Travel guide for EDINBURGH

Information

Climate

During summer the average temperature ranges between 15 – 22 C degrees, while in winter it is 1 – 7 C degrees. Snowfalls, which don’t last long, are likely to occur in winter, while it is possible to meet rainy weather throughout the whole year. Finally note that weather in Edinburgh is always changeable and visitors should expect both sunshine and rain, even in summer.

Location

Edinburgh is the Capital of Scotland (part of United Kingdom) since 1437. Its population is around 450,000 people.

Money Issues

The official currency is Pound (GBP). There are many banks and Bureau de Change in central points of the town. You’d better use banks since they have less commission. Banks are open from 9a.m. to 5p.m.

How to get there

By plane which brings you to the Airport of Edinburgh nearly 11 km from the city centre. If you don’t plan to rent a car, you can use the line bus (every 15 minutes) or to take a taxi (costs 15 GPB). By train which brings you to the main railway station in Edinburgh, called Waverley Railway Station which is an attraction in itself.

Trasportation

Most of Edinburgh tourist’s attractions are located within the Old Town and the New Town and are no further than a 15 minute walk apart. The public transport system of the city is relatively poor compared to London and other British cities and is based on local buses. Avoid rent a car since traffic is heavy especially in the city centre. You may also use the train if you are planning to visit the outer suburbs and towns of Balerno, Currie, Wester Hailes, Portobello, Prestonpans and Musselburgh.

While there

Accomodation On-line hotel reservations in EDINBURGH

Prices for accommodation in Edinburgh are relatively high as in most British cities (compared to other European cities). Besides take care to book a room as soon as possible. In case you don’t care so much for the amenities of the hotel, you may book a room at a Bed & Breakfast where prices vary from 30 to 80 GPB. A nice and cheap hotel is the Borough Hotel where all rooms have a private bath, TV and DVD. Another nice B&B hotel is the Ingrams which is located in the New Town and very close to many restaurants.

Food

Edinburgh is the ideal place for food lovers, with a wide variety of restaurants for all tastes and all international cuisines. (French, Chinese, Indian, vegetarian, seafood and etc). Most of them are in the city centre (take a walk at Rose Street, parallel to Princes Street, there is a great variety of restaurants for all tastes) as well as in the districts of Leith and West End.

Amusement

Edinburgh has many centres of amusement and bars for all tastes. Some of them are: Bow bar, Monboddo ( a New York like bar ), Café Royal Circle Bar, Indigo Yard (also serves food), Cumberland (one of the best pubs in Edinburgh), The Pear Tree (especially for summer, has a nice garden), Why Not (the best club by far in Edinburgh)

Activities

Culture

Edinburgh has the largest theatre in Europe, called Edinburgh Playhouse with a capacity of 3000 seats.

Sport Events

If you’re keen on football you can watch a football match between the two most famous Edinburgh teams, Hibernian and Hearts. It is most likely that you enjoy a great “atmosphere”, which however cannot be compared to the matches of Celtic and Rangers in Glasgow.

Shopping

Prices vary a lot, so you’d better search for lower prices and bargains.Princes Street , north of the castle , is the main shopping street in Edinburgh. It contains large chain stores such as HMV for music, H&M for clothes, tourist oriented shops and department stores. Besides the Royal Mile has many tourist-oriented shops selling Scottish souvenirs from postcards to whisky and kilts. Don’t forget to buy an original Scottish whisky.

Monuments

Galleries

The National Gallery of Scotland that hosts masterpieces of famous Scottish artists as well as a lot of British and European paintings from 15th to 18th centuries. Apart from special exhibitions the entrance is free and is open daily from 10a.m. to 5p.m. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art which operate since 1960 and hosts paintings dating back in 1890 and the following years. ?he entrance is free and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery that hosts historical portraits. The Dean Gallery (free entrance) that houses an art library and some temporary exhibitions. Note that there is a free bus service which connects all galleries I mentioned above. The bus leaves from Mount every 45 minutes and operate from 10:45a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Museums

The Museum of Scotland and the Royal Museum. The best and rarest archaeological findings can be found in these two museums. The Royal Museum is focused on international monuments while the Museum of Scotland is devoted to the history of Scotland and its people. The entrance is free and is open from 10a.m. to 5 p.m. all days except Sunday. At Sunday is open from noon to 5p.m.

