A trip to Scotland was always on my travel list and every time I read that Edinburgh is the most beautiful city in Europe, my desire to visit it grew more and more. In my mind, everyone walking dressed in kilt, holding in one hand a glass of whiskey and in the other, a bagpipe, the sound of which flooded all the streets. So when my cousin, who moved there for work, invited me to visit her, everything happened very quickly and the image I had in my mind of the Scottish capital would quickly become a reality.
A few words about the city
Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and also the second largest city in the country. The population in the greater Edinburgh area reaches 486,120 inhabitants making it the seventh largest city in the whole of the United Kingdom. It is often called "Athens of the North" for many reasons. A first comparison between the two cities showed that they had the same topography, as the Old City of Edinburgh corresponded with the Acropolis in Athens. Also, both cities were on a plain that ended in a port: Piraeus in Athens and Leith in Edinburgh. In addition, the city of Edinburgh was the center of the Enlightenment, with personalities such as David Hume and Adam Smith, so many hoped that it would culturally affect London in the same way that Athens influenced Rome. Finally, it is interesting to note that it is the second most popular destination "on the Island", after London. So I will try to introduce you to Edinburgh through my own eyes and share with you what I think someone who is visiting for the first time should see.
Edinburgh Castle
The pride of the city is none other than the Edinburgh Castle, which is located at the top of the old town, where the royal Mile ends. The castle consists of a collection of buildings housed inside the walls and is said to be visible from miles away. Many of these buildings have been rebuilt, because they had been altered over the centuries, with the oldest surviving being the chapel of St. Margarita dating from the 12th century. In addition to the terrific view of the entire city, the castle will give you the opportunity to visit the Apartments, the National War Museum of Scotland and the crown jewels. The entrance costs 17 pounds for people from 16-59, 10 pounds for children 5-15 and 13.50 pounds for people over 60 and unemployed.
Princes street Gardens
If I had to pick the most beautiful place in Edinburgh, I think that would be the Princes Street Gardens. The natural boundary of the old and new city is an “injection” of green right in the centre of Edinburgh. On the one hand the most commercial street of the city, with the most famous department stores in the world, such as Topshop, Primark and Jenners (the Scottish Harrods) and on the other, the castle and the hills. There you will see squirrels strolling at your feet in various levels, flowers and trees in amazing color combinations and dozens of Scots sitting on the grass (if weather permits) to relax or have a picnic.
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is the "vein" of the old town, which connects Edinburgh Castle to the top of the hill with the Holyrood Palace at the bottom. I don't think there is another place in the world that presents in just one street such a diverse mix of a city's history. The Royal Mile is essentially divided into four parts, known as Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate. Along it you will find many interesting things such as underground pubs, souvenir shops, independent whiskey and wool merchants, hipster paved alleys, street artists and small museums. Of course, the show is stolen by the St. Giles Cathedral or as the locals call it, High Kirk. This temple is one of the most religious places of worship in Edinburgh for about 900 years, while the church in its current form dates from the late 14th century, although it was extensively restored in the 19th century and is now protected as a listed building. Admission is free.
Calton Hill
Just five minutes from the city centre is the Calton Hill, a beautiful place for walking or running, with panoramic views of the whole of historic Edinburgh. This particular spot is one of the reasons why the Scottish capital is compared to Athens, since at its top is the "National Monument of Scotland." It is an architectural structure, with an obvious purpose to resemble the Acropolis, failed in my opinion. It began to be built in 1816 after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, as a monument to those who had died during the Napoleonic wars, but it was never finished due to a lack of available funds. On the hill there is also the Nelson Monument, which is worth climbing the hundreds of steps to have an even better view of the city, as well as the Monument of Dugald Steart and the Observatory of the city, for the best possible view of the starry sky.
Holyrood Park
If you haven't had enough views from Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill, it certainly won't be the same from the top of Holyrood Park, known as Arthur's Seat. This is a demanding route, since you will have to cross an uphill path to reach the top of the volcanic hill at an altitude of about 250 meters. However, I guarantee you that the panoramic view from there is not comparable to anything else and of course it is worth it.
