J&L
- May 8, 2020

Edinburgh, Scotland: Top Thing to See, Eat, and Drink

Updated: Jan 4, 2023

Fun Facts

J.K. Rowling wrote a portion of Harry Potter in the Edinburgh café, The Elephant. She was inspired by the landscape/location when creating the characters and narrative of her books.
"Edinburghers" living on the top of the city hill (old volcano), used to throw their sewage pots out of the window in the 1500's shouting "Gardyloo!" (beware of water!) so passersby would get out of the way. The sewage would drain down to Nor Loch, which is now Princess Gardens, a beautiful, lush, green garden beneath Edinburgh Castle.

This gratuity-based tour is an excellent way to start off your trip to Edinburgh. The Sandemans team does a wonderful job of explaining the history, taking you to the important sites, and engaging the crowd with some added humor. Some of our favorite stops included City Chambers, the Royal Mile, and Greyfriars Kirkyard (home of Greyfriars Bobby).

We learned about a man named Deacon Brody who was thought to be the inspiration for Jekyll and Hyde. He had the illusion of being a highly respected craftsman and was elected a seat on the city council. However, he was also a locksmith and made copies of the house keys from prominent families. He used the keys to re-enter their houses at nightfall to steal prized possessions. Today, there is a pub named after Deacon Brody on the Royal Mile.

Tickets: Free! (With suggested gratuity)

2. The Royal Mile

This is a mile-long road leading to the Edinburgh Castle entrance, as well as, an overlook of the entire city. Along this road are many shops and local artists. Stop by, admire their work and maybe even grab a souvenir to remember your time in Edinburgh.

3. St. Giles Cathedral

This is a beautiful cathedral along the Royal Mile. St. Giles holds an important role the Scottish Reformation and is known as the "Mother Church of World Presbyterianism". This has become a popular tourist destination, not only for its historical significance, but also to admire its brilliant architecture and artistic details.

4. Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Kirkyard is a graveyard in old town Edinburgh that is worth taking a stroll through. As you read the names of some of the gravestones, you will start to recognize some of these names as prominent Harry Potter characters. This is because J.K. Rowling often found her inspiration for character names walking through this graveyard.

Greyfriars Kirkyard is also home to Greyfriars Bobby. A heartwarming story of a Skye Terrier that sat on his deceased owner's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years and guarded the gravestone until the dog passed away himself. Today, Edinburghers recognize Bobby the dog with his own grave and statue near his owner.

Also Read: the full story of Greyfriars Bobby

5. Arthur's Seat

We highly recommend going on the hike to Arthur's Seat. It was one of the favorite parts of our entire trip. Along the path you will see ruins of a 15th century cathedral, as well as, a 360 degree view of the city & ocean. The peak of the hike is Arthur's Seat, which was built on top of an old volcano and has incredible views that will make it more than worth the climb.

J&L Recommended: A must-do in Edinburgh!

6. Colton Hill

We discovered Colton Hill after noticing greenery in the landscape from our viewpoint atop Arthur's Seat. It has an excellent view of the city and can be a lovely place for a picnic. We found Colton Hill to provide extraordinary views and unique vantage points of the city. Sometimes the best designations on a trip are those you happen to stumble upon.

Hidden Gem: Relaxing park just outside the city

7. Holyrood Palace

Hours Peak Season: Thursday - Monday from 9:30 - 6:00pm

Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth spends one week a year at this residence located at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle on the Royal Mile. It is one the route to Arthur's Seat from Edinburgh Castle and worth snapping a picture of its magnificent exterior. If you have an interest and would like to tour the inside, it is open to the public almost year round.

Tickets: Starting at £17.50

8. Edinburgh Castle

Hours Peak Season: Daily from 9:30 - 6:00pm

The castle grounds used to encompass the entire city of Edinburgh. The city gradually expanded past the castle walls and transformed into present day Edinburgh. Each of the historic buildings inside the castle walls are now turned into museums. The highlights from our visit to the castle was the 1 o'clock cannon that was set off (to alert ships in the harbor of the current time), visiting the royal jewels, touring the royal apartment, and viewing the prisoners of war exhibit. We recommend at least 3 hours at this attraction.

Tickets: Starting at £17.50 at the gate and £15.50 online

9. Real Mary King Close Tour

Hours: Daily 10:00 - 5:00pm

A "close" is a Scottish term for an alleyway in Edinburgh's narrow and winding streets. In the 1800s, the city started building on top of the closes to create space for the City Chambers building as real estate on top of the hill was growing scarce. This enclosed the residents' houses that lived in the closes which eliminating their sunlight, fresh air, and caused an unsanitary environment filled with disease. The Real Mary King Close Tour takes you down into the homes enclosed underground while telling the stories of the residents that lived there and the struggles they endured.

Tickets: Starting at £17.50

10. Princess Gardens & Princess Street

As mentioned in our initial "fun fact", this garden use to be Nor Loch before it was drained in the late 18th century. Having been nourished from the Nor Loch waters, the vegetation in this garden is absolutely stunning. It is a great place to walk through, enjoy nature, and take in a wonderful view of the Edinburgh Castle. Once you walk through Princess Gardens, loop back around onto Princess Street and check out the entertaining shops & restaurants.

