What to do in Edinburgh

[DJ Sniffles]

guys help I am planning a trip to Edinburgh next month with my housemate I honestly no nothing about Scotland even less Edinburgh specifically so hit me with your recommendations please. We are staying for 2 or 3 nights I think. Thanks guys :]

    

[101_North]

What kind of things are you looking for? Bars, live music or touristy stuff?

[Kunt 4 Life]

There's the castle, and there's the zoo. Few museums along Prince's Street.
Pub wise there's the Jeckly and Hyde on Hanover street.
Think you can do day tours up to Lough Ness.

[DJ Sniffles]

What kind of things are you looking for? Bars, live music or touristy stuff?

pubs and touristy stuff :]

[101_North]

If you like a craft beer there's the Wee Vaults at Haymarket which is a great wee taproom. Their specialty is sours but they also have pales and ipa's. Only 12 seats so book ahead on their site. The Salt Horse on Blackfriar St is also a nice, smaller taproom. Thompsons on Morrison St is one of the best traditional pubs in town. Also the Bow Bar on Victoria St, the Guildford Arms opposite Waverley Station. All good for beers and whisky. Couple of big Brewdog places if you like that kind of bar but the one on New Street is the better, smaller one. Lothian Rd has the Innis and Gunn taproom. Late live music would be Bannerman's or Whistle Binkies. Touristy stuff is obvious enough. Castle, Royal Mile, Calton Hill etc. For something a bit different Dean Village area is stunning and often overlooked. Arthur's Seat is well worth a walk up if the weather is good. Tram down to Leith as plenty pubs and restaurants down by the shore. For something a little different take a 35min bus down to Queensferry and see the Forth Rail bridge and the road bridges up close. Lovely walk and plenty of places to eat. I'd personally avoid Mary King's Close as it's expensive for what it actually is. Marketing looks great but it's really quite disappointing. Someone else covered Museums but the one on Chambers Street is the most interesting. The Jonny Walker Experience on Princes St is well worth a look but buy your whisky elsewhere as there's better whisky on offer.

[Giggles]

There's a heart shaped monument in the ground along the high street that people like to spit on.

[101_North]

The Heart of Midlothian. It's in the ground where the entrance to the old Tolbooth prison was. Started as an act of contempt 100's of years ago. I suspect most of the folks spitting these days are Hibernation fans due to it's association with Heart of Midlothian FC 

[Anvil]

The National Museum of Scotland is well worth a visit if you are into that kind of thing.  Castle has a couple of regimental museums inside it as well if you enjoy military history (or it did have last time I was there).  Even if you don't go into the Castle, the walk up to it is worth it just for the buildings and people watching.   Princes Street is also a great place just to sit and watch the world go by. 

Also if you get a chance to taste some haggis, do it.  It is actually really nice despite what people think.  And bring a coat, the place is freezing especially if the wind is up. 

[Kunt 4 Life]

Edinburgh is cold at the best of times. I lived there January to march one year and never seen snowflakes so big.