H and I will be headed to Edinburgh, Scotland in August. We will be at the theater fringe festival for a few days, but will have a few days after to explore the nearby area. We’ve been to Edinburgh once before and have visited the castle there, been to Linlithgow Palace as well. Any suggestions for other things that we must do while we are there?
We did an underground Edinburgh tour, which was fascinating!
Also, while H was in meetings (he was there for a conference), I took a day tour bus trip up to Loch Ness; we made a couple of stops along the way there and back for photo ops, and had a boat ride on Loch Ness. It was beautiful. Also drove through Inverness, and I think, might have made a brief stop there. Also had a great hike up Arthur’s Seat for a great view of the city.
We enjoyed Holyroodhouse with an audio tour, this is one of the Queen’s official residences. We also loved our side trip to St Andrews. We did not do Edinburgh Castle, our Scotland connections said it was pure tourist, we went north to Dunnotter Castle, really cool. As the prior poster said, we did Inverness & Loch Ness, fun stuff, as well as stops along the way, Oban, etc.
You can take a train to Glasgow for a day if you’ve the time, the University is gorgeous, the Cathedral and Necropolis were wonderful & so was the Kelvingrove Museum.
We took a 45-min train ride to St. Andrews, the home of golf, and played 18 holes on the Old Course: the 18-hole Himalayas Putting Green. 
At 2 Euros, the putting green was a bargain & we can now claim bragging rights. The town of St. Andrews was very pretty too & has some scenic ruins. http://www.visitstandrews.com/do/great-outdoors/2643-2/
If you like the outdoors, Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park is a great hike with fantastic views of Edinburgh & the Firth of Forth. Be sure to wear rugged footwear, as sections of the trail are rocky & steep.
We visited Scotland for just a couple of days last year. We did total tourist stuff - The castle and this tour: http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/info/tours-guides/sandemans-new-europe-tours-p267011 My husband and son did the dark side tour at night and enjoyed it. We also did the Whiskey Experience just outside the castle. I found that I hate whiskey but again, son and husband liked it. We found a few excellent places to eat including The Malt Shovel http://www.yelp.com/biz/malt-shovel-edinburgh This place for breakfast http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186525-d1728783-Reviews-Edinburgh_Larder_Cafe-Edinburgh_Scotland.html and this one across from Blackfriars, where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186525-d968589-Reviews-Elephant_House-Edinburgh_Scotland.html If you can, stay in the Old Town.
We went there a year or two ago. If you still need lodging, I cannot recommend this highly enough: Bell’s Brae Bed & Breakfast, in Dean’s Village (part of the city). It’s an old mill converted into a B&B, very comfortable and romantic, the owners will try to kill you with good food, within easy walking distance to all the touristy parts of the city as well as the very non-touristy but really nice parts as well. Best accommodation I have ever had anywhere. Ever. Only drawback is that they only have a single room with a king-sized bed., so if you need something else, I am so, so sorry.
As to the rest, Holyrood House was very nice if you like castles and palaces (we do!). I would avoid the Royal Mile as much as possible, one enormous tourist trap!
Oh, one last thing - there has apparently been a rise in knife crime in Scotland in the last few years, and as a result they have passed some rather stringent knife laws. At one site I disclosed that I had my pocket knife, and since it had a locking blade I was informed that it was illegal - the police gave me a lecture and wanted to confiscate it but backed down when I started to make a stink and instead just told me to leave it in my suitcase until I returned to England.
So leave the pocket knives at home.
I am scottish and lived in Edinburgh after I was married before heading across the pond. We take in some of the toursist sites on our yearly visit home- my girls enjoy it.
Last year we took the free tour of the Scottish parliament- was really good and would highly recommend, Will give you a good insight it to the Scottish parliamentary process. It is free, but you have to book
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/visitandlearn/24228.aspx
Then walk up the royal mile or visit Holyrood Palace. Stop at Cafe Truva for lunch
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186525-d3547255-r193139263-Cafe_Truva_Royal_Mile-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
We know the owners.
I like to tour the castle- buy tickets ahead to avoid the queues . Better still visit Stirling Castle the day before and buy the Explorer pass http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
We also visited the Georgian House on a rainy day http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Georgian-House/
Stop by the champagne bar at Harvey Nichols and have lunch - sit out on the balcony and then visit the Georgian house. Walk along Rose St on the way.
For a nice afternoon the Botanics are beautiful- or walk along Arthurs seat. If you are a DaVinci code fan visit Roslyn Chapel http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/
We ate at at a great restaurant along Princes St opposite Waverly Station. We had a table in a bay window and as the tattoo was on at the castle we could see the Castle highlighted and the light show changing colors. The end of the tattoo finishes with fireworks and we had an amazing view. Sitting enjoying a drink and watching and an unobstructed view. A night I will always remember- I will message my friend and get the name of the restaurant. If you are there when the Tattoo is on - try and get tickets ASAP.
