A woman visitor to a museum gazes thoughtfully at a display featuring information about life and childhood.

See & do

Culture Edinburgh always offers plenty of activities to enjoy in Scotland’s capital. Enjoy a classical concert, a rock and pop gig, a night of comedy under Georgian chandeliers, or take a walk through beautifully kept parks and gardens. Explore art exhibitions or uncover fascinating stories relating to the historical and cultural life of the city. And don’t overlook the chance to climb the Scott or Nelson Monument for a whole new perspective of Edinburgh.

One day tour of arts and culture

One day tour of arts and culture

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Art galleries

City Art Centre

Travelling Gallery

Free things to do

Magnifying Glass showing two clasped hands

3 Aug 25

Zoom In/Cropped Out

City Art Centre

Tickets available

Charcoal sketch of landscape

5 Aug 25

Tracing Time: Past, Present, Future

City Art Centre

Tickets available

A garden filled with a variety of plants and colourful flowers in full bloom

9 Aug 25

Dandelions and Other Lost Words: Family Storytelling

Museum of Edinburgh

Tickets available

Bright yellow dandelions and vibrant blue flowers basking in the sunlight.

9 Aug 25

Dandelions and Other Lost Words: Family Storytelling

Museum of Edinburgh

Tickets available

Famous monuments and statues

St Bernard's Well, a large stone structure, situated on the Water of Leith in Edinburgh surrounded by green trees.

Famous monuments and statues

Museums

Photo of Lauriston Castle on a sunny day

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Several children gathered around a vibrant toy display, eagerly pointing and discussing their favorite items.

Museum Of Childhood

A large room showcasing numerous items displayed on extensive shelves.

Museum Collections Centre

A building exterior, showcasing architectural details and colourful walls

Museum of Edinburgh

A large building featuring a prominent clock on its facade, showcasing architectural details and grandeur.

The People's Story Museum

A large white Museum building stands prominently with the railway bridge visible in the background.

Queensferry Museum

An imposing building highlighted by a turret with small windows, showcasing architectural detail sitting in a courtyard.

The Writers' Museum

Edinburgh 900

Photo of aged Jewish text and Menorah

15 Aug 25

Edinburgh's Jewish Heritage

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

Photo of standing stones at sunset

15 Aug 25

Reviving the Ancient: Exploring the links between modern Heathenry and Japanese Shintoism

Tickets available

Sample of Iconographgy Mother and Child

16 Aug 25

Introduction to Iconography

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

A Rakhi bracelet being put on someone's wrist

16 Aug 25

Rakhi Bracelet Making

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

4 hands with henna tattoos

16 Aug 25

Henna Art

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

White typwriter with white flowers and follage positioned instead of paper

16 Aug 25

Expressing the Elements: Nature inspired poetry workshop

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

Violin on the forest floor beside a fallen tree

17 Aug 25

The Mystic Ring, Baha’i inspired music from the Resol String Quartet

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

Prison fence and barbed wire against blue sky

17 Aug 25

Inside Insiders

Lauriston Castle and Gardens

Tickets available

Monuments

A towering monument structure with distinctive stonework, showcasing architectural elegance against the skyline.

Scott Monument

Nelson Monument

An imposing building sitting within a large courtyard. Other buildings surround the courtyard.

Makars' Court