Edinburgh
Day 1
Day 2
11:00AM
Larder Cafe
Fave brunch spot for either traditional Scottish food or your essential brunch options. Has all day breakfast. Need a reservation.
12:00PM
Hike Arthur’s Seat
This is a cliff that you hike to view the entire city and can see as far as the ocean. At the top there are great spots for views, pics and a compass that tells your where everything is located. Total time about 1.5-2 hours. Do not do in bad weather.
12:00PM
National Gallery (Rainy Day Alternative)
Has some famous artists works but go to see the Scottish artists. Well worth it! Has a cute cafe inside too.
2:00PM
Princes Street Gardens
There is an awesome crepe cart to get crepes and hot chocolate or if it is warm get ice cream! Check out the Scott Monument too!
3:00PM
The Real Mary Kings Close
Very cool “haunted house” type tour of neighborhoods built underground. Lasts about 1 hour.
4:00PM
Head to hotel to relax
7:30PM
LeftField
Great spot for authentic dinner. Lots of seafood but has meat options as well. Great vibe and great value. Need reservations.
9:30PM
Wetherspoons!
Best spot to pregame. This is a UK chain but it is so great! Go to the one in New Town. Get the cider or order a pitcher for great value. Download the app so you can order right at your table.
11:00PM
Cowgate
This is an area with tons of pubs and clubs. We suggest Three Sisters (younger crowd), Subway, Drop Kick Murphy’s (different themes each night) or Sneaky Petes if you are into house music.
12:00PM
Royal Mile
Walk from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Rd. Really cute shops and cafes line this walk.
2:00PM
Stockbridge
Another cute area with shops. Very authentic Scottish. Can take 1-2 hours.
3:30PM
Lannan Bakery
Adorable cafe for pastries and coffee. There is a line around the corner in the morning but it is more manageable in the afternoons.
4:00PM
Rugby
Check the schedule to see if there is a local rugby match in the area. It is totally worth it and very affordable and you will not believe how dedicated the Scottish fans are to their teams!
6:30PM
Head back to hotel to relax
11:00PM
Cowgate
Head to again and hit one of the places you didn’t get to the night before!
Brunch & Lunch
Dinner
Dessert & Snacks
Brunch & Lunch
Black Medicine Co
V
VE
GF
DF
Great cafe and has a really good vegan brownie and other pastries and coffee!
$ - $$
Menu
Cafe Gallo
V
VE
GF
Great place for wraps, rolls and salads. Has great soups too. New find! Instagram shows menu.
KauKau Poke
V
VE
GF
DF
Great spot for delicious poke for lunch or takeout dinner
Larder Cafe
V
VE
GF
Fave brunch spot for either traditional Scottish food or your essential brunch options. Has all day breakfast. Need a reservation.
$$ - $$$
Reserve Now
Lannan Bakery
V
Adorable cafe for pastries and coffee. There is a line around the corner in the morning but it is more manageable in the afternoons.
$ - $$
Instagram
Laila's
V
VE
GF
DF
Get the pancakes with a cotton candy topping or the red velvet waffles for the pics but the eggs and toast are actually yummier! They have a great brunch deal, £39.50 for a main, two drinks and a continental spread.
$$
Menu
Loudons
V
VE
GF
DF
Very good brunch option. Located in Fountainbridge. Has good gluten free options
$$
Menu
The Nile Valley
V
VE
Great spot for wraps and yummy dips. Try the African wrap!
Dinner
Dine
V
VE
GF
DF
Amazing food! More of a special occasion venue but well worth it! Menu changes seasonally.
$$ - $$$
Menu
LeftField
V
VE
GF
Great spot for authentic dinner. Lots of seafood but has meat options as well. Great vibe and great value. Need reservations.
$$ - $$$
Menu
Mamma Roma
V
VE
GF
DF
Really good Italian. Right next to the Edinburgh Playhouse. Do not skip dessert!
$$ - $$$
Menu
Matto Pizza
V
Extensive and different pizza options. Has two locations. Open till 10pm on weekends.
$$ - $$$
Locations
Pomo Pizzeria
V
VE
GF
Really good pizza. They even have gluten free and vegan options. Open till 9PM
$ - $$
Menu
Dessert & Snacks
Chihuahua Cafe
V
Book a 50 minute session to hang and have cake with these very well trained pups. An absolute must when in Edinburgh.
Harry Potter Tour
Walk the streets that inspired the novel! We suggest a tour so you get the best bang for your buck!
Holyrood Palace
The royal palace. Very cool to see. Also you can also walk Holyrood road.
Hike Arthur’s Seat
If you are staying in old town it is a quick 15 min walk to the path
It takes about 30 minutes to hike up.
The view is absolutely crazy and totally worth the hike.Try to go when it has not rained too much or you will get VERY muddy. Also skip if very windy. In total probably will take an hour and a half or 2 hours
Magic Potions Tavern
Make your own cocktails and then add the smoking shots. So fun and actually yummy!
National Galleries of Scotland
Although they have some well known artists they really try to highlight Scottish artists. They also have a good cafe inside.
