6 Tips for Visiting Edinburgh at Christmas
If you've never been to Edinburgh, then Christmas is the perfect time to go and experience everything the city has to offer. Not only is it already beautiful and historic, but they really know how to bring the festive cheer at this time of year.
From amazing lights and bustling markets to Hot Toddys and Edinburgh Castle, there's always something you can experience in Edinburgh that is enhanced when you go at Christmas. With this in mind, here are four tips for visiting Edinburgh at Christmas:
1. Be sure to take a walk around, you never know what you might see
Edinburgh is a truly beautiful city, at any time of year. But when you go at Christmas, you'll find lots of little nooks and crannies that offer festive surprises that you wouldn't get to experience at any other time of year.
That's only enhanced by the fact that the city is already stuffed full of amazing, historic architecture that makes you feel like you're walking around in a Charles Dickens novel, most notably and relevant being A Christmas Carol. Walk around Edinburgh at Christmas for some amazing festive views that can't be experience anywhere else.
2. Hit up the Christmas market for some festive fun
You do not want to miss the Edinburgh Christmas market while you're there. It is the number one festive thing to do while you're visiting this beautiful, historic city. In fact, if you said to someone that you went to Edinburgh at Christmas but that you didn't at least have a walk around the Christmas market, they would be shocked.
It's free to enter, at the time of writing, so it's worth even a walk through to see what there is and to experience the sights and smells of a typical Christmas market. You never know, you might even pick up a Bratwurst and a Hot Toddy on your way round. Not to mention, it's also centrally located, with the trams running right next door - how convenient is that?!
3. Try a Hot Toddy
A Hot Toddy is essentially a hot cup of whiskey that is mixed with things like water, honey and lemon juice. It's often drunk as a nightcap and it's readily available at this time of year, more so in Scotland. You'd be hard-pushed to find one as authentic as the ones you can get in Edinburgh anywhere in England. While you're there, be sure to try one because it might well overtake your loved for mulled wine.
4. Take full advantage of the tram system to get around
The tram system is super efficient and very reasonably priced. It runs, pretty much, the full length of anywhere worth going in Edinburgh, including right outside the Edinburgh Christmas market and a range of hotels. It's so easy to use and navigate and it runs early in the morning till late at night. It's the best way to get around the city without a car, so take full advantage of it.
5. Visit Edinburgh Castle for some amazing views
Whether you're going to Edinburgh at Christmas or at any other time of the year, visiting the castle should be top of the list of things to do while you're there. Not only do you get amazing views from there, but it's also adorned with festive decorations, subtly, that adds a hint of Christmas for all who visit there. It is very much up hill to get there, however, so take your time if you're not as mobile as you'd like.
6. Wrap up warm
Edinburgh at this time of year is super cold, I know from experience. The best piece of advice I can give you, and if you take just one thing from this blog post, it's that you need to wrap up warm. Wear as many layers as possible, putting them on when you go outside and taking them off when you're indoors.
The conditions are freezing, and frost and ice is almost part of the landscape when it comes to visiting Edinburgh during the winter. Make sure you're at least wearing a thick coat, scarf, gloves and a hat for good measure when visiting Edinburgh at Christmas.
***
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful? Let me know in the comments below whether you have any additional tips for visiting Edinburgh at Christmas and I'll see you again very soon with some brand new content!
***
WHERE TO FIND ME
PREVIOUS BLOG POST
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Comments
Post a Comment