On the border of the park with the Royal Mile is the Holyrood Palace, which for those who do not know it, is the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. It was founded as a monastery in 1128 and later became the residence of Queen Mary during her brief tenure on the Scottish throne. Today you can visit the Royal Apartments when the Queen is not in residence, namely the 14 luxurious halls, the magnificent green gardens and finally the ruins of Holyrood Abbey, which have been standing there since the 12th century. The entrance costs 12 pounds, however the ticket is nominal and you can use it to visit the palace unlimited times within a year.
Also, just across the street is a building that is unlikely to go unnoticed, and this is none other than The Scottish Parliament. It is a special building with a mix of modern and classic architecture, created only in 2007, in place of the previous one, while retaining many pieces from the original building. You can visit the Parliament for free with a private guide in a group and enter the sanctuaries of the Scottish Parliament, where the United Kingdom was actually founded.
Finally, a few meters further there is another impressive building, which is suitable for both adults and children. I am referring, of course, to Dynamic Earth, a space dedicated to our planet and technology. With an improvised time machine, you will be transported to the big bang, while through interactive presentations you will feel like a volcanic eruption, a tropical storm, you will navigate the icebergs of the North Pole, the Amazon jungles and the deserts of Africa. Admission costs 13.50 pounds.
Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is the pride of Edinburgh city centre, as it stands tall and impressive on Princes Street. It is dedicated to the Great Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott, who died in 1832. After his death an architectural contest was announced among the best architects of the time, in order to submit plans for a suitable monument to Scott's prestige. The winning design was submitted by George Meikle Kemp, and the construction of the building began in 1840, but the architect died before its completion. This Gothic masterpiece is decorated with dozens of statuettes from the characters of his novels, as well as 16 pillars depicting Scottish poets supporting the vaulted roof. In the centre of the monument, was a statue depicting Sir Walter Scott by John Steell in Carrera marble. If you can afford to climb the 286 steps to the top, it's worth paying 5 pounds to admire the stunning views from above.
The museums
If you are a museum and history lover, then Edinburgh will certainly not leave you unmoved, since there are dozens of museums and art spaces in the city, with admission usually free. Below I will present you the most important of them:
The National Museum of Scotland is, in my opinion, the most interesting museum in the city, and it is no coincidence that it is included in the list of the 20 most popular museums in the world. Heirlooms from the history of the country and the most important cultures of the world, interactive exhibits, photo collections, experiments and all kinds of animals that live in Scotland, are few of the things you will find in the museum and all without having to pay, since the entrance is free.
The Scottish National Gallery is a beautiful building that resembles an ancient Greek temple and is located in the city center, on Princes Street. The Gallery houses paintings from Scotland's national collection of works of art, covering Scottish and international art from the beginning of the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Here, also, admission is free, but you must leave your personal belongings in the special lockers in the basement, which cost one pound.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery hosts all collections of portraits by Scottish artists and beyond, as well as the Scottish National Photography Collection. It is located on Queen Street, the longest parallel street of Princes and is part of the National Galleries of Scotland, which I mentioned above And here the entrance is free.
Last but not least is the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. It is the only one that is not in the center and you may need a bus to visit it, but as in the rest, the entrance is free. It consists of two buildings, which are facing each other and date back to 1900. There you will admire more than 6,000 paintings, sculptures, video presentations and other thematic exhibitions.
Camera Obsurca-The Scotch Whisky Experience
On the Royal Mile there are two buildings that offer two very interesting experiences. The first is “Camera Obsurca and World of Illusions”, a place to be initiated you into the world of Illusions and tricks. On its four floors, you will find various experiments and interactive exhibits that will make you rethink some things you take for granted, while on the top floor there is a different private tour. At the top of the building is placed a mirror that is tied with a rope, where in a dark room the guide moves it right and left, as a result of which the image is transferred onto a piece of cloth. Admission costs 15.50 pounds, and there are also discounted tickets for students and children.
The second building is “The Scotch Whisky Experience”; it is essentially a whisky Museum in which you will learn all about the national drink of Scotland. You will tour with a private tour guide between its halls and learn about its history and its distillation process, from raw materials to bottling. Admission costs 15 pounds. On the ground floor there is a bar that has about 2500 brands of whiskey and you can try quite a lot, since the price of the glass starts from 3 pounds.
