 Your short break in Edinburgh has been a long time coming...
There is a reason why Edinburgh is the second most popular short break destination in the UK. The city's size and accessibility means you can experience its top tourist attractions over a weekend. The vast majority of Edinburgh's top tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other making it possible to not only get a feel for the city but to also have many memorable experiences during a short break in Edinburgh. Guides for short breaks tend to be relatively subjective and general, focussing on what the author deems to be 'must-sees'. As a man from Edinburgh I find myself in an informed position to tell you how I would spend two to three day short break in Edinburgh, combining some essential tourist attractions and other slightly unusual ideas. I would like to emphasise right now that this is how I would spend two or three days in my home town with someone from another city or country. Â I will not even begin to claim that this is the best way to spend a short break in Edinburgh because as I said, this is a very subjective topic. This is what motivated me to write a number of different pages focussing on what Edinburgh has to offer those who are interested in art, culture, adventure and history.
Most tourists come to Edinburgh for two or three days. If you plan on spending more than two or three days in Edinburgh, fantastic. The more the better. However I will make my recommendations based on the assumption that you only have two or three days to play with. If I believe that a particular activity is absolutely essential, I will say so. For other activities I may suggest a couple of variations on the theme so there is room to play with. I'm a flexible fellow... Day 1
Get up early and head towards the Royal Mile (High Street) which is the quickest route to Arthur's Seat, our unavoidable extinct volcano and our first stop. If your accommodation is near Arthur's Seat there is no need to go down the High Street. Your short break in Edinburgh begins here! Once you are at the bottom of the High Street you will turn right past the Scottish Parliament into the grounds of Holyrood Park. You will see a path taking you up towards the summit of Arthur's Seat. Such is the popularity of the volcano amongst tourists and locals, finding your way up to the top will be very straight-forward. Realistically, it will take the entire morning to climb Arthur's Seat, soak up the views, relax and climb back down. I have suggested conquering Arthur's Seat first for a couple of reasons. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. You will find yourself looking west across the city centre and from a photographic point of view (you will take photos, won't you?!) your photos will turn out a lot better with the sun behind you. As you will see, the sun will also play a role at Edinburgh Castle which is our next stop. The location of Arthur's Seat, the High Street and Edinburgh Castle creates a natural walking route which defines this first day in Edinburgh. If you come down Arthur's Seat towards the Scottish Parliament building and Holyrood Palace you will be able to turn left past the parliament and up the High Street. Take your time wandering up the High Street soaking up the sights, sounds and architecture. Enjoy lunch and a drink at one of the High Street's many excellent traditional pubs. Should you choose to wander down some of the many tight alleyways branching off the High Street, visit St Giles Cathedral or John Knox's house, your walk up the High Street to Edinburgh Castle could take two to three hours. Edinburgh Castle is open 7 days a week from 9.30am to 6.00pm from April 1st to September 30th and from 9.30am to 5.00pm from October 1st to March 31st. I recommend visiting the castle towards the end of the afternoon for two reasons. Usually the Castle is slightly quieter at this time of the day which will make it more enjoyable. I cannot, however, guarantee this! Edinburgh Castle is by far the most popular tourist attraction in Edinburgh and is therefore almost always busy. No short break in Edinburgh is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle.