My fav day last year started with a walk up Arthurs seat, stopped and had an ice cream cone at the bottom outside Holyrod palace. Then we walked passed parliament and up the Royal Mile. Had lunch at one of the cafes. Enjoyed people watching/ street performers outside St Giles. Continued up to Grey Friers Bobby statue and then we walked inside and toured the Grey Friers Kirkyard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Kirkyard Had a drink in the pub. Walked down into the grass market taking in some shops along the way. Stopped for coffee. Wound our way back up and sat out in the courtyard at for a glass of wine at Hotel Du Vin Bistro.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hotel-Du-Vin-Bistro/154704101215799?pnref=story
And now … I am really home sick
My best tip for the fringe festival - join the “Friends of the Fringe”. It gives you access to a special Friends ticket tent to purchase tickets. No waiting in lines. Also, if you haven’t done it before, purchase advance tickets to the Tattoo. It’s quintessential Scotland. Oh, and Stirling Castle is worth a bus ride.
The Royal Botanical Garden is lovely (http://www.rbge.org.uk/), especially the rock garden. If you like historical fiction, the classic series by Dorothy Dunnett will definitely get you in the mood: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0679777431/ref=nosim/?tag=shopping01-20&link_code=ur2&creative=9325&camp=211189.
Nothing as dramatic as the other suggestions, but you can visit the café where JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter. http://www.elephanthouse.biz/ Visit the rest rooms; my D says the graffiti is well worth it.
If you like Alexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh-set books (44 Scotland Street series, Sunday Philosophy Club - not the Number One Ladies Detective Agency ones, obviously!), you can visit some of the sites mentioned <a href=“https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zxt__0H7syk8.kEnATo8Hmy1A&georestrict=input_srcid:5344bc09f152c83d&ie=UTF8&view=map&ctz=-60&oe=UTF8&msa=0[/url]”>https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zxt__0H7syk8.kEnATo8Hmy1A&georestrict=input_srcid:5344bc09f152c83d&ie=UTF8&view=map&ctz=-60&oe=UTF8&msa=0
The restaurant we visited described in my previous post
Awesome. Keep the suggestions coming. Have heard a lot about Arthur’s Seat - since H is big into hiking, we will definitely be doing that. The elephant house sounds interesting - S will also be with us - should see if we can all go there one day. What’s the Tattoo? - someone else mentioned it as well. I need to google this asap. @sally22 - your description of your favorite day sounds like it would my favorite as well!
Since we are going during the fringe, accommodations are pricey. @cosmicfish - will take a look at the B&B you recommended - if not, we are probably going to stay somewhere close by and drive to Edinburgh for the festival. Been reading that parking is horrendous in Edinburgh - will have to figure out what our strategy will be.
Would like to go up north for a day or two at least - Inverness and Loch Ness are on the list to investigate further.
We stayed at this place in Edinburgh. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186525-d2316093-Reviews-Stay_Edinburgh_City_Apartments_Royal_Mile-Edinburgh_Scotland.html It is on the Royal Mile, but I liked that. I requested a high floor and we had a great view of the city. The stairs to get up to the rooms were stone and not a bit handicapped accessible. On our first trip up with luggage I heard lots of grumbling - until we opened the door to the rooms!
Are you Presbyterian? If you are, you have to make the pilgrimage to John Knox’s church (St. Giles’ Cathedral - it’s on the Royal Mile.) Knox is supposedly buried in the parking lot. Yes, the grave of “the most important religious reformer in the history of Scotland” is under parking space 23!
Hotels during the festival sell out quickly. We’ve stayed at the Jury’s Inn City Centre on Jeffrey Street. The entrance is off the Royal Mile. It’s nothing fancy but very close to all the venues. If you stay outside of the city centre, take the bus or train into the city. Don’t drive - it’s a nightmare trying to find parking.
The Penguin Parade at the Edinburgh Zoo! And I second the recommendation for the underground tour – is that the one at Mary King’s Close? I think we also got the tourist ticket for the double-decker bus that can take you to various sites and is good for more than one day (but that might have been Glasgow – it’s been a decade or so.)
I, too, stayed at a bed & breakfast. It was highly recommended on a board at Fodors.com and it was on Castle Street – within walking distance of train station and the castle, but not on the Royal Mile. When I first arrived, the street was closed to traffic and it was horribly noisy with jackhammers in the street. My heart plunged and I figured I was getting my just desserts for making reservations based on internet posts. But when we got up to our room (lots of stairs, no elevator,) our room was blessedly quiet and remained so for our entire visit.
I loved Edinburgh. Whenever I needed help with directions, people acted like I was doing them a favor by allowing them to be of service.
We have been to Edinburgh twice, and both times we stayed at Kew House. Really nice place - great beds and other amenities - and the owners are fabulous: friendly, personable, and full of great suggestions and tips for making your trip memorable.
Hiking in the Pentland hills - you can get there on a city bus. Beautiful. Lots of sheep.
Someone beat me to it- the penguin walk at the zoo!! yes!
The HMS Britannia is worth a visit if you are interested in ships; it’s a short bus ride out to Leith. It was a very interesting tour.
The Edinburgh city center can very loud all night long during the Fringe. If you want to sleep, consider staying in a hotel or b&b that is not near the Royal Mile. We stayed near Coates St./Haymarket and there are buses that run constantly up and down that route. It’s still walking distance (a healthy walk) but the bus is a nice option. There is one bus (the 12?) that runs back and forth from the Royal Mile to the Zoo with stops in between.
I love Ian Rankin books and wish I had taken a walking tour based on sites in those novels. We did take a walking tour of the city center when we got there and it was a great way to get oriented and power through jet lag.