# Edinburgh with a day in North Berwick

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/single-base-plus-day-trip/edinburgh-with-a-day-in-north-berwick-z0008/>)

Add a nearby city or landscape while keeping one overnight base

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Single base + day trip
- Nights: 6
- Interests: History, Literature, Nature, Food & Drink, Humans

## Route and nights

- Edinburgh · 6 night(s)

Tradeoff: A day trip avoids repacking. Check the last return option and whether the travel time is worth the outing.

Compare: Local transit, rail, ferry or road for the outing as applicable

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Edinburgh

- 15:00 to 15:45 · Check in or drop off your bags · ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge. Keep the walk optional if you arrive late.
- 16:05 to 17:45 · Walk toward Waverley and locate your rail entrance · Edinburgh Waverley
- 18:00 to 19:20 · Dinner near the end of your walk · Old Town, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 2 · Edinburgh

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:25 to 09:50 · Walk up the Royal Mile to the Castle Esplanade · Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh
- 10:00 to 12:30 · Visit Edinburgh Castle · Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh. Reserve a slot and use the castle visitor map to choose your priorities. Leave extra time for queues and cobblestones. [Official information](<https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/plan-your-visit>)
- 12:45 to 13:45 · Lunch near Grassmarket · Grassmarket, Edinburgh
- 14:00 to 15:35 · Walk Victoria Street and explore closes along the Royal Mile · Victoria Street, Edinburgh. Use the public passages and allow time for the steps back up to the Royal Mile.
- 15:45 to 16:50 · See St Giles’ Cathedral and Parliament Square · St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh. Check visitor hours and whether services affect entry. [Official information](<https://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/>)
- 18:00 to 19:35 · Dinner in the Old Town · Old Town, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 3 · Edinburgh

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:30 to 10:00 · Walk to Lady Stair’s Close · Lady Stair’s Close, Edinburgh
- 10:05 to 11:25 · Visit the Writers’ Museum · The Writers’ Museum, Edinburgh. Check the museum calendar before going. [Official information](<https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/writers-museum>)
- 11:45 to 12:45 · Browse the bookshops around the Old Town · Old Town, Edinburgh. Use this block for one or two shops rather than crisscrossing the city.
- 12:55 to 13:55 · Lunch around George IV Bridge · George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
- 14:05 to 15:20 · See the current exhibition at the National Library of Scotland · National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. Check the current exhibition and opening times. [Official information](<https://www.nls.uk/>)
- 15:35 to 16:50 · Walk to Greyfriars Kirkyard and George Square · Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in the Southside · Southside, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 4 · North Berwick

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:00 to 10:20 · Travel from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick · North Berwick railway station. This is a travel window, including the walk and station buffer. Confirm the actual train for your date. [Official information](<https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey>)
- 10:30 to 11:35 · Walk the harbor and look toward Bass Rock · North Berwick Harbour. Use public paths and stay clear of rough water. Bird activity varies with season and weather.
- 11:45 to 12:45 · Visit the Scottish Seabird Centre · Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick. Check hours and admission before you travel. A boat excursion is a separate decision that depends on conditions and availability. [Official information](<https://www.seabird.org/>)
- 12:55 to 14:05 · Lunch near the harbor or High Street · North Berwick High Street
- 14:15 to 15:35 · Walk along West Bay and browse High Street · West Bay, North Berwick. Use the high street if wind or rain shortens the waterfront stop.
- 15:55 to 17:20 · Return to Edinburgh Waverley · Edinburgh Waverley. Choose a train on the actual schedule and leave time to reach the platform. [Official information](<https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey>)
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner in the Old Town · Old Town, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 5 · Edinburgh

- 08:20 to 09:10 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:30 to 10:15 · Travel to the Leith waterfront · The Shore, Edinburgh. Compare the tram and bus routes for your dates. [Official information](<https://edinburghtrams.com/>)
- 10:25 to 11:55 · Walk The Shore and the Water of Leith · The Shore, Edinburgh. Keep to a waterfront loop so lunch stays nearby.
- 12:05 to 13:20 · Lunch around The Shore · The Shore, Edinburgh
- 13:40 to 14:30 · Continue to Stockbridge · Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Take a bus or set aside more time if walking.
- 14:40 to 16:45 · Explore Stockbridge and pause for coffee · Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Use the time for a short neighborhood walk and stop at a cafe rather than adding another ticketed visit.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner around Stockbridge · Stockbridge, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 6 · Edinburgh

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:30 to 09:55 · Walk past Old College toward Nicolson Street · Old College, Edinburgh
- 10:00 to 12:15 · Explore Surgeons’ Hall Museums · Surgeons’ Hall Museums, Edinburgh. Check opening hours. Some collections include human remains, which may affect how much time you want here. [Official information](<https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/visit/>)
- 12:25 to 13:25 · Lunch near Bristo Square · Bristo Square, Edinburgh
- 13:40 to 15:35 · Visit one section of the National Museum of Scotland · National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. The collections are large. Choose one subject instead of trying to see the whole museum. [Official information](<https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/>)
- 15:50 to 17:00 · Walk across the Meadows or take a cafe break · The Meadows, Edinburgh
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner in the Southside · Southside, Edinburgh
Overnight: [ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge](<https://www.hotels.com/ho444124/ibis-edinburgh-centre-south-bridge-royal-mile-edinburgh-united-kingdom/>) · Edinburgh

### Day 7 · Edinburgh

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast around South Bridge · South Bridge, Edinburgh
- 09:30 to 10:00 · Check out and collect your bags · ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge
- 10:15 to 11:00 · Optional short walk past the University’s Old College · Old College, Edinburgh. Skip the walk if you have an early departure.