Indoor Activities in Edinburgh: 12 Things to Do in Edinburgh When It Rains

In Edinburgh, it rains more than half of the year, on average. You can expect rain any month, so it’s best to be prepared by adding some indoor activities in Edinburgh to your itinerary.

These are the 12 best indoor activities in Edinburgh.

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12 Things to Do in Edinburgh When It Rains

1. See a Movie at the Scotsman Picturehouse

Catching a movie at the Scotsman Picturehouse is a great low-energy activity for a rainy day. The theater is so gorgeous, and the chairs are as comfy as they look.

The Scotsman Picturehouse is a one-room theater inside The Scotsman Hotel. Did you know The Scotsman Hotel used to be the home of The Scotsman newspaper? It’s a historic building with lots of charm.

The movies they show vary, but be sure to reserve your tickets in advance. They sell out quickly.

You’ll be able to select your seat when you purchase your tickets.

Which seat should you choose? Because the theater is so small, any seat is a good seat. We were in the third row and had a great view. At the very back row are couches that seat two people, while every other chair is for one person.

You can also book a table at The Grand Cafe at the Scotsman before or after your movie and get 10% off your meal just by showing your movie tickets. We did this and felt it definitely added to the experience.

seats inside the scotsman picturehouse in edinburgh — The Scotsman Picturehouse

view from the author's third-row seat the scotsman picturehouse in edinburgh — The Scotsman Picturehouse

2. Peruse a Museum

There are plenty of free museums in Edinburgh, known as the first city of literature. Most are also heated, which is a nice respite from the weather. Stop in any of the following to learn more about Edinburgh and Scotland at large:

author looking out at the National Museum of Scotland — National Museum of Scotland

sign that says The Writers Museum in edinburgh — The Writers Museum

inside the writers museum in edinburgh — The Writers Museum

3. See a Show at the Edinburgh Playhouse

The Edinburgh Playhouse is the largest theater in Scotland with over 3,000 seats. It hosts a lot of world-renowned plays, musicals, and other live events.

It was first opened in 1929, so there’s almost 100 years of history at this theater. It’s also said to be haunted, which is not surprising for Edinburgh.

Check the Playhouse’s schedule for the dates you plan to visit New Town Edinburgh as there may be a show playing you just can’t miss.

4. Have Afternoon Tea at the Signet Library or The Witchery

Afternoon tea in Edinburgh is such a delight. I took tea three times during my trip to Edinburgh, and have the best recommendation for your trip, too.

The best afternoon tea in Edinburgh is at the Signet Library. It’s truly an exquisite experience with incredibly delicious food, beyond friendly staff, and the fanciest atmosphere you could ask for. It’s pricier than any other afternoon tea I found in Edinburgh but completely worth it. (Did you know this venue was used in Outlander?)

Another great option for afternoon tea is at The Witchery by the Castle, an elaborate, atmospheric restaurant and hotel. Treat yourself to afternoon tea from 3 to 4 p.m. in either the original dining room or the secret garden room. We chose the secret garden room and loved it. The restaurant as a whole has a more gothic, witchy vibe, which is quite unique.

Read all my recommendations for the 10 best places for afternoon tea in Edinburgh.

author, a young woman, sitting at a table for afternoon tea in Edinburgh in Signet Library — Signet Library

Black fence with sign that says "signet library" with building behind it

teacup on a table in signet library for afternoon tea in Edinburgh

5. Tour the Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a castle at one end of the Royal Mile, and it’s the official royal residence whenever the reigning monarch is visiting Scotland.

You can visit on a rainy day because most of the tour is indoors, unlike at Edinburgh Castle.

If you take a tour, you’ll walk through quite a bit of the castle, nearly everything on the second floor (or the first floor as they’d say in the UK) as well as a few rooms on the ground floor and the gardens outside.

It has more of a home-y feel than Edinburgh Castle, which is a fortress, and some interesting history as well. You’ll walk through Mary Queen of Scots’ suites and the rooms where Queen Elizabeth II entertained world leaders.

I was a bit shocked when a waitress, a local to Edinburgh, told us she’d never visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse before. Perhaps it’s a touristy thing to do, but nevertheless, it’s worth a visit.

