Cruising to Edinburgh? What to see and what to do!
If your cruise ship is making a stop in Edinburgh, this guide will help you to see the best of the city in a day.
Cruising is a fantastic way to see lots of places without worrying about the logistics. Getting from country to country is all organised for you. The challenge, though, is for you to make the most of each stop and get a real feel for every city visited. You want to board your ship at the end of the day feeling like you had a memorable, worthwhile experience. If your cruise ship is making a stop in Edinburgh, look no further than this guide to make the most of your time onshore.
Depending on the size of your cruise ship, you will arrive at one of four ports. Newhaven or Leith are within the city limits, or alternatively Rosyth or South Queensferry are a short way outside town. Scotland has very good public transport infrastructure, so getting to the historic centre of town will be reasonably easy. And that is exactly where you want to go. It may take around 45 minutes if coming from Rosyth, though less time from the other ports. Be prepared to factor that into your itinerary for the day. Your cruise line may organise shuttle buses into the city centre, which could be the easiest option, and there will be taxis at every port too.
The best views
Once in the historic centre, you may want to start by getting your bearings from a good viewpoint. Which option you choose depends on how much walking – and climbing – you’re prepared to do. If you brought a good pair of walking shoes and don’t mind a little uphill hike, you can’t beat Arthur’s Seat. From the top of this extinct volcano you will have sweeping views across the city and beyond. However, this will take a couple of hours if you’re walking from the city centre. And you’re on a tight schedule, so only go for this option if you’re set on getting the best view in the city. Otherwise, you have two other excellent options that require a lot less climbing – Calton Hill, and, of course, Edinburgh Castle.
Calton Hill is located in the heart of the city. You only have to climb a short flight of stairs to get to the top, or even take a taxi if you want the views without the walking! The hill is strewn with monuments, and there is also a café. There, you can enjoy a coffee stop while taking in one of the most iconic views of the Edinburgh skyline. And of course you can’t miss Edinburgh Castle, even if you choose not to pay to enter the castle itself.
The Royal Mile
Wander up to the castle gates and soak in panoramic views across the city. Then, take a walk down the Royal Mile from the castle. The area is ancient and bustling at all times of year, but especially in the summer. You may encounter street performers, and you will have a multitude of shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants to check out. It’s worth taking time to explore the closes – the old, narrow passageways leading off from the main street.
Once you’re on the Royal Mile you don’t need to go far – most of the essential, must-see attractions will be nearby. There are various tours you can take where you will be shown around the underground vaults. These underground chambers are something old Edinburgh is particularly famous for. The tours tend to last an hour, or slightly more, and will add to a unique, memorable experience. You are unlikely to find anything like this in any other city. Pre-booking is advisable, but if you contact one of the tour operators as soon as you get into the city centre, where they are also based, you should be able to get on a tour. The Real Mary King’s Close Tour or Mercat Tours are both great options.
Whether you go on a tour or do your own exploring, after a couple of hours of wandering around the historic centre it will be time for lunch. There are plenty of options on the Royal Mile itself, but you can also head down the picturesque Victoria Street. With its colourful shopfronts, this street is worth visiting for photo opportunities and even more dining choices. Both Victoria Street and the Grassmarket, which it leads to, are full of quaint little cafés and restaurants to suit all tastes.
Eating, drinking, shopping
For the full Scottish experience, try haggis. This is the country’s speciality – a savoury pudding made with sheep meat, oatmeal, onions and spices. Haggis is traditionally eaten with neeps and tatties (mashed swede and potatoes). Meat eaters would also enjoy hog roast rolls in a casual setting at Oink on Victoria Street. Alternatively, fish and chips, served in most pubs, are a good British option. And we are by the seaside after all, so fish and seafood will be very fresh. Vegetarians also have an increasingly wide variety of dishes to choose from in most places – including vegetarian haggis!
If you’re a whisky drinker, the Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile is well worth a visit. Meanwhile, beer aficionados should head to Brewdog on Cowgate, a few minutes’ walk away, to sample a variety of local craft beers.
If you want to bring a souvenir home with you, there are countless shops in the city centre to choose from. You can opt for cheap and cheerful novelty gifts. The shops that stock them are easily identifiable by the bagpipe music they will be blasting out into the street. Alternatively, go into the quieter shops – also many in number – for high-quality tartan, cashmere and tweed items. Good edible gifts include shortbread, as well as tablet – a sweet Scottish treat that’s similar to fudge but more crumbly in texture.
A walk to remember
You may have heard the weather is bad in Scotland, and it is sometimes – but not always. It is advisable to take a small, handbag-sized umbrella with you when you disembark from your ship. But don’t fret if you get caught in the rain – there are umbrellas and ponchos for sale everywhere in the city centre. If you arrive on a sunny day, though, you’re in for a treat. The city comes alive during spells of good weather, with locals and tourists alike piling outside to enjoy the sunshine. It’s almost never too hot, so if you’re here in the summer, the weather should be perfect for walking around the centre of town. We can’t promise that it will be dry, though!
If it is dry, there is no better place in the city centre to stretch your legs after lunch than Princes Street Gardens. This scenic stretch of greenery is located on the other side of Edinburgh Castle. Once you’re finished exploring and shopping around the Royal Mile, you can make your way there. It is the perfect spot to enjoy some final views of the castle and the city from a different angle.
Alternatively, head all the way to the very bottom of the Royal Mile, onto Canongate. Here, you can see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh. This is also adjacent to Arthur’s Seat if you were saving that climb for the afternoon. Or, if it’s raining and you don’t want to be outside, find a warm, cosy pub or café to sit in and people-watch for a little while.
Farewell Edinburgh
By this point it should be time to return to your cruise ship. Be sure to leave ample time for your return, especially if you’re heading further afield to South Queensferry or Rosyth. If your ship is docked in Leith, you may want to head back a little early to see the Royal Yacht Britannia before you leave Edinburgh. This floating palace of a ship that served the Royal Family until its decommissioning in 1997. The Britannia is moored by the Ocean Terminal. There, you can also enjoy a final drink with spectacular views across the Firth of Forth. If you’re wondering about the name, “firth” is a local word that denotes various coastal waters.
Regardless of how much walking you want to do, and how many activities you’re looking to take on, a day on the Royal Mile and in the surrounding areas should give you a good idea of Edinburgh’s history. You’ll also have some of the best views in the city and plenty of memories to take away.
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