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Guide to Europe >> United Kingdom >> Edinburgh
Edinburgh |
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Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the largest city in Scotland behind only Glascow. Over 11 million tourists pass through Edinburgh yearning to see the rugged green terrain laced with medieval architecture. The town’s cultural and intellectual atmosphere has earned it the nickname, “Athens of the North”. The University of Edinburgh always has an exciting young crowd ready to celebrate and welcome you. Two areas of the town have been deemed UNESCO World Heritage sites, The Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town still holds on to its medieval roots, and the layout proves it. J.K. Rowling resides in the south side of Edinburgh near the university. The area has quite a bit of nightlife with numerous pubs and clubs located throughout the city. George Street and Queen Street provide younger crowds with all the nightlife they could want.
College Backpacking recommends spending three days in Edinburgh. The Old Town, which contains the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace, should take at least a day to explore. On Day Two, head to the New Town for the Scott Monument and a view of the Royal Yacht Britannia, floating just northeast of the city. Then spend the last day back on the Royal Mile, exploring the various shops and ending with an authentic Scottish drink at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre.
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| Tourist Sites |
Edinburgh Castle
Address: Castle Hill
Hours: April- Oct. 9:30am- 6:00pm; Nov.- March 9:30am- 5:00pm
Tickets: £12.00
This castle, seen in the picture, dates back to the 16th century and is Scotland’s second most visited tourist attraction. It stands mightily above Edinburgh atop Castle Rock. Castle Rock is actually an extinct volcano believed to risen over 300 million years ago. |
Holyrood Palace
Hours: Nov.- March 20 9:30am- 4:30pm; March 22- Oct. 9:30am- 6:00pm
Tickets: £9.80, £8.80 students
Founded in 1128, this palace has served as the primary residence of the kings and queens of Scotland since the 15th century, including the infamous Mary Queen of Scots. David I originally built the palace (on the grounds where he was attacked by a stag) as an Augustinian monastery, and it is located at the end of the Royal Mile. It is open to the public when there are no members of the royal family residing there. |
St. Gile's Cathedral
Address: Royal Mile
Transportation: Bus nos. 23, 27, 28, 35, 41, 42
Hours: May- Sept.: Mon- Fri. 9:00am- 7:00pm, Sat. 9:00am- 5:00pm, Sun. 1:00pm- 5:00pm; Oct.- April: Mon.-Sat. 9:00am- 5:00pm, Sun. 1:00pm- 5:00pm
Tickets: free, but a £3 donation is encouraged
This church stands near the midpoint of the Royal Mile, and is often referred to as the mother church of Presbyterianism. Officially dedicated in 1243 by the bishop of St. Andrews, a church was thought to exist on the site since 854. The cathedral gets it name from St. Giles, a 7th-century French hermit and abbot who was wounded by a hunter and became a patron saint of crippled and frail. Photography is prohibited unless you buy a permit for £2 |
National Gallery
Address: 1 Queen Street
Hours: 10:00am- 5:00pm, Thur. open until 7:00pm (except for the Modern Art Gallery)
Tickets: free
The National Gallery of Scotland complex consists of three different galleries at different locations: the National Gallery, the Portrait Gallery, and the Modern Art Gallery; they host over 50,000 printed works from renowned artists such as Bernini, Gaugin, Monet, and Van Gogh. |
Calton Hill
The headquarters of the Scottish government reside on this historic hill in the center of the city, featuring symbolic monuments like the National Monument (built to resemble the Pantheon in Greece for those who died in the Napoleonic wars), Nelson’s Monument (which provides the highest vantage point in the entire city) and the Dugald Stewart Monument. This hill provides striking, panoramic view of Edinburgh. Bring a good book, a camera, and enjoy the beautiful Scottish landscape. |
Scott Monument
Hours: April- Sept. 9:00am- 6:00pm, open at 10:00am on Sun.; Oct.- March 9:00am- 3:00pm, opens at 10:00am on Sun.
Tickets: £3
The Scott Monument stands over 200 feet tall and is dedicated to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. You can climb to the top of this “Gothic rocketship” to find a very splendid view of the city. It is located in the Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh near the Waverley Station. |
Royal Mile
Running from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood, the main and probably oldest road in Edinburgh, as well as the most touristy. The judiciary of the city can be found on this street, as well as countless restaurants, souvenir shops, and people from across the planet. The Royal Mile actually consists of a few streets, namely Lawnmarket, Castlehill, High Street, Canongate, and Abbey Street. In August every year, the Royal Mile hosts the Edinburgh Festival, which is actually multiple festivals happening at the same time. The mile transforms into a vivacious arena for celebrating anything from art to books to military tattoos. |
Scotch Whiskey Heritage Centre
Address: 354 Castlehill (on the Royal Mile)
Hours: Sept.- May 10:00am- 6:00pm; June- Aug. 9:30am- 6:30pm (last tours one hour before close).
Tickets: £9.50, £7.25 students
Always wanted to know the secrets of Scotch Whisky? You can experience the 300 years of whisky history in this center, and learn about the distillery locations in Scotland and the flavors of the regions. Those over 18 years old will even receive a free sample to learn how to smell and taste the “dram” of Scotch Whisky. For the true whisky lovers, you can sign up for a training course, where you spend an entire day immersed in whisky tasting, blending, history, serving, and production. The price includes lunch in the Amber restaurant, a training manual, and a test at the end to quiz your knowledge. |
| Restaurants |
The Elephant House
Address: 21 George IV Bridge
Hours: 8:00am- 11:00pm
Made famous as the place where J.K. Rowling thought up such characters as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, this café has provided inspiration to many writers, as they sit in the back room that faces Edinburgh Castle. They offer an elegant assortment of teas and coffees, and it’s a great spot to catch up on local news and absorb the quaint atmosphere. |
Gusto
Address: 135 George St.
Hours: Mon.- Sun. 11:00am- 11:00pm
A great place for lunch, Gusto offers a meal, with their house wine or beer included, for under £9. This restaurant serves up classic Italian dishes in a classy, bistro style, and its location right off St. Andrews Square allows for a convenient stop during the day. |
| Tours |
| Transportation |
Intercity
Flights: Edinburgh International Airport (EDI) is just outside the city, and shuttles between Edinburgh and the airport come every 10 to 15 minutes.
Trains: Waverley Station is Edinburgh’s primary train station. Trains connect with Aberdeen (2.5hr), Glascow (1hr), Inverness (4.5hr), London King’s Cross (4.5hr), and Stirling (1hr).
Buses: Edinburgh bus station books National Express buses to London (10hr), Glasgow (1hr), Aberdeen (4hr), and Inverness (4.5 hr). Also buses connect with ferries to connect with Dublin and Belfast. |
Local
Public Transportation: Buses get backpackers around Edinburgh for only a £1 fare. Night buses take over after midnight. College Backpacking recommends walking during the daylight hours to experience the spectacular scenery that makes Edinburgh one of the most photographed cities in the world. |
| Night Life |
Po Na Na
Address: 43b Frederick St
Hours: 10:00pm- 3:00am
This Moroccan-themed nightclub starts out as a casual hangout earlier in the night. They offer crazy student nights with no cover charge for students and drink specials starting at £1 all night. Their cocktail menu is extensive, including a variety of Absinth blends. |
The Tron
Address: 9 Hunter Square
Hours: 11:30am- 1:00am
A great little place for students with £1 beers on Wednesdays (with a yellow card, which only students can obtain). While the downstairs may be a bit dingy, it provides small, intimate corners and pool tables. Live bands play here frequently, and the atmosphere is very young. |
The Bongo Club
Address: 37 Holyrood Rd.
Hours: Open until 3:00am, activities start as early as 8:00pm
Tickets: depends, some events are free, others up to £10
This club “puts the cult into culture.” Not only featuring many live concerts, this club also has free movie nights and dance lessons. And its located right off the Royal Mile, which makes for a great stop on a tour of Edinburgh’s nightlife. Check out their website for a list of events, times and prices.
Website: http://www.thebongoclub.co.uk |
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