Historical monuments

The world famous castle of Edinburgh that symbolizes the Scottish nation’s history. In the castle ,you’ll find the Scottish crown, the sword and the scrept. It is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. except the Christmas day and the second Christmas day. There are also free official tours which provide a lots of information (every 30 minutes). The entrance is free and is open all days except Sunday from 10p.m. to 5 a.m. The Palace of Holyroodhouse which is the royal residence and hosts the Queen's Gallery containing a collection of art from the Royal Collection. The palace is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6p.m. from April to October and 4:30 p.m. the rest of the months. Entrance to the palace costs 8 GPB, to the gallery 5 GPB and in case you plan to visit both of them 11 GPB. The New Town, was the first attempt for reformation during a period characterized by miserable conditions for the people. The buildings which were first build in 1776 still keep their magnificence. It is open all days from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October and from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. the rest of the months. The St Giles' Cathedral (historic Church of Edinburgh) also worths a visit. Finally visit the Scott Monument, offer a fantastic view of the city.

Other sights

The Royal Botanic Garden, the first official garden of Scotland. It includes trees, bushes and flowers from all over the world. The entrance is free and is open from 10a.m. until late at afternoon. The Edinburgh Zoo (entrance costs 10.5 GPB from adults, 7.5 GPB for children and 8 GPB for students). You can see animals from all over the world such as penguins, zebras, antelopes and many more. The Royal Yacht Britannia (runner-up, best UK attraction in 2004), was the Queen’s houseboat from 1953 to 1997. You can move around in the decks and cabins of this magnificent ship with an audio guide narrating the Britannia history. The Edinburgh butterfly and Insect World. Walk through a rainforest with several butterflies and friendly insects.

Romance

In the morning or early evening hours enjoy the magnificent sunrise/sunset over Edinburgh from the Calton Hill.

Not to miss

If you are planning to visit Edinburgh during the summer, do not miss the Edinburgh International Festival, held every August. Over 500 amateur and professional groups present every possible kind of avant-garde performance in venues all around the city. Since its inception in 1947 to mark the end of WWII, it has grown into one of the world's largest and most important arts festivals. Besides Edinburgh is famous for the celebration of the New Year .The event is called Hogmanay and is the largest and most impressive celebration in Scotland.

Be Cautious

Driving in Edinburgh city centre is really a nightmare. Be sure to book a hotel room early if you plan to visit the city during the summer festival period. If you don’t like crowded places and noise, do not visit Edinburgh during the main festival periods of high summer (August to early September) and Hogmanay (around New Year's Day / 1 January).

Best routes

Walk on the Royal Mail street, the most historical road of the city connecting the castle of Edinburgh with the Palace of Holyroodhouse( the royal residence). There you can see a lot of magnificent buildings while the street is full of charming surprises and constitutes the main pole of activity and entertainment throughout the year. Also in this street you’ll meet the following monuments: the St Giles' Cathedral, the Scottish Story-Telling Centre, the Museum of Childhood, the Edinburgh Museum and the Scottish parliament.

Out

Visit the city Dunfermline (the former capital of Scotland). It is easily accessed by car via the Forth Road Bridge. There is a half hourly service by train from Waverley station. Plan a trip to Aberdour, an attractive village next to the see. Aberdour is only 25 minutes drive north of Edinburgh with a magnificent castle and a beach with a blue flag awarded. There are also many restaurants, pubs and tourists shops. Another nice exceursion could be the St Andrews an ancient university town, former ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. Least but not last Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland, is only 46 miles west of Edinburgh and is easily reached via train, bus or via the M8 motorway.

Impressions

Edinburgh is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It combines many things for all tastes, from relaxation and sightseeing to amusement and shopping. The city manages to combine both ancient and modern in a uniquely Scottish atmosphere. Besides Edinburgh hosts many festivals during the year. The most famous is the International Festival (held at August). Other festivals are the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (27 July – 5 August ), the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (3-25 August), the Edinburgh International Film Festival (15-26 August), the Edinburgh International Book Festival (11-27 August), T in the Park (Scotland biggest music festival 6-8 July), the Edinburgh International Book Festival (11-27 August) and the Edinburgh International Science Festival (April)