Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is an amazing city that comes alive at night.
The city really bustles at night when tourists and locals alike come out to explore Edinburgh
Be it on a tour of the underground vaults or a wander along the Royal Mile
Enjoy plenty of evening entertainment, from quaint pubs to
Traditional dining, comedy acts and whisky tastings
If you’re looking to explore Edinburgh activities or attractions
Consider what’s on offer at night first before planning the trip
Here are 10 of the best things to do in Edinburgh at night.
Edinburgh castle sits at the top of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s Old Town
And looms dramatically over the city
The great hall is lined with suits of armor and will no doubt dazzle visitors.
The historic fortress dates from the 12th Century and was used
As the royal residence for Scottish Monarchs until 1633
After which it was mostly used as a barracks
Edinburgh Castle also houses several exhibitions such as
The national war museum and regimental museums
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without exploring the Underground vaults.
The vaults are a series of chambers under the 19 Arches of South Bridge, completed in 1788.
With limited space in the city it’s no surprise that the chambers were used by the criminal underworld as taverns
Illegal gambling dens, illegal whiskey distilleries and places to plot
It is even speculated that body snatchers, such as the famous serial killers Burke and Hare
Used the vaults to store bodies overnight, although there is no proof of this
Mary Kings Close was one of the busiest, liveliest streets in 17th century Edinburgh
However it spent 400 years sealed up
Explore the streets with a costumed guide and learn about the lives of Edinburgh’s rich and poor.
Find out how they lived and died, and how this area closed due to disease, fear and destruction it brought.
Amongst the ‘local’s’ you will meet are the poet Robert Tennyson
A house maid and a plague doctor with their distinctive masks
Whisky is the national beverage of Scotland and no wonder
It will leave you feeling warm on the coldest of nights
It would almost be wrong to visit Edinburgh and not have a ‘wee dram of Scotch’.
Brewed from malted barley, Whisky must be aged in barrels for at least 3 years.
Most of these will be used in blends, which use whisky from multiple brewings to produce a certain flavor.
A single malt is exactly that, whisky from the same barrel and are usually aged for 8 or more years.
Whisky is like wine, different regions produce different flavors
And therefore it can take a few tries to find your favorites
A whisky tasting experience at night is definitely the best place to start your journey of discovery.
Edinburgh is just as busy by night as by day, but you won’t see the crowds
As they’ll be slinking down alleys to the best pubs Edinburgh has to offer
There are plenty of great pubs and restaurants all over Edinburgh, especially in the old town
But many of these are aimed at tourists due to their location
By joining a pub crawl you not only get to discover several of the top bars in Edinburgh and one of the best clubs
But you will get to meet other travellers and exchange stories as you drink into the night
It is almost impossible to visit Edinburgh without visiting the Royal Mile
An uphill cobbled road lined with all manner of pubs, cafes, restaurants, shops, and tours
The old stone buildings stand tall and proud, narrow alleys and
Squeezed in between the old buildings and many have hidden delights
Pass Greyfriars Kirk, and continue up the interesting street culminating in Edinburgh Castle.
The Royal Mile is not just about shopping and pubs
There is a wealth of history on the streets, and there is no better way to discover it than on foot.
Do you dare to try haggis?
Some say it’s a small guinea-pig like creature with one side of legs longer than the other to help it run around hills.
Haggis, however, is traditional a sheep’s bladder filled with minced liver
Heart and lungs, flavored with onion, herbs, oatmeal and suet
Served with neep’s and tatties, it is now somewhat of a Scottish delicacy and well worth trying.
It is actually very tasty and has a delicious savory flavor.
Enjoy a feast accompanied by Traditional bagpipe music and more Scottish tales, myths and legends.
One of the main thoroughfares of Edinburgh and the shopping central of Scotland’s capital
Princess Street comes alive at night
The adjacent Princess Street Gardens provides a beautiful park, great for a quiet evening stroll.
The National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy sit within the gardens.
Pause for a moment and absorb the Gothic splendor of the Scott Monument
A tribute to the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott who wrote the Waverley novels
Enjoy the sights and sounds of buskers performances, and choose how much of your evening
You wish to spend peacefully in the gardens or amongst the cities hustle and bustle
Especially on Thursdays when there is late night shopping
The Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is an eccentric and strange place to visit.
A place where illusion thrives and your brain will struggle to figure out what it sees.
There are over 150 hands on exhibits to experience here.
The Royal Edinburgh military Tattoo takes place in August, and is certainly unmissable if you visit then.
Edinburgh castle’s floodlit Esplanade is the perfect location for
A whole host of performances from around the globe
See Scottish dancers dressed in all their tartan glory, listen to Scottish pipe and drum bands, and so much more.
The festival was inspired over 70 years ago, by a show called ‘Something about a Soldier’
Performed in 1949 at the Ross Bandstand in Princes street gardens
The first ever Military Tattoo was organised by Lieutenant Colonel George Malcom
Who aimed to bring to life the Army’s contribution to the Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh has so much to offer, it would be mad to miss it given the activities at night.
If you thrive on hustle and bustle then exploring the Royal Mile and Princess street
Are the perfect way to spend the evening, or better yet, time your visit for one of Edinburgh’s festivals
There is so much dark history both below and above Edinburgh’s streets
An underground vault tour is an essential activity to undertake
Whether you want to learn about the Cities past or seek out scariness
Edinburgh remains one of the most interesting, varied cities to visit at night in Europe
And the bonus is most of the top attractions are within walking distance of each other
Check OverseasAttractions.com thru the links below
To see more best things to do in Edinburgh at night