2 Days in Edinburgh: The Perfect First Time Itinerary

All it takes is 2 days in Edinburgh for this charming city to capture your heart. I have been to Edinburgh twice, and always feel the pull to go back when I think of my time spent there. Magical Edinburgh awaits…

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There is something about the old world charm, gothic architecture, often moody skies, and dark academic atmosphere that will draw you in. Walking through Edinburgh’s narrow streets and rich history feels like stepping into a novel. It’s exactly why famous authors and novels have come out of Edinburgh for decades (think Harry Potter, Sir Walter Scott, Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes).

If you have 2 days in Edinburgh to explore all this lovely city has to offer, this is your best itinerary for the full experience. Get ready to taste real Scotch, go back in time in Edinburgh Castle, and be transported into Scottish history and lore of Auld Reekie.

If you’re planning to explore more of Scotland after your time in Edinburgh, check out my full one week Scotland itinerary.

When my husband and I left for our 6 month trip to 18 countries, we knew that airfare would be one of the single largest individual costs of our trip. So, after a little bit of research, we found a way to get affordable flights all over the world: travel credit cards.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.

The first note here that I need to make is that almost no flight is truly free, you do have to pay the taxes and fees. But, what if I told you I just bought a $6 flight from North Carolina, USA to Athens, Greece this week. Or that I’ve spent only $11 for me and Colton to fly from NC to Turkey?

Would you believe those numbers?

I never in a million years thought I could fly abroad for less than a few hundred dollars, and that’s if I somehow found an amazing deal!

It wasn’t until I came across travel credit cards and the world of points and miles that I understood how these serial travelers I was seeing everywhere were affording their flights.

The trick was, they were barely paying for them.

So, after tons of research, applying for credit cards, hitting bonuses, and of course getting everything in order to leave home for 6 months to travel, I bought our one way flights out of the country for $11.

How did we do it?

The world of points and miles, of course!

Let me tell you how we did it and give you the information you need to start earning free flights with your credit card!

Let me preface this with one statement: the world of points and miles is BIG and there is a lot that you honestly don’t need to know to just get started.

So, I’m going to give you the most necessary information to get you started and cut out all the fluff. Let’s go!

I promise you this is not a scam, because maybe that’s the first place your mind is headed when I say “free” flights.

In fact, paying with points and miles to purchase flights at insanely low prices is entirely legal, I promise!

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What Are Points and Miles

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Points and miles are the reward currency of airlines and hotels: aka loyalty points.

I’m not talking about the points you earn by flying with an airline repeatedly, that you only rack up over several years.

I’m talking about points and miles you earn just from having the credit card you already use!

Each bank or airline that offers credit cards with points and miles use them as an alternative currency for purchasing flights.

Many of the banks that offer travel credit cards have both airline and non-airline branded credit cards: a.k.a the airline the bank has partnered with offers airline miles as the sign up bonus, not credit card points. Those miles can only be used with that airline.

If you apply for a bank branded card with no airline association, you’ll earn points with that bank that can then be transferred to their airline or hotel partners.

How To Get Points And Miles With Travel Credit Cards?

The fastest way, and most likely reason why you’re wanting a travel credit card, is to earn points with a sign up bonus.

Most banks offer a sign up bonus of varying amounts after a certain amount of qualifying purchases on the card in the first few months.

It might sound something like this: “earn 60k bonus points when you spend $3,000 dollars on purchases in the first 4 months.” Yadah yadah.

But, you will also earn points while using your card on your everyday purchases! Some cards offer bonus categories, like 3x on grocery purchases, or 2x at restaurants, etc. So, when you spend money on your card, you’ll earn points in return that can be redeemed for various things, like flights or hotel stays.

Generally, if you’re wanting to redeem miles for flights or hotels, you’re going to need a good chunk of miles to do so.

You can purchase some domestic flights with as little as 8,500k points one way, but if you’re flying international, it will likely cost you 15k one way, at the very least.

Of course, the cost of award flights in points can greatly vary and is not always directly tied to the cash ticket price.

Other ways to earn points with travel credit cards include anniversary bonuses, giveaways, and transfer bonuses. These come and go and aren’t something I would rely on.