J&L Recommended: beautiful gardens with castle views

11. Grassmarket Square

A picturesque square in the middle of old town, Grassmarket is filled with designers, artisans and independent merchants. This is the perfect place to stop for lunch, try some local food/drink, and snap a few more pictures of the Edinburgh Castle.

J&L Recommended: historic, fairytale buildings

More time in Scotland?

You may consider booking one of these incredible day trips:

Noms

What food is famous in Edinburgh?

1. Oink

Amazing pulled pork sandwich! BEWARE of the topping "haggis". If you like trying different food and want to partake in a Scottish tradition, go for it! Otherwise, checkout this link to know what haggis is before ordering. If Haggis is not for you, you can easily order your sandwich without.

J&L Recommended: One of the best pork sandwiches we have ever had! (beware of haggis)

2. Quick & Plenty Café

Great Scottish breakfast, friendly staff, and reasonably priced food! This is a great place to stop for a traditional Scottish breakfast or for a quick bite amidst all of your Edinburgh exploring. A Traditional Scottish breakfast includes beans, toast, eggs, sausage, bacon, haggis, and black pudding.

Tip: recommended for trying a traditional Scottish breakfast (but beware of Haggis and Black Pudding!)

3. The Painted Rooster

A lovely café for brunch or lunch food, specializing in Scottish and British cuisine with generous portions. Also, be sure to try their original Pierogi dumplings handmade in their kitchen.

Also Read: Top Things To Do in Edinburgh

4. Elephant House

Grab your afternoon pick-me-up at this famous coffee house. This is the café in which J.K. Rowling wrote portions of the Harry Potter book series. There is a picture of her hanging on the wall of the café. See if you can find her exact seat! We ordered steamed milk with amaretto and sat at the same table J.K. Rowling was pictured writing her books.

Fact: This is the café in which J.K. Rowling wrote portions of the Harry Potter series.

Brews

Top 5 Breweries of Edinburgh

1. Brewdog

Recommended Brew: Elvis Juice (American IPA)

This American IPA cannot be overlooked. Elvis Juice is loaded with citrus flavor, specifically a orange and grapefruit combo, which packs a powerful flavor to delight the senses. Brewdog started in Ellon, Scotland (a couple of hours north from Edinburgh) in 2007 and now has grown to the scale of a multinational craft brewery due to rapid success among craft brew fans globally.

2. Pilot Beer

Recommended Brew: Mochaccino Stout (5.5% ABV)

A sweet milk stout that needs no introduction as the winner of Bow Bar's 2014 Dark Beer Challenge. This Mochaccino Stout is filled with rich flavor of coffee roast, cocoa, and a pinch of vanilla flavor. Pilot has a variety of satisfying craft beers brewed right in Edinburgh and located in bars all over the city.

Also Read: Best Craft Breweries of Europe

3. Campervan Brewery

Recommended Brew: Neon Blitz (Sour-4.3% ABV)

Neon is a blueberry Berliner Weisse, dry-hopped with the tropical & citrus Mosaic for the creations of a highly stimulating sour beer. Packed with a fresh blueberry flavor that is well balanced with a slight sourness, we highly recommended for any sour lovers out there.

4. Barney's Beer

Recommended Brew: Capital Porter (5% ABV)

You cannot go wrong with this easy-drinker Porter. Dark, malty, & rich with notes of dark chocolate and coffee. Barney's beer offers tours at a cost and boasts to be the the longest established, non-continuously operating brewery in Edinburgh.

Also Read: Dublin Ireland Complete Guide

5. Stewart Brewing

Recommended Brew: Radical Road Pale Ale (6.4% ABV)

Easily drinkable Scottish hoppy ale with distinguishable taste of marmalade and grapefruit. Stewart Brewing is located just outside of Edinburgh in Loanhead. If time allows on your schedule we recommend stopping by!

Planning Your Trip

Which part of Edinburgh is best to stay?

Grassmarket Square is in an excellent location and central to all Edinburgh's top attractions. For our top-pick hostels based on location and value see Best Hostels of Europe.

J&L Recommended: Kick Ass Grassmarket

Looking for a great deal on hotels in Edinburgh? Search your travel dates below and save on your next trip!

How do you get around Edinburgh?

If you are located in Grassmarket Square, then you can travel to most places by foot. However, if you would prefer not to walk, or need transportation from the airport, the best alternative transportation mode is Edinburgh's bus .

Tickets from Airport: £ 1.60/Adult. View the best route at Rome2Rio

How long to stay in Edinburgh

We recommend 2-3 days to view all of the top sights of Edinburgh. For less time in Edinburgh, see A Perfect Day in Edinburgh, Scotland

J&L Recommended: 2-3 Days

When is the best time of year to visit Edinburgh?

The best time to visit Edinburgh for optimal weather and minimal crowds is in spring or fall.

J&L Recommended: May through September

Affordable International Data

Want to avoid roaming charges and $10/day international data fees? Airalo allows you to download an e-SIM to your phone and activate while in Europe for a very affordable price. We bought 3 GB of data valid for 30 days from activation for only $7. It worked great throughout our entire Europe trip and was very easy to install. Airalo offers e-SIMs all around the world and we can validate that it works with ease in multiple European countries.