City of Edinburgh · City
Edinburgh
Castle views, the Old Town, New Town, museums, hills and one of Britain's most distinctive city skylines.
Explore Edinburgh →Historic streets, sea views and easy escapes beyond the city
Explore Edinburgh's Old Town and skyline, then head east to beaches and harbour towns, west to bridges and palaces, or south into the Pentland Hills and Midlothian countryside.
City break plus something moreOne of Britain's strongest combinations of city, coast and countrysideStay in Edinburgh, then use short journeys to discover very different places around the capital.
Explore Edinburgh & The Lothians
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian — from historic city streets to beaches, hills and royal heritage.
Featured places
Where to go around Edinburgh
Edinburgh deserves time of its own, but some of Scotland's easiest coast, heritage and countryside trips begin just beyond the city.
East Lothian · Coast
North Berwick
A lively seaside town with beaches, harbour walks and views towards the Bass Rock.
Explore North Berwick →West Lothian · Town
Linlithgow
A compact historic town centred on its loch and the ruins of Linlithgow Palace.
Explore Linlithgow →Edinburgh · Waterfront
Leith
Waterfront restaurants, maritime heritage and a different side of Edinburgh beyond the Old Town.
Explore Leith →West Lothian · Heritage
South Queensferry
Historic streets and unforgettable views of the Forth bridges from the shoreline.
Explore South Queensferry →Midlothian · Heritage
Rosslyn Chapel
A richly decorated medieval chapel in a wooded setting south of Edinburgh.
Explore Rosslyn Chapel →East Lothian · Coast
Dunbar
A historic harbour town with cliffs, beaches and strong connections to John Muir.
Explore Dunbar →Midlothian · Landscape
Pentland Hills
Open hills and reservoirs offering an easy countryside escape from the capital.
Explore the Pentlands →East Lothian · Heritage
Tantallon Castle & Bass Rock
Clifftop castle ruins and dramatic sea views east of North Berwick.
Explore Tantallon & Bass Rock →
Choose your kind of day
What is Edinburgh & The Lothians best for?
Old Town, museums & viewpointsCity Breaks
Beaches, harbours & sea cliffsEast Lothian Coast
Palaces, chapels & castlesRoyal & Historic Places
Hills, reservoirs & country walksEasy Escapes
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
Edinburgh makes a natural base, with several strong day trips reachable without turning the day into a long drive.
Edinburgh, Leith & Portobello
A full city day that moves from historic streets to waterfront and beach.
- Old Town and New Town for the main sights
- Leith for food and maritime character
- Portobello for a relaxed seaside finish
North Berwick, Tantallon & Dunbar
A strong East Lothian coast route.
- North Berwick for harbour and beach
- Tantallon for castle and Bass Rock views
- Dunbar for cliffs and John Muir connections
South Queensferry, Linlithgow & Blackness
A western heritage route of bridges, palace ruins and a castle on the Forth.
- South Queensferry for bridge views
- Linlithgow for the palace and loch
- Blackness Castle for a dramatic shoreline stop
Use Edinburgh as a base — then travel light
The capital is exceptionally well placed for day trips. Rail works well for several towns, while a car gives more flexibility for castles, coast and countryside.
For a dayStay in Edinburgh or choose one compact Lothian route.
For a weekendCombine the city with one coast or heritage day.
By railNorth Berwick, Dunbar, Linlithgow and several other towns are easy to reach.
By carBest for Rosslyn, the Pentlands and multi-stop coastal routes.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Once you have chosen a base, use the local guide to turn Edinburgh and the Lothians into a complete trip.
Keep exploring
Continue through Scotland
The Scottish Borders, Fife and Central Scotland are all natural next steps from Edinburgh.