How to plan a trip to Edinburgh?

Scotland is a sea of possibilities, there is so much to see that we often don’t spend enough time in Edinburgh, the capital and a mysterious and fascinating city that deserves our attention. That’s why in this post we want to help you plan your trip to Edinburgh to make the most of your stay.

We’ve also prepared a section with typical dishes for food lovers and a list of tips to help you get around the city. Are you ready to start your trip?

1. Prepare your travel documents for Edinburgh

The documentation required for travel to the UK depends on the traveller’s country of origin:

• European Union, Commonwealth and other exceptions*: from these countries you can only travel with your passport. Remember that your passport must not be out of date, otherwise you will not be able to board the plane. It is also recommended that you take out travel insurance, as the European Health Insurance Card does not provide full cover.
• Other countries: For all other countries, you must apply for a tourist visa through your country’s embassy or online. This is valid for 180 days and must be applied for at least 3 months in advance. It costs £115. The application process includes completing an online application form, submitting specific documents such as a valid passport, financial proof, accommodation or a letter of invitation, travel itinerary and travel insurance. If the traveller is staying in the country for more than 6 months, they must make an appointment at the embassy to have their biometric data collected.

Before you leave, we also recommend that you check whether your driving licence is valid in the UK if you want to hire a car. EU licences are, but in many other countries you will need to apply for an international driving licence.

We always like to carry a copy of the documentation on our trips in case we lose the original or there is a problem. The good thing about travelling with Passporter is that you can carry your documents with you and always have them to hand.

*These countries are also exempt from visa requirements: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, United States, and Uruguay

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Choose the date to plan your trip to Edinburgh

The best time to visit Edinburgh is during the summer, specifically from June to August. During these months, the city enjoys warmer weather and longer days, allowing you to spend more time outdoors. This is also when the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival take place, two of the country’s biggest cultural events, filling the city with theatre, music, dance and comedy. However, be aware that during these months prices are higher and you’ll find crowds

If you’re looking for a quieter experience, autumn and spring are good alternatives – it’s less crowded, prices are more affordable and you’ll still be able to see the city’s main sights. You’ll just need to wrap up a bit warmer and keep an umbrella handy.

3. Find out how to get to Edinburgh

Getting to Edinburgh is easy, whether you’re travelling by land or air. However, before you choose one option or the other, bear in mind that Edinburgh is very far north, and if it takes almost 3 hours to get there by plane from Spain, imagine driving there by car.

• Car: Driving to Edinburgh is easy, with direct access from the M8 from Glasgow, the A1 from the south of England, and the A90 from the north. This is a worthwhile option if you’re touring Scotland, but not if you’re not going out of town. You can park in public car parks (for a fee).
• Train: Edinburgh’s Waverley station is a major arrival point with services such as LNER from London, ScotRail within Scotland, and CrossCountry connecting to various UK cities. If you’re in London, you can travel by train to the city, which takes about 5 hours.
• Bus: National Express and Megabus offer budget routes from cities across the UK.
• Flight: Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is served by airlines such as British Airways, Ryanair, and EasyJet, which connect to European and some international destinations. Tickets are not particularly expensive, especially if you search in advance. On the Passporter App you can compare and book your tickets via Skyscanner.

From Edinburgh Airport to the city centre, you have a number of options:

• Tram (tram): connects the airport to the centre in approximately 35 minutes. It costs £7.5.
• Bus: The Airlink 100 is an express service that arrives at Waverley Bridge in about 30 minutes. The fare is £4.5.
• Taxi: this is the fastest and most comfortable option. The price ranges from £25 to £30.

As for public transport in Edinburgh, the city has an efficient network of buses and trams. The fare is £1.8. However, you’ll find that the city centre isn’t that big, and the tourist attractions are close enough to walk to. There’s also a bike hire service available for those who prefer to explore on two wheels.

4. Find accommodation that meets your expectations for enjoying Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers a range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. However, the Scottish capital is also a fairly touristy city, which means that if you want to secure the best place at the best price, you’ll need to shop around beforehand. We also encourage you to read reviews and consider staying in a flat if you’re travelling in a group, as they tend to be cheaper.

And if you want to simplify your search for the ideal accommodation, we encourage you to do it through the free Passporter App, where, via Booking, you can compare, book and carry all the information about your accommodation at your fingertips.

