The capital of Scotland is a lovely, imaginative, and welcoming place. Although it’s big enough to have everything a tourist might need, it’s still small enough to walk around. Edinburgh is a fantastic vacation location and is easily accessible by air, rail, and road.
Edinburgh’s streets are like walking through three different cities at once. Then there is the historic Old Town with its evocative cobblestone streets, commanding castle, and condensed, compact design. The New Town, with its stunning streets from the 18th century and upscale shopping options, is another option. Then there is contemporary Edinburgh, a student community, a center for culture, and a venue for sports. The end result is a unique city. Come experience the top comedy, music, and drama during the Edinburgh International Festival.
Come experience the top comedy, music, and drama during the Edinburgh International Festival. Watch a rugby game at Murrayfield Stadium or spend the day shopping on Princes or George Street. Visitors frequently return to Edinburgh because it is a city that appeals to all tastes.
Edinburgh’s Top 5 Reasons to Visit
An abundance of historical landmarks
The capital of Scotland is a history buff’s dream. If you visit Edinburgh in August, you may explore the castle and take in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Explore the Old Town’s winding cobblestone streets, the gardens of Hopetoun House, or the quirky Camera Obscura in the Old Town, which has been offering surreal views of the city for years.
The Edinburgh International Festival features comedy, art, and theater.
Due to the Edinburgh International Festival, the city becomes one of the world’s cultural capitals in August. This enormous festival, which takes place all across the city, unites comedians, theater ensembles, classical orchestras, and artists in a single event.
Princes Street’s upscale stores
Edinburgh is the place to go shopping if you enjoy buying clothing, jewelry, textiles, or handcrafted items. Edinburgh is a great site for window (and actual) shopping, with everything from the chain stores of Princes Street to the antique shops of West Port.
Tours of the Deadly and Demonic Dungeons
Edinburgh is frequently linked to the paranormal. Edinburgh Ghost Tours is a creepy experience whether you believe in ghosts or not, and businesses like Mercat utilize the network of underground vaults to create a truly unsettling environment.
Excellent museums and galleries
The Scottish National Gallery is a must-see for art enthusiasts, featuring masterpieces by Degas and Monet, but the National Museum of Scotland is equally fascinating (don’t miss the lovely and enigmatic Lewis chessmen).
Activities in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle, a regal landmark
Everything about this venerable, magnificent fortification exudes regality. The Old Town is filled with medieval alleyways on both sides, and Castle Rock towers over the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket, which are both lined with cobblestones. Explore Victoria Street to discover charming house rows and more. Don’t miss the adjacent Scotch Whiskey experience, which takes place in August, and the Military Tattoo parade, which is a sight to witness.
Wild ascent to Arthur’s Seat.
A climb up Arthur’s Seat provides breathtaking views of the city and the other peaks it dominates, such as the lovely Calton Hill and Castle Rock. As you soar to windy heights, take in all that Edinburgh has to offer. Crags, lochs, and basalt cliffs that stand out in every direction are part of the atmospheric and unforgettable wild northern nature on the hill surrounding Holyrood Park. Find the gardens of Dunbar’s Close on your way down, one of the city’s best-kept secrets.
Tales of Ghosts from the Real Mary King’s Close.
This famous medieval alleyway, located just off the Royal Mile, is shrouded in mystery. Visitors are welcomed into the ruins of once-vibrant dwellings from long ago, where a tour guide dressed as a historical figure divulges details of daily life at the time. Don’t be surprised if you hear a few sinister myths as well, in true Edinburgh fashion. Due to gruesome rumors of murders and hauntings, the area was abandoned for years and allowed to sink underground. A monument to devoted dog Greyfriars Bobby is located right outside.
Royal Botanic Garden: Mother Earth.
Better known as “The Botanics”, this incredible center for biodiversity is a staple in contemporary Edinburgh for tourists and locals alike. The living collection in the garden contains almost 4% of all species of plants known to science, an astounding achievement that is obvious to anyone wandering around the grounds. From the Giant Water Lily Pond to the Tropical House with carnivorous plants, the mystical world of nature is unveiled.
Knowledge is power, according to Scotland’s National Museum.
This internationally renowned museum is truly an interdisciplinary wonder of our contemporary world, bringing together collections from every age of art history with collections highlighting technology, natural history, and globalization. World cultures are celebrated throughout, and Scottish culture is deservedly given its national platform as well. Do not miss the exhibition of “Dolly the Sheep,” the first successfully cloned animal!
