Edinburgh Vacation Rentals

The City of Edinburgh is a truly special place and an absolutely essential stop on any visit to the UK and Scotland. Steeped in history, the city's stone turrets, sweeping bridges and rocky edifices make for a magical maze to explore by both day or night. With its magnificent castle, claimed as JK Rowling's inspiration for Hogwarts, winding stone walkways, multiple galleries, theaters, clubs and bars, you'll find enough to keep you occupied for a number of days. Finding Edinburgh vacation rentals in the city center or outskirts is also incredibly easy, and in your Edinburgh vacation home you'll find yourself only metres away from discovering yet another of Edinburgh's ancient secrets.

Getting to Edinburgh

Edinburgh has its own airport, which caters for flights from 120 countries, serving a large number of airlines. Making your way from the airport to your Edinburgh vacation rental couldn't be easier, with a range of buses, trams and taxis on offer. The bus takes roughly 25 minutes to Edinburgh's Waverly Train Station, as does driving or the tram, which takes you to Princess Street, the city's main high street. Alternatively, if you're making your way to Edinburgh from London, trains run regularly from Euston train station and take between 4 and 5 hours.

Breakfast and dinner delights in Edinburgh

Edinburgh not only offers a wide range of international culinary options, it also provides the intrepid traveler with a taste of traditional Scottish cuisine in all its glory. Walking down the Royal Mile, you will encounter many pubs that offer Scottish fare. This will include the famous full Scottish fried breakfast, usually including eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato, black pudding, white pudding, soda bread and haggis. Haggis is also available as part of a full dinner in the evenings, and is a rich meaty dish that will certainly warm your bones after a day spent hiking the hills of the city.

If you prefer a little more variety, then make your way to the Grass Market in the Old Town or to Rose Street in New Town. Both areas offer a range of international restaurants including French, Indian, Italian and Oriental. Most Edinburgh vacation rentals are within walking distance of these areas, so in your Edinburgh vacation rental, you'll never be too far from your next meal.

Get lost in the magic of Edinburgh's history

Edinburgh is literally bursting with sights and activities, which is why it is definitely recommended to schedule a number of days to explore the city fully. Book an Edinburgh vacation rental around the town center to ensure you're never more than a fifteen-minute walk away from the action. First of all, make sure you take the time to visit Edinburgh Castle and enjoy the views from the top. Walking down from the castle, you can walk along the famous Royal Mile, a cobbled pedestrianised road full of traditional shops selling Scottish fudge, kilts, tartan goods and whisky. This area is called the 'Old Town', and we strongly advise you to explore this area by foot. Making your way down to the Cowgate, you'll discover the town's lower, darker layers. Along these winding roads you can take part in guided tours and learn about the city's dark history of witches, famous ghosts and the infamous murdering duo Burke and Hare.

Making your way towards the New Town area, be sure to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Carlton Hill. This hilltop has a host of architectural wonders, including the enormous Grecian style columns of the National Monument of Scotland, the tallest view point in the city at the Nelson Monument and the City Observatory, which includes its own Gothic Tower.

The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe Festival

Edinburgh is one of the cultural treasures of the UK and no travel guide to the city can ever go without mentioning the annual Edinburgh Festival and Fringe Festival. Taking place between July and August every year, these two festivals cause the entire city to explode with theater, music, poetry and art. The combination of these two festivals make them the biggest arts festival in the world, with internationally renowned artists traveling in to perform. Every year, over 3000 shows take place with many featuring free admission or with some of the top prices only just reaching £10 or £15. Performances begin at 10am in the morning and continue into the night, so you can watch several in a day if you have the energy! From Shakespeare performed in a tree to comedy performed in caravans, the festival is a truly unique experience. Book your own Edinburgh vacation home early to avoid disappointment, as this time of year is incredibly popular!

Encounter Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat

Described by Robert Louis Stevenson as 'a hill for magnitude', Arthur's Seat is a relatively easy climb, and offers sweeping city views. It's close to Edinburgh Castle and the city center.

B001964-1: Royal Yacht Britannia

Belonging to the Queen for over 40 years, this yacht now lies anchored in Edinburgh. Explore the many rooms before concluding the tour with tea and cake in the on-board restaurant.

Old Town

Home to St. Giles' Cathedral and the National Museum of Scotland, the oldest part of Edinburgh beguiles with its architecture, boutiques and outstanding eateries.

Edinburgh Castle

Dominating Edinburgh's skyline from its location on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle looks magical by night. During your visit, take the guided tour and stay for the 1pm firing of the canon.

Royal Mile

The city's most iconic street stretches from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. Feast on fish and chips and savour some scotch in a pub along here for a true taste of Scotland's Royal Mile.

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