Are you looking for the ideal way to cap off a busy day in Edinburgh? Night activities provide plenty of exciting ways to stay entertained, allowing you to discover all its beautiful sites.
Ghost tours provide one of the best ways to gain an insight into the city’s hidden history, with tours often taking place at Real Mary King’s Close, where visitors will explore hidden alleyways that were once home for residents.
Ghost tours
Edinburgh is known for its dark history, and ghost tours typically explore its haunted alleyways, royal palaces and other historic sites. Witchcraft, murder and body snatching all have long histories here and its dark streets often harbour restless spirits or wandering spectres.
Experience Edinburgh like never before on an Extreme Paranormal Underground Ghost Tour, starting late at night and visiting some of its most haunted spots. The tour lasts about one hour; your costumed guide will regale you with tales that will chill your bones!
A cloaked storyteller can guide you through medieval closes, Blair Street’s underground vaults and Canongate Kirkyard to share frightening tales of death. Although this can be terrifying for any sceptics out there, it can also provide an exciting evening in Edinburgh!
Craft beer
Edinburgh boasts several microbreweries, providing beer enthusiasts with plenty of choices when it comes to choosing their next pint or sudsy treat at night.
Brewdog Bar is one of the premier destinations to experience craft beer, offering a selection of keg and cask beers from Scottish breweries as well as bottle beers like IPAs, Saisons and farmhouse ales.
Scot Beers provides tours and tastings designed to teach visitors more about Edinburgh’s brewing history, from walking tours to tutored tastings containing expert insight.
The Edinburgh Beer Factory is another acclaimed Edinburgh brewery. Offering both a taproom and tasting room, visitors looking to learn more can book a 90-minute guided tour for just £15 per person, which includes two half pints of beer samples and a £5 voucher towards purchasing beer at their Brewery Shop.
Cinema
Edinburgh offers plenty of activities during the daytime, but once nightfall rolls around, it becomes even more vibrant. Bowling lanes, comedy clubs, rooftop bars and historic cinemas abound – there is sure to be something fun every night in Edinburgh that’ll keep you amused until morning breaks!
Cinemas are an excellent way to unwind after a busy day, no matter the genre or your age. Edinburgh boasts many stunning picture houses, such as Dominion Cinema in Morningside and The Cameo Cinema which specialises in arthouse film screenings.
On 12-14 August, as part of its free outdoor Film Fest in the City program, the film festival will also present an exceptional free outdoor screening event in St Andrew Square: family favourites, timeless classics and blockbusters – making this a unique opportunity not to be missed! Don’t miss it!
Comedy
Comedy is an entertainment form intended to make audiences laugh, found across cultures worldwide for centuries.
No matter your comedy experience level or taste, Edinburgh offers plenty of fantastic spots for enjoying comedy at night. The Stand on Queen St is one of the premier comedy spots, offering free lunchtime shows and Fringe acts in addition to Red Raw – a weekly beginners showcase.
If you enjoy comedy, Lane 7 Edinburgh should not be missed – an interactive space offering games like ping-pong and pool and boasting a great bar on Level 4 of St James Quarter shopping centre.
Escape rooms
Escape rooms can be an exciting way to spend an evening with friends and coworkers, especially if you’re seeking something challenging that tests teamwork and puzzle-solving abilities. Plus, escape rooms are a great way to break up the monotony!
Edinburgh offers many escape room experiences, with options themed around Sherlock Holmes and Harry Houdini available. Additionally, these spaces make excellent venues for hosting stag or hen parties.
Can You Escape is the place to go when seeking an exciting challenge! However, their rooms require teamwork to complete successfully.
They offer two locations – one on Morrison Street near Haymarket, with Dalry Road offering several games ranging from rescuing Merlin and Morgana to an escape room from a space station.
Couples looking for something fun can try a novel concept that blends elements of an escape room with a treasure hunt. A smartphone application will guide your adventure through the city as you tackle riddles and codes.
Live music
For lovers of live music, Edinburgh offers plenty of incredible nightly gigs ranging from rock bands to experimental musicians – if you love live tunes, then Edinburgh is perfect for a Saturday night!
If a club Saturday night excites you, Edinburgh is certainly worth visiting at night for you to see some exceptional live acts perform live music during your visit.
Those interested in jazz won’t want to miss an opportunity to see top Scottish musicians perform at one of Scotland’s finest jazz bars or festivals, featuring pianist Brian Kellock and saxophonist Tommy Smith as headliners. These performers regularly tour Scotland’s top jazz festivals before performing locally at jazz bars or pubs.
If you are looking for an experience beyond music streaming, there are a few modern and traditional Scottish bars situated at the west end of Princes Street that host live music, DJ nights, an energetic club Saturday night, and ceilidhs. In Edinburgh, live performances take place seven nights per week!
Arthur’s Seat
Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park is an ideal starting point if you want a good view of Edinburgh’s nighttime skyline. This volcanic formation features small crags and hills that rise majestically above its surroundings – providing an unforgettable panorama.
Arthur’s Seat is a popular hiking spot in Edinburgh and can be reached via multiple paths. Reaching its summit could take as long as two hours, depending on your fitness level.
Though the views may require an effort, they’re well worth it, and there is plenty to see from the summit. Hikers can find many trails crisscrossing this area through lush green hills, glens and small lochs.
The historic Holyrood Park is also a favourite among people with limited mobility. A paved road past Dunsapie Loch allows partial driving up to the summit if walking is too daunting a task; alternatively, visit Holyrood Park Visitor Information Center to gain more knowledge about its history and archaeology.
The Lookout
The Lookout restaurant sits atop Calton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage site, providing stunning panoramic city views while serving seasonal menus highlighting Scottish ingredients. As part of Gardener’s Cottage chain, The Lookout serves up seasonal fare featuring only top ingredients!
Attractively decorated, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views, and offering cocktails or drinks from their extensive list. Enjoy an enjoyable atmosphere before indulging in delicious cuisine from their extensive menu.
Dinner menus at Berwick Lobster House are deliciously tantalising, offering dishes such as Berwick lobster, Lindisfarne oysters and North Sea hake. With such an engaging ambience and menu offerings that cater to everyone in attendance – be it friends gathering together for dinner or celebrating an important milestone – it makes the ideal location to mark such occasions or simply as an enjoyable treat!
The Street
The Street lies just beyond Edinburgh Castle and features some of Edinburgh’s top attractions. Additionally, you will find shops, pubs and restaurants to keep you occupied during your time spent exploring Scotland’s capital city.
Take an evening stroll along the cobbled streets and dark alleyways of Edinburgh’s Old Town with a local guide, discovering all their history — including ghostly tales about historic murders or supernatural happenings! You will gain a fascinating perspective.
Street is also home to underground vaults where once-lived residents resided. Your tour will bring this side of the city alive as you navigate these areas with a costumed guide telling spooky tales about each location along the way.
Ghillie-Dhu offers another unique night out experience – traditional Scottish dancing at a ceilidh (Scottish dance party). Perfect for couples or groups of friends.