Visiting Edinburgh Guide
I first visited Edinburgh in 2018, and have been visiting once a year ever since to see friends and family. I feel like I have a pretty good hang of the things that I like and don’t like, so consider this my thoughts on the best stuff I’ve done in Edinburgh over the years. It’s hard to go wrong with things to do in Edinburgh!
I’m going to skip the castle / Royal Mile, and try to point out some stuff that you may not know about from a cursory look at the guide books or activities.
Before you go
Bring boots and a rain jacket
It rains a lot in Scotland and you can tick a lot of activity boxes if you have boots and a rain jacket. Bring them!
Best tip of all - set up Apple or Android pay
You can now use Apple and Android pay everywhere you can use a card in London, but the nice thing about electronic payment is that you don’t need to sign a receipt for it. It makes things like paying for a pint at the pub a snap
Sort out your cellphone service
Are you going to have or want a sim when you get to London, or are you going to be using your cellphone plan? I have used Holafly for the last few trips and it’s great - they only do esims but if you have a modern phone you should be able to use it.
Classic scottish stuff
Edinburgh Castle
Irn Bru Scottish soft drink, similar to Inca cola if you’ve ever had that. I always think it has a bubble gum type flavor. Worth trying!
Haggis Traditionally sheep sweatbreads and oats and stuff stuffed into a sheep’s stomach.
Whiskey Whiskey in Scotland is called scotch outside of Scotland but mostly called whiskey inside of Scotland, in my experience. Scotch is different to bourbon and Tennessee whiskey in that it’s made with malted barley and has a much smokier flavor vs. bourbon, owing to the peat used in it’s process, where they basically burn peat dirt and the peat smoke flavors the whiskey. I love it, and it’s worth trying it even if you aren’t a big whiskey drinker.
Highland Dress People do dress in kilts and tartan pattern outfits - more often than you might think! You can rent it if you need it for a wedding.
Food in Edinburgh
Makars Makars in Edinburgh has great haggis, but for my money the Lions Mane mushroom is the highlight! They take bookings so call ahead or drop in when you get there.
Dishoom
Dishoom is probably the best know Indian place in the UK - you’ve got to line up for it usually but the wait is never too long and it’s always worth it - wonderful curries and Indian dishes. My favorites are the okra fries and the
Hendersons
Classic vegetarian restaurant that moved out of the new town a few years ago during covid, they have lots of vegan and vegetarian takes on scottish classics like haggis.
Bars & Pubs in Edinburgh
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
The Hanging Bat
Beers from all over the United Kingdom in a chill bar environment. They also have food, but I’ve not had it.
The Auld Hoose
A popular student pub that is a good stop before or after you go up Arthur’s seat and walk around Hollyrood park. Has great nachos if what you need to have is a lot of nachos. Vegan friendly!
The Joly Judge
A good pub, though small, right off the Royal Mile. Gives a very classic pub feel but is often pretty full - you might need to stand.
Activities & Sights
Climb Arthur’s Seat Climbing Arthur’s seat, the big hill overlooking Edinburgh, is a lot of fun to walk up, but you will want to do it in boots if you are in anything other than the driest conditions.
Go on a ghost tour One of my favorite activities that I’ve done is going on a ghost tour - this took us down into the vaults below the Royal Mile which you wouldn’t normally be able to visit, and there are lots of spooky ghost stories.
Botanical Gardens Edinburgh
The botanical gardens are a great place to walk around if you want something quiet and a bit different. I really like the glass palm houses.
The Royal Yacht Britania
I’ve not been to the Royal Yacht, but people do seem to really like it, and I am planning on going the next time I am in Edinburgh, so I will update this section after I’ve gone.
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland tells the story of Scotland from a scottish perspective. I learned a lot about the Scots, the Picts, the Jacobites, and the Poll Tax while I was there.
the National Galleries
The National Galleries are a collection of the pre-eminent art museum in Edinburgh, and have an excellent permanent collection alongside traveling exhibitions. The galleries specialize in different types of art, so choose the one that has the kind of art you like the most.
Sights outside Edinburgh
Kelpies
A Kelpie
Giant horse monuments at the head of one of the canals - can’t miss them if coming into Edinburgh from the north. Close to Edinburgh.
Falkirk Wheel
the Falkirk Wheel
Cool canal wheel, one of only two in the world I believe, that raises boats to connect two parts of the canal system in Scotland. Close to Edinburgh.