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What's up guys we're here in Edinburgh, Scotland, and in this video we're going
to show you the best things to do in and around the city. Hope you enjoy it!
Edinburgh
is located in southeastern Scotland. As one of the most-visited cities in Europe,
Edinburgh is known for its whisky heritage, striking architecture, and intriguing history.
Not to mention its beautiful natural scenery and buzzing pub scene. The city is big enough that
you'll be entertained but compact enough that you can explore everything on foot.
In this video, we highlight 10 of the best things to do in the city,
which are best combined in a three to four day visit. So let's dive in.
We're Zac and Ine. We make helpful videos about
destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures.
The old town of Edinburgh is the bustling heart of the city. Built up in the Middle Ages when
the fear of attack was persistent, it's home to centuries-old buildings and narrow alleys.
This area will most likely be your first area to see when visiting Edinburgh,
and it's also a great place to stay. The best way to learn about this intriguing
part of the city is by joining a free walking tour.Tours usually run multiple times a day.
But if you're not into history, there are also Ghost and Harry Potter Tours available.
You can find links to all of these walking tour options in the description below.
Sitting on an extinct volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle is the most iconic site in the old town
and the entire city for that matter. With a rich history as a royal residence, military garrison,
prison, and fortress, the castle is full of surprises and you can easily spend a full
day here. Some of the highlights include the Great Hall, the Prisons of War Exhibition,
the Crown Jewel, and the National War Museum. Entry to these museums are all included in the
ticket price. And while the castle itself is not free, the view from the top is.
If you like the view from the castle, just wait until we show you the view from Calton Hill.
Every day at 1pm here at the Castle they shoot the time gun,
except for on Sundays. We actually just missed it, but it's definitely worth
checking out. They've been doing this for hundreds of years because people,
sailors and just people in the town, they used to set the clocks because of this sound.
Stretching one mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House, the Royal
Mile is the focal point of Edinburgh's Old Town. A walk down the Royal Mile will allow you to see
plenty of traditional pubs, churches, and other historic buildings. Make sure to try the national
dish of Scotland here, called "haggis", at one of the local pubs. It's the sheep's liver, heart,
and lungs mixed with a few other ingredients. It tastes better than it sounds. Besides the pubs,
you can also find many souvenir and whisky shops along the Royal Mile. But if you're
looking for a unique Scotland souvenir, then you should check out the sponsor of today's video.
Established Titles sells souvenir plots of land, which then gives
you the honorific title of Laird, Lord, or Lady, based on a historic Scottish custom.
We got ours from Established Titles online, but we were able to drive to
our actual piece of land in Eddleston which is a short drive from Edinburgh.
Established Titles is a fun and novel way to preserve the natural woodlands of Scotland,
while helping global reforestation efforts. The company plants a tree with every order around
the world and works with global charities, such as One Tree Planted and Trees for the Future.
So we made it to my souvenir plot of land here at Eddleston. It's actually one square foot here
on dedicated private land. My dad actually did a DNA test recently and it turns out one
quarter of his DNA comes from Scotland, so this piece of land and this Title has a little bit of
family meaning for me. I have to say that this really does make a nice, fun last-minute gift.
Established Titles is the sponsor of today's video and they're actually offering a 10% discount for
anyone who's watching this video for a limited time only. You can find more information about
this as well as how to get your own plot of land in the link in the description below.
And as an added bonus, the first 200 people to purchase a title pack using
our link in the description will effectively be next to my plot.
Located in the middle of the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral has been a working church for centuries.
It has therefore a witness Scotland's turbulent religious history and played an important role in
the Scottish Reformation. Today, you can admire the beautiful architecture and stained glass
windows on the inside. It's free to visit and the perfect spot to hide out when it's raining.
Scotland
is famous for its whisky and you'll find a number of bars and shops dedicated to this drink.
If you don't have much knowledge of this sophisticated drink or its history, then you
should join a tasting tour. During the session you'll be able to taste a variety of whiskys,
from relatively delicate and subtle flavors of the Lowlands to the bold and robust tastes of Islay.
You can find a link to a whisky tasting experience in the description below.
The best view of Edinburgh's Old Town is undoubtedly from Colton Hill. Only a short hike
away from the Old and New Town, Carlton Hill is filled with interesting monuments. One of the most
striking is the National Monument, inspired by the Parthenon in Athens. But what most visitors enjoy
are the incredible views from the Dugald Stewart Monument. The best time to come here is during
sunset, but keep in mind that it can get very busy on a clear day. If you want to find a viewpoint
with more open space that's also free, you can check out Arthur Seat, which we'll cover shortly.
Next to the old town you can find the New Town of Edinburgh.
This central part of the city was built between the 18th and 19th century and retains much of
its original Neoclassical and Georgian period architecture. Today, the area is filled with
designer shops, hip bars, and amazing restaurants. It's the place to go for shopping and dining.
Located alongside the busiest shopping street in the New Town,
Princes Street Gardens is a beautiful green space in Edinburgh. The park is completely
free to visit and offers some of the best views of the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle.
You can also find one of the city's most notable monuments here, named Scott Monument.
Situated just a 10 minute walk from the end of Princes Street,
you can find one of the most picturesque neighborhoods of Edinburgh.
Dean Village was once home to 11 mills working and supporting Edinburgh until the 19th century.
And while you can still see some remnants of the mills, Dean Village is now a tranquil oasis.
It's a perfect place for enjoying a blend of nature with picturesque architecture.
So if you come and explore Dean Village,
you should definitely check out the Water of Leith Walkway, because it's really peaceful.
You can hear the water just flowing by you and it's a nice little break away from the city.
The ultimate break from urban life is a hike to Arthur's Seat,
a dormant volcano and one of the highest points in Edinburgh.
Located in Holyrood Park, there are different routes that take you to the summit. The most
common trail starts near Holyrood Palace and takes about 30 to 60 minutes to reach the peak.
From the top, you have 360-views of Edinburgh and the Port of Leith. Combine your visit with
the Palace of Holyrood House if you're interested in Scottish Royal history.
There are a few other things to do in Edinburgh that we didn't mention and we've included a list
of those on the screen here for you. If you're planning your Scotland trip, we recommend keeping
things organized with our interactive travel planner. Find a discount code below. We also
included important links that you'll need for your Edinburgh trip in the description,
such as a full travel guide with where to stay, where to eat, and an interactive map so you
can get to each spot that we mentioned. We'll catch you on the next adventure.