Edinburgh is a beautiful city that combines the medieval with the modern style.
Imposing castles, lush landscapes, cobbled streets and a mysterious aura make up a fairytale scenery that you can only find in Scotland’s capital.
Edinburgh will enchant you. The Old Town with gothic architecture and the modern city coexist in harmony. Walking through the streets of the Scottish capital, you’ll feel like you’re starring in the Harry Potter books, most of which were written in Edinburgh.
And even if you’re not a fan of the Harry Potter films, you’ll see the main characters everywhere, especially in souvenir shops. But Edinburgh is also world famous for its summer festivals.
Be aware that travellers who want to travel to the UK and do not need a visa will be required to have an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) by April 2025.
Transportation in Edinburgh
To explore the Old Town, you can simply walk. For the rest of the attractions, you will need transport due to distance and also for the cold weather.
You’ll download the Lothian Buses/Edinburgh Trams app and from there you can book the tickets you need to get on the city’s transport.
A one-way ticket on the buses costs £2, while a one-day ticket costs £5. It’s undoubtedly a better option.
To get from the airport to the city centre (and back) you can take a bus or tram.
We took the 100 Express bus and the ticket cost £5.50 or £8 with return ticket. The journey took just under half an hour.
Accommodation in Edinburgh
Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End
In the heart of the city, about a 10-minute walk from Grassmarket Street and the most central attractions, you’ll find the Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End.
The hotel has it all. Spacious, modern and spotlessly clean rooms, excellent WiFi signal and a delicious breakfast. You’ll find everything you need to start a full day, from eggs, salads and sausages to waffles, croissants and cereal.
At Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End you’ll also find a gym, so you can stay on track with your daily fitness routine.
The staff is kind and ready to help you with anything you need, even holding your luggage after check-out.
Beautiful rooms in an ideal location, what more do you need to book a hotel on your holiday?
Attractions in Edinburgh
Grassmarket
You’ll start your exploration of the Old Town from the Grassmarket, a winding street full of pubs and restaurants around a cobbled square.
Victoria Street
After Grassmarket Street you’ll reach Victoria Street, perhaps the most famous street in Edinburgh.
The colourful little shops stand out from a distance and people line up to take photos.
Royal Mile
Edinburgh’s most historic street, the Royal Mile connects Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and is surrounded by shops and restaurants.
It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to walk in Edinburgh.
There you will also come across the Writers’ Museum, where you will find the work of three of Scotland’s most important writers, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
St. Giles Cathedral
When you walk up Victoria Street towards the Royal Mile you will come across the impressive Gothic St. Giles Cathedral.
It’s free to enter and you can make a donation if you wish.
New York College University
The university is located very close to the castle and looks like something out of the Harry Potter books.
The architecture is stunning and it’s a perfect place to see and take pictures.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh’s imposing castle sits on a hill at the western end of the old city and from there you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.
If you want to get into the castle I recommend booking your tickets online to avoid long queues and to make sure you get in, as tickets sell out quickly, especially in the summer months.
Besides, tickets online cost £19.50 and you’ll pay £22 when you enter the castle.
For more information you can check the official website.
Cockburn Street
Another quaint cobbled street you’ll love in Edinburgh is Cockburn Street.
You can stroll around or sit in some of the restaurants you’ll find there.
Princess Street
Princess Street has great vibes. It’s one of the city’s most vibrant main streets, as there are countless places for shopping and restaurants.
From there you can admire Edinburgh Castle, as well as the Scott Monument.
Scott Monument
An iconic spot in a central part of the city, on Princess Street is the Scott Monument.
The monument is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott and is one of the largest monuments for a writer in the world.
The price to go to the top is £8.
Christmas Market
If you travel to Edinburgh over the festive season, you can’t miss one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.
For 2024 the Edinburgh Christmas Market is open from Friday 15 November 2024 until Saturday 4 January 2025 from 10:00am until 10:00pm.
Dozens of wooden houses, the smells of waffles, sausages and other foods, decorations, lights and of course games for children and adults can be found at the Christmas Market in the heart of the city.
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is a modern museum with relics of Scotland’s industrial history, as well as natural history exhibits.
It hosts collections from various historical periods, from antiquity to modern times. The museum covers subjects such as natural history, science, technology, art and Scottish culture.
Admission is free and the museum is open from 10:00-17:00.
Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery
One of the most famous attractions in Edinburgh is Greyfriars Cemetery!
The cemetery is popular for its statue of Bobby, Scotland’s most “loyal dog”. When his owner died, Bobby wouldn’t leave his grave, he stayed there every day, every night and when he passed away he was buried at the entrance to the cemetery. He is a symbol for our loyal pet friends.
