Sites
Royal Mile
You MUST:
Walk the Royal Mile. It goes from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. They’re about a mile apart. And it’s one of the busiest tourist streets. It’s cobblestone road. You’ll see and hear bagpipes playing, and there’ll be lots of people.
Also, I don’t remember actually getting to see Edinburgh Castle, but evidently you MUST go. It’s evidently the most famous tourist attraction and the top of the ‘Things to do in Edinburgh’ list. Remember, this is the one at one end of the Royal Mile. You’ll easily spend an afternoon here in this area.
You must also, of course, try to see Holyrood Palace. That’s on the other end. I don’t know how that works, and when that’s open, but evidently on some days it is.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill you should also go to. I remember going with one of my classes. We got a tour though I don’t know how you’ll do that, and how interesting it’ll be without it. But it’s clearly still quite recommended and you should go. It has beautiful views of the city. Here’s a picture:
I’m coming back here after having read a little more to say that if you’re after views, you really shouldn’t miss this place. And Arthur’s Seat. It says Calton Hill is also a great place to catch the sunset, if you’re able to get that in.
National Museum
The National Museum is also highly recommended. It seems it has antiquities and such of Scotland’s history. It looks huge and has six sections. The one I made it to was the National Gallery, an art museum. Though I don’t think these should be your top priority as you have finite time and a lot of museums you’ll have a chance to see in Europe.
Real Mary King's Close
The Real Mary King’s Close comes up and you should absolutely get tours there. The alleys in Edinburgh are really cool— all narrow, and cobblestone, with stairs going down and all over. The guided tours are great. I know they seem cliche and maybe we have bad guides here in San Diego, but the guides there are great and I’m sure they have lots of great stories and add a lot. You can only get in with a guided tour.
Here’s the link to it. It’s not a place I went, but I’m inferring that it’s pretty great. Plan your Visit - The Real Mary King’s Close You’ve got to pre-book online too if you want to go. It says it sells out.
It took me a while to find, but here’s where you would book the standard ones. Guided Tour Tickets
They also have themed ones, though right now they’re all fairly dark. I don’t know if those interest you. The first three are the ones they have when you’ll be there. Online Booking
Medical Walking Tour
Now the tour I overheard some of, which doesn’t come up in the lists is actually the medical tour. I know it sounds really weird, but I promise it sounded so interesting, and they were telling all these cool stories. Germs/plumbing or some such were discovered there, there was this pair of guys who harvested organs and anonymously donated them to the hospitals. And just really good and entertaining tour guides with good stories to tell on walking tours that went through the city (they’d sometimes come through the University of Edinburgh, pointing at our medical buildings, where I think a lot of this happened, like those two serial killer bothers or whatever who were donating livers and I’d see them.)
Here’s the site: Walking Tours - Surgeons’ Hall Museums, Edinburgh
And tickets are bookable here: Walking Tours - Surgeons’ Hall Museums, Edinburgh
St. Giles Cathedral
I did go there, and see it. Pretty hard to miss! Don’t remember many details, but it says they have Green Men there too, haha. So if you go there, but don’t get a chance to go to Roslyn Chapel, take 20 minutes to find them, haha. It’s big tall gothic chapel.
Arthur’s Seat
This is that big flat mountain, evidently an extinct volcano. It was right outside my dorm where I lived the whole time in Edinburgh. It was a huge dorm compound with like five different dorms within it, for all the freshmen and international students at the University of Edinburgh. It’s called Pollock Halls. We had our own cafeteria.
They had tea coming out of the pipes in the cafeteria which I always thought was so cool and wanted to have in my office. Like the ones that serve boiling water in some places, except hot tea came out. And they had like three of them so they didn’t run out. Just plain black tea, and they had sugar and milk next to it. I guess like coffee, but that just makes it seem less special, haha.
From Wikipedia:
Pollock Halls of Residence is the largest halls of residence for the University of Edinburgh, located in St Leonard’s, Edinburgh, Scotland, near the foot of Arthur’s Seat. The complex of buildings houses more than 2,000 undergraduate students during term time, and is available to the public as bed and breakfast-style accommodation outside of the teaching term.
Anyhow, it’s about an hour’s hike up to the top, and there are views of the city. I know Daniel Rosenvasser did it, and I think Ron might have too. I was gonna mark it as MUST DO, and it’s pretty common in the lists, but honestly it’s up to you guys. I’m not sure.
Here are two online guides I found about doing it: Arthur’s Seat: Climb an Extinct Volcano in Edinburgh – Earth Trekkers Arthur’s Seat - Hiking at the hill of Edinburgh
They’ve named multiple trails, so if it isn’t obvious to find, I think the one I did was the Green Trail, but honestly I feel like there’s a lot of people walking up, and don’t remember much ambiguity. I actually don’t know if I went all the way to the top ever or if I stopped, haha. I remember people coming back to the cafeteria in the evenings for dinner though, and saying they’d just casually run up Arthur’s Seat or whatever in 40 minutes, haha.