National Museum of Scotland
More of a science museum but pretty cool and free to enter!
National Portrait Gallery
Explains the history of Scotland with a highlight on Edinburgh. Also free to enter
Royal Mile
Gorgeous strips of tiny shops and restaurants. Mind the tourist traps.
Scotch Whiskey Experience
On the Royal Mile. Very fun and different! £21 for a tour and single malt whiskey tasting
Scott Monument
Iconic Edinburgh monument in Princes Street Gardens. Currently closed for renovations but still cool to see and for a photo op.
Soccer or Rugby
Either one of these are so fun! Edinburgh has two soccer teams, The Heart and The Hibs and they are both such fun games and the crowd is awesome!
Rugby is also so fun to watch and the tickets for both of these are max £15 but you have to book ahead most of the time
Stockbridge
Great little area to walk around and pop into cute stores. Probably about an hour and a half adventure.Treen clothing was cute and some other great stores nearby.
Real Mary Kings Close
Very cool “haunted house” type tour of neighborhoods built underground. Lasts about 1 hour.
Budget
Average
Splurge
Budget
The Apex Hotel
On Grassmarket. Doubles approx $109 pp, per night.
Castle Rock Hostel
Located right under the castle. Triples approx £90 per night.
Kick Ass Hostels
Grassmarket location perfectly situated near Cowgate. They have a ton of different room options. A six person en suite goes for approx $48 pp, per night.
Marriott Residence Inn
Queen room with sofa bed, approx $113 pp, per night.
Travelodge Edinburgh Center
Great locations. They have family room options. Doubles approx $75 pp, per night.
Average
Hilton Edinburgh Carlton
Great location. Doubles approx $145 pp, per night.
Hotel Du Vin
Good location. Include breakfast for a good value. Doubles approx $127 pp, per night.
Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge
Very trendy vibe with good amenities. Queen room approx $124 per person, per night.
Splurge
Hotel Aria
Five Star Hotel. Doubles from $294 pp per night.
The Scotsman
In a good location near the train station. Doubles approx $178 pp, per night
Bars & Clubs
Bars & Clubs
Wetherspoons
Amazing UK pub chain. Best spot to pregame. Go to the one in New Town. Get the cider or order a pitcher for great value. Download the app so you can order right at your table. Go around 7 or 8.
Frankenstein Pub
Near Old Town. Obviously themed based on the Mary Shelley novel but can be fun!
Good To Know
Living Set Up
Workouts
Study Spots
Navigating
Faves
Good To Know
1. Edinburgh uses a British £, not a Euro €
2. It does not typically get above 70 degrees BUT it doesn't dip below 30 degrees either!
3. You will walk or take the metro to get around. Only uber to get to airport.
4. The correct 'local' pronunciation of the capital city of Scotland is “Eh-din-burr-ruh” or sometimes “Eh-din-bra” not EdinBURG
5. You have to go in and out of customs when leaving the UK, so make sure to think of that if you are scheduling connections
2. It does not typically get above 70 degrees BUT it doesn't dip below 30 degrees either!
3. You will walk or take the metro to get around. Only uber to get to airport.
4. The correct 'local' pronunciation of the capital city of Scotland is “Eh-din-burr-ruh” or sometimes “Eh-din-bra” not EdinBURG
5. You have to go in and out of customs when leaving the UK, so make sure to think of that if you are scheduling connections
Living Set Up
Groceries
Tesco
Lidl
Sainsburys
Lidl
Sainsburys
Location Tips
If you are going to University of Edinburgh and you want to be in an awesome location but don’t really care about living standards stay in Robertsons.
Darroch Court is also a good location and the flats are nicer.
If you don’t care about location, live in one of the flats with your own bathroom because those will be nicer and have elevators.
Darroch Court is also a good location and the flats are nicer.
If you don’t care about location, live in one of the flats with your own bathroom because those will be nicer and have elevators.
Workouts
Pleasance Gym
Through the University of Edinburgh. £70 for the semester and you get free classes and can go any time.
Study Spots
Black Medicine Co - can't go wrong here! Great cafe and has a really good vegan brownie
Navigating
Faves
Coffee
Pret - pretty popular and you can do a subscription for the semester to save!
Lunch
Larder Cafe - best brunch!!
Fettle - great focaccia and salads
Lannan - famous for croissants and has amazing sandwiches!
See full lunch list on Edinburgh page
Fettle - great focaccia and salads
Lannan - famous for croissants and has amazing sandwiches!
See full lunch list on Edinburgh page
Dinner
Bento - great and affordable sushi
Leftfield - cutest place with amazing food!
Wings - great wings and great price point
Check full dinner list on Edinburgh page
Leftfield - cutest place with amazing food!
Wings - great wings and great price point
Check full dinner list on Edinburgh page
Bars & Nightlife
Dropkick Murphy’s
Bar 50
Three Sisters
See full nightlife list on Edinburgh page
Bar 50
Three Sisters
See full nightlife list on Edinburgh page