For the purposes of this post, which is all about a beginner’s guide to free flights with points and miles, sign up bonuses are your very best friend.

How Much Are Points and Miles Worth?

Not all points are created equal.

Some points are more valuable than others simply because you can transfer and redeem them in more ways.

Points and miles also get their value depending on the deal you get when redeeming them.

Let me give you an example scenario to explain…

For example, let’s say you have 75k Capital One miles and you want to fly from Atlanta, Georgia to Athens, Greece for an amazing holiday eating delicious Mediterranean food and swimming in crystal clear waters for 8 days.

These are the flights you’re looking at. They’ll take you to Greece during the best time to visit, late summer when it isn’t too crowded and not too hot.

You have a few options for how you can book these flights with points

Option 1: Redeem Points with a Travel Portal

Option 1 is to redeem your points through Capital One Travel and their online portal. When you do this, you’re going to get a fixed redemption rate of 1¢ per mile.

So your 75k miles would be worth $750 for travel. You could use those 75k miles to buy a flight worth up to $750 through the Capital One Travel portal. That’s over half of what this ticket is worth. So you would still have to pay about $390+ on top of your 75k miles for this ticket.

We can definitely do better than that!

Option 2: Transfer to a Partner

Option 2 would be to transfer your Capital One miles to one of their airline transfer partners, then book the flight on their website using your points.

If you did this, those 75k miles could become 75k FlyingBlue points (Air France & KLM’s loyalty program and one of Capital One’s transfer partners).

The same exact flight booked on Air France with cash would cost you $1,142.

But, you can transfer your points from Capital One and over to FlyingBlue, so now you have up to 75k FlyingBlue miles! Let’s use them!

If you use FlyingBlue to book the exact same flight, you would only need 30,000 miles and $208 in taxes & fees. Way better than using all 75k and only covering half of the cost!

And, instead of paying $1,142 out of pocket for a round trip ticket to Europe, you’re only paying $208 plus 30,000 points.

*you want to transfer only the amount of points you need. In this scenario, thats only 30k of the 75k.

In this scenario, you would be redeeming your Capital One points, through FlyingBlue, for 3.1cents per mile. Now that’s more like it!

This is why points can be so valuable and why transfer partners can be the best way to go when redeeming points.

I know that was a lot, so let me summarize if for you:

Out of pocket price for ticket Atlanta to Athens: $1142 on Air France/KLM
Price of same ticket booked through Capital One Travel: 75k miles + $392
Price of same ticket booked through FlyingBlue after transferring Capital One miles: 30,000 miles + $208 in taxes and fees.

You would come out of this deal with around 45k Capital One miles left in the bank. That’s enough to buy you another roundtrip flight to Europe.

Now THAT’S how we use points and miles to our advantage 🙂

RESOURCE: Free List of Transfer Partners & Airline Alliances + How to Use Them

*be sure to only transfer the points you need and no more so you can keep the extra points with your bank and transfer them elsewhere in the future*

How Do You Redeem Points And Miles For Flights?

The way that we typically redeem our points and miles is by using them to purchase flights. We do this by transferring our credit card points to transfer partners.

The scenario above is a great example of how we would use our points and miles to get amazing deals on flights.

Here is that chart again that I made to show you where you can transfer points based on what program you’ve accumulated points with.

The process of transferring points can be a bit complicated, but I’m going to help you out here.

Here is the basic rundown of how to redeem your points for flights:

Accumulate points on your credit card
Research credit card airlines transfer partners
Search Google Flights or Skyscanner to find flight routes
Search for award flights on airline transfer partners
Find desired flights and see how many points/money required to book them
Create a frequent flier account with airline if you don’t already have one
Transfer points on your bank’s website to transfer partner of choice
Book those flights!!

To use the example from above, I would find the flights I want and make sure I have enough points to pay for them. Then, I would log into Capital One and go to the Capital One Travel portal to transfer my points to FlyingBlue. Once my points were transferred, I would buy my flights!

The real trick is finding award flight availability and the deals that are out there waiting to be had! It takes a little bit of time and practice but you’ll get the gist!