The Scott Monument
Another big tall Gothic monument. I definitely passed this one, too. It’s located in the Princes Street Garden, all close by to you. You can easily have a picnic and spend a while in the garden, if you didn’t have so many things to do.
It’s in honor of the writer Sir Walter Scott, and it’s the second biggest monument ever to a writer. It’s a big spire, and a famous site.
Princes Street Garden
Continuing on the above, you’ll see the Princes Street Garden come up in lists. It’s by the castle and the National Gallery (the art museum I went to). Here’s what it looks like, if you decide you want to have a picnic there:
Royal Botanic Gardens
I still get emails from them! I meant to go, and was really close to going one day so I signed up. But I think I missed the bus— couldn’t find it— or sometime, and didn’t make it. It comes up in the lists as well.
Princes Street
There’s also New Town and Prince’s street, which I didn’t really check out, but you guys definitely should. It’s the other main thoroughfare aside from the Royal Mile. People would go there for shopping, and along Prince’s street is I think where they have a bunch of like brand name stores and stuff. It’s New Town as opposed to Old Town, like a lot of the rest of Edinburgh.
This seems to be confirmed here:
“Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh’s New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three quarters of a mile) from Lothian Road in the west, to Leith Street in the east. The street has few buildings on the south side and looks over Princes Street Gardens allowing panoramic views of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, as well as the valley between.”
You can see it here, it’s the main street down through the middle.
This is the view from Scott’s Monument. On the left side, I thought that big spire was Scott’s Monument, but it’s the Hub. You can see the castle in the distance. The National Gallery (art museum) in the middle, and that big street running through it is Princes Street.
The Meadows
The other great place to have a picnic is the Meadows. It’s simply called the Meadows, and it’s right by the University and a great place to chill if you want to.
It’s full of cherry blossoms and evidently right now in April (beginning of April according to some sources, late April according to others, is when they’re in full bloom.)
In Maps, “West Meadow Park” is coming up as being a 13 minute walk from you at Castle Rock Hostel, 0.6 miles. Maps also has “Meadows” and “East Meadow Park”, showing it all as the same park. The West part is a slightly shorter walk
E. Preston Cemetery
I enjoyed spending time looking at the following two cemeteries. But any you find will be great. It’s quite cool how old they are with ivy covered tombstones, and the tombstones being eaten away in funky patterns, and dates from hundreds of years ago.
This first one is quite small and humble, but it was on my way so I’d stop by.
East Preston Street Burial Ground · Apple Maps
Here’s a picture from it.
What’s funny is that looking at the map, I also have this Bengali and Indian place pinned, though I don’t remember that I ever went.
Voujon Restaurant · Apple Maps
Newington Cemetery
This is the bigger and prettier cemetery. It’s quite large, and super foresty in places with big overhanging leafs which is beautiful. Again, these are all really old, nothing new. I think they have a whole battalion somewhere, which was an all Scottish soldier battalion, from like an 1800s war, or WW1, or something. (That part being much newer than a lot of the rest of it.)
Newington Cemetery · Apple Maps
I really wanted to capture these leaves there, which made it feel like seaweed under the water.
Food
UK Classics
Also, I would say, to complete the experience, you have to get UK Indian food. Please. Just go to one of the curry shops and get some curry from one of the Pakistani, or Indian, or myriad of South Asians there are there!!
Also, fish and chip shops of course. Those are called chip shops. And the chips are the fries. They have pickled eggs at those places (hard boiled). Sometimes at least. If not you can get them in the corner/grocery stores ; ) And they have malt vinegar which they serve with them, too. (I actually don’t remember going to a “chip shop!” Though I had fancy fish and chips at the restaurant.)
Haggis, Irn Bru & Walker's Shortbread
Haggis is another Scottish classic. But you’re vegetarian so you’re saved! As is Irn Bru.
You can buy it, and try it. A regional soda only available in Scotland.
And Walker’s shortbread is from there. So you’ve gotta have some. This one:
I’m sure you’ve seen it and had it! And in the shops you can get Highland cow shaped ones. Which Mami loved (the Highland cows). Look for them in the novelty shops.
So those were actually the three things we were introduced to on students’ welcome day event. (They were actually really good about having international students, and Scottish/welcome events, and such.) They were: Irn Bru, haggis, and Walkers shortbread. Samples for everyone.
By the way, Walkers have official purview from Her Majesty the Queen (or what used to be the Queen) to provide cookies for them. You’ll see special lettering on it proclaiming it as such. And you’ll see that in the UK. Certain tea (I don’t remember which one) is also designated for them (the Royal family). This is what is served to them with their tea.
