Edinburgh is a popular tourist destination in Scotland known for its medieval Old Town and New Town areas. It is an ideal city break location being just a short flight from Dublin or Cork. Upon arrival, visitors can take an inexpensive bus from the airport into the city center. In the center, tourists can explore the charming old streets and historic sites like Edinburgh Castle. The city offers a variety of activities such as shopping in Princes Street, dining out, hiking up Arthur's Seat for views of the city, and going on open top bus tours. Edinburgh also has a lively student and arts scene, as well as sporting venues like Murrayfield Stadium close to the center.

1. Edinburgh
T
hinking of a city break or weekend away?
Edinburgh is the ideal spot for you; just
a short flight from Cork or Dublin, Scot-
land’s capital has plenty to offer every visitor.
After your short flight, hop on the ‘Airlink’
bus which stops outside the airport every fif-
teen minutes, for less than 5 pound it will take
you directly to Waverly Station in the city cen-
tre and stops along at hotels along the way, a
much more pocket-friendly option than a black
cab. Once you arrive in the city centre, take
in the charm of Edinburgh….with its cobble-
stoned streets overlooked by a large Medieval
Castle, it’s not hard to see why Edinburgh is
the second most popular tourist destination in
the United Kingdom after London. Edinburgh
is divided between the Oldtown and Newtown,
perfectly bringing together its rich history with
beautiful contemporary aspects. Take in the
beautiful architecture of Oldtown and New-
town, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1995, the Historic oldtown includes The Royal
Mile, Edinburgh Castle as well as the Palace of
Holyroodhouse. The popular Grassmarket area
of Edinburgh offers tiny, colourful hilltop stores
and bars with a story to tell- such as Greyfriars
Bobby and The Elephant House.
PRINCES STREET
Edinburgh Newtown is the popular spot for
shopping, Princes Street is a long stretch of all
the popular High Street stores, while Georges
Street is home to designer clothing and luxury
boutique hotels, and the most expensive bars
and restaurants. You’ll easily lose track of time
as you continue down the miles long street.
After a day of shopping, you’ll have worked up
an appetite, and there’s no shortage of dining
options in Edinburgh, from light lunches to fine
dining, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Holyrood
9A is a popular spot for a burger that won’t
break the bank, but if you’re feeling brave pop
in to any traditional Scottish bar and sample
some ‘Haggis, Neeps and Tatties’, a true Scot-
tish staple.
If you want to work all that off, a steep climb
up Arthurs Seat is your best bet. The climb is
not for the faint of heart, but the view from
above is pretty incredible. Alternatively, a short
stroll up Calton Hill also offers similar stunning
views of the city; this location was featured in
many well-known films.
Edinburgh also offers various open-top bus
tours which are an alternative way to take in all
the city has to offer, some tours offer ‘hop-on
hop off’ options on tickets which will allow you
to stop off along the way to various places of
interest, selling Scottish tablet, tartan scarfs
and ‘whisky’. Camera Obscura promises lots
of entertainment that’ll keep both children
and adults entertained. Trek up the Scott
Monument- all 278 steps with a steep narrow
stairway; the view from the top makes it all
worth it, the perfect photograph point as I
captured the beauty of the Old Town on my
visit. (Pictured left).
Edinburgh is also quite a student-friendly
city (with four universities in total scattered
around the capital) so prices in most bars and
nightclubs reflect this, especially in an area
known as The Cowgate, which is a hub of activ-
ity most nights of the week.
However, if you’d rather avoid the student
nightlife scene, The Grassmarket area is a good
alternative, and during weekends prices in bars
increase and somehow the students disappear!
Malones Irish Bar is a popular spot as well as
The Three Sisters which has an excellent out-
door seating and big screens as it hosts many
sporting events.
If bar-hopping isn’t your thing, there’s no
shortage of other entertainment in the city,
from live-music venues, theatre shows to
comedy events. The Stand comedy club is a
popular, intimate venue which offers comedy
nights from as little as £2. The Edinburgh Fringe
Festival is held every August and an influx of
approximately 400,000 visitors arrive annually,
which in turn creates a huge buzz around the
city. Book your stay early to avoid disappoint-
ment.
MURRAYFIELD
No mention of Scotland’s capital city would be
complete without a mention of Sport, more
specifically Golf and Rugby. Murrayfield is a
short 10 minute distance from the centre, with
direct tram and bus links daily.
Visit Edinburgh for the Scotland V Ireland
RBS 6 Nations game on 21st March and make
a weekend of it. Scotland prides itself on being
the home of golf, and there’s no shortage of
golf courses in and around The Lothians, from
Musselburgh to Muirfield. Outside of Edin-
burgh, St. Andrews is less than 3 hours away by
train and is also well worth a visit.
Edinburgh is an elegant, vibrant and authen-
tic city with an atmosphere unlike any other,
the Scottish are proud of their heritage and
you’ll quite literally be greeted by piped bands
playing in the streets during the
Warmer months, you’ll leave with many
stories to tell and will want to return again, so
book a weekend or trip today!
Now Bookable on line at www.strandtravel.com
Licenced & Bonded TA 0338
By Orla O’Connell
Senior Travel Consultant
A city break with something for everyone
The view from Scott Monument, with Oldtown
and Arthur’s Seat in the distance.
Pictured is Edinburgh Castle with its
stunning architecture.
18 WATERFORD