Edinburgh, Scotland, may be certainly one of my favourite cities on the earth. With its lengthy historical past, magical structure, and the sound of bagpipes and the scent of whisky wafting by the streets, Edinburgh actually is in contrast to every other place I have been. And that is true any time of 12 months!
I have been to Edinburgh at the very least 9 occasions (however probably extra; I’ve actually misplaced depend), visiting in each single season. And whereas I like Edinburgh through the lengthy days of summer time, I like it equally across the holidays, when the town transforms right into a twinkly wonderland.
Previously, I’ve celebrated New Yr’s in Edinburgh, going down within the raucous Hogmanay celebrations over the course of a number of days. However final 12 months I made a decision I wished to see the town within the barely less-crazy pre-Christmas season, too. And so I took the prepare up from London for a couple of days of Scottish vacation magic.
Issues to do for Christmas in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a a lot smaller metropolis than, say, London. So you possibly can’t actually examine Edinburgh at Christmas to Christmas in London. However Edinburgh nonetheless has plenty of appeal through the holidays, and lots to do!
Edinburgh at Christmas is simply as beautiful as I imagined it might be, and listed here are my favourite issues to do there through the festive season.
1. Browse the Edinburgh Christmas market
The town of Edinburgh places on “Edinburgh Christmas” every year, which encompasses most of the issues on this listing. The most well-liked side of this vacation take-over of Edinburgh’s metropolis heart is the normal Christmas market that they arrange in Princes Avenue Gardens.
There’s truly two components to this market; one half in East Princes Avenue Gardens, and one in West Princes Avenue Gardens.
The market in East Princes Avenue Gardens has 70+ stalls promoting meals, drinks, presents, and extra, together with iconic rides just like the LNER Large Wheel (Ferris wheel) and the Starflyer arrange subsequent to the towering Scott Monument.
In West Princes Avenue Gardens instantly under Edinburgh Fort you may discover the Festive Household Funfair with kid-friendly rides, illuminations, and even a station the place you possibly can write and ship a letter to Santa.
This market space opens every year in mid-November and runs into the primary week of January.
2. Go ice skating on George Avenue
George Avenue within the New City transforms into its personal winter wonderland, together with an ice rink the place you possibly can lease skates and take to the ice. This rink is ticketed, and so they provide youngsters’ periods, in addition to adults-only late night time skates.
3. Go to a pop-up Christmas bar
Proper subsequent to the ice rink on George Avenue, you could find the pop-up Polar Ice Bar, the place the tables, chairs, and even glasses are carved completely from ice. This spot IS a bar, however additionally they provide a couple of family-friendly periods the place you possibly can deliver the youngsters. They serve each alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks inside, and coats/gloves are offered upon entry so you do not get too chilly.
Elsewhere in Edinburgh, there are additionally a couple of different pop-up Christmas bars, too. Final 12 months I went to Tigerlily, which transforms its restaurant and bar house right into a Christmas explosion of baubles and sparkles. Add in a menu of Christmas cocktails, and it was the right spot for vacation vibes. This 12 months, they’re including festive vacation afternoon teas to the calendar, too!
4. Have a vacation afternoon tea
Talking of festive afternoon teas… there aren’t any scarcity of them in Edinburgh! (Simply you’ll want to guide forward.)
Locations to attempt them embody:
- Colonnades on the Signet Library – That is probably the most stunning spot for afternoon tea in Edinburgh.
- Festive tea at The Witchery – Benefit from the darkish literary tea of your goals at this vacation afternoon tea loved by candlelight.
- Tigerlily – Have an attractive holiday-themed tea, and even have tea with Santa on choose dates!
- Tea at The Scotsman Lodge – Their pleasant afternoon tea will get a vacation improve every winter season.
- The Tea Rooms at Edinburgh Fort – Get pleasure from tea throughout the fort grounds, which has a festive twist all by December.
- Tea at Prestonfield Home – Simply previous Holyrood park, Prestonfield Home does a decadent vacation afternoon tea of their adorned historic rooms.
- Fingal Lodge – This floating resort inside a historic ship in Leith goes all-out with its festive afternoon tea; it is completely beautiful.
In search of non-holiday points of interest? Verify this submit for the most effective issues to do in Edinburgh, or this one for a 3-days in Edinburgh itinerary.