If you’re interested in art, be sure to also check out The King’s Gallery for an additional charge.

author and her mom standing in front of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in edinburgh — Palace of Holyroodhouse

inside a room in the Palace of Holyroodhouse — Palace of Holyroodhouse

inside the dining room of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, portraits of Queen Elizabeth II hang on the wall — Palace of Holyroodhouse

6. Concoct a Magic Potion at the Department of Magic

The Department of Magic allows you to create magical potions that bubble and smoke. Okay, they’re not really magical potions — they’re just drinks. But suspend your disbelief for a moment and it’s easy to imagine you’re in a magical tavern or a Hogwarts potions class.

In reality, the Department of Magic is a basement-level pub off Blair Street in Old Town. You need to book your table in advance. Inside, the room has been truly transformed with whimsical decorations, wooden tables, and quirky lanterns.

What to order: I’d recommend booking the “Magical Potion & Smoking Magic Shot.” With that, you’ll get an instructions sheet to guide you in concocting your potion, and once you’ve finished, a chest of smoking shots will arrive.

You can also order a butterbeer to complete the experience.

There are several types of potions you can make, such as liquid gold or a love potion. The instructions in putting them together are fun — close one eye, shout out a word, write down someone’s name. It all adds to the magic.

The “potions” you make can either be alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.

Do the drinks taste good? Well, I can only speak for the non-alcoholic drinks, but I found them to be too sweet. I enjoyed the (non-alcoholic) shots much more.

author holding up a glass of butterbeer in the department of magic in edinburgh — Department of Magic

a chest of smoking shots on the table in the department of magic — Department of Magic

liquid gold potion instructions sheet next to a tray of supplies to create potion in the department of magic — Department of Magic

7. Create Your Own Tweed Bag in the Islander Workshop

In nearly every souvenir store in Edinburgh, you’ll see Harris Tweed bags, Islander bags, and knock-offs. Rather than simply buying one, how about creating your own custom Islander tweed bag in the Islander Edinburgh Workshop?

I enrolled in the Islander Workshop Experience in Edinburgh and had an incredible time putting together my very own tweed backpack, complete with mismatched straps.

It was such a fun experience, and our workshop instructor, Jill, was absolutely phenomenal. We learned so much about Islander, tweed in Scotland, and how bags like these are created.

The indoor workshop lasts an hour and the time goes by so fast. Read my complete guide to the Islander Edinburgh Workshop for everything you need to know about this incredible workshop.

outside the Islander shop on Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh — Islander Workshop Experience

author holding up her islander bag in the workshop — Islander Workshop Experience

8. Go on an Underground Tour

Underground, dark passageways, once home to the poor and nefarious, can still be accessed today. And I’d really recommend venturing into them on an underground tour.

There are three tours that take you underground:

Tour the underground Blair Street Vaults. Mercat Tours Historic Underground Tour is a 75-minute tour that takes you into the Blair Street Vaults, a section of the South Bridge Vaults, and shares so many fascinating stories of life in Edinburgh underground. Mercat Tours is the only tour operator that can take you into the Blair Street Vaults as they own the land. We did this tour and loved it. Mercat also offers a ghost tour for those who are interested in a spooky experience. Either way, book the tour in the evening as darkness descends. This underground tour departs from above-ground, but it mostly takes place below, so it’s a good activity for a rainy day.
Tour underground Mary King’s Close. The Real Mary King’s Close is a one-hour guided tour through a 17th century street hidden underneath the Royal Mile. Reviews say it’s a bit cheesy and touristy. We didn’t do this tour, so let me know if that’s true or not. Would love to go again one day to see for myself.
Tour other sections of the underground South Bridge Vaults. Some walking tour companies, such as Auld Reekie Tours, will take you to other sections of the South Bridge Vaults, such as near Cowgate. Auld Reekie Tours offers a late-night terror tour of the Vaults in addition to their original Vaults tour.

Read more about Edinburgh’s underground world and how to tour it in my post, “Is There an Underground City in Edinburgh? (Guide + Map).“

the underground blair street vaults in edinburgh — Mercat Underground Tours, Blair Street Vaults

9. Wander around a Bookstore

Topping & Co is a large bookshop in Edinburgh, three stories tall, perfect for book lovers. It’s in a beautiful historical building that was designed by architect William Playfair.

