While staying in London, we took a (long) train ride to spend a few days exploring Edinburgh and, while a few days visit does not make me an expert, below is what we learned.
Places we visited:
- Edinburgh Castle – This is a must. As you approach this daunting castle, it seems to rise out of a great rock formation, which likely was the reason the spot was chosen. What a formidable fortress this must have been. When we were visiting, they were building the stage and seating for an upcoming Who concert. THAT would have been a once in a lifetime experience! The castle is quite impressive and you are free to explore quite a bit of it. St. Margaret’s Chapel was especially beautiful. It’s definitely touristy though, so be prepared. There was a long line of tour buses parked at the base of the rock formation and large groups were queuing up to explore the castle. The lines move quickly though, so it wasn’t a big deal.
- Victoria Street – Victoria Street is an iconic, winding cobblestone street with a row of colorful facades. It’s always busy, but definitely worth a stroll.
- The Royal Mile – I’d heard so much about basically this historic ‘main street’ of Edinburgh that we went straight to it from the train station. I must admit, we were a bit disappointed as it has been taken over by tourist shops, which seems a shame unless you’re in the market for a kilt or tartan. I still wouldn’t miss it, but temper your expectations. It’s still a breathtaking area to explore.
- Dean Village – Coming upon Dean Village amid the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh is like reaching a quiet and calm oasis. If I were to move to Edinburgh, this is the area I would hope to live nearby. The walkway along the water is charming, peaceful and quite beautiful.
- Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery – You may feel like visiting a cemetery is an odd choice, but it was such an interesting experience – and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. We loved reading the gravestones and various markers as we strolled. This cemetery is also located in Old Town and burials have taken place here since the late 16th century, so it was quite remarkable.
Where we stayed:
Since we were only visiting Edinburgh for a few nights, I wanted to stay somewhere historic and memorable. We chose Hotel du Vin & Bistro. It’s a lovely hotel that was built in 1743. The hotel is located in what is called the Old Town and it’s very close to the Royal Mile, so it was very convenient and centrally located. It was a great choice and we enjoyed both our room and the quaint bar. It was especially interesting to watch the bartender spend what seemed like an hour setting up the bar. He was kind enough to chat with us while he was setting up and gave us some helpful tips about the area. Probably the funniest thing about this hotel was that there were no room numbers. Each room has a name and our room’s name was Chateau Bauduc. Every time we returned to the hotel, we spent at least 15 minutes going up and down stairs and hallways searching for Chateau Bauduc. We got a good laugh out of it. Probably not the best system though, especially after a few pints.
Where we ate:
In addition to several stops at various pubs for light meals, snacks, and a pint or two of Guinness and other Scottish brews, we had two especially memorable meals.
Our absolute best dinner was at a modern restaurant called Dine Edinburgh. It’s described as a contemporary British brasserie and everything about it was wonderful. It was also less than a mile’s walk from our hotel. The friendly bartender at the hotel recommended it, and we were so glad he did. I definitely recommend talking to locals whenever possible to get the best advice. I’ve been burned a few too many times relying on Trip Advisor.
Another memorable meal was lunch at Brasserie Prince in The Balmoral. I have to admit, I didn’t feel worthy to even enter this restaurant. The clientele and decor was decidedly high end, which made for extraordinary people watching. It wasn’t forebodingly pricey, and the food, wine, and service was excellent.
If you were to ask me how long to stay in Edinburgh, I would recommend two or three nights. We’d initially thought we might want to spend a week or two, and I’m glad we opted for the London side trip rather than a longer stay.
Best,
Lisa