In the late afternoon the sun will be behind you if you look out over the city centre towards Arthur's Seat meaning your photographs will be lit from behind. I also recommend booking your tickets in advance online in order to skip the often long queues (lines) in front of the Castle. After such an active day and collecting many 'leg miles' I recommend that you have a relaxing evening. Treat yourself to a traditional Scottish bag of chips with a spicy haggis, fish or black pudding and a can of Irn Bru from one of our many chip shops. I can't even imagine a short break in Edinburgh without a bag of chips! The Grassmarket is only a five minute walk from Edinburgh Castle and is an area packed with traditional pubs each with its own character. This is also an awesome spot for night time views of an illuminated Edinburgh Castle. I recommend trying out a couple of local beers in one or two (or three!) of these pubs before hitting the hay! Day 2Try to get up early again unless you consumed one too many of those delicious Scottish ales! On day two of your short in break in Edinburgh we're off to the hills! Take the Lothian Buses number 41 from Princes Street to The Braid Hills. For exact directions follow the link to my insider tips page. In my opinion this is the best spot in the city for 360 degree panoramic views of the Edinburgh area. The walk to the top of Blackford Hill will take around 10 minutes, not too long at all if your legs are a bit tender from day 1! At the top you will be rewarded with views of Edinburgh Castle from the south side of Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat, The Pentland Hills and the coastline to the east and west. Despite being a wonderful way to see the whole Edinburgh area, the Braid Hills are largely unknown amongst tourists. Spend your short break in Edinburgh doing something fantastic that so many people simply overlook! Take the number 41 bus back into the city centre to Princes Street where you will begin to explore the New Town of Edinburgh. Running parallel to Princes Street to the north is Rose Street, a relatively narrow street with a number of shops, boutiques and pubs. I would recommend having your lunch at one of these Rose Street pubs before setting out to explore the New Town. The area to the north of Princes Street is referred to as the New Town and is full of impressive Georgian town houses and architecture. Roam freely around the streets appreciating the stark difference between the Old Town which you experienced on Day 1 and the New Town. Both sides of our city are on the UNESCO world heritage list.
 At the East End of Princes Street you will find the Balmoral Hotel with its iconic clock tower. Beyond this you will see what appears to be a half-completed Parthenon replica on the hillside. This is referred to as 'Edinburgh's Disgrace' and sits atop Calton Hill. From Princes Street go straight ahead until you see steps on your left taking you up to Calton Hill. This modest little mound in the city centre is a great spot for views of the immediate city centre and beyond. You can observe Edinburgh's Disgrace up close (and sit on it if you wish!), a monument similar to the Parthenon in Athens whose construction was abandoned due to a lack of funds. The presence of this monument is one of the reasons why Edinburgh is referred to as the Athens of the North (although in reality, Athens is the Edinburgh of the South). Round off your day in excitement by going on one of Edinburgh's many ghost tours in the evening. They are all highly entertaining and decidedly spooky! The Mary King's Close tour takes you under the High Street to hidden streets where people lived, worked and died. Your last task of the day is to try to get to sleep!
Day 3If you are lucky enough to have a third day on your short break in Edinburgh, here's what you could do... Start your day by learning about Scotland's greatest and tastiest export, Scotch Whisky! The Scotch Whisky Experience is situated next to Edinburgh Castle and takes you on a barrel-ride (yes, moving barrels) through a replica distillery, teaching you all about the whisky distilling process and the history of our national drink. And yes....you are given the opportunity to get your hands on the stuff and a look around the largest whisky collection in the world!
 From there, stagger down the High Street to 'The Mound' which is the first crossroads on the High Street. Turn right here and walk down the street until you see a little statue of a Skye Terrier called Bobby on your right-hand side. Ask the locals to tell you the heart-rending story of this little dog or better still, pop into the Greyfriars Bar next to the statue and read about it in there over a nice ale. If you're on a 3-day short break in Edinburgh, you shouldn't go home without visiting Bobby; he would be really upset! On the other side of the street you will find the National Museum of Scotland. If you enjoy museum visits, you could literally spend all day there. Our national museum has exhibits from Scotland and all over the world on display. From the history of Scotland to Formula One cars to pop culture, there is an exciting, informative and interactive exhibit for everyone. This area of town also has some great restaurants and bars to check out on your final evening in Edinburgh. If you want to try the local cuisine, Stac Polly, the Scottish restaurant is not far away on St. Mary's Street. Across the road from the National Museum you will find the famous Frankenstein's restaurant and bar which is frightfully entertaining. Just remember to close your eyes at midnight...Popular bars such as Vodka Revolution and Bar Kohl are also literally a stone's throw from the National Museum if you really want to let your hair down! So, there you are! If I had to show someone around my home town in two or three days, that's what I would do. In fact, just writing about it makes me want to take a few days off and have my very own short break in Edinburgh! I've tried to compliment the absolute 'must-dos' with slightly more unusual ideas like the hike up Blackford Hill at the Braids and the Whisky Experience which I believe will give you a real appreciation for life in this city and an angle tourists might not normally see! |
