I Didn’t Want to Leave Edinburgh

After hopping around France, Belgium, Holland, and England, I made my way over to Scotland. By this point I had fallen in love with Paris, eaten too much chocolate in Brussels, partied in Amsterdam, saw my favorite soccer team win in Liverpool, and went to waaaay too many musicals in London. I felt like I was really getting the hang of solo female travel–I had the perfect mix of spontaneous adventures with new friends (so grateful for all those memories) and super chill alone time (reading a good book at a cute cafe in Europe is the best). My stop right before Edinburgh was London, strategic me time half-way through my trip in a familiar city.

I was recharged and ready to be social upon arrival in Scotland, and Edinburgh did not disappoint. Out of all the places I visited on my month-long UK/Eurotrip, this is the only city where I extended my stay and didn’t leave when originally planned. I was having too much fun and couldn’t get enough of the vibe (not to mention it’s heaven for Harry Potter fans).

This post is going to be short and sweet– I’ll share what I did, my favorite photos, and where to stay. In these COVID times where we can’t travel as much as we wish, I hope you enjoy this glimpse of a much-loved city that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. I seriously got so many comments about how much people love Edinburgh who have been there before, and I have to agree with them all!

What To Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

• Walk the cobbled streets surrounded by gothic architecture while the sound of bagpipes fills the air. Not even being cliche this happened to me.
• Edinburgh Castle. My hostel had a view of Edinburgh Castle. Being able to glimpse this majestic building multiple times a day made my time there feel even more special. There is a great view of the city if you walk to the castle entrance. I decided not to pay to explore the museum inside because I was on a budget and had to choose my activities accordingly.
• Stroll along Victoria Street a.k.a. Diagon Alley. Walking around Edinburgh feels like you’ve stepped into J.K. Rowling’s mind. You can clearly see how she was influenced here, and it was honestly kind of trippy to think about (in the best way possible). Victoria Street is full of shops, mostly Harry Potter tourist traps, but you can see how the architecture and colors could have been her inspiration for Diagon Alley.
• Old Town’s Royal Mile. You definitely have to explore this area while in Edinburgh but it’s pretty hard to miss. It’s the main street in Old Town and where you can find lots of shops, restaurants, and bars. It leads up to Edinburgh Castle and you will also see all the little side alleys, called “closes,” that jut off the main road. These date back hundreds of years and you will explore them more in depth if you go on a ghost tour.
• Greyfriars Kirkyard was another Harry Potter-themed visit. This cemetery was thought to be frequented by J.K. because of the names on tombstones you will find here (and because of how close it is to the Elephant Cafe)–McGonagall, Moodie, Scrymgeour, and Thomas Riddle. But I have to say that it’s worth a stroll around even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan. Edinburgh has an old, spooky vibe, so there’s just something about walking through a graveyard that really matches the atmosphere.
• Calton Hill. This has to be the most popular sunset spot, and I totally recommend making the short “hike” here at least once.
• Hike Arthur’s Seat. This is a legit hike with decently steep incline at some points. I’m not sure if it was just the day I went, but it was also the windiest hike I’ve ever done! This is a must-do in Edinburgh–the views from the top are so good, and it’s always nice to get a dose of nature during a city break.
• Go on a ghost tour. I did the “Evenings of Ghosts & Ghouls” tour with a company called Mercat Tours, which I would recommend (there are lots of companies who do something similar). It cost about $25, lasted 2 hours, and ended with a glass of whiskey. This was a highlight of my time in Edinburgh because I loved getting to walk around in the dark and learn about the bloody history of the city.
• Go to a stand-up comedy show. There are events all over the city, and our hostel took a group of us out one night to see a show. It was such a good time and something you have to do! Edinburgh hosts the Fringe Festival every year in August, which is the world’s largest arts festival, so the city is teeming with creatives and performers.
• Drink whiskey, Innis and Gunn lager, and Butterbeer. For the scotch lovers out there, I’m sure the options in Edinburgh will make your whole trip. I’m not a whiskey fan, so I don’t have any specific recs. I saved money by not doing a tasting, but I did indulge during the ghost tour because it was included in that ticket. The craft beer lovers will also be happy, and I can personally recommend Innis and Gunn lager. Because the city is so tied with Harry Potter, there are a few places you can get alcoholic butterbeer, which I thought was tasty and so fun.
• Eat haggis. Food is one of the best ways to experience a place, and when in Scotland you have to try their national dish, no matter how gross it sounds haha. Here’s the definition from britannica.com just to get your appetite going: it’s “a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.” Sounds good doesn’t it? I was so nervous to try this but knew I had to! I will say I genuinely enjoyed it and would even have it again. Don’t let fear hold you back while traveling!
• Balmoral Hotel. Unless you stay here, this will be a really quick, walk past type of thing. This is where J.K. Rowling finished the last chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Just really cool to say you’ve seen it if you’re a fan. You can actually stay in the exact suite, but it will set you back thousands for one night.
• Dean Village is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll. It’s a cute little neighborhood with a stream and 19th century buildings.
• Elephant Room. This cafe was probably my favorite Harry Potter inspired “activity” of my trip. It is said that J.K. started writing the series here, and it was magical to grab coffee and brunch with views of Edinburgh out the window in the place where it all began. To say I felt inspired is an understatement. It was a very special part of my trip.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh, Scotland

Castle Rock Hostel is probably the best hostel I’ve stayed at yet. The facilities were clean and very convenient, the location was superb, the price was right, but the social atmosphere is what makes this place amazing, especially for solo travelers. Every night there was some sort of event or outing to get everyone together. I had soooooo much fun–can’t recommend it enough! I ended up staying in Edinburgh for about a week which was longer than planned, but it was so easy to meet people here. I couldn’t get over walking around this gorgeously eerie city by day and partying with new friends by night. The hostel also organizes day trips to the highlands and other part of Scotland. They’re so helpful–you really can’t ask for more out of a hostel.

Edinburgh, Scotland Photo Diary

I definitely will visit Scotland again because I didn’t have time to see the highlands on this trip, which is something I really want to do one day! Reminiscing on my time in Edinburgh was so much fun, and I really do believe any type of traveler will enjoy themselves there. It’s a special place you should add to your bucket list if you haven’t already!