Edinburgh travel guide

Whether you're travelling to Edinburgh for the first time or have visited Scotland's capital city before, there's always a new attraction to visit in this historic city.

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital city and has a population of roughly 450,000 people. The city was referred to as "Auld Reekie" in ancient times because of the smokey atmosphere throughout. However, today Edinburgh is very much a clean, modern city combining beautiful Georgian architecture with some of the most contemporary buildings around, a shining example of which is the new Scottish Parliament building at the foot of the famous Royal Mile.

How to get around in Edinburgh

Explore Edinburgh by foot or public transport
Walking is perhaps the best way to explore Edinburghs city centre and allows you to take in all the beauty Edinburgh has to offer. For slightly longer journeys you may want to consider using Edinburghs excellent local bus services which offer routes throughout the city at fairly cheap prices.

Explore Edinburgh by rental car
If you've hired an Edinburgh rental car you should use your vehicle to explore Edinburghs suburban areas and attractions outside the city centre boundaries. Watch out for parking wardens though! Edinburghs parking wardens are generally regarded as a nuisance and will issue a ticket at any given opportunity.

Getting to Edinburgh
Edinburghs main railway station is Edinburgh Waverley and is situated in the city centre, Waverley offers connections to most major UK cities. There is also Edinburgh Haymarket which is just outside the city centre but is a much smaller railway station. Edinburgh International Airport is located outside the city and offers flights all over the world. The airport is best reached by car, taxi or Airlink buses which operate from the city centre.

Edinburgh attractions

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburghs flagship attraction, this medieval castle sits high above the city on volcanic rock. Tours of the castle are available to the public throughout the year and during August it is home to the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Princes Street
Edinburghs famous shopping street featuring a vast array of high street retailers, places to eat and the beautiful Princes Street Gardens for a spot of relaxation. During Christmas a large ferris wheel and ice rink are assembled in the gardens to celebrate the winter season.

Mary King's Close
If you want to experience what life was like for some of Edinburghs previous residents why not take a trip down Mary King's Close, watch out for the reputed ghosts though! Mary King's Close is open to the public all year round.

National Gallery of Scotland
Located on Princes Street, the National Gallery is home to some of Scotlands most famous paintings and artwork. There is also a programme of seasonal exhibitions focusing on specific artists or genres.

Edinburgh Zoo
Situated in the Corstorphine area of the city, Edinburgh Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals along with special events such as the Penguin Parade or the Hilltop Safari.

Edinburgh International Festival
Every year in August Edinburgh plays host to thousands of visitors who flock to see the worlds best performances ranging from serious theatre to controversial comedians. During this period there are a variety of related attractions including the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Edinburgh Book Festival.

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