Edinburgh Travel Guide

Edinburgh castle

Scotland’s capital has an elegant feel consisting of a Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings and medieval Old Town.

Edinburgh has so much to offer, whether you are interested in its history and culture, sport and the outdoors, or night life, you can find everything here. You will get to experience the attractive views, hidden courtyards, green spaces and phenomenal architecture to be discovered throughout the city.

The city is more than an impressive historical hub, it’s an up and coming cosmopolitan city with five Michelin-starred restaurants and an increasingly bustling bar and café culture, lively nightlife and a captivating arts scene.

Browse the independent shops, boutiques and small galleries that make window shopping an addictive pleasure.

View my top tops for visiting Edinburgh and start planning a trip today.

Where to Stay

Edinburgh’s choice of accommodation are varied as the city itself – from polished boutique hotels in elegant Georgian townhouses to traditional B&B’s in beautiful Victorian neighbourhoods, to refreshing hostels hidden down atmospheric Old Town alley ways.

The Balmoral Hotel a prominent landmark at the eastern end of Princess Street offering some of the best accommodation in Edinburgh, including suites with 18th Century décor and fabulous views of the city. It has a Michelin-starred restaurant Number One provides a fine dinning menu, Palm Court offers afternoon and a splash of champagne, The Balmoral Bar serves innovative cocktails in a relaxed setting , while The Scotch presents over 400 varieties of Scottish Whiskey.

Experience the town dream in the One Royal Circus boutique hotel. Impressive Georgian mansion with genuine antiques, parquet floors located in Edinburgh’s new town and a close walk to the Royal Circus.

If you are a backpacker or on a tight budget I recommend staying at: St Christopher’s Edinburgh Old Town, Kick Ass Hostel, or The Hostel.

How to Get from Edinburgh Airport

There is a choice of transport links from the airport to Edinburgh city centre.

Taxis
Pick up a black cab at the taxi rank located on the ground floor of the multi story car park.

Car
The airport is around eight miles west of Edinburgh and takes around twenty five minutes in non rush hour traffic. There are also a number of car hire companies that operate from the airport.

Trains/Trams
The tram offers a reliable service linking to the airport and Edinburgh. Interchange with train services available at Edinburgh Park and Haymarket stations. Other stops include Murrayfield Stadium and Princes Street. Onward Journey from Edinburgh – Both of the city’s main rail stations, Waverley and Haymarket, can be found in the heart of Edinburgh’s city center. The rail network connects to cities all over Scotland and the UK.

Bus
The Airlink 100 is about eight miles west of the city center and the journey (via Glasgow Road) takes around twenty five minutes in light traffic.The Lothian Buses No 35 runs into city center and calls at popular local destinations en route, and continues to Leith.

Best Things to Do in Edinburgh

With so many of its attractions piled into the city center, Edinburgh is a joy to explore on foot. Elegant architecture is complemented by beautiful parks and gardens; street entertainers – from pipers to pavement artists – bring vibrant colour and music to everyday life.

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh is full of rich history the city bursts with historical attractions including the world famous Edinburgh Castle. The castle is home to the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of destiny, the 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O’clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle has played an important role in Scotland’s history. Today it is one of Scotland’s most atmospheric and popular tourist attractions. Rising above the western end of Princes Street the brooding, black crags of Castle Rock appear. The rocky hill was the most defended hill top on the invasion route between England and central Scotland.

Holyrood Palace
Visit Holyrood House locally known as Holyrood Palace, is one of the official royal residences. Prominently standing at the edge of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the palace is home to some remarkable Scottish royal history.

Museums
Scotland has a great history and Edinburgh has the museums to do it justice. The amazing collections of the Museum of Scotland demonstrate the whole of human endeavor from the ancient world to space exploration. Many more museums are scattered throughout the city.

On the Royal Mile alone you’ll find exhibitions dedicated to childhood, to the work of Scottish writers and thinkers, and to the ordinary citizens of Edinburgh. At the Port of Leith, the Royal Yacht Britannia adds its voice to the story of Britain’s monarchy.

Art and Culture
Edinburgh is home to no less than three national art collections. On The Mound, the National Gallery boasts outstanding exhibitions of Scottish and European works as well as masterpieces from every era.

In the Scottish National Portrait Gallery hang images of the nation’s heroes and heroines, from ancient kings to modern writers, while the Gallery of Modern Art includes a superb surrealist collection and a sculpture garden devoted to Edinburgh’s Eduardo Paolozzi.

Royal Botanic Garden
If you love the outdoors you must visit the Royal Botanic Garden – one of the most popular attractions in the whole of Great Britain.

Its landscape and the sheer beauty of its trees and flowers are overwhelming; the collections and the magnificent greenhouses are internationally renowned.

