Seven things to do at Edinburgh Festival Fringe apart from seeing a show

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is just around the corner and promises to be another fantastic year. However, you might want to expand your horizons and explore the great Scottish capital a little deeper. WhatsOnStage is on hand to help you out.

Visit Edinburgh Book Fest

You’d be mistaken if you thought the Fringe and EIF were the only summer festivals in Edinburgh; since 1983 the Edinburgh International Book Festival has brought authors from all over the world to the Scottish capital. This year, it runs from 15 to 30 August, with a line-up including Gordon Brown, John Grisham, Maggie O’Farrell and Claudia Rankine.

Grab something to eat

Trying to do the Fringe on a budget can be pretty daunting, but you won’t need to worry about feeding yourself if you find a few hidden gems. The Piemaker on Edinburgh’s South Bridge is basically a godsend for anyone running between shows. Haggis pizza also wholeheartedly recommended.

Walk up Arthur’s Seat

If you fancy burning off some of the calories, attempt the walk up Arthur’s Seat. Rising 250 metres over the city, it’s a great chance to see the incredible view of Edinburgh from above, and a go-to tourist attraction all-year round. Parkrunner? Saturdays there’s a great circuit of Arthur’s Seat as well – though expect it to be busy during Festival month!

See the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo

They say you should never work with children or animals, but there’s nothing wrong with using the animals to entertain the kids. Edinburgh Zoo is home to the famous Edinburgh Pandas.

Sample the whisky

Whatever tipple tickles your fancy, it will be hard to escape Scotland without trying the world famous Scotch. So, why not try lots of them? Take a tour of the Scotch Whisky Experience and enjoy a taste of the world’s largest whisky collection (or Irn Bru for under-18s).

Take in some history at Edinburgh Castle

Take in some history with your stay and visit the historical Edinburgh Castle. Experience the One O’Clock Gun, explore the Military Prison, and keep an eye out for events across the month.

Catch the TV Festival

This year marks the final time the TV Festival will make its home in Edinburgh over August, before trekking south to Manchester from 2027. The line-up this year features Amelia Dimoldenberg and Gary Lineker, so an easy chance to go from stage to screen!

Read all our Edinburgh Festival coverage