Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities in the world. From the infamous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, to the buzzing year-round cafe scene, the quaint cobblestone streets and breath-taking views from Arthurs seat – it’s a city steeped in history, culture and an all round good vibe.
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Where to eat in Edinburgh
Before I jump into the top attractions and photo locations I simply have to share my fav foodie hotspots. Edinburgh’s lively food scene has something to cater for all tastes but my personal favourites are:
- Hula Juice Bar: Known best for its acai bowls, avocado on toast and hearty salads – this is my go-to breakfast and brunch spot.
- Ting Thai Caravan: Mouth watering Thai street food, prepare for a line though, it’s always busy!
- Dishoom: This is one of my favorite restaurants in London, and it’s Edinburgh branch was just as delicious. Found in a beautiful historic building with floor to ceiling windows, I recommend heading here for dinner one night.
Top 10 Things to do in Edinburgh
Arthurs Seat
For the best views around town look no further than Arthur’s Seat. I took a leisurely stroll up the mountain taking plenty of photos along the way and it took about 4-hours return.
Arthurs Seat Photo Tip: The picture below was not taken at the summit, it was taken at the first ridge. I set up my tripod about 50m away from the furthest cliff (on the way to the beginning of the steep summit), then took my remote control up to get this picture.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is the crown of the capital. A combination of history, architecture and charm – it is an iconic Scottish tourist attraction. Entrance for adults is £16.50 and audio guides are an extra £3.50.
Edinburgh Castle Photo Tip: Head to Vennel Street to get the view of Edinburgh Castle pictured below.
The Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world, and a beautiful place to photography.
Scott Monument Photo Tip: Head to South St David Street in the morning before peak hour to get the exact shot pictured below.
Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tours
Free walking tours around Europe can be hit and miss but Edinburgh seemed to have a lot of companies that all offered good quality tours. The one I hopped on was called Sandmans New Edinburgh Tours, and was led by a local university student. During the tour you cover a lot of ground and get a lot of information packed into 2.5 hours which is perfect if you only have a limited amount of time in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Street Photography Tip: Head to West Bow Street to find the colourful alley pictured below, which is believed to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley. This is also the street where you’ll find my favourite cafe Hula Juice Bar.
Calton Hill
This is another great spot to view Edinburgh. There are boards around the area that explain the significance of the buildings and monuments on the hill as well as maps informing you of what you can see from that vantage point.
The Potter Trail (Harry Potter Tour)
As an avid Harry Potter fan I took as many opportunities as I could in Scotland to geek out over connections to the book and movie series (for example, you can read about riding the real life Hogwarts Express here!!!).
On The Potter Trail you visit and pass by multiple locations that inspired JK Rowling such as the graveyard where many names (like Tom Riddle) can be found on the tombstones.
You will also pass the Elephant Castle where JK Rowling wrote some of the Harry Potter installments. I ended up coming back to this cafe to have lunch on my second day. It was decently priced (I had the lasagna) and remember to check the draws of the tables, they are full of notes written by fans thanking JK Rowling. Also, while this might sound random, do make sure you visit the bathroom because every inch of it is covered with Harry Potter graffiti. It has been unofficially labeled the walls of ‘Dumbledore’s Army’, I thought it was brilliant!!
Pubs
Edinburgh has an amazing nightlife – especially in terms of its pubs. Right near my accommodation was a place called Grassmarket Square which was full of charming pubs that had a fun vibe. Honestly though, I think you could stay anywhere in this city and find a nice pub that serves hearty meals and has a friendly atmosphere – there were pubs on every street!
Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
It does not take more than an hour to wander the Royal Botanic Gardens and they are a nice escape from the bustle of the city. Visiting in May meant that the flowers were in full bloom which was lovely.
St Giles Cathedral
You will hear about the history of this cathedral and its surrounding area on all free walking tours in Edinburgh but if you do not end up getting time to do a tour you should still visit St Giles to admire its gothic architecture.
The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile comprises of the main roads that run through Edinburgh’s Old Town. Walking from one end to another you will really get a feel for the city as you pass many attractions, pubs, market stalls and unique side streets on the way. Whilst touristy, it is also a great way to get your bearings as most of the things on this list are located as offshoots from this main road.
Please note that all the free walking tours mentioned above rely on tips to continue their services so at the end of the tour they will ask that you pay what you can afford or what you think the tour was worth (at no obligation).
My ideal ‘weekend escapes’ usually tend to be in remote landscapes or in less touristy destinations but Edinburgh is definitely an exception to this rule and probably one of the few cities I have visited over my travels that I really feel I could live in one day. For me it has a similar character to London but on smaller less hectic scale. It also has a really refreshing and friendly atmosphere.
If you have any queries or questions feel free to comment and I will answer to the best of my ability!
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