Five Cool Things to do in Edinburgh

I love Edinburgh and whether you are visiting for the first time or have been a few times like I have, there is always something cool to do. On a recent trip to Scotland, we stayed in Edinburgh for two days and these are some cool things we got up to when we were there.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

First timers should definitely pay a visit to the castle, which is hard to miss since it pretty much dominates the entire skyline. Perched on Castle Rock ,this fortress has seen many a siege in its day, but nowadays, things are a little bit calmer and visiting it will definitely be a highlight of your Edinburgh trip.

Hike up to Arthur's Seat

This is not actually a chair or any type of furniture, it's the name of an ancient volcanic hill formation located in Edinburgh. It does take a little bit of effort to hike up the hill, but once you have climbed the 300 metres high mount, you will be treated to incredibly far-reaching views of Edinburgh and its surroundings.

Photo by Diamond Geezer under Creative Commons Licence

Mary King's Close

I have to be honest that when I looked at the attraction's website, I thought it looked a bit trashy and uber touristy. But the truth is anything but that. This tour takes you underground to deserted and once lived in alleys that have been built over a few hundred years ago. It's both historically interesting and a little bit spooky as well.

Take a Tour at Edinburgh Gin

You can of course go to the whiskey distillery, which is absolutely more Scottish than this place. However, my friend and I don't do whiskey and went for a tour at Edinburgh Gin. You learn everything gin related and the tour finishes with a refreshing glass of G&T.

Go Beer Tasting at the Hanging Bat

This pub is great for trying new and different local beers. If you can't make up your mind, you can do as we did and order a flight of five different ales or beers for £12 and discover new flavours.