There are classic rolling ladders to help reach books on higher shelves as well as free tea and coffee.

They’re open daily and also host literary events every now and then, so be sure to check their calendar.

10. Visit Waterstones Cafe for Views of Edinburgh Castle

The Waterstones Cafe on Princes Street has one of the most beautiful views of Edinburgh Castle. Once inside the bookstore, head up the stairs to the cafe, and grab a cup of tea or coffee. There are only 6 tables in the area by the window, so you may not get to sit in one of them unless you’re early or very lucky.

When we arrived, all these tables by the window were taken, but once I’d ordered my chai latte and had it in hand, I went down to the window area to wait and look out at the views. Within a few minutes, someone started packing up, and I got to swoop right in.

Take a break from the rainy weather at the Waterstones Cafe. The views could not be better.

You can also try your luck at Starbucks, which is down the street, and also has great views of Edinburgh Castle.

view from the window of Waterstones Cafe, looking out to Edinburgh Castle — Waterstones Cafe

11. Georgian House in Charlotte Square

Charlotte Square is noted as being the most prestigious area of New Town, and it’s also one of the most historical.

You can go back in time at The Georgian House and tour a restored Georgian townhouse at 7 Charlotte Square. It’s been lavishly decorated with furnishings that depict life for a wealthy family in the 18th century. You can also see the downstairs kitchen and servants rooms to get an idea of life for the working class at that time.

The house is, unfortunately, not open the entire year, only from February 26 until October 31. But if you are visiting Edinburgh during that time, definitely give it a visit.

12. Tour St. Giles Cathedral

St. Giles Cathedral is great to visit while you’re exploring the Royal Mile. It doesn’t take too long to tour the cathedral, and it really is stunning inside.

It’s open for visitors weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. It’s free to tour but donations are welcome.

Other Indoor Activities in Edinburgh

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

Should you stay in Old Town or New Town?

I’ve stayed in both areas and can speak on the pros and cons of both.

In New Town: It is much quieter, less crowded, and more peaceful. It’s more residential than touristy. You will be farther away from the main attractions, so it will take extra time to get to the activities in Old Town. It is easy, however, to catch the tram or an Uber down to Princes Street.

Recommended hotels in New Town:

Gleneagles Townhouse
InterContinental Edinburgh the George, an IHG Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel (for views of the castle)
The Old Waverly Hotel (for views of the castle)

In Old Town: It is more lively and touristy, and you are right in the middle of all the action. It’s very convenient to get around. You can simply walk everywhere.

Recommended hotels in Old Town:

Leonardo Royal Hotel (near the train station)
The Witchery by the Castle (on the Royal Mile)
Apex Grassmarket Hotel (for views of the castle)
Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel (for views of the castle)
The Caledonian Hotel (for views of the castle)
Sheraton Grand Hotel (for views of the castle)
Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre (for views of the castle)

Where I stayed: I stayed in short-term rentals during both visits to Edinburgh.

On my first visit, I stayed in this 2-bedroom flat in the West End, a quiet and peaceful neighborhood in New Town, which was close to the West End tram stop and Dean Village.

On my second visit, I stayed for a week in a 1-bedroom flat in Grassmarket in Old Town. It was facing the Grassmarket Square, right next to the Vennel and Mary’s Milk Bar, with views of Edinburgh Castle out the window.

I’d recommend both!

view of new town Georgian buildings from window of flat in west end — View from our flat in West End, New Town

view of edinburgh castle from a window of a flat — View from our flat in Grassmarket, Old Town

What to Pack for a Rainy Day in Edinburgh

Warm, waterproof wear

If you’re visiting Edinburgh during its cold and rainy season (almost every month of the year besides a few weeks in summer), you should definitely bring a warm waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots.

This waterproof jacket and these waterproof boots I took with me to Scotland helped us explore no matter the weather. We walked around Edinburgh in the rain and snow, during foggy mornings and chilly evenings, and enjoyed it all. Be prepared for rainy weather, and dress for it, so you don’t miss out.
Also consider bringing fleece-lined leggings — I loved this pair I packed!

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!