25 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN EDINBURGH

Do you want to discover the heart of Scotland? Walking through its medieval streets, between buildings that will blow your imagination to other times? Listen to the sound of authentic bagpipes? Know lots of stories and legends? Have a coffee in one of the bars where J.K Rowling gave life to the most famous wizard of all, Harrry Potter? Or better yet, drink a good beer from those who water the gaznate of these "Northern Englishmen" in one of its legendary pubs? Then you've come to the right place: let's go with 25 things to see and do in Edinburgh!

1. The Castle It is the emblem of Edinburgh and the most visited castle in Scotland. It looks imposing on a hill of volcanic origin and the views of the city from above are well worth a visit. If you hear a cannon shot, don't panic! They do it daily from 1861 (except Sundays) at 1:00 p.m. to indicate the time for the sailors so that they can synchronize their clocks. It has become a tradition.

• Schedule: Every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from April 1 to September 30 and until 5:00 p.m. from October 1 to March 30. They let you in until one hour before closing. It is closed on December 25 and 26.
• The price It's £ 19.50 at the box office and a couple of pounds less if you buy it online. And the audio guide £ 3.50. More infor. For € 6 more than the entrance fee and the audio guide, you can take a guided tour in Spanish through the interior of the castle for two hours.

2. It never hurts to join a free tour and tour a part of the city with a guide in Spanish, and more when you put the price. This lasts a couple of hours and the reviews are very good 🙂

3. The St. Giles Cathedral Impress both outside and inside. It has some colorful stained glass windows that fill it with light, you can also contemplate the beautiful Chapel of the Thistle, in Gothic style. Admission is also free so you have no excuse not to visit it.

Curiosity: outside the Cathedral, in the Royal Mile, there is a heart on the ground on which people spit because they say it brings luck, yuck!

4. Something I love about the United Kingdom is that the museums that belong to the State are free! The Main Museums in Edinburgh They are:

• National Museum of Scotland, it focuses on the history of the country, it has life-size animal recreations and you can see the Dolly sheep (already dissected the poor one) that was the first cloned mammal.
• National Gallery of Scotland, with an important collection of paintings and sculptures.
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery, in which many of the most important faces of the country are represented. It also has some sculptures, such as that of James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine. In addition, the building itself is a work of art.

5. The views from the hill Calton hill They are one of the most famous postcards of Edinburgh. The climb is quite easy and you will have a 360º view of the city. There are several interesting monuments:

• National Monument, which never came to an end and that an air is given to the Parthenon of Athens.
• Nelson Monument, a 32-meter tower that recalls his victory in the battle of Trafalgar.
• The city observatory, with its large dome in the middle.
• The monument to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Steward With the shape of a flashlight, which is the one that is never missing in the photos from this hill.

6. One of the main streets of Edinburgh and the one that you are going to travel during your stay in the city is Princess street. It is full of shops, and has some of the main points of interest, such as the Princess Street Gardens, where everyone goes out to lie on the grass as soon as a ray of sun rises. In the same street you will also find the Scott Monument Gothic style, which was built in honor of the writer Walter Scott, and has an air between mysterious and gloomy. If you pay 8 pounds and go up 287 steps, you will have fabulous (and deserved) views of the city.

7. Another of the streets that any visitor has to go through is Royal Milees. It is the backbone of the ancient city. It goes from the Castle to the Palace of Holyrood and measures just that, a Scottish mile or 1,814 meters. Accurate, precise. Walk around it and discover many of its famous alleys (closes) where some of the most sinister episodes of the city took place.

Curiosity: There is a statue of David Hume that has a gift ... touching his big toe will bring you luck if you have an exam and have not studied much (although it is best to study, of course).

8. There are many markets in Edinburgh, but if the idea of ​​wandering between craft stalls is cool, point this name and you will not fail: Royal Mile Market. Tip: it is inside an old Presbyterian church, the Tron Kirk.

9. Did you know that you can visit (free) on Scottish Parliament? It is done by free, from Monday to Saturday, or by signing up for a free guided tour (yes, it is in English). More info on the official website.

10. Although the cemeteries give you some yuyu, the Greyfriars Cemetery It is one of those that deserve a visit. There, you can see the statue of the dog Bobby, who pays tribute to this faithful friend who did not separate from the grave of his dead owner in 1858. It is believed that it is good luck to touch his nose and the poor man has already discolored.

