Edinburgh on a budget: 24 hours on £24

Edinburgh is an ideal destination for a city break. It boasts heaps of history, punches above its weight in terms of culture, and is ideally sized to explore on foot. However, as the second-most expensive city in the UK, visiting on a budget can be a bit of a challenge. So here’s a 24-hour itinerary that will show you the best bits of the city for less than the price of a pair of new shoes.

9.00am:

Start your day in Georgian New Town at Wellington Coffee. While the café’s name might recall the New Zealand city, the look is particularly Edinburgh. Located below a perfumery at 33a George Street, entering this coffee shop involves stepping down below street level in a way that’s characteristic of Scotland’s capital. The interior of the pint-sized coffee shop is decorated with vintage tiles and delicate line drawings, but the coffee is anything but kitsch. The expert baristas pull a punchy espresso from their Square Mile beans. Go for a wake-me-up flat white paired with one of their sizeable scones.

Total cost: £4.85

9.30am: 

From Wellington house, take a small walking tour of some local landmarks. Cross George Street and head down Hanover Street to reach Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy, and just behind it, the Scottish National Gallery. Take a moment to look out over the crisscrossing tracks and prettily reflective glass roof of Waverley, the only station in the world to be named after a work of literature. From here, take the steps over the Mound, and follow Bank Street round to the left until you reach George IV Bridge. Here you find your first taste of the historic Old Town, albeit from a bit of a height. Just past the Central Library, you can look out over the snaking Cowgate, which runs right under your feet. Continue along George IV until you reach the statue of Greyfriar's Bobby; take a left onto Chambers Street, pass the National Museum of Scotland, then turn right up the cobbled West College Street. 
Total cost: free

10am:

On your left is a reasonably hidden entrance to Talbot Rice Gallery, which is part of the University of Edinburgh, but is open all year, free-of-charge, to visitors. Talbot Rice boasts two contrasting spaces. The White Cube Gallery is large, modern and airy - it’s nondescript and without distractions. The Georgian Gallery, by contrast, is elaborately decorated with softly hued walls and gilded columns. Throughout the year the Talbot Rice hosts exhibitions from both local and international artists. Past exhibitions have included big names such as Korean-American founder of video art, Nam June Paik. Exhibitions are always expertly curated and leave you with much to think about. It’s worth checking what’s on via the gallery website, as Talbot Rice also regularly hosts free special events and talks with artists.
Total cost: free 

11am:

After this dose of culture, you might be in need of a pick-me-up. Leave the gallery via Edinburgh University Old College, catching a glimpse of the original site of the university as well as the perfectly manicured lawns of the quadrangle (but don’t walk on the grass). From here, take a right out of the front entrance, and continue along South Bridge to South College Street. Here you will find Brew Lab, a coffee shop with all the hipster credentials: bare bulbs, exposed brick, single-origin espresso, the works. They do, however, make a really good cup of coffee. Try out their guest espresso in whatever form takes your fancy, or be adventurous and give their cold brew coffee a go.
Total cost: £2.80

11.30am:

Sufficiently caffeinated, it’s the perfect time to head back over to the conveniently close National Museum of Scotland. Head back past the Old College entrance and along South Bridge, and return up Chambers Street until you reach the ground-level entrance to the museum. Once inside, be sure to look up to see the beautiful glass roof which encases the main hall, and which makes Edinburgh seem sunny even on the rainiest of days. A hidden gem is the early Scotland collection, which is found in the basement of the museum. It’s trickier to find, which means it’s often deserted and you might even have the whole space to yourself on a weekday. Here you’ll find standing stones engraved with mystical symbols and precious jewellery worn by highlanders in the 900s. The museum also has a great events programme, so be sure to check the special exhibitions calendar before your visit.
Total cost: free

1pm:

Curb your hunger at the famous Mosque Kitchen. Located further down South Bridge (just where the road confusingly changes name to Nicholson Street), it’s only a short walk from the National Museum. Mosque Kitchen really isn’t about the aesthetics - it’s more ‘school canteen’ than ‘world of interiors’ - but they do a mean daal for three pounds. If you don’t fancy lentils, check out their daily selection of veggie or meat curries and fill up on their accompanying homemade naan bread - though admittedly, these might take you over budget by a couple of quid. Still a bargain though.
Total cost: £3

2pm:

You can’t do Edinburgh without seeing the Castle. However, the eye-watering entry price of £16.50 is enough to deter a thrifty visitor. Instead, get a taste of the castle for free by heading up the Royal Mile and taking in the views from the Castle Esplanade. The walk up this street will hopefully give you your fix of tourist-book Edinburgh. You’ll be sure to see a man in a kilt playing bagpipes, as well as numerous street performers, giving you a taste of what the city is like during the Festival. Continue past the crowds of tourists and overpriced whisky shops and up to the castle gates. From here you get a fantastic view of the whole city, and Edinburgh’s very own extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat. Don’t miss the Firth of Forth, and see if you can spot all three of Edinburgh's cathedrals.
Total cost: free 

4pm:

From the Castle, head back down the Royal Mile and find the steps on your right down to Victoria Street. Almost certainly the prettiest street in Edinburgh, it's populated by the candy-coloured facades of the little independent shops and restaurants on a curving cobbled street. On your way down the hill, peek into Red Door Gallery, which sells quirky gifts and specialises in original prints by local artists. Follow the street down to Grassmarket. Historically the site of public hangings, the square has lost much of this grizzly past; in its place you find independent shops, which line the square. Recommended is Armstrong's Vintage Emporium, a shop that has become something of an Edinburgh institution. With clothing dating back as early as the 1890s, Armstrong is as much curiosity museum as vintage shop, and you needn't feel obliged to buy.
Total cost: free (if you can resist fashionable temptations)

5pm:

Head a little way up West Port towards the city’s West End. Make sure you stop in at Armchair Books, a snaking and cavernous used bookstore just off the Grassmarket. The shop stocks a great selection of used books on a huge range of subjects, and all at reasonable prices. If you're feeling flush, you can grab a bottle of wine at the Sainsbury's up the road if you fancy a drink with your dinner, as the next stop is a BYOB Middle-Eastern restaurant.
Total cost: free (if you stick to tap water)

6.30pm:

Head back through the Grassmarket and start walking up Victoria Street. About halfway up, you’ll find a tiny staircase, which you can climb up to the street’s upper level. This balcony level hosts a range of restaurants and recommended is Hanam's, a restaurant serving Middle-Eastern style tapas. If the weather is fine, make sure to ask to sit outside, as the views over the Grassmarket and out to South are fantastic on a clear evening. They’ll even give you a few blankets if it’s a little chilly, but the sky is clear. The baba ghanoush is particularly tasty, as are the dolma.
Total cost: £10

8pm:

24 hours in Edinburgh could not be complete without the sound of traditional music. Various pubs in Edinburgh host talented local musicians on a daily basis. Check out what’s happening in Captain's or Sandy Bell's. Music usually starts at 8pm, and you should have just enough change from £24 to grab a pint to sip while you listen.
Total cost: £3.25

Total spend for the whole day: £23.90.

See more things to do in Edinburgh from Time Out.