Edinburgh pocket guide.
Strolling through the historic centre of Edinburgh is a hugely rewarding from a visual perspective alone. Gorgeous cobbled lanes congregate at the mighty Royal Mile — connecting the iconic Castle Hill to the city below.
It is the treasures nestled within the medieval labyrinth of Edinburgh that truly account for its magic. A place where modern day sensibilities, on-trend nightlife and world-class restaurants meld together with Gothic architecture and ghostly subterranean alleyways.
Modern day Edinburgh has evolved far past these times, of course. The perfectly preserved cobblestone lanes that meander through the Old Town are crammed with hip-and-happening bars, quality restaurants and masterful showcases of Gothic architecture.
🏰 Medieval vibe, modern sensibilities.
Picturesque cobbled lanes and alleys guide visitors through Edinburgh's magical Old Town. Steeped in rich, pertinent history, the enchanting relics from medieval times will reel you in to an immersive experience that few cities in the world can parallel.
Looming over the New Town from its imposing rocky pedestal, the presence of iconic Edinburgh Castle (📷) has played a pivotal role in the city since its construction.
Serving practical and strategic purpose from the 13th century until the ushering of the modern age, the castle is now a major tourist draw, with a 'one o'clock gun' re-enacting canon-fire from its fortified walls.
The route to the castle is an experience in itself. Aligned with shops, eateries and bars, the Royal Mile is a hub, with the crown steeple of St. Giles Cathedral piercing the sky.
With its summit rising 822 feet over Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat affords unbeatable panoramic views of the city to those who make the 2 hour journey to the top. From above the city, it is clear to see the contrast of the rustic Old Town with the pristine New Town juxtaposed beside one another, separated by Waverly Bridge — where the main train station is located.
Straddling the historic border between Old and New Edinburgh the large urban park of Princes Street Gardens (📷) is an idyllic location at all times of year. The park is verdant and full-of-life during the summer months, with locals and tourists alike relaxing on the open fields. In the autumn, the auburn shades of orange and red engulf the countless trees of the park, whilst the winter sees a vibrant and lively Christmas Market constructed across the length of the park.
The city of Edinburgh holds a strong claim to the crown of 'most haunted city in the world' thanks to the numerous claims citing events of paranormal activity. Perhaps the Gothic architecture and tiny winding alleyways conjure up fantasies of the supernatural, but given its chequered history, there may be some truth behind these claims.
Legendary in local folklore, Mary King's Close is a small subterranean complex of medieval dwellings that harbour a dark past. After residents contracted the Black Plague, the Close was sealed off in an attempt to forcibly quarantine the infected. With the exception of the occasional visit from the spookily attired plague doctors, they were left to perish below the streets of the Royal Mile.
Another popular spot for photographers looking to snap a great shot is the summit of Calton Hill. Requiring far less physical exertion to reach, the grassy peak is home to various monuments —although the most photographed is undoubtedly the Dugald Steward Monument (📷).
Once a thriving independent village nestled in what is the New Town of Edinburgh today, charming Dean Village (📷) and adjacent Dean Gardens offer some respite in the heart of the city. This quaint fairy-tale village is a great place to wander through on a pleasant day, with colourful medieval homes lining the banks of the gentle river that flows through its centre.
🥃 Bars + Nightlife.
Edinburgh runs the gauntlet from bustling underground nightclubs to classy cocktail bars catering to suave and relaxed clientele. Whether looking to enjoy a laid-back evening in dimly lit ambience, or you'd rather dance the hours away to an eclectic mix of funk, hip-hop and electronic music, it’s all here.
To sample selections from one of the best cocktail menus in town, make haste for the Voodoo Rooms (📷), a classy bar-come-restaurant. Tucked away just off the main drag of Princes Street. The unassuming exterior of the bar conceals a lavish interior, decked out with comfy leather sofas, opulent chandeliers and glistening polished gold furnishings. Perfect to kick-start a night out with a bite.
Enticing guests with a spacious courtyard complete with large outdoor TV, The Three Sisters is inherently popular with students given the excellent offers provided to them, as well as its close proximity to university campuses. The courtyard is a great place to hang out on balmy summer evenings, with events from live music and sports.
Located behind the National Museum of Scotland, tropical themed Paradise Palms is a favourite amongst the local population of young people and intentional students, offering the perfect environment to chill out and enjoy the drinks on offer.
In terms of late-night drinking, Edinburgh is home to some of the coolest clubs in Scotland, with venues where the local hip crowd converge to have their evenings sound-tracked by eclectic DJs, to upmarket glitzy clubs spinning the hits of the moment.
Just off the Royal Mile, the subterranean club of Cabaret Voltaire is always packed with a fun-loving crowd of regulars who flock here thanks to the intimate stage set-up of the club allowing a selection of 3 simultaneous DJ sets at any given time. Elsewhere, carved into a network of underground tunnels, Hive is a staple no-frills club, allowing for late-night clubbing every single day of the week.
💡 Popular live music venue the Liquid Room schedules club nights, opening up its expansive outdoor patio to be enjoyed by smokers and non-smokers alike.
🍳 Food + Drink.
For the budget-savvy traveller, eating out in Edinburgh can reflect good value for money if you know where to look. Countless cafés and take-away spots across the city provide satisfying meals without eye-watering price tags — you just need to be smart about it.
In the heart of New Town, charitable cafe Social Bite has garnered a lot of attention in recent years for its efforts to tackle local homelessness. Run as a not-for-profit business, the cafe makes good, honest food at a very reasonable price, with the bonus of some positive karma.
Located on the corner of the incredibly popular tourist stretch of Rose Street, the trendy bar-grub spot the Boozy Cow whips up delicious, filling dishes inspired by comfort food and greasy spoon cafeterias at a fair price.
A fantastic view from rooftop Thai restaurant Chaophraya affords undisturbed views across the rooftops, as well as an astounding panorama of Edinburgh Castle in all its glory. Across town, even better Thai food is dished up at family-run Phuket Pavilion—with a simple, authentic menu and exceptionally warm and welcoming staff.
💤 Accommodation.
💰 Dorms from £13.00 per night.
💰 Rooms from £100.00 per night.
💰 Dorms from £11.00 per night.
💰 Rooms from £295.00 per night.