Restaurants in Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers everything from hearty Scottish meat to lavish Indian feasts. Small, upscale eateries like Angels with Bagpipes or Aizle are the best places to find prime Scottish beef. The best Indian restaurants in town are Navadhanya and the Gurkha Cafe. For hearty breakfasts, go to Loudon’s Cafe. Try Timberyard or the Stockbridge Restaurant if you want to eat at a truly upscale establishment; neither will disappoint. In general, meals at mid-range establishments cost between £10 and £15, and more than £30 for a three-course meal at more upscale eateries.
Edinburgh Travel Dates
The summer months of July and August are the best times to visit Edinburgh. The days are longer, and the weather is generally warmer. However, if you’re considering traveling to Edinburgh, you might be wondering when would be the ideal time to go. The best time to visit in terms of weather is in the summer when it is warmer, the days are longer, and there is less rain (although this is Scotland, so don’t count on it). The Fringe Festival, which draws tourists from all over the world, is another reason to travel during the summer.
The drawback is the larger crowds, which raise hotel rates and make it more difficult to get into restaurants and tourist attractions. If you’re from a warm region with mild weather all year, you might find that Edinburgh’s definition of “summer” is a little vague. Despite this, temperatures in July and August can occasionally soar as high as 31°C. On the other hand, if you live somewhere that doesn’t have a “proper” winter, the colder months can be a great time to experience the city’s medieval charm and the coziness of the pubs.
Getting to Edinburgh
- Plane.
It is best to fly into Edinburgh Airport (EDI), which is 10 miles west of the city center and has a daily direct connection to Newark Airport in New Jersey. It’s easy to get into town: just take the tram (which costs £5.50) or the slightly slower but more expensive number 100 airport bus (which costs £4).
- Train
Your train will almost certainly stop at Edinburgh Waverley, one of Europe’s most stunning stations if you are traveling there by train from Glasgow or London. Virgin Trains East Coast arrives from London every hour, and shuttle trains depart Glasgow every 30 minutes. The trip from London should take around five hours.
- Car
The A1, which runs from London to Edinburgh and passes through some breathtaking scenery as it approaches the Scottish capital, is the best route to take if you are coming from the south. The M9 departs from northern Scottish cities like Inverness and St. Andrews, while the M8 departs directly from Glasgow.
- Bus
National Express and Megabus coaches both make stops at Elder Street’s main bus station when traveling through Edinburgh.
Accommodations in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where you’ll find historic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and St. Giles Cathedral. The Old Town is also where you’ll find the city’s central market. The Royal Mile, a classy street with many of the city’s best pubs, and Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano with breathtaking views of Edinburgh, are also located there.
Popular Edinburgh neighborhoods.
The New Town was actually planned in the 18th century and is also on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Due to the presence of busy Princes Street and George Street, it serves as Edinburgh’s premier shopping and commercial district. With the National Gallery and the 200-foot-tall monument to author Walter Scott, which is a great location for citywide photos, it’s also a center of culture.
Leith: The port of Edinburgh, Leith, is bustling and on the rise. It has quick access to the city center and features attractions like the Royal Yacht Britannia, the sizable shopping center at Ocean Terminal, and the Water of Leith Walkway’s scenic surroundings.
Edinburgh’s cost of living
- Streets with stores.
Edinburgh offers a wide variety of streets and neighborhoods where visitors can go shopping, which is one of the city’s top attractions. Princes Street in New Town is the most well-known shopping district; it is a stylish 18th-century street with national retailers like HandM and distinctive Edinburgh-only stores like Jenners. While Harvey Nichols is located in Multrees Walk and smaller shops like Joey D or Concrete Wardrobe can be found on Broughton Street, George Street is a little different and offers more upscale boutiques for men and women.
- Other groceries.
All of the major supermarket chains in the UK are present in Edinburgh, and there are many in the city’s core. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Marks and Spencer stores ought to be accessible if you need to buy groceries. Head to Valvona and Crolla or I for upscale Italian deli goods. J. To sample their delectable Scottish cheeses, visit Mellis. Prices for food are typically fair. A gallon of milk should cost you £3.30, and a pound of potatoes should cost you less than £0.70.
