As Edinburgh locals well know, there is no shortage of things to do in the city for a day or night out.
For tourists who only have a limited time to spend in the capital, all of the options can be overwhelming.
From the obvious hotspots such as Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile to hidden gems like the Surgeons' Hall Museums, you could easily spend days and days seeing all of the sights.
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To help those struggling to decide what to do, we have compiled a list of the major tourist attractions in Edinburgh and ranked them by their rating on TripAdvisor.
While it would be nigh-impossible to include every single possible attraction in the city, we've rounded up some of the biggest and most popular spots amongst locals and tourists.
All of the sights on this list scored either 4 or 4.5 out of 5, and so we have arranged them by the number of reviews they have on the travel company's website.
Edinburgh Castle
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 51,760
Given how iconic and popular it is, Edinburgh Castle was always going to place first on this list. It's a must-see for both locals and tourists, and if you haven't checked out the world-famous spot already, you need to go at least once in your life.
What one person said: "This is surely at the top of the list for must-see attractions in Edinburgh. It is a little pricey to get in, but the price is worth it because you could spend all day here. The "castle" is really more of a compound with various museums and memorials to see. We spent over half a day there, and that was rushing to see everything!"
Royal Mile
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 25,432
Edinburgh locals know all too well how popular the Royal Mile is amongst tourists, and with good reason. The iconic stretch of road connecting Edinburgh Castle with Holyrood Palace is chock-full of street performers, cafes, shops, and more.
What one person said: "More shops than you can visit. The Must Go area for Tourist !!!! The Edinburgh Castle at the end of the Mile. Cathedrals, tour vendors, restaurants, shops, Pubs. Get a caricature, see the Bag Pipers, Scotch Stores, Check out a "CLOSE" We couldn't stay away kept going back over 3 days in Edinburgh."
Royal Yacht Britannia
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 22,615
The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the Queen Elizabeth II, in service from 1954 until 1997. The five-star visitor attraction is a great place to learn more about stories of life at sea for both the Royal Family and the 220 Royal Yachtsmen who served on board.
What one person said: "One of the best tourist attractions we've ever been to. Everything about it, from the welcoming and friendly staff, the audio commentary, location, setting and contents of the yacht itself are amazing. A thoroughly interesting, fascinating insight into the private lives of the Royals and the dedicated crews who looked after them. Such a shame it was decommissioned, but at least it lives on in this form. Brilliant day out."
National Museum of Scotland
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 21,680
The highest-ranking of all the museums and galleries on this list, the National Museum of Scotland is a must-see if you're even remotely interested in anything from science and technology to art and fashion to Scottish history.
What one person said: "Just the best place to take kids in Edinburgh. Free and jam packed. Take your time, visit twice...and encourage the children to save some pocket money for the gift shop. Clean toilets and facilities, good breathing space for parents too after the hustle and bustle of the other main attractions and Royal Mile."
Arthur's Seat
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 21,302
Everyone who lives in or visits Edinburgh needs to hike up Arthur's Seat at least once, if only to experience the stunning views of the city from the peak.
What one person said: "Only my second time up this hill, I had just as much fun climbing it! The camaraderie with other hikers is palpable, and the view at the top is breathtaking. Best way to fully appreciate the city of Edinburgh and her stunning gothic spires! Bring plenty of water, maybe some snacks for the trip and be prepared for some strong gusts at the peak!"
The Real Mary King's Close
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 18,338
This historic close, located under buildings on the Royal Mile, should be the top of anyone's list who is interested in Edinburgh's rich, dramatic, and mysterious history.
What one person said: "This tour is to be highly recommended. The experience is rewarding on several levels and the guides are fun, informative and generous in spirit. We both had a good time throughout the entire tour and left educated interested and fascinated."
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 14,940
For those after something a bit more contemporary, you can't go wrong with Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. Host to more than 100 mind-bending optical tricks and illusions such as the vortex tunnel, mirror maze, and shrinking room, this will make you feel like a kid again.
