Get To Know Edinburgh, Scotland in Two Days

Edinburgh, Scotland is rich in history and culture with delicious culinary experiences. Two days is the perfect amount of time to see the top sites including The Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Princess Street and Victoria Street and really get a true sense of what this city is all about. The medieval architecture and quaint town feeling are like none I have experienced before. Edinburgh is truly unique! I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh and local ingredients offered at restaurants in different areas of town, which were modern and thoughtfully done. Read on for my top favorite restaurants plus site seeing highlights you don’t want to miss! These recommendations will be sure to fill up two solid days and make planning your trip to Edinburgh a breeze!

Restaurants

Grand Café at The Scottsman Hotel – I stumbled upon this hotel when walking from the Royal Mile to Princes Street. I was captivated by the architecture and inviting entrance complete with white marble flooring, plenty of greenery and plants on display and large windows revealing the crystal chandeliers dripping down over the dining tables. The hotel felt regal and authentic, so I jotted it down in my notes and made it a point to visit for a cocktail and a bite to eat after I was finished walking around the area. The atmosphere inside The Grand Cafe was just as expected, grand! With the impressively tall ceilings and luxurious ambiance, The Scottsman Hotel fits perfectly into the surroundings with the palace and castle nearby. The fare here is seasonal and fresh with ingredients local to Scotland. After enjoying lots of traditional meat dishes during my time in Scotland thus far, I had a craving for greens so I ordered the Roast Squash Superfood Salad and a Cosmopolitan to sip, as it seemed quite fitting to sip a classic cocktail in this magnificent restaurant. I was quite satisfied with my dish and enamored with the ambiance at the Grand Cafe!

The Garden at The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel – Another restaurant with a focus on plants to create an outdoor ambiance inside is aptly named The Garden. I was pleasantly surprised with the focus on plants as restaurant decor in Edinburgh. Understandably, the weather in Scotland can be quite dreary so plants are a fine choice to uplift anyone’s mood. The Garden is bright with lots of natural light, of course an array of greenery and cutely decorated seating areas. The hanging plants, wicker chairs and cozy throw blanks made for the perfect Instagram worthy photos. I ordered a coconut milk cappuccino, kale salad with chicken and hummus. It was absolutely delicious and the perfect light lunch before I headed down into the spa to relax!

Black Ivy – You will notice as you walk through the city of Edinburgh that many doorframes are decorated with colorful fake plants that drape down to the floor. Upon first sight, one wouldn’t be able to readily tell that the lush orange and pink roses framing the front door at the Black Ivy are not real. Potted plants line the path to this beautifully decorated doorway creating a garden feel in this city restaurant. I found the colorful array of plants to be a charming and warming contrast to the brownstone building housing this popular and busy restaurant. Black Ivy is tucked in a quiet neighborhood and features crafted cocktails, a good selection of draught beer and luxury comfort food including several seafood dishes. Be sure to make a reservation!

Loudon’s – Loudon’s is a simple cafeteria-like local cafe with gluten free and dairy free dessert selections. While walking on the Royal Mile, I noticed the Loudon’s a-frame sign at the entrance to an alleyway, advertising GF and DF options so I had to take a peak to see what they offer! I was impressed, in general, with restaurants catering to dietary restrictions in Edinburgh, as well as the selection of dairy free milks at coffee houses. I ordered myself a snack and an almond milk cappuccino to curb my hunger between meals.

Site Seeing

Royal Mile– This iconic and main road in Old Town stretches a mile long from the palace to the caste and is not to be missed. The Royal Mile is bustling with tourists so be prepared for crowds. There are plenty of shops along the Royal Mile with Scottish gifts, wool clothing from the abundance of sheep in Scotland and kilts if you are feeling ambitious to try the traditional Scottish garb. There are also authentic pubs and cafes all along the Royal Mile. I am a bit obsessed with the Highland Cow so I purchased a cute stuffed animal to remember my trip by!

Princes Street – A major street in New Town is good for modern shops, has nice views of medieval buildings and the Edinburgh Castle and you can take a stroll through Princes Street Gardens and view the Scott Monument.

Victoria Street – Built in the early 1830’s, Victoria Street is believed to be Scotland’s most photographed road. The popular cobblestone path with gothic architecture is thought to be inspiration in a Harry Potter movie and rightfully so, since you feel like you are walking back in time and onto a movie set when you stroll down Victoria Street.  The base of each building has alternating brightly colored paint, including aqua, pink, orange and blue along with door and window archways making this a charming area to see. While there are some interesting shops to pop into, the street is quite short, so this section won’t take up too much of your time to explore. If you are into pints then around the corner to the right at the end of the road you will find The Last Drop, a perfect spot for beer. 

Edinburgh Castle – Visiting the Edinburgh Castle was my favorite tourist activity while in the city! I got lucky and stood front row to view the changing of the guards upon my arrival to the entrance of the castle. A band marched out into the center and played traditional music as the guards stood in formation. This definitely was a highlight of my trip and was a memorable experience to see Scottish tradition. When purchasing tickets to the Edinburgh Castle, you can select either a guided tour or opt to explore on your own. I purchased tickets for 9:30 am, the opening time, to beat the weekend crowds. To buy tickets click here.

The Spa at The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel – This suggestion here isn’t quite site seeing but if you are anything like me, you enjoy a relaxing moment after traveling such a long way! The Spa at The Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel has a heated pool, steam room and sauna plus options for 25 minute massages. I selected the 25 minute back, neck and shoulder massage and followed it with a de-stressing hour and a half in the spa facilities swimming and enjoying the steam and sauna. I felt like a million dollars after! Tip: grab lunch first at The Garden Restaurant.

Leave comments below if you love Edinburgh and let me know what your favorite site to see was!