• HELLO SCOTLAND
  • TRAVEL
    • Travelling To Scotland
    • Find Cheap Flights
    • Currency Converter
    • Travelling In Scotland
    • Travel Insurance
    • Scotland Tours
    • Car Rentals UK
    • Airport Parking UK
    • Money Savers
    • Best Time To Visit
  • PLACES
    • City of Edinburgh
      • City of Glasgow
      • City of Stirling
      • City of Inverness
      • City of Dundee
      • City of Aberdeen
      • City of Perth
    • The Scottish Highlands
    • The Isle of Skye
    • Town of Pitlochry
    • Fort William
    • Loch Lomond
    • Dumfries And Galloway
    • Best Day Trips
      • Largs Day Trip
        • The Isle of Arran
        • Waverley Paddle Steamer
        • Oban Day Trip
        • Glasgow Botanic Gardens
      • St Andrews
      • Loch Katrine
        • Isle of Kerrera
      • Culross Village
      • Best Beaches
  • ACCOMMODATION
    • Hotels & Cottages
    • Castle Hotels
    • Holiday Rentals
    • Hostels In Scotland
  • ATTRACTIONS
    • Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
      • The National Museum
      • Royal Yacht Britannia
      • Scotch Whisky Experience
      • Edinburgh Zoo
    • Glasgow Science Centre
      • Glasgow Cathedral
      • Kelvingrove Art Gallery
      • Museum Of Transport
    • Glenmorangie Distillery Tour
    • Melrose Abbey
    • Wildlife Safari Park
    • The Falkirk Wheel
    • The Helix
    • 10 Must-See Sights
  • EVENTS
    • Agricultural Shows
    • Arts & Culture
      • Edinburgh Festival
      • Edinburgh Military Tattoo
      • Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
    • Theatre Shows
      • Theatres In Scotland
    • Cycling Events
    • Drinks Festivals
    • Farmer’s Markets
    • Food Festivals
    • Highland Games
    • Music Festivals
    • Running Events
    • Walking Events
  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
      • Golfing Articles
    • Hiking
      • West Highland Way
      • Great Glen Way
      • Hillwalking Scotland
    • Cycling
      • Bicycle Hire
    • Kayaking
      • Inflatable Kayaks
    • Skiing
    • Horse Riding
    • Scotland Wildlife
  • HISTORY
    • Bonnie Prince Charlie
    • William Wallace
    • Robert The Bruce
    • Glencoe Massacre
    • Greyfriars Bobby
    • Profile of Robert Burns
    • Flag of Scotland
    • Clans And Tartans
    • Significant Dates
  • CASTLES
    • Culzean Castle
    • Glamis Castle
    • Dunnottar Castle
    • Edinburgh Castle
    • Eilean Donan Castle
    • Stirling Castle
    • Urquhart Castle
    • Castle Weddings
    • Castle Ghosts
  • CULTURE
    • Old Scottish Sayings
    • More of Your Sayings
    • Scottish Humour
    • Scottish Ancestry?
    • Scottish Weddings
    • About Scotland
    • Wee Jock’s Quiz
    • Fitba Daft
    • Visitor Comments

Scotland Welcomes You

Discover All There Is To See And Do!

The City of Edinburgh: There’s So Much To See And Do In The Capital

Updated 19 February, 2020

Let me introduce you to the fabulous city of Edinburgh. The city is well known for the Military Tattoo and the Fringe Festival, two of Scotland’s most popular events.

Edinburgh also boasts one of the worlds most beautiful cityscapes, making it an ideal destination for a holiday or a short city break. As you would expect, Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline, on top of an ancient volcano set in the centre of the city.

I have been to Edinburgh many times and I still haven’t “done it all”.

I probably never will, because there is so much to see and do in Scotland’s capital. Probably the best times to visit the city are August and late December when you can indulge yourself in some of the best events to be seen anywhere in the world.

Many of our tourist attractions are in the city of Edinburgh, and I have written about some of them on this site, so just click the links on this page for more information.

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS….