What one person said: "Absolutely fantastic. Lovely staff, really know their stuff. All staff were friendly and approachable, they came up to us to offer extra information but they weren’t too over the top. Really cool interactive activities and can take loads of fun photos. Would definitely recommend a visit, great price and fab for all the family."
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 11,639
The Queen's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the place to go if you want to learn more about historical Scottish icons such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
What one person said: "We had a great visit to the palace and learnt lots more about the city’s history. The staff were welcoming and the audio guide was informative. The only downside was the gardens being closed without any explanation. The abbey was also shut but that was for safety. Would definitely recommend, we spent around 1.5 hours here."
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 7,668
If it's a warm, sunny day, and you don't feel like spending it all stuck inside, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the best of its kind in the world — so you'd be daft to not at least go check it out. Highlights include the Rock Garden, the Alpine Houses, and Woodland Garden.
What one person said: "One of my favourite places in Edinburgh! I love spending time here. There're so many different areas to explore and the Koi Fish ponds in the Glass houses alone are worth the admission price into the Glass house areas. The restaurant and cafe serve really good food with great customer service."
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 6,763
Those who like a dram of whisky — or whiskey if you live outside Scotland — should head straight to The Scotch Whisky Experience, where they can learn more about how the water of life is created, and even try some themselves.
What one person said: "The Scots call whisky Uisge Beath, the water of life. The Scotch Whisky Experience tells you the story. We took the Gold tour, which included a total of six tastings. Fun, informative, and slightly intoxicating. You'll learn a lot about whisky and can even book a package that includes dinner with more whisky pairings."
The Edinburgh Dungeon
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 5,929
The Edinburgh Dungeon isn't as scary as its reputation might lead you to believe, but it's nonetheless a fun day out with the family where you can learn more about Scotland's history in a fun and interactive setting.
What one person said: "Absolutely loved our dungeon experience. The actors and sets were superb and stories so interesting. Was slightly nervous about the fear factor but it was more entertaining than frightening. Some 10 year old children were there which I thought was too young (but parents will be able to judge how their kids will handle it). Be prepared to join in and laugh when you get picked on to play a part!"
Scottish National Gallery
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 5,497
If you're an art lover, you can't leave the city without at least checking out the Scottish National Gallery. One of the country's top free visitor attractions, it houses Scotland’s national collection of fine art from the early Renaissance to the end of the nineteenth century.
What one person said: "I love a good art gallery! It was really nice inside and there was a range of different paintings! There was plenty of information about the art and the overall atmosphere was really laid back! The reason I gave 4/5 stars was just because typically I enjoy more abstract art and there wasn’t a lot available for viewing, as well as renovations taking place which made entering the building quite confusing for us tourists!"
Dynamic Earth
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 2,759
Those of us who are old enough to recall when Dynamic Earth first opened in 1999 will remember how exciting it was to head into the interactive centre for the first time. Almost 25 years later and it still offers an unbeatable way to learn more about planet Earth.
What one person said: "A brilliant day out. Wasn't sure what to expect as had never heard of Dynamic Earth. So glad we decided to visit. Well priced in and in a lovely part of Edinburgh just behind Holyrood and overlooked by Arthur's Seat. All of the staff were so friendly, welcoming and played their parts really well. Both I and my 9 year old loved the whole experience. Topped off by Capcom1 in the Planetarium. If you're looking for something to do in Edinburgh this is a must."
Scott Monument
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 2,746
One of the less subtle tourist attractions in the city, odds are you've seen the Scott Monument even if you weren't aware of its name. The 200-foot spire is dedicated to Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott.
What one person said: "You really can't miss this monument as it towers over Princes Street and the gardens! And why not - he was a brilliant writer and helped restore the history and prestige of Scotland. The Gothic architecture has some fascinating details but the stonework could really do with a clean to get rid of the soot incrustation, so that it can sparkle like the Prince Albert Monument in London!"
