Discovering Edinburgh: A 2-Day Travel Guide to Scotland’s Historic Capital

Like every child, I was amazed by Harry Potter. J.K Rowling wrote the first book in the back room of the Elephant house overlooking Edinburgh Castle making the city the “birthplace of Harry Potter”. Since then, I have wanted to visit this magical place where my childhood was woven. Finally, I got the chance to visit Edinburgh during Christmas, when the city lights up the best. Famous for its rich history, castles, cobblestone street and the Christmas market during the winters, Edinburgh has a lot to offer. Here is how I spent my three days in the Capital of Scotland:

As a broke backpacker, I was staying at a hostel called Castle Rock which is right below the Edinburgh castle and offers a good view of it from its entrance. I paid £22 per night which was great to find such an inexpensive option during the holiday season. The hostel has over 300 beds and hosts daily events which I am going to cover later.They have two other hostels as well which are the small & vibrant Royal Mile Backpackers and the historic High Street Hostel – Edinburgh’s original independent hostel!

Fun Fact: If you stay here, you get discounts on local bars and cafes.

 

DAY 1

A slow start to the day, I had breakfast at the hostel which cost me £5 ; then went up to Edinburgh castle. I did not go inside the castle, but if you want to, you have to shell out £20. To get a good view of the castle and the city, I went to the most picturesque and instagrammable spot – the Vennel Steps located near the Grassmarket – easy to find on maps. From there I walked the stairs towards a haunted place. The Greyfriars Kirkyard is a historic graveyard surrounding the Greyfriars Kirk Church dating back to the 1500s said to be one of the most haunted graveyards in the world. Though said to be haunted, I was here because J.K Rowling found the names of many Harry Potter characters, most notably Tom Riddle- aka, he who must not be named (Voldemort) at Greyfriars. It is a very peaceful place with a lot of history engraved in it.

 

I then reached the famous Victoria Street, from where J.K Rowling took a lot of inspiration and also got the idea of Diagon Alley. The street has an unusual inclining shape with quirky shops and cafes in it. It has the Harry Potter Museum which is a must visit if you are a fan. Treat yourself by buying a wand or a Gryffindor scarf to make it memorable. As I mentioned earlier, since it was the Christmas season, the whole city was lit up beautifully. It was time to walk the Royal Mile, the spine of Edinburgh’s old town which connects the city’s most significant landmarks. It is the busiest street which has all the shops, restaurants, and prominent tourist attractions like the St Giles Cathedral – a fine work of Gothic architecture and the Tron Kirk Market which is inside the Tron Kirk Church. During the Edinburgh Fringe, you can always find performers and Buskers entertaining the tourists.

Now it was time to feed myself with some Scottish cuisine. Recommended by the hostel, I went to “MUMS Great Comfort Food”, a small Scottish retro-style diner. I tried the Haggis served with gravy, a savoury pudding containing sheep’s pluck, minced with chopped onion and other spices. It was created out of necessity, as a way to utilise the least expensive cuts of meat. The blend of the meat, gravy and potatoes was a fulfilling treat to my stomach. For dessert, I had the treacle and date pudding with ice cream which was hands down the highlight of my food journey. With a heavy stomach, I didn’t want to walk a lot so I decided to visit the National Museum of Scotland which is adjacent to the restaurant. The museum was a fun and interactive experience with immense knowledge of science and history in it.

 

I walked towards Calton Hill which has beautiful views of the city. A 20 min walk from the old town and a very easy climb, being a great spot to enjoy different views of the city. The hill has different monuments and the popular Edinburgh’s Shame or the National Monument of Scotland. After enjoying the views of the city, I explored the christmas market and to end the day, the hostel had organised a whiskey tasting tour. Of course! you can’t miss the Scottish Whiskey or Scotch.

 

DAY 2

Catching the first rays of the sun, I was already out to explore. I walked famous areas like the Grassmarket, Princesses street towards a hidden gem called Dean Village. A tiny village located on the water of Leith with historic architecture and a cultural significance of Edinburgh’s industrial past. The village is photogenic with cobblestone streets, colourful and rustic houses.

From there, I followed the water of Leith which was a very peaceful walk to Circus Lane – another hidden gem of Edinburgh – famous for its vibrant floral displays, cute Georgian mews houses, colourful doors and the picturesque setting with the towering St Stephen’s church in the backdrop. One should combine their visit to Dean Village with Circus Lane and the Scottish Gallery.

It was lunchtime and I was far away from the old town on the Leith Walk. Very hungry, I found this Venezuelan restaurant called “Empanadas del Poeta” where for the first time I tried the crispy, crescent shaped Empanada filled with beef. I loved the texture and taste of it, that I had 3 of them with different fillings- beef, pork, chicken.

I heard from fellow travellers that to get an even better view of the city, climb the Arthur’s Seat. It is an extinct volcano and the highest point in the city. Post lunch, I started climbing the Arthur’s Seat. A 45 – minutes steep climb to the top offers the best views of the city. It is very windy up there so it is advisable to carry a jacket/hoodie to cover your ears and neck.

The views from the top are breathtaking and you can see miles away from the city. On a clear day, you can catch a really beautiful sunset as well.

Coming back to the hostel, I had signed up for the Ceilidh and Karaoke Night. Ceilidh is a Scottish and Irish Social gathering which involves dancing and playing Gaelic Folk Music. It is one of a kind experience jammed with energy, enthusiasm and a lot of warmth. The event was held at Stramash, a live music venue where a local band performed live Gaelic music and we danced the traditional way.

I had one of the best times there. After an hour of non-stop dancing and drinking, we ended up at the karaoke bar. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the trip. By the end, I managed to reconnect with my childhood hero, learn about the history and culture of the place and meet amazing people through the journey.

TOURS

Edinburgh: Evening Underground Ghost Tour
Edinburgh Castle: Guided Walking Tour
Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour