Recently I was asked by a friend what were 'must see' places in Edinburgh, I replied that it depended on what a person was interested in and how much time they were planning on spending in the city. I created a list in a non-particular order of places I would recommend seeing.
Important places to me would include:
Important places to me would include:
Edinburgh Castle (the Mound)
Holyroodhouse Palace and Abbey (Holyrood)
Scottish Parliament (Holyrood)
The Royal Mile, particularly St. Giles Cathedral, the High Court, St. Mary's Close (viewable via a ghost/history tour) (Old Town)
Princes Street, particularly Jenner's (Edinburgh's version of Harrods) (New Town)
George Street, look for the RBS Headquarters in St. Andrew's Sq. (New Town)
Arthurs Seat and the Salisbury Crags (Holyrood)
Calton Hill (New Town)
Greyfriars Kirk and graveyard (famous for the Greyfriars Bobby story) (Old Town, near George IV)
National Museum of Scotland, look for William Wallace's sword (think Brave Heart) (Old Town, Chambers St)
Old College, University of Edinburgh (School of Law, Chambers St and South Bridge)
National Gallery of Scotland (below the Mood, near Waverly Station)
Princes Street Gardens (in-between Old Town and New Town, near Waverly Station)
George Square and the University of Edinburgh (Old Town, near the Meadows)
National Library of Scotland, always cool interactive displays which highlight Scottish history and literature (Old Town, George IV)
The Meadows (Old Town, The Meadows - between Morningside and Marchmount)
Grass Market, cool area of town, below the Castle to the south and west of George IV. (Old Town, Grassmarket)
Royal Botanical Gardens (New Town, Stockbridge)
Waters of Leith particularly Dean Village, the Dean Gallery, and the walk along the waters of Leith (New Town, Dean Village)
Craigmillar Castle - excellent castle where Mary Queen of Scots plotted with her nobles to kill her husband. It is a 30 min bus ride and not too famous, but it is a very impress castle in the south part of Edinburgh with a great view of the Edinburgh Castle and Salisbury Crags. (Craigmillar)
Holyrood Park (Holyrood)
Leith Docks, Victoria Quay - the Royal Yacht Britannia is there too, but over all if I were to miss something, this would be the area. It is fun if you go to the beach, or a pub in the docks, but over all Leith is not the best part of town, though it is a very historical area, as shipping made Edinburgh wealthy. (Leith)
Pubs are a must visit in Edinburgh with famous ones being the Sheep’s Heid (the Oldest pub, opened in 1320), the Advocate, Black Bull, the Waverly, Greyfreirs, Peartree House (great place to have a drink outside), Deacon Bodies, Beehive Inn et cetera. My advice - stay off the Cow Gate and remember the pubs on the Royal Mile (High St.) are pretty pricey as they are for the tourists, exceptions being the Waverly, which is an inexpensive and unchanged Edinburgh pub.
Modern/Cool pubs include: the Jazz Bar, the Music Bar, Under-the-Stairs, Frankenstein's, Opal Lounge, Brass Monkey, and Jekyll and Hyde.
Coffee shops are an also must stop, as beer, whiskey, tea and coffee are consumed in super unhealthy rates in Scotland. The Elephant House on George IV Bridge is where JK Rowlings wrote the first few chapters of Harry Potter and Antique Tea is where you can have real coddled crème scones and fresh tea in antique bone china cups! (it is also really affordable).
Night entertainment includes clubs (open till 3 AM), theatres, cinemas, concert and opera houses, loads of restaurants and pubs (open till mid-night or 1 if they have an extended licence) During August all clubs and pubs are allowed to be open until 5 AM.
Holyroodhouse Palace and Abbey (Holyrood)
Scottish Parliament (Holyrood)
The Royal Mile, particularly St. Giles Cathedral, the High Court, St. Mary's Close (viewable via a ghost/history tour) (Old Town)
Princes Street, particularly Jenner's (Edinburgh's version of Harrods) (New Town)
George Street, look for the RBS Headquarters in St. Andrew's Sq. (New Town)
Arthurs Seat and the Salisbury Crags (Holyrood)
Calton Hill (New Town)
Greyfriars Kirk and graveyard (famous for the Greyfriars Bobby story) (Old Town, near George IV)
National Museum of Scotland, look for William Wallace's sword (think Brave Heart) (Old Town, Chambers St)
Old College, University of Edinburgh (School of Law, Chambers St and South Bridge)
National Gallery of Scotland (below the Mood, near Waverly Station)
Princes Street Gardens (in-between Old Town and New Town, near Waverly Station)
George Square and the University of Edinburgh (Old Town, near the Meadows)
National Library of Scotland, always cool interactive displays which highlight Scottish history and literature (Old Town, George IV)
The Meadows (Old Town, The Meadows - between Morningside and Marchmount)
Grass Market, cool area of town, below the Castle to the south and west of George IV. (Old Town, Grassmarket)
Royal Botanical Gardens (New Town, Stockbridge)
Waters of Leith particularly Dean Village, the Dean Gallery, and the walk along the waters of Leith (New Town, Dean Village)
Craigmillar Castle - excellent castle where Mary Queen of Scots plotted with her nobles to kill her husband. It is a 30 min bus ride and not too famous, but it is a very impress castle in the south part of Edinburgh with a great view of the Edinburgh Castle and Salisbury Crags. (Craigmillar)
Holyrood Park (Holyrood)
Leith Docks, Victoria Quay - the Royal Yacht Britannia is there too, but over all if I were to miss something, this would be the area. It is fun if you go to the beach, or a pub in the docks, but over all Leith is not the best part of town, though it is a very historical area, as shipping made Edinburgh wealthy. (Leith)
Pubs are a must visit in Edinburgh with famous ones being the Sheep’s Heid (the Oldest pub, opened in 1320), the Advocate, Black Bull, the Waverly, Greyfreirs, Peartree House (great place to have a drink outside), Deacon Bodies, Beehive Inn et cetera. My advice - stay off the Cow Gate and remember the pubs on the Royal Mile (High St.) are pretty pricey as they are for the tourists, exceptions being the Waverly, which is an inexpensive and unchanged Edinburgh pub.
Modern/Cool pubs include: the Jazz Bar, the Music Bar, Under-the-Stairs, Frankenstein's, Opal Lounge, Brass Monkey, and Jekyll and Hyde.
Coffee shops are an also must stop, as beer, whiskey, tea and coffee are consumed in super unhealthy rates in Scotland. The Elephant House on George IV Bridge is where JK Rowlings wrote the first few chapters of Harry Potter and Antique Tea is where you can have real coddled crème scones and fresh tea in antique bone china cups! (it is also really affordable).
Night entertainment includes clubs (open till 3 AM), theatres, cinemas, concert and opera houses, loads of restaurants and pubs (open till mid-night or 1 if they have an extended licence) During August all clubs and pubs are allowed to be open until 5 AM.
