Snapshot Scotland: Edinburgh

For my next set of blog posts I’ll be telling you everything you need to know about travelling to Scotland! I’ll give my best recommendation, tips, tricks, and more! Here you can read about arriving, accommodation, food and restaurants, the sights, and transportation! This post will be all about the rustic and lively capital of Scotland, Edinburgh!

Arriving in Edinburgh

Once arriving at Edinburgh airport it is possible to take a taxi to the city center for around GBP 25. You also have the option to use Uber at the airport for around the same price as a taxi. Another option is to catch the Airlink bus from the airport to the city center (waverly station) for only GBP 4.50. there is also the option of taking the trams from the aiport to the city center for the same as the bus. Personally I recommend the bus because it is quick and efficient and they depart every seven minutes so you don’t have to wait long.

If you are arriving by train to Edinburgh Waverly Station then you can either catch a bus or tram to your final destination, or use Uber. You can find more information on the buses here.  waverly station is also very central so look into how far it is to your final destination because walking may be easier.

Accommodation

I recommend looking on tripadvisor to see what private apartments are available as close to the city center as possible. Another good option is Airbnb for private rooms, apartments,houses, and more! For me this is nicer than a hotel and gives your trip a more home-like feeling. Some Upscale highly rated hotels are-

• Double Tree by Hilton
• The Rutland Hotel
• The Doustane Houses
• The Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa

Some 3 & 4 star highly rated more budget friendly hotel options are-

• Premier Inns Edinburgh
  • There are multiple to choose from in may different locations. All are highly rated and affordable and perfect for a practical travelers getaway.
• Novotel Edinburgh Centre Hotel
• Ibis Edinburgh Centre Southbridge
• Best Western Plus

Some 1&2 star Hostel Options are

• Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel
• Castle Rock Hostel
• Kick Ass Hostel
• High Street Hostel
• Budget Backpackers Hostel 

Some Bed and Breakfast Style options are-

• B+B Edingburgh
• 18 Craigmillar Park Edinburgh Guesthouse
• Browns Guesthouse

Some great resources for information on booking accommodation are Tripadvisor, Airbnb, Booking.com, and Hostelworld.

Food and Restaurants

There are endless amounts of wonderful places to eat in Edinburgh. One of my favorites is Angels with Bagpipes. It serves delicious upscale food. Although the wait was a little longer than expected, the food was well worth the wait. It is located on the royal mile next to St. Giles Cathedral. A great Italian option is Vittorios located off Canongate royal mile. It serves a tasty mix of Italian and traditional british foods. There is a Marks & Spencers simply food located in Waverly station so you can grab your groceries when you depart your train. There are many grocery stores located throughout the city. You can also find your fast food favorites like Subway, Costa, Starbucks, and more located along the Royal Mile. One yummy Cafe is the Coffee House which serves a great cup of coffee and perhaps a scone or two. You can trip over places to eat in Edinburgh so don’t fear!

The Sights

From Castles to nature parks Edinburgh is full of fun things to see and do!

• Edinburgh Castle- Of course this makes the top of the list! This powerful castle sits in a rocky cliff towering over the city below. Edinburgh Castle sits at the beginning of what is known as the Royal Mile. You can see the famous crown jewels with a thrilling back story. You can also enter the war memorial and look at the beautiful stain glass windows. With lot’s to do and see, portion out to either a full day or at least a half day at the castle. Opening hours are 9:30-18:00 in the summer and 9:30-17:00 in the summer. Tickets at the gate are GBP 18.50 for Adults and GBP 11.50 for children. Children under 5 enter free. You can also purchase audio guides through the gate for GBP 3. You can find more information on the castle here.
• The Real Mary King’s Close Tour- You can discover the exciting underground hidden street in Edinburgh, Mary King’s Close. The Tour is perfect for history buffs or people who wanna get the experience for what Edinburgh used to be like. The tours run every 15 minutes and last an hour. They are usually booked up ahead of time so you can buy tickets online beforehand. The tour guides are excellent and make the experience a must see attraction in Edinburgh. You can learn more and buy tickets here.
• The National Museum of Scotland- Love history and art? Get on over to the national museum of Scotland! You can spend a day (or your whole life) exploring the wonders of this museum! And the best part? It’s completely free! You can learn more here.
• The Elephant House- Sit and enjoy a cup of coffee in the cafe that J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books in!
• Holyrood Park- Go for a nice long stroll through this lovely scenic park.

Happy Travels!