What Travel Credit Cards Are Best?

For me to answer this question, you’ll need to ask yourself a question first: what are your goals?

Are you looking to cover some international long haul flights? Maybe you’re an avid domestic traveler and would like to cover a few legs of travel for your upcoming trips. Would you like to stay in nice hotels for just the cost of fees?

It’s good to look at the options and decide what you think will work best for your goals!

If you want to cover some flights, I would find a card that has great travel benefits and flexible rewards. If you’re more interested in hotel stays, get a hotel branded card!

You can find my favorite travel credit cards and all the information about them on my
Travel Credit Cards Recommendations page.

Want my help choosing a travel credit card?
Fill out my Free Credit Card Consultation Form & I’ll email you personalized recommendations!

“Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.”

How Many Days Do You Need in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a charming city, and I guarantee you that you’ll really never want to leave. However, I feel that 2-3 days is the ideal amount of time to experience Edinburgh if you are only in Scotland for a week or so.

Of course, you could stay longer and certainly enjoy yourself, but in order to really hit the must see spots in Edinburgh, 2 days should be good.

How to Get Around in Edinburgh

Much of what you’ll want to see in Edinburgh can either be reached by foot or public transportation. While you might be considering renting a car during your time in Scotland, especially if you plan to head north, a car is not necessary in Edinburgh. In fact, having a car in Edinburgh may prove to be more of an inconvenience than anything.

The best way to get around Edinburgh, in my opinion, is to walk! This way you get to really experience just how magical it feels to walk the streets of Edinburgh.

For activities that are outside of the city center and a bit harder to walk to, or if you’re staying slightly outside of town, the bus system is best.

How to Use The Bus System In Edinburgh

The buses in and around Edinburgh are quite easy to use. Lothian Buses operates the city buses with Edinburgh and the surrounding neighborhoods.

You can either pay by cash or card, and Lothian has recently implemented contactless payments to make it very convenient.

If you use the same card to pay for all of your trips on Lothian Buses, they will automatically charge you the next day for the appropriate ticket type. The maximum daily ticket price is £4.80 per day.

Lothian Buses also offer airport buses, country buses, and night buses. You can find a full list of Lothian Buses services and timetables on their website.

2 Days in Edinburgh Itinerary

This 2 day Edinburgh itinerary is designed to be flexible. Take these activity recommendations and order them however you see fit to make the most of your time and meet your travel needs.

Day 1: 2 Days in Edinburgh Itinerary

Your first day in Edinburgh, I recommend you do a good amount of walking around town to get the vibe of this wonderful city.

A few things to keep in mind:
– Edinburgh Castle tickets are often difficult if not impossible to get the day of, so plan ahead.
– Weather can change quickly in Edinburgh, so I recommend layering and having rain gear with you if the weather report suggests rain at all (and even if it doesn’t).
– Walking around the Old Town and New Town areas is fairly easy, but do be aware that there are many hills and lots of uneven cobblestones and old streets.

Edinburgh Castle

An absolute must-do in Edinburgh is exploring Edinburgh Castle that stands over the city. You’ll be unable to miss it, as it sits up high above the rest of Edinburgh.

Inside the castle grounds, you’ll find many interesting spots including Mons Meg, the National War Museum, the Great Hall, Honours of Scotland, and more!

Tickets for the castle are limited each day and can often sell out ahead of time. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance to make sure you are able to visit on the ideal day of your trip.

You can purchase tickets to Edinburgh Castle online here.

Prince’s Street Gardens

Just below Edinburgh Castle are the Prince’s Street Gardens. Not only are the gardens a lovely place to wander around, you’ll also get amazing views of the castle from here! My favorite view is from right beside Ross Fountain.

One of my favorite places to visit is the Gardener’s Cottage, located within the gardens. Though you cannot go inside, it’s such a cute little cottage to see. I like to imagine I live in the cottage and work in the gardens. What a quaint life!

Still inside the gardens and a short walk from the Gardener’s Cottage is Scott Monument. This iconic gothic fixture is a must see in Edinburgh. The Monument is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, the famous Scottish historian and author well loved by his countrymen.

