Edinburgh is a great city to visit. Offering everything from ancient castles, to some good old famous whiskey. If you are exploring Edinburgh and its outer regions, the easiest way to get around is car. When you arrive it’s easy to step off the plane and pick up a car from Edinburgh airport car hire and go explore. For some ideas on what to add to your itinerary here are my top things to do in Edinburgh.
1. Visit Edinburgh Castle
It’s not hard to miss, when you can view it from anywhere in town. This beautiful castle stands tall over the entire city. You can go explore the ancient building or just simply appreciate the wonderful view. Be sure to time your visit when they change over the guards to witness the ancient tradition.
2. Sample the whiskey
It’s not just the Irish who do whiskey well and Scotland has some mighty fine malts on offer. To get a good run down on the history of this liquid delight then take a tour with the Scotch Whiskey Experience, where you will become a whiskey expert in no time.
3. Taste the local delights
It’s not all whiskey in Scotland and you can’t go there without trying the world famous dish of Haggis. Not the most appetizing sounding dish but it’s quite surprising on the taste buds. Check out Royal Mile for the authentic thing.
4. Explore the local watering holes
And by watering holes I don’t mean the natural kind. Scotland has many great country pubs and there are still a few left in Edinburgh city itself. To hear some traditional fiddles and highland music then head to the Royal Oak or for an impressive range of local beers head on down to the Sheep Heid Inn.
5. Get scared senseless with a nightly ghost walk
Explore this old city and its cobbled streets in the dark and get told some of the cities ancient famous ghost stories. There are many tour companies offering these spooky walks and you won’t be disappointed by the show. Just be prepared to jump out of your skin on more than one occasion. It’s definitely not designed for the faint hearted.
6. Take a leisurely stroll through the botanical gardens
The royal botanical gardens offer tourists a wonderful relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s also home to the largest collection of Chinese plants outside of China.