5. Have dinner at The Dome
The restaurant known as The Dome is known in Edinburgh. They provide a festive afternoon tea right here, too, but when you are going to make a reserving at The Dome across the holidays, I actually assume it needs to be for dinner.
The Dome is situated inside a surprising Georgian constructing from 1775 with towering columns each inside and outside, marble bars, and complex chandeliers. At Christmas time, they festoon the columns outdoors with lights and put up an enormous Christmas tree within the heart of the Grill Room beneath the dome that the place is called for.
You *can* come right here for lunch or afternoon tea, however I personally assume it seems to be probably the most magical at night time.
And if you wish to assure your self a desk with a view, you may need to guide within the Grill Room for dinner. They’ve each a set menu and an a la carte menu, together with some particular festive drinks every year.
I used to be in a position to guide a desk for an early dinner only a couple days upfront, so if it is all booked up whenever you first look, hold checking. (It’s also possible to attempt to pop in for drinks on a walk-up foundation, however you might need to attend in line outdoors for some time to be able to get in.)
6. Go on a scorching chocolate crawl
Okay, so this one is not *technically* holiday-themed, however Christmas is actually the time of 12 months I am almost certainly to savor a scorching cup of cocoa. And Edinburgh has some actually glorious scorching chocolate choices! You can simply take your self on a bit scorching cocoa crawl.
The must-visit scorching chocolate spots in Edinburgh embody:
- Coro the Chocolate Cafe – Get pleasure from a comfy mug of specialty scorching chocolate alongside different tasty dessert treats.
- Moo Pie Gelato – This tiny ice cream store simply off the Royal Mile does glorious scorching chocolate.
- Basement Gelato Co – Not removed from the Johnnie Walker Expertise, this spot makes use of a completely home-made recipe – AND has vegan choices.
- The Marshmallow Woman – Close to the Royal Botanic Backyard, this spot is thought for its large, hand-made marshmallows that prime its scorching cocoa.
- Uplands Roast – This espresso trailer close to The Meadows does an excellent decadent scorching chocolate.
7. See Holyroodhouse decked out for the vacations
Edinburgh truly is residence to 2 castles: Edinburgh Fort on the prime of the Royal Mile (extra of a navy fortress) and Palace of Holyroodhouse on the backside of the Royal Mile (the precise palace-feeling palace that the Royal household nonetheless makes use of).
Holyrood dons its Christmas decor across the holidays, together with massive Christmas timber, garlands, and extra. In addition they host a number of festive occasions, and have a Christmas-inspired menu contained in the cafe.
When you’re solely going to tour one fort in Edinburgh through the vacation season, I’d make it Holyroodhouse.
8. Get pleasure from immersive gentle reveals
There are two right here price mentioning in Edinburgh:
First, the Royal Botanic Backyard does a “Christmas on the Botanics” show every winter, which is made up of illuminated trails, twinkling tunnels, and all kinds of fairly gentle shows. It is a nighttime-specific occasion, and there are some distributors alongside the best way promoting issues like scorching cocoa and marshmallows to toast.
The opposite is the “Fort of Mild” show at Edinburgh Fort, which is a lightweight projection expertise on the fort partitions. Together with the sunshine present, there are additionally meals distributors and fireplace pits to get pleasure from. Many individuals say the nighttime expertise is extra geared in the direction of youngsters and households.
I’ll be aware that you may see plenty of the sunshine projections on the fort from Princes Avenue Gardens, which may be sufficient for some individuals who do not need to head as much as the fort after darkish.
9. Go light-looking across the metropolis
Lastly, there are many beautiful gentle shows and decorations to get pleasure from round Edinburgh. A few of my favorites embody:
- The snowflakes and garlands strung up above Victoria Avenue
- A projected gentle show on the skin of The Johnnie Walker Expertise
- Mild show on The Huxley constructing
- The skin of The Dome
- You will additionally discover Christmas timber inside most motels, and even inside St. Giles Cathedral
And naturally you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from all the conventional issues to do in Edinburgh, too, together with strolling the Royal Mile, taking a Harry Potter tour, visiting museums, seeing the views from locations like Calton Hill and Dean Village, happening a ghost tour, and extra.
I like Edinburgh in any season, nevertheless it actually has some further appeal round Christmas.
READ NEXT: What to Put on to Christmas Markets in Europe + Christmas Market Packing Record
Would you want to go to Edinburgh at Christmas?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!