While some of Edinburgh’s best-known visitor attractions require your hard-earned cash, there’s plenty of free activities to enjoy in the city.
We asked Evening News readers to share their favourite things to do in the Capital that won’t cost you a penny – and they came up with some fabulous suggestions.
Take a look through our photo gallery to see 10 of the best free activities to do in Scotland's capital city, according to our readers.
![Take a look through our photo gallery to see 10 of the best free activities to do in Edinburgh according to our readers.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjdlYWI3NjY5LWJlNTgtNDNiNi1hYmY5LThmNzMzMWY5NzJlOTplMTMyMzI2ZC0yYjEzLTRhZDctOWUyMi0zMzE0M2E5ZTNjOGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Free things to do in Edinburgh
Take a look through our photo gallery to see 10 of the best free activities to do in Edinburgh according to our readers. Photo: Third Party
![When the weather is nice, Portobello Beach is a lovely place to spend the day. You can walk down the promenade, build sandcastles and paddle in the water - and it costs nothing!](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmI0NmQ2YjQ0LWQ5MDctNGE2My05YWM3LTQ1NmIyM2M5MWZkYjo1MzdmYjhhYi01YmM1LTRiODUtOWMyZS04YjY2Y2VlZDZkNTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Paddle on Portobello beach
When the weather is nice, Portobello Beach is a lovely place to spend the day. You can walk down the promenade, build sandcastles and paddle in the water - and it costs nothing! Photo: Julie Bull
![It's easy to spend a whole day at the National Museum of Scotland without even spending a penny. There's something for everyone, as the Edinburgh museum, which has free entry, has fascinating exhibits about the natural world, science and technology, history and archaeology and more.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ0YWJkOGJmLWE0MzctNDA5Ni1iMWFmLTNlZWI2MzI0N2QwOTo1YzVlMmRhYS03NThkLTQzMWUtYjY5My1kMmM1NTQ3NDhmY2I=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Explore the National Museum Of Scotland
It's easy to spend a whole day at the National Museum of Scotland without even spending a penny. There's something for everyone, as the Edinburgh museum, which has free entry, has fascinating exhibits about the natural world, science and technology, history and archaeology and more. Photo: Photographer: Scott Louden
![While visitors have to pay to enter this 16th century house, there is plenty to explore in the Lauriston Castle grounds - which are free to enter. There are 33 acres of land, with ponds, woodlands, and a calm and tranquil Japanese garden.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjNkYjA4OWQxLTMwYWYtNDg1Ny1iNjI2LTcxOTdjYjg4MzUzNToyOGZlZDA4OS05NmEwLTQxZTMtYmY3Yy1iOGVmODk4YTY4MTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Explore the grounds of Lauriston Castle
While visitors have to pay to enter this 16th century house, there is plenty to explore in the Lauriston Castle grounds - which are free to enter. There are 33 acres of land, with ponds, woodlands, and a calm and tranquil Japanese garden. Photo: Greg Macvean