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 2,689
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is almost worth seeing for the building alone — a mammoth red sandstone neo-gothic palace — let alone the thousands of painting and sculptures contained within.
What one person said: "A completely unexpected gem on our visit to Edinburgh. We were staying a few blocks away and decided to stop in. It's free and it's packed with artwork accompanied by easy-to-read placards that help explain the history and visuals you're taking in. They also have interactive quiz-type activities for kids. This was an interesting way to learn about some of the Scottish history that we later learned about at the Castle as well. If you're nearby, this is definitely worth a visit. We were only able to stay an hour due to being with kids who tapped out ... but if we were without kids, we would have stayed longer to enjoy more."
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 1,702
One of the lesser-known museums in the capital, the Surgeons' Hall Museums is — as the name suggests — likely to appeal to the more medically inclined. It boasts one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom.
What one person said: "What a great museum. The museum nicely explained how over time we have understood the workings of the human body and the advances in technology as a result. The pathology specimens were really interesting and my children enjoyed the questionnaire as we went round. I would highly recommend a visit."
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Rating: 4.5/5
Number of reviews: 641
For the art fans who like something a bit more contemporary as opposed to the historic paintings and sculptures in the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art houses a collection of modern and contemporary art dating from about 1900 to the present.
What one person said: "We visited Modern Two for the Ray Harryhausen exhibition which was fantastic. The gallery is bright, spacious with friendly staff. Exhibition was easy to navigate by signs. Although we didnt eat, there was a clean, spacious cafe with a good menu and a gift shop. Ladies toilets are stunning, loved the tiles! We also visited Modern One which was equally as good although the older gentleman at the door was a bit regimented. Well worth a visit."
Edinburgh Zoo
Rating: 4/5
Number of reviews: 8,862
While it may surprise some to find Edinburgh Zoo so far down on this list, it was nonetheless praised by TripAdvisor users for its diverse selection of animals and pleasant scenery — just make sure to avoid peak times.
What one person said: "Lots of animals to see, and all the animals looked happy which was fantastic! Only point which was negative, was that it was really busy and found it hard to view some of the animals such as the chimpanzees or the pandas. So keep that in mind when visiting! Spent hours viewing all the animals. A personal favourite were the sloths, and Koalas. It was feeding time for the sloths and got to see one up close!"
Greyfriars Bobby
Rating: 4/5
Number of reviews: 2,904
As reviewers on TripAdvisor rightly pointed out, there isn't all that much to see here, but you need to get at least one photo of yourself rubbing Bobby's nose for luck!
What one person said: "Well if you are in the area why not. We were wandering around Edinburgh and saw a know of people around this statue. We queued as you do to rub Bobbies nose and take photos. I cannot say that it was a particular highlight of our trip but it was a pleasant stop during a walk."
The Scottish Parliament
Rating: 4/5
Number of reviews: 1,762
Whether you love it or hate it, you need to check out The Scottish Parliament's unusual architecture for yourself to properly judge it. The outside of the building is also a great spot to take a breather and grab a bite to eat — assuming it's not raining.
What one person said: "We passed by the Parliament while walking to the Holyrood Palace. It is strategically situated nearby Arthur’s Seat as well and hence as a nice view of this historic hill. However, it is a very strange Parliament – Art has different facet. Nothing much to visit/discover except if you like Politics."
Museum of Childhood
Rating: 4/5
Number of reviews: 1,234
The Museum of Childhood can't compete with the major museums and galleries, but it's nonetheless a fun day out where you fill find find toys, games, clothes, books and dolls, dating from the 1800s to the present day.
What one person said: "This is a nice, little (free!) museum to visit if you're already passing. Very interesting to step back in time and see all the different toys from the past. The room full of dolls is creepy but fascinating! There aren't many toys from the 80's or 90's so unfortunately it isn't a trip down memory lane for me as it might be for some. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but if I'm on the Royal Mile with some time to kill, I do pop in."
