Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities in the UK. Although it’s famous for hosting the world’s largest arts festival every August – which is well worth a visit by the way – there are so many other things to see and do in this city. Whether it’s dining in the their legendary restaurants, sipping on a cocktail or two in their great bars or seeing the sites around the city, there really is so much to see and do. So here are my top 7 things to see and do in Edinburgh:
- Climb Arthur’s Seat – not many cities can boast an extinct volcano at their centre but Edinburgh can! You can see Arthur’s Seat from pretty much all of the city centre and at just over 250m high, it’s not too challenging to hike up it and see some amazing vies of the city skyline.
- Hit the shops on Victoria Street – this is home to some of the best independent boutiques in Edinburgh and well worth a visit.
- Visit Edinburgh Castle – with a national and portrait gallery in the city showcasing some incredibly art collections, it’s the perfect way to experience a bit of culture in the city.
- Scale the Scott Monument – you can’t miss this gothic masterpiece in the middle of the Princess Street Gardens, but it’s worth the climb up the tight spiral staircase for an amazing view at the top.
- Visit Edinburgh’s galleries – this is probably one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and it’s easy to see why. It sits on top of the city’s other extinct volcano and offers a glimpse at the historic roots of the city.
- Walk the Royal Mile – you can’t not visit Edinburgh and not walk along the famous and historic Royal Mile. It runs through the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town connecting the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. And with street performers, shops and restaurants off the mile, there’s plenty to see and do here.
- Visit the zoo – like London, Edinburgh has a zoo that is well worth a visit. With a Penguin enclosure and Pandas you can easily spend a whole day with the animals here.
I always travel by plane to Edinburgh. For me it’s easier than a four hour plus train journey. If you are travelling by plane make sure you book your parking in advance to save money. And when it comes to hotel, the location I prefer is around Rose Street. There’s a hotel to suit every budget around there and you’re in a great location to be able to walk everywhere.
Have you ever been to Edinburgh before? What’s your favourite thing to see and do in the city?