The Best and Worst of Visiting Edinburgh
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about Scotland’s capital city: Edinburgh. We think it’s a beautiful city and a great destination for travelers, especially first-time international travelers from the United States. Before you plan your trip to Scotland, these are our favorite and least favorite things about visiting Edinburgh.
Best of Edinburgh:
The Royal Mile is one of the coolest parts of Edinburgh. It extends from the Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood House and St. Charles Cathedral. You can go inside these places and see so many cool artifacts like the Crown Jewels of Scotland. Everywhere you look, you’ll be wowed by the architecture and history. There’s a reason all the tourists are concentrated along the Royal Mile.
Edinburgh has seven hills in the city, and they each offer fantastic views of Edinburgh. You can also get some really good photos of the castle because it sits above the city on a hill. Some cities are quite flat, so getting a good vantage point can be challenging, but it’s easy to find great views in Edinburgh. While the Royal Mile is great, be sure to get out and explore other areas, too.
The shops in Edinburgh are another thing we love. There are vintage shops, kooky shops, and tourist shops, The High Street shops are found in New Town, but Old Town Edinburgh is known for eccentric shops. It’s actually fun to buy souvenirs in Edinburgh! Many shops do close at 6:00 though, so make sure you plan ahead for your shopping.
Finding hidden gems in Edinburgh is super fun, and easy to do! A few of our favorites include:
- Museum of Childhood is on the Royal Mile and portrays childhood throughout the ages
- The Scottish Storytelling Centre, also on the Royal Mile, is great as Scotland has such a rich history of storytelling.
- Roslyn Chapel is a great day trip and you can get there on public transport.
Hiking outside of town, even to Arthur’s Seat, which is not a hidden gem, is a great way to explore Edinburgh. Even Glasgow is just 45 minutes by train and has a totally different vibe than Edinburgh.
The tourism infrastructure in Edinburgh is fantastic. There are tons of choices for accommodations in Edinburgh: from hotels, B&Bs, and apartment rentals. There are even some great hostels in Edinburgh. There are options in all price ranges, but of course, prices go up in the summer. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants, and the signage and guides in the tourism industry are quite helpful. The locals are friendly and helpful, which is great for tourists.
Getting around Edinburgh is easy, with buses and trams that go all over, including the airport. It’s about 40 minutes to take the tram from the airport to the last city stop.
Worst of Edinburgh:
Driving in Edinburgh can be a real pain. I do recommend renting a car when you visit Scotland because you will want to drive around the countryside, but when you’re in the capital, it’s a big hassle. Finding a parking spot in Edinburgh is a challenge. I recommend only renting a car for the time you are not in Edinburgh and returning your car before your time in the city. But remember, they drive on the left!
Getting oriented is also challenging. Those seven hills that offer amazing views also offer a lot of uphill and downhill walking. (bring good shoes!) When you’re looking at a map, it may look like a straight shot to your destination, but that doesn’t always translate to the city’s topography. There may be hills or bridges in your way.
On the weekends especially, you will have to deal with tourist crowds in Edinburgh. It’s a popular weekend getaway destination, but most of the crowds are concentrated near the Royal Mile, from the cathedral to the castle. You can easily avoid this by visiting in the off-season or during the week if you’re coming in the summer. (If you don’t like crowds, avoid August as it’s festival season, and the streets are packed shoulder to shoulder!)
Arriving at the Edinburgh airport is my least favorite part of visiting Scotland. The city has outgrown the airport, which feels very small and outdated. If you have a morning flight, give yourself plenty of time to get through the airport. It takes longer than you think it will. The tram into the city from the airport is nice, though!
Visiting Edinburgh with kids has some challenges, but overall it’s a very cool place to bring kids. Most bars will not allow children after 8 pm, so if you’re planning a quick pub dinner, you need to plan accordingly.
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Clearly, our “worst” things about Edinburgh are mild annoyances and not a reason to avoid planning to trip to Edinburgh. It’s a fantastic city, with lovely people, beautiful architecture and history, with lots of quirky things to see and eat. Want more Scotland travel tips? Check out these blog posts!