By contrast, the animal kingdom welcomes you at Edinburgh Zoo. Over 1,000 animals including many endangered species inhabit spacious parkland – definitely one not to miss!

Science
Edinburgh enjoys an international reputation for its scientific endeavors. After all, this is the city that gave the world anesthetics, the decimal point and Dolly the sheep.

Today, Science is celebrated and interpreted in many forms. Each year the city hosts a Science Festival that combines the very latest interpretative technology with cutting edge scientific thinking.

Dynamic Earth is a state of the art attraction that takes you on a fascinating journey around planet Earth. Take a virtual tour around its eleven earthscapes and you will see, hear, feel and smell the planet as it was millions of years ago and how it might be in the future.

If you are planning a really short visit, you might like to view this one day Edinburgh itinerary.

Food and Eating Out

Generic, touristy restaurants in Edinburgh are a thing of the past. Edinburgh has more restaurants per head than anywhere else in the UK.

Without leaving the city you can taste your way round the world, from Japan to Mexico via some exotic byways. There are menus to suit even the most adventurous palate, at prices for every purse. Naturally, you’ll also want to try the excellent local Scottish fare.

The city is famous for its wine, whisky and for brewing and its pubs are warm and welcoming. Some in the city center are almost worth visiting just for their superb ornate carved and tiled interiors; others offer live music, with several famous bars specializing in jazz, rock and traditional Scottish music.

If you are hungry, many pubs offer bar meals of excellent value or you could choose from an array of winebars and bistros. You’ll find that wherever you are the bars stay open all day, and many late into the night.

The Ship on Shore Edinburgh is an opportunity to enjoy and explore the freshest and most extraordinary fish and seafood. Sitting by the Water of Leith a beautiful location to enjoy a splash of champagne in elegant surroundings and enjoy the views in summer.

Wholesome food served in a convivial setting is the Gardens Cottage using sustainable local produce. The restaurant is housed in a historic building located in the Royal Terrace Gardens in front of Calton Hill in the heart of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. The B listed building was designed by William Playfair in 1836. Bedecked with flowers and fairy lights offers one of the city’s interesting dinning experiences.

The Coffeebox situated on Bruntsfield Place in a converted police telephone kiosk is recommended, with an ever changing menu of hearty curries, samosas and soups all prepared whilst waiting on the park on a nice day.

Nightlife

Are you a party animal? Or do you just like a quiet drink with your friends?

Party animals head for the George Street area, exclusive shopping zone by day, and alive with bars and clubs at night. Start with a cocktail at Hanover 99 or Amicus Apple, have a bite to eat at trendy Café Andaluz, before heading off to dance at the Opal Lounge or El Barrio.

In sunny weather, find a beer garden and enjoy the fine weather. The Blackbird at Tollcross or the Pear Tree near Edinburgh University are relaxed and popular. Or for a casual drink at any time, try Garibaldi’s, or the Shack, for drinking and dancing.

Stockbridge is another area where you can find a coffee or a beer at any time of day. And right in the city centre, the Grassmarket.

Festivals

The capital of Scotland is also a capital of festivals, with two of the most famous festivals, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and having been going strong since 1947.

Edinburgh International Festival is marks the return of peace after the ordeal of the WWII. Beautifully with superlatives, the oldest, biggest, famous and the best in the world. Today hundreds of the world’s top musicians and performers congregate in in the city for three weeks of diverse and inspirational music, opera, theatre and dance.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the world’s largest festivals catering for all ages and tastes. With hordes of punters and performers that descend the city every year. True to its historical background the Fringe is open to anyone who can afford the journey. The fringe takes over the whole of Edinburgh, rub shoulders with celebrities, Dutch comedians, mix with Polish jazz musicians and novice’s line up against seasonal pros.

Events happen all the time in Edinburgh and all sorts of other festivals are spread throughout the year. The International Science Festival in April proves that learning can be fun.

There’s a festival of puppetry and animation, a Children’s Festival held in a village of tents, a Storytelling Festival where traditional tales come alive, and a celebration of farming and rural life at the Royal Highland Show.

If you are looking for an amazing place to celebrate new years eve, Edinburgh is highly recommended. The world famous Hogmanay festival is a must for any party goer with street parties, concerts, entertainment and impressive fireworks.

Plan a Trip to Edinburgh

From the moment you arrive, Edinburgh’s stunning skyline and magnificent architecture are captivating. The castle clings dramatically to its rock as the ancient buildings of the Royal Mile tumble down the spine of the hill to the splendid Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Across the green expanse of Princes Street Gardens lies the graceful Georgian New Town waiting to be explored. This is an historic setting – and yet in Edinburgh you’ll find a friendly, modern, cosmopolitan city, where a warm welcome and an unforgettable experience await all the year round.