You are actually able to climb to the third floor viewing platform in Scott Monument for £8 and learn more about Sir Walter Scott and his impact on Scotland.

Tickets can be purchased at the Scott Monument kiosk, and are not available online.

Royal Mile

Though not actually a full mile, the Royal Mile is the street that runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood House on the other end. While you’re in Edinburgh, you’ll likely spend a lot of time here as many of the main sites to see are either on the Royal Mile or right off of it.

High Street, which makes up the majority of the mile, has played a significant role in Edinburgh life throughout the years. As you walk along, you’ll likely hear bagpipes as you pop in and out of little trinket shops and pubs. Here, you’ll also find a few red telephone booths that are perfect for a photo op as you walk!

As you walk be sure to note St. Giles Cathedral, and pop inside to view the beautiful design and architecture featuring an iconic blue ceiling.

If you’re a bookworm, Edinburgh is well known for its quaint bookstores with impressively curated book selections. Armchair Books is highly rated, as well as McNaughton’s & Transreal Fiction.

Victoria Street

Just off of High Street, you’ll find many beautiful streets lined with cute shops and stunning architecture. Victoria Street is the most colorful, fun little street in Edinburgh and has loads of adorable shops as well. While you’re here be sure to stop into Oink Victoria Street for one of their famous hog roasts (a pulled pork sandwich).

brightly colored buildings in Edinburgh Scotland Victoria Street

If you continue down Victoria Street to Grassmarket, you’ll find even more great shops, bookstores, and pubs. Just around the corner, there is a fantastic photo spot with great views of the castle. You’ll want to walk across Grassmarket and turn onto Vennel, where you’ll see a set of stairs. On these stairs, you’ll have a great view of Edinburgh Castle!

Calton Hill

For some of the most iconic views of Edinburgh, be sure to walk up to Calton Hill. You probably recognize the National Monument of Scotland with the view of Edinburgh behind it. This spot is very popular for pictures and to take in the entirety of the city!

Afternoon Tea

If a fancy afternoon tea interests you, there are a few spots in town to get the experience. For a more luxury, high end afternoon tea, try The Balmoral Hotel. If you’re looking for something a little more casual that offers a memorable experience, try The Witchery. And for something extra fun and kid friendly, try Wizards Tea at The Cauldron.

Day 2: 2 Days in Edinburgh Itinerary

Palace of Holyroodhouse

On the opposite end of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle is the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This 16th century palace is associated with The Stuarts and figures like Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. These days, the palace is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland.

Holyroodhouse is open 7 days a week in July, August, and September, and operates on a more limited schedule the rest of the year. You can find the current and updated opening times on the official Holyroodhouse Palace website.

Tours of Holyroodhouse start at £20 per adult if purchased in advance, and are £22 if purchased day of.

You can purchase your Holyroodhouse Palace tour tickets here.

Arthur’s Seat

For the most fantastic views of Edinburgh and to get your heartrate up a bit, be sure to climb Arthur’s Seat. Arthur’s Seat is the highest point of what is actually an ancient volcano right in the heart of Edinburgh. It’s located within Holyrood Park behind Holyroodhouse Palace.

The walk takes around 30 minutes to an hour and has multiple options to reach the top. You can take one route that is less strenuous and one that is a little bit harder with more dramatic views.

To take the easier route, start at Salisbury Crags and stay left on the trail all the way to the top.

If you’re looking for a little more challenging path, turn right at the beginning of the trail at Salisbury Crags and follow the steeper path up to Arthur’s Seat.

The Real Mary King’s Close

Many people don’t know that there is a whole other world below the streets of Edinburgh. There is a network of streets and tunnels below the City Chambers on the Royal Mile, located at Mary King’s Close. Between the 17th and 19th century, these streets actually home to people who lived and worked below the main streets of Edinburgh.

Today, you can explore with a guide and learn about the people who worked and lived down below. On top of that, there are a few spooky ghost stories in the tour as well! For that reason, I think the tour is fun to do later in the day or at night.

I recommend this tour of Real Mary King’s Close Tour tickets here.