Here are some of the best areas to stay, so you know where to start looking:

• Old Town: is Edinburgh’s historic centre. Here you’ll be surrounded by all the main sights, but expect accommodation to be expensive.
• New Town: This elegant neighbourhood offers a different experience with its impressive Georgian buildings. You’ll find more moderate prices than in the centre.
• Leith: Once a bustling port, Leith is now a vibrant cultural and gastronomic centre where you can stay at a moderate price.
• Stockbridge: With a small-town feel within the city, it’s perfect for those looking for peace and quiet without being far from the centre at a moderate price.
• West End: ideal for those who want a quiet stay with easy access to attractions and shops.

5. Choose the activities you want to do in Edinburgh

We know you can’t wait to start organising everything there is to see in Edinburgh – the time has finally come! Now that we’ve got our tickets and accommodation booked, it’s time to start planning your itinerary. And we can’t think of a better way to do that than with the free Passporter App, where you can start jotting down the points of interest with all the information you need for your visit today.

Here are the must-sees, but if you want to know more, we encourage you to read on in this other post: Things to do in Edinburgh

1. Edinburgh Castle: is an imposing historic fortress built at the top of the city. Admission costs £19.50 for adults.
2. Royal Mile: this is the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, full of history, shops and tourist attractions.
3. Holyroodhouse Palace: the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, at the end of the Royal Mile. Price: £16.50 for adults
4. National Museum of Scotland: here you can explore Scotland’s rich history, from its natural origins to modern culture. Admission is free.
5. The Real Mary King’s Close : an underground passageway that reveals 17th-century Edinburgh. Price: £17.95 for adults.
6. Princes Street Gardens : a free-access green space bisected by Princes Street, perfect for a relaxing stroll.
7. Scottish National Gallery: houses a vast collection of art, from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Admission is free.

6. Where and what to eat in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh’s cuisine embodies the essence of Scotland, with hearty, flavoursome dishes using local ingredients such as salmon, beef and game, seafood, oats and root vegetables. Traditional Scottish cuisine is known for its simplicity but also for its delicious combinations, offering culinary experiences ranging from ancient recipes to modern interpretations of classics.

These are the most typical dishes that we enjoyed the most:

1. Haggis: this is an emblem of Scottish cuisine. It’s lamb offal served with ‘neeps and tatties’
2. Scottish Salmon: salmon prepared in a variety of ways, fresh and smoked.
3. Cullen Skink: thick fish, potato and onion soup.
4. Scotch Pie: minced lamb or beef pie, encased in shortcrust pastry.
5. Cranachan: dessert of fresh raspberries, whipped cream, honey, whisky and toasted oats.

Whisky is Scotland’s most popular drink, a beverage that’s distilled in every town in the region, and Edinburgh is no exception. In the city itself you can visit several traditional distilleries and take part in tastings.

7. Organise a trip with friends to Edinburgh

There’s nothing better than discovering Edinburgh’s hidden secrets with your best friends. Travelling with friends is a pleasure, but there can also be certain conflicts of interest or logistical problems. That’s why it’s important to plan your trip well, and that everyone in the group is involved in creating the itinerary.

A good way to organise your trip with friends is through the Passporter App, with which you can create a common travel route and share your experience through images and comments with other travellers. We have also prepared this post with some useful tips for travelling with friends: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

8. Tips for planning a trip to Edinburgh

• The currency in the UK is the pound sterling (£).
• It is advisable to carry some cash, although most shops accept card payments.
• Waking up early will allow you to enjoy the city’s iconic sights less crowded.
• The UK uses plug type G, with a voltage of 230V and a frequency of 50Hz. Be sure to bring an adaptor if your devices have different specifications.
• If you are travelling from the European Union, you will need a passport to enter the country; a national ID card is no longer sufficient.
• The official language is English.
• Water in the UK is safe to drink, so you can refill your water bottle to reduce plastic use.
• Edinburgh is a relatively safe city, but as in any big city, it’s wise to keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded places.
• Book flights and accommodation in advance to get better prices, especially during peak tourist season.
• Find out about events or festivals during your visit.
• Remember that in the UK you drive on the left, unlike in the rest of Europe.
• Be prepared for the UK’s changeable weather by always carrying an umbrella or mackintosh, even on sunny days.
• Using apps such as Passporter to plan your trip to the UK is free and helps you draw inspiration from other travellers, as well as organising your itinerary efficiently.
• Protect yourself against medical emergencies: travel insured.

9. How to prepare what to see on your trip to Edinburgh?

Download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
• Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and trip information.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you want to visit each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums.
• Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app so you always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documents.
• Make any changes you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your experience on how to plan your trip to Edinburgh.

If you have any doubts about how to create your itinerary, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.

10. Frequently asked questions about travelling to Edinburgh