Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Edinburgh

Due to its close proximity to the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh is generally windy and can be extremely cold between autumn and spring. That said, make sure you wrap up warm and carry an umbrella or rain jacket.

Make sure you take advantage of the city’s numerous hills and lookout points. To access these with ease, sturdy walking shoes are a must.

Buy admission tickets for top Edinburgh attractions in advance to avoid waiting in line; Edinburgh Castle gets particularly busy and lines often exceed one hour.

In the words of those who've been there before ...

Christian W

Edinburgh is a phenomenally popular destination, with around 3.5 million people visiting every year. Even so, thanks to the city's complex history, topography, and layout, much of it stays well off the beaten path. As a result, it's easy to see amazing sights while leaving the crowds behind!

Teamkarma

Edinburgh is full of surprises, lot of historic things to find, nice romantic restaurants, great night life, and a cheeky smile on every corner; The city centre is a very easy place to navigate by foot, it also has very good transport links, bus, tram, trains, it also has very good airport connections. If you are not sure what you are looking for you can always stand at the top of the castle for a fantastic panoramic view over the whole city.

JamzyW

Edinburgh is a truly cosmopolitan City that has something for everyone. The City is relatively small, so it is easy to get around and see a lot in a few days.

What is the best way to get there?

Flying:

Edinburgh Airport is the main airport that services the city. Airlink bus service runs between the airport and Waverley Station, which is within walking distance of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town.

Train

Trains run by LNER (formerly Virgin trains) depart from London regularly and often make stops at major cities along the way.

Bus

Edinburgh Bus Terminal welcomes long-haul coaches from various destinations throughout the United Kingdom, including London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Major operators include Megabus and National Express.

Do I need a visa?

If you’re visiting Edinburgh from overseas, see if you need a visa using the following website: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/practical-information/passports-visas-customs/

When is the best time to visit?

Scotland is a country that’s prone to rain; showers can strike and last all day even during the summer months. To maximize your chance of dry skies, visit during the month of May, when daylight hours last longer and rainfall sees its annual low. Average daily temperatures in May are highs around 14 C/58 F and lows around 6 C/44 F.

May, along with September, also sees fewer crowds and lower prices outside of the UK’s school summer holidays.

For one of the world’s best comedy festivals, visit Edinburgh in August, when the Edinburgh Fringe Festival sees millions of visitors come to the 3-week-long jaunt. Other festive celebrations include Burns Night at the end of January; the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August; and the raucous Hogmanay New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Bus

Public buses are regular and easy to use and travel all around the city—the exact change is required for your journey.

Tram

Edinburgh has a tram system that services stops from York Place in the city center to the airport. All trams are wheelchair accessible and have Wi-Fi onboard. To plan your journey, visit https://edinburghtrams.com.

Taxis and ride share

Taxis in Edinburgh may be hailed on the street. Minicab services offers advance bookings. Rideshare services such as Uber and Talixo are readily available.

Driving

There are seven park and ride schemes operating in and around Edinburgh, which all you to park outside of the city center and then catch a bus in. There are also multi-storey car parks through the center, including at Waverley Station and Holyrood Road. For more information on parking, check out the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/10449/parking-spaces