weekend in Edinburgh
S o b e a u t i f u l.
I can’t remember the last time I was so impressed with just how beautiful a city is (perhaps the first time I visited Paris years ago). I know we got lucky with the weather (almost no rain and beautiful sunshine for the whole weekend) and did choose a very charming season to visit (full spring = the city covered in blossoms and very little tourists), but I do believe you will be as impressed no matter when you visit.
Edinburgh is not a big city, at least everything you might be interested in seeing is not that far away. We stayed on the side of Dean Village and walked everywhere. Even Buddy made it and that’s something!
If you’re planning your visit and are looking for some recommendations, I’m talking about a few here below + some of the spots are saved on the map here.
Visit Bruntsfield Links and brunch at The Treehouse Café
I found this place on the Internet and got lured in by their pictures of pancakes. Worth it!
Plus, Bruntsfield felt like a good starting point of our Edinburgh discovery in the morning.
Walk through The Meadows
This is essentially “just” a vast green area with plenty of spots fields and people hanging around with their dogs. Unless you get there in the middle of spring, like we did, and get surprised by the sea of blossoms. Just wow…
Spot the castle from Vennel
Ok, I am aware you can spot the castle from pretty much everywhere in Edinburgh but this tiny hidden staircase is a very photogenic spot minus the crowds of tourists. Win-win.
Take a break for people-watching on Victoria Street
I’m sure you’ll end up on Victoria Street at one point or another even if only for its colourful facades but it is actually a cool spot to take a break and have a glass (or two). There’ s a balcony with several restaurants right above the street but I can easily imagine it getting pretty crowded in high season.
Lucky for us, the place was empty when we visited and we liked it so much we came back for brunch the day after!
Chillout in the Princes Street Gardens
It’s a very nice park running along a commercial Princes Street and the castle area. There are a lot of benches to take a break on and green areas with bars and armchairs to take a nap in the sun.
Walk up the Calton Hill
For very nice views over the city and the sea in the back.
Get lost around Circus Lane
A very charming residential neighbourhood with some magical side streets and tiny houses. Very insta-friendly if that’s the factor you’re interested in!
Walk the Walter of Leith Walkway and escape the city in Dean Village
If you want to feel like visiting a druids grove or some other fairytale and not that far from the heart of the city either! As I mentioned our hotel was in that area and this walk was really a highlight of our trip (I won’t recommend it to you as apart from location it was really nothing special - understandable since they accepted dogs and we were travelling with Buddy).
The only other city I recall with such lush and nearly magical greenery so close to the centre is… Wroclaw!
Eat Haggis
The odds are you’ve heard about this disgusting Scottish invention already but even if you haven’t, you’ll quickly spot it on the menu pretty much wherever you go in Edinburgh. You know already what a gourmand I am and can easily guess that was my number 1 on the list of to-do’s in Scotland!
To be honest with you, if you’re not a veggie and have tried your fair share of stuff in your life, haggis is not something that extraordinary at all. It comes with a hearty taste but a very pleasant one and I actually enjoyed it so much for dinner, I made sure it is included in my full Scottish breakfast the day after.
For my Polish friends (as this is the best reference I have) haggis is something between kasza gryczana and kaszanka depending on the way it is served.
Climb up the hill in Holyrood Park
Right outside central Edinburgh, there is this green hill overlooking it visible from wherever you go. It seems like it’s far away but if you focus your attention you’ll see little people moving on top of it.
As it turns out, it’s not even that far as you can start your walk up right next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is a 15-minute walk away from the castle.
I was really up for walking up but the rest of my bunch not really so I gave this one up to the boys and well, left it on the list for the next-time visit.
