9 Important Tips You Need to Know about Edinburgh Before You Go

This post is all about Edinburgh.

Ah Scotland! Known for its whiskey and haggis, its highlands and lowlands, its cashmere and kilts. This country has been at the top of my list for a long time, and I was beyond thrilled to help my best friend move into her study abroad in Edinburgh. 

No matter what you come to this beautiful country for whether its Outlander, Harry Potter, or the one and only Braveheart, you are bound to fall in love!

We spent our two weeks there in Edinburgh. The country’s capital is a perfect home base for any travel you are looking to do in Scotland. There are tons of day trips from the city, but let’s not forget you are in one of the most historical cities in Scotland. 

Speaking of history! Edinburgh’s history is very easy to spot through its layout. Divided by history and architecture, the city separates into Old Town and New Town. In later posts, I’ll be breaking down everything to see in both New Town and Old Town. Trust me, there’s a lot of ground to cover.

Here is just a rundown of the ins and outs of Edinburgh detailing tours, transportation, day trips, and where to stay! Enjoy!

Tours of Edinburgh:

The Fringe Festival

If you are so lucky as to be in Edinburgh around August, you will be thrown into the liveliness that is the Fringe Festival! The annual festival is one of the largest arts festivals in the entire world. From music and  comedy to magic and art, you will have no shortage of events to choose from. Choose to book a comedy show or simply wander along the Royal Mile and watch the street performers on display.

The Underground of Edinburgh

You must do at least one underground tour while in Edinburgh! There are plenty to choose from whether you prefer a scary one or a historical one. Since we went during the Fringe Festival, we chose a tour through their site. The Underground is a collection of chambers built underneath the streets of Old Town. Plenty of spooky stories told about these chambers but lots of history too! Think the Paris catacombs without the skeletons.

Looking for a Day Trip from Edinburgh?

Highlands

You simply cannot come to Scotland without traveling into the highlands! I convinced my group to do a tour on my final day, and it did not disappoint! Linked here is the tour we chose out of the dozens you will find when searching. Being a Harry Potter fan, the Jacobite Steam Train was a must see as it plays as the Hogwarts Express in the films.

Roslyn’s Chapel

Anyone seen The DaVinci Code? You might recognize this chapel as the location of the climax in the film. Unfortunately, you are not allowed photos inside the chapel, but I could’ve spent hours in there uncovering all the details within the masonry work. The entire interior is covered in handcrafted masonry designs with hundreds of different stories to tell. You can purchase your tickets here, or you can take the tour we did which also brings you to Abbotsford House – the home of writer Sir Walter Scott.

Transportation around Edinburgh:

Hop on Hop Off Bus

One of the best ways to learn the geography of the city is to start with the Hop on Hop off buses. You’ll have a guided audio tour along your entire ride which points out historical landmarks and fun facts to tell everyone when you return home. It’s a one stop shop for learning your way around the city and the history of the city itself!

Lothian Bus

Edinburgh is probably by far one of my favorites in terms of public transportation. Their bus system is very easy to understand. You can use their app or Google Maps to figure out which bus number to take to which stop. For those who lack a sense of direction, the bus system will be your best friend.

The best part about the buses is payment. You can go down to the bus station and buy yourself a pass if you feel like you will be using it frequently. Or if you have a credit card that taps to pay, you simply board whatever bus you want and tap your card. Super Easy! I did not get a bus pass because even though we used the bus daily, two weeks of bus usage was still cheaper by credit card rather than the bus pass. But it all depends on how long your trip will be!

Walking

If you are trying to save some money or enjoy wandering from destination to destination, Edinburgh is a very walkable city. That is if you don’t mind the hills. For those in semi decent shape, walking from Stockbridge to Old Town will have you out of breath quite quickly. 

How Long Do You Need in Edinburgh?

To simply see the sites and experience some of the country’s cuisine and drink, I’d say a packed long weekend is plenty to get a taste. If you are planning on only doing day trips from Edinburgh rather than staying in different cities in the country, then I’d definitely suggest a week or two simply to give yourself some time to relax between long bus or train rides. 

Covid Regulations:

I explain everything COVID and travel related in my last blog post here. In the city itself, all restaurants, museums, buses or experiences that are indoors require you to wear a mask even if you are vaccinated. I didn’t find that wearing mask hindered any of my experiences while traveling.

Where to Stay in the City:

We stayed in an Airbnb in Leith which was around a thirty-minute walk from downtown or less than a twenty-minute bus ride. It was nice to leave the city behind when it was time to sleep for the night. My friend’s flat was closer to downtown which was just as nice! Gave our legs and wallets a break for my final days in Scotland.

You will find a lot of tourists stay close to the Royal Mile in Old Town specifically because it is closest to all of the sites and restaurants. The prices will obviously rise the closer you are to downtown, but if you factor in how often you will need public transportation, it might be worth the extra money.

In the end, there’s nothing better than being there to support a friend achieve their dreams. With COVID, that study abroad dream was looking gloomy, but I’m so happy my best friend gets to live abroad even if she’s an entire ocean away. Guess I’ll just have to go visit!