In addition to Bobby’s grave, the cemetery, which dates back to the 16th century, is famous for being J.K. Rowling’s main inspiration for the names of the fictional characters in the Harry Potter books.
Calton Hill
On Calton Hill you will find a likeness of the Parthenon, but it was never completed due to lack of funds. This is why Edinburgh is called “the Athens of the North”.
In addition to the “Parthenon” monument, the hill is home to the Dugald Stewart Monument and also the Nelson Monument. You can stroll up the green hill and of course admire the view of the city from above.
Dean Village
One of my favourite places in Edinburgh is Dean Village, a small village next to a stream and lush green parks.
It’s a picturesque district along the River Water of Leith, a stone’s throw from the city centre.
While walking along the river, you will come across St. Bernard’s Well. Built in the 18th century, it was originally a place of pilgrimage because of the healing properties attributed to the water in its spring.
Stockbridge
The Stockbridge area is located next to the River Lith and is a beautiful more modern district.
You can combine your walk in Stockbridge with a visit to Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Circus Ln
A small but notable street near Stockbridge is Circus Lane. Such a beautiful and picturesque place cannot be missed on your walk.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
At the eastern end of the Royal Mile, you’ll find the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which was the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh.
Known as the setting for the turbulent history of Queen Mary I of Scotland, it’s open all year round. The most important part of the castle are the apartments of Mary of Scotland, where she lived between 1561-67.
The Meadows Park
In the heart of Edinburgh is the lush green Meadows Park. It’s perfect for walking, running or even cycling, and you’ll find canteens offering street food and hot drinks.
Arthur’s seat
If you’ve like hiking, then you can climb the mountain. The climb is quite steep, but the views at the top make up for it.
The views of Edinburgh are spectacular but you’ll need good shoes that don’t slip in the mud.
This place often is mentioned as one of the possible locations of Camelot.
Food in Edinburgh
Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips
You can’t visit Scotland (and the UK in general) and not try one of their famous dishes, fish & chips.
On Victoria Street you’ll find Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips, one of the best fish and chips restaurants in Edinburgh.
Ps. Keep in mind that they add 10% tips to the bill, so you don’t have to leave extra.
Makars Mash Bar
Makars Mash Bar is probably the place I enjoyed eating at the most in Edinburgh.
It’s a restaurant with Scottish dishes and their speciality is mashed potatoes.
You can also try the famous scotch eggs and royal highland haggis with mashed potatoes there.
The dish I chose (and loved) was the slow cooked lamb with tomato and red wine sauce, accompanied by their classic mashed potatoes.
The Boozy Cow
For a delicious burger, head to The Boozy Cow. From the outside it looks like a very small place, but once inside you’ll see a big pub with low lights, rock music and great food.
I tried the Maple Bacon Cheeseburger, with double smash patties, cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup and crispy bacon.
I also chose from the menu haggis pops, nuggets of haggis with whiskey brown sauce.
Mr Wood Fire
You’ll buy the best pizza in Edinburgh from a small canteen, Mr Wood Fire, run by an Italian guy.
The pizzas are made in a wood-fired oven and the margarita pizza I tried cost just £9. I highly recommend it.
Fatt Boyz
An affordable option, by Edinburgh standards, is Fatt Boyz for burgers.
I tried their classic smashed burger with fries, it was quite tasty, but had a spicy sause in it, which I’m not a big fan of.
Uplands Roast
If you are looking for the best hot chocolate in Edinburgh, you can get it from a small canteen, called Uplands Roast in the Meadows Park.
The Proper Hot Chocolate option costs £4.50 and on top of your perfect Belgian chocolate they add marshmallow, chocolate flakes, mini marshmallows, chocolate swirl and cinnamon.
Must-try chocolate in Edinburgh in my opinion.
The Milkman
If you’re looking for a cozy cafe in Edinburgh, then put The Milkman on your list.
You’ll find two shops on Cockburn Street for coffee, tea and other hot drinks. In addition to the beverage you should try some of their delicious snacks, like their cinnamon rolls.
What you need to know before your trip to Edinburgh
- The currency of the United Kingdom (and therefore of Scotland) is the pound. You don’t need to change currency though, as cards are accepted everywhere. We paid by Revolut card with no commission and had no cash at all.
- Before your trip get an adapter for plugs as they use G-type plugs in the UK.
- Mobile data and call minutes from Greece are available for roaming in Scotland.
- 2-3 days is enough to explore Edinburgh.
- Scotland has very cold temperatures. Pack warm clothes, a scarf, gloves and a hat in your suitcase.
- To travel to Scotland you need a passport, you can’t travel with ID.
If you want to see more of my trip to Edinburgh, visit my Instagram profile.