Two curiosities about this place:

• J.K Rowling also walked around here and was inspired by their graves to name some of the most famous characters in the saga, such as Professor McGonagall and Voldemort himself, Thomas Riddell.
• It is one of the cemeteries with the most paranormal activity in the world! Highlighting the Mackenzie poltergeist for the amount of phenomena that have been documented around his grave.

11. The colorful and peculiar street Victoria Street It is also one of the most photogenic in the city. Its small shops always crowded with people say that it was what inspired J.K Rowling to create Diagón Alley. Although in reality, there you will only see muggles or not ?.

12. After the hustle and bustle of Victoria Street, take a break in one of the pubs of the famous square Grassmarket, which formerly served as a market and place of executions. A good place to take a pint (and maybe eat the odd typical Scottish dish) is The last drop. And yes, of course they have whiskey 😉

13. The Harry Potter saga fan You will especially enjoy this magical city. And a good way to do this is by taking this free tour to learn about all the relationships between Edinburgh and the world of magicians.

advice: If you want to take home some memories of Harry and his friends (or enemies) you can look for souvenirs in these stores: Museum Context, The Boy Wizard or Galaxy.

14. If you are one of those who tire quickly of the bustle of the city, do not worry! In the Water of Leith, a walk of 15 kilometers next to the river and surrounded by trees, you will enjoy a moment of tranquility that you need. It can be done on foot or by bike and passes through several interesting sites such as the Gallery of Modern Art or the Dean Village.

15. The Dean village It is an old village founded in the 12th century with stone houses that, at the time, was the main flour producer in the area. It is a place so quiet and picturesque that it could well be the scene of a story.

Tired?Cheer up, we have a few left things to see and do in Edinburgh!

16. If it is a sunny day and you like open spaces, go to the Holyrood park, the largest park in the city, also known as "Queen's Park". Formerly it was a hunting farm but nowadays anyone who passes by can enjoy it, including animals 😉

17. And it reaches the Arthur Seat, the hill and highest point of Holyrood Park. Here you have to give your legs a little harder than in Canton Hill, on the top there is usually quite windy but you have good views over the city.

18. One of the main things to do on a trip to Edinburgh is to visit the Holyrood Palace. This palace is one of the official residences of the Queen of England that Her Majesty uses in summer, in case it is too hot in London. How Isabel II is taken care of! However, when you are not at home, you can visit. Highlights include the rooms of Maria Estuardo, who was the most famous queen of Scotland and the "Great Gallery" a long corridor with portraits of the Royal Family.

• Schedule: from November 1 to March 31: 9:30 - 16:30. From April 1 to October 31: 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Closed: June 24 to July 5. December 25-26.
• The price per adult is £ 15, includes an audio guide (in Spanish) and tickets can be purchased here.

19. The city of Edinburgh witnessed many executions, murders, sale of bodies and many other stories in which mix reality and legend. If you are one of those who enjoy horror movies, this mystery tour may be for you. It's free, but remember to leave a tip.

20. The history of Scotland is linked to that of Whiskey. There are lots of taverns to have a drink, but in the Scotch Whiskey Experience You will be able to enter its elaboration process. They have the largest collection of Scotch whiskey, different tours and the possibility of tasting. More info here.

But we will not have come to Edinburgh just to see monuments, castles and medieval streets. Some things to see and do in Edinburgh They pass through the stomach. Here are some experiences you are sure to find very interesting:

21. The brave can try the HuggisTypical Scottish dish that is based on filling a sheep stomach with liver, heart and lungs, adding onion, oatmeal and spices. All very light, yes sir 🙂

22. If you are still hungry you can still eat the famous “fried mars" A chocolate bar battered and fried later! Who said cholesterol?

23. Have a beer in Deacon Brody's Tavern, which takes its name from a renowned manufacturer of cabinets that discovered that stealing from its customers was much more profitable. This businessman by day and thief by night, inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to bring Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to life.

24. Have tea at 17:00 in Elephant house, feeling like J.K Rowling when he came here to write about the adventures (and misadventures) of Harry Potter.

25. Throughout the month of August the Edinburgh Festival, with artists from all over the world in which the city explodes with life, concerts, cultural activities and also… it is when you are more likely to get warm 😉

So far our tour of the Scottish capital, did you like it? Surely yes! Do you know more things to see and do in Edinburgh?

* Phocredit: Felipe Jaén de Unviajesinlimites and Unsplash.

Video: 20 Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland Travel Guide (April 2024).