Dean Village

An incredibly beautiful neighborhood in Edinburgh that has become a great place to see while in the city is Dean Village. While the village is a residential area, the architecture is what draws people. It’s located on the Water of Leith and features 17th century architecture that begs to be photographed!

You don’t need much time to visit Dean Village, maybe about an hour or so to enjoy the views and get a feel for the quaint area. It is a short walk from Prince’s Street or George Street. It only takes about 30 minutes walking from the center of the Royal Mile.

You can alternatively opt to take a taxi or public transportation to Dean Village if 30 minutes of walking isn’t in your schedule for the day!

Dean Village is a residential area, so please be respectful and refrain from crossing onto private property.

Scotch Whisky Experience

To dive into the world of Scotch Whisky, visit the Scotch Whisky Experience just outside of Edinburgh Castle. Here, you’ll get the chance to learn about the cultural significance of Scotch and taste the drams.

There are five tour options, ranging from a tour with a single whisky tasting all the way up to a full whisky and Scottish culinary experience. The tours are likely to sell out, so be sure to plan ahead and book your tickets in advance!

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

If you’re able to stay in the central part of Edinburgh, it will likely be the most convenient. We did stay slightly outside of town to save a bit of money, and we took the bus in and out of town. This ended up working out fine for us and we would recommend this method if you’re on a budget.

If you’re spending 2 days in Edinburgh, you’ll ideally want to stay as close to Old Town or New Town as possible to make getting around time efficient.

Luxury: The Balmoral Hotel

Mid-Range: ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile

Budget: CoDe Pod – The CoURT

What to Eat in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a fun place to try some of Scotland’s most traditional and iconic foods! Haggis, anyone?

Haggis

Possibly the most well known traditional Scottish food is haggis. But there is often a lot of confusion about just what exactly Haggis is made of. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland and a must try while in the bonnie country. It’s a type of pudding made from the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep, or other animal. The ingredients are boiled inside the stomach of the sheep.

People often turn their noses up to haggis, but frankly I love it! Some of the best places in Edinburgh to try Haggis in Edinburgh are Arcade Bar, The Haggis Box, and Halfway House.

Smoked Salmon

Maybe you’ve tried smoked salmon before and know it as lox. But you haven’t had Scottish smoked salmon! Wild salmon swims up into the rivers of Scotland and makes for the freshest and most delicious salmon you’ll ever taste! It can also be enjoyed in other ways than smoked, though I love the flavor!

The best places in Edinburgh to try delicious Scottish salmon are Mussel Inn Seafood Restaurant and Howies.

Black Pudding

Here is another Scottish food that is often overlooked or looked down upon: black pudding, also called blood sausage. While it’s made from similar ingredients as haggis, it’s pork blood that binds the ingredients together. It’s often enjoyed as part of a full Scottish breakfast and is popular all over the UK!

Where to eat Black Pudding in Edinburgh: Makars Mash Bar

Bangers & Mash

A popular comfort dish in the United Kingdom is Bangers & Mash, a dish of mashed potatoes topped with sausage and an onion gravy.

This is one you’ll love, as it’s a familiar mix of items in a tasty and cozy combination.

We really enjoyed our Bangers & Mash at George IV Bar a short walk off the Royal Mile near St. Giles Cathedral.

Cullen Skink

This fish soup surprised me and quickly became one of my favorite cozy Scottish meals. It’s a soup made of haddock, potato, and onions. It’s a wonderful meal to warm you up on a cold day.

One of the best places to eat Cullen Skin in Edinburgh is The Magnum Restaurant

Fish & Chips

Though not uniquely Scottish, fish & chips is a staple meal that you should be sure to try while in Edinburgh. Battered and fried cod with a side of chips, and topped with malt vinegar (that’s how I like it!)

2 Day Edinburgh Itinerary Thoughts

There are many ways you can spend 2 days in Edinburgh. I feel this itinerary is one of the most well-rounded ways to see the city!

Leave any questions or comments below about this 2 day Edinburgh itinerary, and enjoy your time in Scotland!

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What Are Points and Miles

How To Get Points And Miles With Travel Credit Cards?

How Much Are Points and Miles Worth?