Things to do in Edinburgh today and this weekend

Start at Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile and walk down it, past St Giles' Cathedral. Turn down George IV Bridge to the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, then go north over the Mound into Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument. Walk east along Princes Street and up Calton Hill for the view over the city. In the evening there is theatre at the Lyceum or the Festival Theatre, comedy at The Stand, or a concert at the Usher Hall.

Go indoors: the National Museum of Scotland is free, and Edinburgh Castle and St Giles' Cathedral are mostly under a roof. The rainy-day page lists what is indoors, with what is on there next.

The National Museum of Scotland is free, and a walk up Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill costs nothing. The free page lists the events of the next 30 days that cost nothing.

The National Museum of Scotland is free and has Dolly the sheep, and the Edinburgh Science Festival in April has events for families. In winter the Christmas funfair in West Princes Street Gardens and the big wheel in the East Gardens are for children too.

Edinburgh's Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 in East and West Princes Street Gardens and on George Street. The market is free to enter and East Princes Street Gardens is open from 10:00 to 22:00 on most days; it is closed on 25 December. Our guide to Christmas markets in the UK has the others.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay runs from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027: the Torchlight Procession on 29 December, the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld on 31 December from 20:00, and a free First Footin' trail on 1 January. Check the organiser's ticket page for each event before you go.

The Cowgate and Grassmarket in the Old Town for bars and clubs, Rose Street and George Street in the New Town, Leith for pubs by the waterfront, and Tollcross and Lothian Road near the theatres. The going-out page lists each night of the week.

The Usher Hall for orchestras and touring concerts, the Queen's Hall for jazz and smaller acts, and the Playhouse for the biggest shows. Every July the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival fills clubs and halls across the city.

The year starts with Hogmanay and Burns Night, then the Science Festival in April, Beltane on Calton Hill at the end of April and the marathon weekend in May. In July come the Jazz & Blues Festival, in August the Tattoo, the Fringe, the International Festival and the Book Festival, and in October the Storytelling Festival. Winter has Edinburgh's Christmas. The year page has the dates.