How to go
Thessaloniki is connected by air to Edinburgh and Edinburgh Airport via Jet2. With proper planning one can find tickets starting from 122€ round trip. Beyond that, if you want a more comfortable flight you can choose an Aegean flight with a stopover to Athens, from 202€ round trip.
Where to stay
Edinburgh is not a very big city; one could compare it with Thessaloniki, just more sparsely populated. Everything is in the center, so a wise choice would be not to go too far from there. The prices in the old town are outrageous, so I would suggest looking either further west or further south. My suggestion is the Staycity Aparthotels West End. A four-star hotel just five minutes from Edinburgh Castle, which offers excellent value for money.
How to move
There is no subway in Edinburgh; the peculiarity of the place would not allow it, but to be honest I don't think it is necessary. The double-decker buses are the main means of transportation in the city, with very regular itineraries and stops, without exaggeration, every two meters, so surely one of them will take you to your destination. A one-way ticket costs 1.70 pounds, while a day ticket costs 4 pounds. As for taxis, there are two companies, the classic black taxis that you usually stop on the street, which are more expensive and the gray, which you can only call by phone and are somewhat cheaper. Finally, cycling it’s not a good idea in Edinburgh. Apart from the weather, which is usually not conducive, the roads are not so friendly for cyclists, at least in the centre.
What to eat
The traditional Scottish dish is called haggis and it definitely needs "guts" to try it. It is a form of minced meat made from sheep's intestines (heart, liver and lungs), along with various spices and all this is cooked in the stomach of the animal! I know that at first glance it doesn't impress, but it's delicious. No doubt you should also try the famous Scotch eggs, boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat, breaded and fried in hot oil. A dish you should avoid, if you have cholesterol or if you do not want to acquire.
The perfect place to get initiated into Scottish cuisine is The Standing Order, a beautiful pub, serving from classic English breakfast to the famous dishes I mentioned above.
In addition, there are excellent meats on the island, so do not forget to taste a well-cooked steak or something in street food, such as burger. If you choose the second, the best burger restaurant in Edinburgh is Bubba Q on The Royal Mile.
Something you will only find in Scotland is Oink. A restaurant that literally has a whole pig in the shop window! The pig is baked and cut into small pieces, and accompanied by various sauces of your choice.
On the other hand, if you want international cuisine, visit the Mexican restaurant Mariachi, while if your appetite is not limited to one dish, try Cosmo. There with just 8 pounds you will have access to a buffet and you will be able to eat unlimited from all the cuisines of the world (the staff comes mainly from Greece).
Finally, for breakfast or brunch I suggest visiting Papii and tasting the famous waffles with bacon and maple syrup. For coffee and dessert The Elephant House, the place where Harry Potter was written, for chocolate the Hotel Chocolat Cafe and if your budget picks up the Dome, which is an old mansion like a palace.
Useful information
In the United Kingdom, while is still in the European Union, we travel with passport or a type of police ID, where the details are indicated in Latin characters.
In Edinburgh the language used is English, but the Scottish accent is special, since the locals speak heavy and cut syllables, so you may often find it difficult to understand exactly what they mean. Of course, they are all very polite and affable and will help you; since they greatly appreciate that you speak their language.
The currency of the country is the British pound and its exchange rate at the moment is 1€ = 0.9001 £
Convert your money either in Greece, or in small shops, as the exchanges markets hold a very large commission.
Edinburgh is two hours behind Greece (GMT 0).
Getting to and from the airport is simple, since there is a bus (100) every 15 minutes, which takes you directly there and costs just 4 pounds.
The Greek unpaid Consulate General in Edinburgh is at 12 EH9 2 AZ queen's Crescent Street and her phone is +44 131 6205496.
In Edinburgh, driving is backwards, so be careful how you cross the roads.
If you have time, do not miss a day trip to the Scottish Highlands. Travel agencies in the city carry out such routes every day.
The weather in Edinburgh is usually rainy, so always carry an umbrella with you, while in winter the temperatures are quite low with wind and snow. The ideal time to visit it is summer and more specifically August (3-25 August), when you can attend the biggest festival in the country the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Recommended excursions → Glasgow, Highlands
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
