It's week three, the Festival is well underway and Edinburgh is buzzing! Whether you've been here from the start or you're gearing up for your first show-packed days in the city, join us for the third weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Not sure what to see, where to eat, or what to do in between? Look no further for our best suggestions on how to spend 75 fabulous hours at the Festival. Dance-lovers and bookworms rejoice: this weekend is packed full of movement pieces and literary adaptations!

Friday 19 August

Start your weekend on Lothian Road, where you'll be spoilt for choice for a pre-show dinner; there's Topolabamba's amazing Mexican street food, or Glasgow-export Bread Meats Bread if you're in need of some classic comfort food and burgers. Both places also feature a great range of vegetarian and vegan options!

Once you've eaten dinner, head over to The Lyceum for Samsara, starting at 8pm. Get there early to enjoy a drink at The Lyceum's traditional theatre bar and find your seats before immersing yourself in the mythological storytelling world of Samsara, a moving dance duet that brings East and West together.

Saturday 20 August

On Saturday, get a head start on the day and wander into the Old Town to spend the morning tackling your tourist bucket list; visit the National Museum of Scotland for exhibitions covering the natural world, world cultures, art and design, science and technology and Scottish history. Go for a stroll over Greyfriar's Kirkyard for spooky views of Edinburgh, and say hello to Greyfriar's Bobby, the bronze dog statue of the loyal Skye Terrier in front of the cemetery.

Take a pit stop at the Writers' Museum down Lady Stair's Close: the small historic building alone is worth a visit and houses exhibitions celebrating the lives of three giants of Scottish literature – Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

For lunch, try local favourite Scran Bistro in the North Bridge Arcade for a superb all-day breakfast and coffee.

Fuelled up, walk back up the Royal Mile – the beating heart of the Festival – all the way to the Hub. Continue the literary theme of the day following your visit to the Writer's Museum with another great Scottish writer and catch Medea at 3pm, adapted by Scotland's former National Poet, Liz Lochhead. Based on the Greek tragedy by Euripides, this contemporary version is filled with Lochhead's poetic, Scots-inflected language. Glasgow-based actor, writer and director Adura Onashile takes on the title role, bringing a visceral intensity to the story with a performance that has already received rave reviews.

After the performance, make your way down to Leith. Escaping the inner city hustle, spend golden hour at the beautiful Leith Shore, sipping a drink at Toast or trying homemade cloud-like bao buns over at Bundits of Leith.

Head down Coburg Street and stop by Lind & Lime Gin Distillery to peruse their shop and treat yourself to a bottle of locally made gin (pssst – they also sell excellent dark chocolate!).

Having explored the area, head to the iconic Leith Theatre for 8pm to see Kae Tempest, an award-winning spoken word artist and rapper from London. Their new album The Line Is A Curve follows 2019’s The Book of Traps and Lessons, a gritty blend of brutal truth and tenderness. Their performances are known to be incredibly powerful; as the Guardian put it, 'This isn’t a gig, it’s a reckoning'.

Sunday 21 August

Feeling like a lazy Sunday? Treat yourself to a lie-in then wander into town for a relaxed coffee and breakfast. You'll find plenty of charming cafes on Nicolson Street; try Kilamanjaro Coffee or Black Medicine Coffee Co for great lattes and sweet treats.

Once you've got your caffeine fix, find your way to The Studio on Potterrow for a matinee performance of We Are Monchichi at 2pm. Watch dancers Shihya Peng from Taiwan and Marco di Nardo from Naples play a game of cat-and-mouse in this dance show full of humour and exploration, asking the question of how we connect across cultures and languages. This show is suitable for children and adults alike, making it the perfect choice for a wholesome Sunday afternoon.

After the performance, head down to Morningside for a bite to eat before your evening performance.

You'll have enough time for dinner at Hendersons, a cosy restaurant serving delicious vegan and vegetarian cuisine, or an authentic Neapolitan style wood-fired pizza at Matto Pizza, before seeing The End of Eddy at 7.30pm at Church Hill Theatre. An adaptation of Édouard Louis's moving autobiographical novel about growing up as a young gay man in rural France, this stage adaptation by Norwegian director Eline Arbo explores the complexities and intersections of family, poverty, politics and sexuality. Text, choreography and music mix to create a dazzling, colourful, unpredictable show.

Monday 22 August

Have a leisurely Monday morning strolling down Southbridge for a spot of souvenir shopping in charming vintage and second-hand shops including The Apothecary, Armstrongs and Retrospect. Before your 2pm matinee at Festival Theatre, fuel up nearby with hearty ramen for lunch at Maki & Ramen on West Richmond Street, or delicious Indian food at the Mosque Kitchen & Cafe on Potterrow.

Your Monday afternoon is dedicated just one show: A Little Life. With a duration of over four hours following the friendship of four men over a period of over 30 years, this play allows you to immerse yourself in the lives of its characters. Adapted from the bestselling novel by Hanya Yanagihara, this is a deeply moving production of epic proportions – fair warning, you may want to bring tissues! Acclaimed director Ivo van Hove's Internationaal Theater Amsterdam bring the novel to life, with a standout performance by Dutch actor Ramsey Nasr, who won the Louis d'Or (Best Male Performance) for his portrayal of central character Jude.

Let your Monday come to a close afterwards with dinner and refreshing cocktails at the quirky Paradise Palms and give yourself time to reflect on the weekend.

Raise a glass and congratulate yourself on 75 successful hours at the Festival!