Edinburgh is a city whose mystical beauty and history captured my heart.
We spent a long weekend transversing the city and taking in its Scottish charm. With plaid shops on every corner of the Royal Mile, haggis as a staple on most menus, and the sound of bagpipes lingering through the air at each turn, Edinburgh’s culture is rich and abundant.
The Old Town of Edinburgh is easy to navigate, but what surprised me were the amount of hills! Similar to San Francisco or Lisbon, Edinburgh has some serious inclines. Whether it was making our way up to castle on the hill or simply walking to dinner, we got in our fair share of steps!
The Edinburgh Castle is definitely one of the city’s must-visit tourist attractions. You can purchase tickets in advance and spend as little or as much time as you’d like exploring the castle and its grounds, which afford some amazing views of the city below.
For a great photo opportunity, walk up or down The Vennel, an old steep staircase that is incredibly picturesque and offers a stunning shot of the Castle in the distance.
Speaking of photogenic, Elizabeth Street is the most photographed street in Edinburgh, and many say it was the inspiration for J.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. Like all of Edinburgh, there is certainly a mystique to this brightly colored, curved street and we loved walking – both up and down it – as we popped in and out of shops.
We had the best time wandering around the city and finding hidden areas. There are many little alleyways and curving roads which make the city feel a bit like a maze. It’s oh-so-fun to get lost and discover Edinburgh in this way! If you venture down the Royal Mile and veer off it into the different inlets, which are called “closes,” you will find plenty of cool places to explore. I really liked Lady Stair’s Close, Mary King’s Close and Advocate’s Close.
One afternoon we took an Uber to explore Dean’s Village. This is a quaint, residential area, set away from the main tourist section of the city. You can wander a winding path along the Water of Leith river and take in the unique architecture and charm of the area.
Another picturesque area we loved walking around was Circus Lane. This is a beautiful, residential curved street that exudes a postcard worthy aesthetic.
The food scene in Edinburgh is quite impressive. While you will certainly see your fair share of restaurants serving traditional Scottish cuisine, we were excited to find a number of local spots that catered to a foodie audience. Our best meal was at the one Michelin-starred restaurant Condita. Minimalistic in its decor, but certainly not its surprise, no choice tasting menu, this six-table eatery was a stand-out. We thought it was clever how they aligned the art on the wall to the table setting. For example, there was an Etch-a-Sketch next to our plates to entertain us as we waited between courses. The string drawings were reminiscent of the strings used in the abstract textile art on the walls.
We also had great brunches at the Edinburgh Larder and Urban Angel, and tried haggis for the first time at the dimly lit and cozy spot, The Bon Vivant (pictured below).
Visiting Edinburgh made me excited to explore more of Scotland one day. We were charmed by the culture, people, and landscape! If you are already visiting Scotland or Europe and looking for an easy weekend trip, Edinburgh is an ideal location. Over the course of three days, I felt that we were able to get a good sense of the city without having to hastily run around. On a future trip, I’d love to see the National Galleries, which are supposed to be fantastic.
As they say in Scottish, Slàinte Mhath!
The A-Lyst is a Boston-based lifestyle blog curating the very best of style, beauty, food, and travel.