It’s the top destination for oveseas and UK vistors to Scotland, and it is the only city to have a dog, Greyfriars Bobby on the list of citizens who have been given the very prestigious Freedom of the City award. The city is also well-known for the spectacular Military Tattoo and the Fringe Festival, a collection of official and independent festivals held annually for four weeks in early August. Another huge attraction is the Edinburgh Dungeon, featuring live actors and some great interactive special effects.

With many attractions, tourists come to visit historical sights like Edinburgh Castle, and the Palace of Holyrood House, occupying each end of what is known as The Royal Mile.

To see more, it may be worth investing in a Royal Edinburgh Ticket which includes Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, and Edinburgh Castle Admission.

Edinburgh Castle

OK, I did say that Edinburgh was an ideal venue as a city break destination, but to be honest, there is so much going on that a longer holiday (2 weeks) is recommended.

If you like museums, you’ll be in your element. There are a few to see, like the Museum of Scotland, the Royal Museum, the National Library of Scotland, the National War Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

EATING, NIGHTLIFE AND SHOPPING….

Eating is a delight in the capital, with countless great restaurants offering something to suit all tastes. The Dome, pictured here, serves up excellent A La Carte and Table d’Hote food, and The Shore Bar & Restaurant in Leith has some great sea food.

The Dome, edinburgh

If you like nightlife you won’t be disappointed, that’s for sure. You’ll find plenty to do after dark as Edinburgh comes alive with stylish bars and pubs, restaurants, clubs and live entertainment to rival any European city. Handily placed right in the heart of the city you’ll find some fantastic nightclubs including Club Ego and the City Nightclub.

Not surprisingly, you can shop till you drop in the city, with Princes Street being the main shopping thoroughfare, and in the Leith area you can find everything you need in the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, from top brand names to designer labels.

Jenners

The City of Edinburgh has brought together a wonderful blend of the new and the old, combining modern city and Old Town, with it’s great buildings and fine architecture.

MORE REASONS TO VISIT EDINBURGH….

It’s considered by many to be one of the most architecturally beautiful cities in Europe. So it comes as no surprise that it has been referred to as the “Athens of the North”.

Just 9 miles west of Edinburgh is the Forth Rail Bridge, a cantilever engineering design, and an iconic structure across the Firth of Forth. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Forth Rail Bridge

If cruising is your thing, Leith is the departure point for cruises to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. The Ocean Terminal in Leith is also home to the Royal Yacht Britannia, one of the “must see” attractions you should not miss.

The Scotland national rugby union team plays at Murrayfield Stadium, which is owned by the Scottish Rugby Union and is also used as a venue for other events, including music concerts that have featured many top international stars.

Famous people past and present have been connected to Edinburgh in some way. J K Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, wrote her first book in an Edinburgh coffee shop.

It has been home to the actor Sir Sean Connery, Ronnie Corbett, comedian and actor, best known as one of The Two Ronnies; and Dylan Moran, the Irish comedian.

The capital has been voted by Conde Nast Traveller ‘best UK city’ three times. The city continues to be Britain’s No 2 tourist destination with growing international prestige, and is sure to continue attracting tourists as one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

See the Scotland Tours page for more ideas of what to see and do in the area.


See the Scotland Travel Information page for all the information you need for travelling to and within Scotland. Get helpful advice on passports and visas, currency, weather, holiday extras, useful travel links and more.


But if you really want to sample the full flavour of the City of Edinburgh, you should visit in late December to take part in the popular Hogmanay Party, another great festival.

Edinburgh New Year


Find A Hotel In Edinburgh. A comprehensive search facility to browse hundreds of hotels and compare prices for the best deal possible.


Self catering apartments in Edinburgh from Let In Edinburgh

Filed Under: Best Scotland Trips, Travel

SEARCH FLIGHTS / SKYSCANNER

Theatre Shows

*** NATIONAL HOLIDAYS ***

Save on your hotel - hotelscombined.com


Contact | Disclosure | Privacy | Terms

Copyright © 2023 ScotlandWelcomesYou.com
All rights reserved.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT