Named the ‘Athens of the North” in the 18th century, Edinburgh is a city known for literature, art, science, and philosophy. Each year the biggest art festival in the world is held, and throughout the rest of the year there are plenty of activities to ensure you won’t be bored.
The city is the perfect size- large enough to have top-class restaurants, shops, museums, and national galleries, and yet small enough that it’s easily walkable and within a few days you may be bumping into new friends while out and about.
Edinburgh has a well-earned reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and is draped across rocky hills. The town is entwined with this landscape, and monuments and buildings are perched all over the place in a picturesque jumble, with a turreted skyline offering excellent photo opportunities.
Stroll along the Royal Mile, where you’ll see the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle, and learn about some of the many struggles between England and Scotland. The food scene is quickly becoming well-known, and celebrity chefs are serving up delicious dishes from across the globe, while everyone needs to try genuine Scottish cuisine (like haggis), at least once.
Scotland has traditionally been a place known for its artists, silversmiths, and furniture makers. You’ll find designer clothing, cashmere scarves, and plenty of handmade souvenirs to take home with you throughout Edinburgh, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the city around Christmas, the Christmas Market is well worth a visit (be sure to try the mulled wine or cider).
One of the best things to do in Edinburgh is simply to walk through the city with your camera. Grab a coffee and scone at one of the many cafes, and enjoy small talk with the locals, who are some of the friendliest you’ll find anywhere.
For those who love Harry Potter, the Potter Trails tour can’t be missed. You’ll be taken to the graveyard where Rowling wrote much of her character details (check out the grave for Tom Riddle), and can gawk at the private high school where she found inspiration for Hogwarts (she later sent her two youngest children to school there). The guides are experts on both the Potter world and Rowling’s life, and you’ll get to see the cafe where she spent most of the time writing, and hear the story of how she went from a single mother who said she was “as poor as I could possibly be without being homeless”, to a famous author and philanthropist.
There are also a number of walking tours and spooky ghost tours, and for those who enjoy the literary history if the city, you’ll find plenty of tour guides willing to teach you about the famous authors and poets along the way.
The nightlife in Edinburgh is first-class, with pub culture alive and well throughout the city. In winter, be sure to try a hot toddy, and enjoy the many different types of whisky that the country is known for.
