from our hotels in Edinburgh.
Holyrood Park
Adventure onto the crags and hills of Holyrood Park. Set high above the city with breath-taking vistas of Edinburgh below, the park offers a refreshing walk amongst the natural landscape, as well as thousands of years of history and archaeology. Head to Arthur’s Seat (the highest point of Holyrood at 251 metres above sea level) for panoramic views of the city and beyond, visit the medieval ruin of St Anthony’s Chapel, or enjoy the tranquillity of St Margret’s Loch – Holyrood Park offers a great day out for the whole family.
Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh is a 11-minute walk from Holyrood Park.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Set amongst 70 acres of lush landscaped grounds, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is ‘renowned for its horticultural excellence’ and ‘provides a tranquil haven’. The garden is filled with a range of different plants and flowers from around the world, including wild-origin Chinese plants, a Scottish Heath Garden (recreating the landscape of the highlands), Rock Garden, Herbaceous Border, and the Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden
Explore the diverse range of glasshouses, from the beautiful Victorian Temperate Palm House to the Rainforest Riches, or stroll the Arboretum and Woodland Garden. The garden is free to enter but the glasshouses admission costs £5.20 for adults (children under 15 enter for free), opening times for the garden and glasshouses vary depending on the time of year.
Edinburgh Ghost Tour
Explore Edinburgh under a different light with the terrifying and exciting Ghost Tours. Discover every ‘nook and cranny’ of this fantastic city, learning along the way stories of mysterious happenings and historical events. The Ghost Tours offer a great day out for all, immersing yourself in the long and rich history of the old town as you enter a world of witchcraft, ghosts and the plague.
Ticket prices depend on the tour you choose, varying roughly between £8 and £14 for an adult, but please take a look their online booking for specific prices. The Ghost Tours start at The Mercat Cross just outside St Giles Cathedral, close to our hotels in Edinburgh.
Gyle Shopping
Filled with big brand names from M& S and Monsoon to the Disney Store and The Body Shop, Gyle Shopping Centre offers visitors a bustling hub for a day of retail.
Situated a little outside the city centre, Gyle Shopping Centre is less than a 20 minute drive from our Leonardo Edinburgh hotels.
Grassmarket
Oozing a ‘medieval atmosphere’ and Scottish heritage, Grassmarket offers specialist shopping bursting with craftsmen and ‘artisans’, as well as over 90% independent stores. You can buy everything from vintage and designer fashion to books, photography, music, and more as you stroll the cobbled winding streets.
Grassmarket sits a short walk from our hotels in Edinburgh.