Culture Corner: The Edinburgh Experience in Scotland-Things to do in Edinburgh!

Edinburgh is the heart of Scotland city and one of the most beautiful cities in the United Kingdom. It is the second most visited city in the United Kingdom where London comes to the first-most visited city always. You can’t feel the Land of Scots and Scottish history without exploring its cultural capital Edinburgh. You can find everything from stunning beaches, majestic castles, ancient volcanos, magnificent mountains, and many amazing historical museums & art galleries. If you are looking for a vacation, let’s quickly see the needy top things to do in Edinburgh!

Also Read: Day Trips From Edinburgh

10 Best Things to do in Edinburgh

1. Get a 360° City view of Calton Hill
2. Explore the National Museum of Scotland
3. Explore the street of Royal Mile
4. Eat haggis, neeps, and tatties
5. The scotch whisky tour
6. Experience the World of Illusions in Camera Obscura
7. Wander around the Royal Yacht Britannia
8. Celebrate at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
9. Ghostly underground tour
10. Harry Potter tour

1. Get a 360° City view of Calton Hill

Calton Hill is the national monument of Scotland and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition, it is one of the country’s first public parks founded in 1724 as a memorial to the Scottish soldiers who died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. Calton Hill offers you the best panoramic city view from 130 meters in height, it takes about just 5 minutes from a staircase at Regent Road to the top of the hill.

With a short walk enjoy the 360-degree view across the city to the coast. Whereas you can visit Calton Hill for 24 hours a day and that too completely free of cost. Don’t forget to bring your camera to get the best majestic city view. Recent visitors loved this place for the beautiful view and easy hike to the top. Trust me it is the best sightseeing spot in Edinburgh and the best time to go is during sunset and sunrise.

2. Explore the National Museum of Scotland

One of the best visited places for all ages that too free of cost. Yes! You heard it right. Most of the tourist destinations in Edinburgh have free entry. This National Museum is so big and you need time to explore everything inside it. Plan accordingly and visit this place where you can find the national collections of Scottish archaeology, art & world culture, tradition and objects of scientific interest, like geology, archaeology, and medieval objects. The fantastic mammal collection in the museum is “Dolly The Sheep”, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, not just a story. The Dolly made history. Everything you see in the museum tells us a story that deserves.

Also Read: Edinburgh Castle – An escapade into history

3. Explore the street of Royal Mile

One of the city’s famous streets in Edinburgh and the heart of the Old Town. Of course, the greatest street in the entire world with the length of the street exactly a mile, that it named “Royal Mile”. If you are into shopping, more than an adventure or history person, then exploring Royal Mile is definitely the best thing to do in Edinburgh. You can find everything right from shops, culture, history, libraries, restaurants, museums, castles, food, pubs, style, fashion, and everything. The best place for sightseeing and popular tourist destination, be prepared for the crowds at all the time. This makes for an absolutely phenomenal mile, right!

4. Eat haggis, neeps, and tatties

Whoa! Now it’s time to try haggis, neeps, and tatties which is the national dish of Scotland. These super delicious eateries are available at plenty of restaurants around the city. You can get this dish at the best taste from a 5-star hotel called “The Balmoral” where J.K Rowling stayed when writing the final Harry Potter! Unfortunately, Edinburgh is quite expensive, compared to other destinations for food and stay. You can also get this Scotland’s National dish on every roadside restaurant that too with super taste. Munch! Munch! One of the must things to do in Edinburgh is to try haggis with neeps & tatties.

5. The scotch whisky tour

If you are interested to get it, this place features a variety of ccotch & whisky experiences varying in price. Visitors especially enjoy learning how the whisky is produced, where this tour offers all year round from 10 am to 6 pm. Oh Yeah! More than 3,500 bottles with the largest collection of scotch & whisky. They also offer The Silver Tour- $21, The Gold Tour- $37, The PLatinum Tour- $51, and even offer free whisky tastings throughout the year. For more information on bookings and visits, get in touch with The Scotch Whisky Experience’s website.

Also Read: The Best Cocktail Bars in Edinburgh

6. Experience the World of Illusions in Camera Obscura

The fun and fantastic place for kids and even for adults, located at the top of Royal Mile, filled with a number of colorful games and puzzles and also optical illusions, 3D exhibit vision. The entry fee is 23.11$ for the duration of 2 hours, where you can explore a maze of mirrors, the art of holography, a magic gallery, a photogenic vortex tunnel, and the UK’s only permanent gallery on science. Enjoy the roof terrace with, a 360-degree view of Edinburgh, with the funny tour guide. Get in hands-on with more than 100 interactive illusional activities like catching your own shadow, walk on the water, touching the ghost that keeps your day to the fullest entertainment.

7. Wander around the Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia is Scotland’s best visitors attraction that served as a residence to the footprint of the royal family for more than 45 years. It traveled to 600 ports in 135 countries and 970 states throughout the years. Pre-book your tickets, free of cost for children under the age of 5. They also give concessions for students by proofing identity cards and families with 3 children and also concessions for 60+ years old senior citizens. Visit this Yacht for a luxury floating stay that includes soup, champagne cream tea, coffee, cake, sandwiches, and cocktails.

Best time to visit The Royal Yacht Britannia

July – August from 9.30 am to 16.00 pm.
September – December from 10.00 am to 15.30 pm.

8. Celebrate at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

If you really want to visit this cultural festival, make sure to plan your trip for the end week of December. New Year is an occasion celebrated globally as a reflection of the years gone. So, hope for the future to give the best. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is dedicated to continuing this traditional culture, which is not be to missed. This festival showcases from the fantastic snow-capped mountain to the majestic castles in the Old town of Edinburgh. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party is one of the world’s greatest New Year celebrations that will be celebrated every year on Dec 30 and Jan 1.

9. Ghostly underground tour

Explore the famous Blair Street Underground ghost tour that is highly safe of daylight. The dark and dreary streets are untouched and filled with a strange silence whereas the walls carrying only the faintest echo of the crowds of Royal Mile. This tour takes place for 1 hour and 30 minutes, full of scary ghosty experiences with enough terrifying.

10. Free Harry Potter tour

Edinburgh’s free Harry Potter tour is 1 hour 30 minutes activity. Though the walking tour is free of cost, you need to book your slot 30 minutes before the journey starts. JK Rowling gave life to this harry potter tour where you will be seeing all the places of the iconic magical series. The tour guide will cover the places of Victoria Street, Diagon Alley, The Elephant House, Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetary, and the best landmark George Heriot’s School. Oops! the tour may not take more than 14 people in a single slot so plan accordingly if you are visiting Edinburgh as a group.

Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Scotland

Planning a trip to Edinburgh?
Get all the up-to-date information on the best places to visit in Scotland city among a lot more interesting facts. Get in touch with Pickyourtrail for Edinburgh’s pre-packages to all your dream destination and we are ready to customize your Edinburgh’s itinerary plans for the next trip.