Ah, it’s Twinings for tea. (And one or two others!)
It’s what they give to what they use. Oh look, the King just gave the Royal Warrant to Weetabix! You’ve gotta try weetabix for breakfast while you’re there, haha. (I did have that, too.) (It was available in the cafeterias!)
My favorite falafel & Appleton Tower
This place has amazing falafel. You can get them with eggplant and fava beans, too, if you want.
It’s right by Appleton Tower, which is where I used to spend a lot of my time. It’s just across the street. Appleton Tower is the Informatics building — UK for computer science. Which is really funny, because Appleton was the name of the math building as well where I spent all my time in the University of Redlands! Both of them were Appleton. Crazy. But yeah, all my classes were there. I had one math class which was all the way on another campus, which I guess is where the math campus is. I never even figured out where it was in the end and dropped it. Just about all my classes were in Appleton, as they were in Redlands.
I also remember they did a strike where they occupied the whole building for a while. It was a huge deal. They had to cancel classes and everything which was really costly to the University, and on the inside they had blockaded the doors with chairs and desks and stuff. They had schedules of talks and seminars that were student led on Marxism and stuff that they gave the whole time while it was occupied.
Anyway, I used to love the falafels at this place, the eggplant and fava beans are an extra price, I think, but so worth it if you want. And I remember it used to be like 6 or 7 pounds, which seemed so cheap. I was able to find it!
They comes as wraps in that yummy special Middle Eastern bread, that you get in Israel, and at places that know what they’re talking about. (It’s not pita.) I think I found it and it’s called laffa. I don’t know if you know what I mean. You’ve gotta get if you go to any falafel place in the UK and they have the option.
I don’t remember where they came from, but I feel like they told me and it was some part of Africa. A country I didn’t know. They had a painting of the map on the wall, with that country colored in, I think, and I think that’s why I asked.
Guiness?!
Oh, and you should try having a pint of Guiness there in Scotland, if you can and want to! It’s from Ireland, of course. But still quite fun, I think to have it there, and probably better than whatever you can find in Barcelona or the US.
Berries
If you see these, I used to eat these by the bunches, and nothing ever happened to me. I don’t know what they are.
Try from Sainsbury's
Peanuts and Raisins
Please also try these Sainsbury peanuts and raisins. And go to a Sainsbury! (They’re on every corner.) I lived off these and love them. They were a treat during Covid. They’re blanched peanuts and raisins.
I just recently found blanched peanuts here, at Sprouts, by Jessica’s, and made my own mix with raisins and I’ve been eating it again!
They come in a purple bag like this. And online it says they’re still £1.10.
Greek Yogurt
And you HAVE to try this Greek yogurt:
Also at Sainsbury’s. I swear it was the best, creamiest, yummiest Greek yogurt. And you also liked the milk there. I had it a lot during Covid, and I wasn’t able to find a Greek yogurt that I enjoyed quite as much here.
While you’re at the Sainsbury, if you want, you can try the pickled eggs. If you’re so inclined. I remember them being quite acidic. They come in a glass jar.
Must Buy
Tartan Scarf
You should also buy a scarf with a tartan pattern on it (the name of the patterns on kilts). Each clan had a different pattern, and so you go in and there are just tons and tons of pretty colors and designs, with different names for the region, or clan, they came from. You can find them in any tourist store.
Here’s the one I got. I may have gifted it to Djamila (Mami’s friend in the Netherlands, mom of Tualen and Nidanu) because I didn’t get two, which I think I was supposed to. I think it was the Isle of Skye pattern.
Highland Cow-shaped Walker's Shortbread?
See above
Flowers
There’s also so many pretty flowers there in the springtime, like unreal!
These are the most extraordinary flowers I found, let me know if you see them.
I only saw it one place. Here are the coordinates if you want to go looking:
They were hanging like this.
Finally, if you want to do some scrolling, here’s the last bit of this guide:
Here are some other flowers I saw, you can tell me if you see any of them.
These were unbelievable.
I really wanted to get a good shot of them, haha. Same day, same time.
It was full of them.
You’ve made it this far:
I’m gonna stop scrolling now, cuz it only adds more to send and I think I’m not finding anything useful anymore.
Oh my goodness, you know what, I think those are the berries I would eat that I sent above. I’m gonna stop there as I’ve come full circle, and I think that’s a pretty good place to stop.
I found my own picture going up Arthur’s Seat:
What I’ll do next
Okay, I’m getting tired. But tomorrow I’ll finish filling in the above. I’ll finish looking through the places in the top lists (there’s really not that many left!) And telling you which ones I have been to and what I know, and that you should go. I need to jog my memory! Okay, buenos noches.