During the Christmas holidays, my boyfriend and I decided to take the trip up to Edinburgh and it certainly did not disappoint! Edinburgh is most definitely one of the top places I have visited. There are so many things to do there- from attractions to just walking around and admiring the beautiful architecture. You can go there whatever the season- be it summer or winter (although, if you do go in the winter, my only advice would be to wrap up warm!) If you are thinking of going to Edinburgh at any point, I have put together a list of what to do when you are up there to help you plan your visit and maximise your fun.
Visit World of Illusions
One really enjoyable experience was going to the World of Illusions. There were so many interesting and cool things to look at! For example, one thing that was particularly fun was the mirror maze. Before you go in here, you have to put on some gloves due to the number of mirrors, and just walking around and trying to find a way out is so fun.
If you are into history, there is also a historical talk on the top floor where you can watch people walk all around Edinburgh and see specific tourist attractions! They explain how this is done when you are there. There is also a really nice view at the top!
The price for a student ticket is £19.95 which I think is pretty decent for the experience you get when you are there.
Chihuahua Café
Chihuahua café is a hidden gem which I don’t think is spoken about enough! When you go, you are surrounded by loads of adorable Chihuahua which you can play with or cuddle. The sessions typically last about 50 minutes which is enough time to enjoy the experience without the dogs getting much disturbance. We went at lunchtime, which also meant we could feed the chihuahuas treats! You also get the option to buy food and drinks, which I would recommend if you’re fancying a sweet treat.
Once the session has ended, there is an option to buy some of their merchandise, including things like magnets and jumpers. I would recommend booking this in advance and looking at the rules on the website as it can get booked up quite quickly and is only open on selected days. For this session, tickets for 2 people are £22.00, you can also add a food voucher in advance if you wish, which is £6.00 and can work out cheaper than buying food there on the day.
Explore the Castle
The castle is one of the main tourist attractions in Edinburgh, so it’s a must-see! The scenery is spectacular, and it is one of the most exciting historical sites in Europe. I found it so interesting looking around and finding out about the history of it. The castle is also so high up that you can get some great scenic views out onto the city!
There is a gift shop also featured where you can get some cool small presents for your loved ones! As this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Edinburgh, ticket prices start at about £34, but it is a memorable experience if you end up wanting to go. There is also the option of booking a tour whilst you are here so if this is something you are particularly interested in, it might be worth it. However, we both decided not to do this, as it can end up being quite expensive and sometimes, it’s nicer to just wander around by yourselves.
The Bars
If you are looking for things to do in the evening, some of the bars can be fun to explore. Some that we went to were a lot more unique than the ones we had previously visited.
One of my favourites was Mortal Kocktail, which I thought was nice. When we went it wasn’t super busy, which meant we could actually hear each other. This bar also had a lot of old-school games, like Street Fighter. It also felt homely inside, and the toilets had some cool and funky graffiti!
Another bar which felt unique and different was called Hoot Redeemer. This bar had a claw machine where you could pick up ingredients and put them into a cocktail. I had one which consisted of cucumber, rosé and kiwi flavourings, which surprisingly tasted quite nice!
Edinburgh Museum
The National Museum of Edinburgh is a great option if you are looking for something cheap and affordable to do, as it is completely free to go inside! It has so many floors you can explore so it can take a good couple of hours to see everything.
There is one interactive floor, where you can play with robots and test out other things. It is most definitely worth a visit if you get a chance.
I hope this article helped you with a few ideas on what to do if you decide to go. There are so many other places you can visit but these were just a few of my favourite ones. Edinburgh is an amazing place to go to so I definitely recommend it!