3 days in Edinburgh, what shall we do?

[QueenOfIce]

4 of us have a few days in Edinburgh, we're planning on doing a few things such as the Castle, Niddry st. Vaults, the late graveyard tour and a few other 'ghosty' things.

Aside from those silly things what else should we do? What about places to eat..3 meat eaters 1 veggie. Any good suggestions? Thank you

Camera Obscura , absolutely fantastic
And we loved the Ghost Bus as well.

Haven't been to Edinburgh for years but I have fond memories of eating here - your veggie will be happy and hopefully the rest of you too and it's central. Seems from TripAdvisor it's still thriving! I'm not veggie but I'd still totally go there. www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186525-d7266124-Reviews-Hendersons_Vegan_Restaurant-Edinburgh_Scotland.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7&ff=324491773

When are you going? The Fringe is on at the moment and the 'Free Fringe' is great, you can see some great acts. Just pick up one of the Free Fringe guides and see what's going on nearest to you and have a bit of fun. You pay as you leave the venue what ever you want.

For restaurants, David Bann is really good. It's a vegetarian place but meat eaters should be impressed.
The Dungeon tour is good ( just around the corner from Waverley station). Have a walk up the Scott monument but make sure it's a fine day for the views.
Have a stroll up Arthur's Seat.
I love Camera Obscura. I have spent hours in there!

Oh I was gonna day Kyloe for eating but it's a steak restaurant and I've no idea how well it caters for veggies

*say

Oh God, don't go to Hendersons - sorry onalong but it's rank.

Are you going when the Fringe is on OP? Cos that changes everything...

Another vote for Camera Obscura - was great! But get there early to avoid the queues as you can't book in advance.

The natural history museum is worth a visit.

National museum of Scotland. Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile. Holyrood Palace. The Castle. Camera Obscura. There is loads to do in Edinburgh.

Thank you, we're going in 3 weeks so not during the fringe.

Another vote for Camera Obscura. Absolutely brilliant for all ages.

Hendersons Vegan restaurant is supposed to be rank but you can get lovely, if expensive, salads in the bistro and salad bar.

The Magnum is lovely.

Is there thetourif the underground plague towns?

Dynamic Earth is brilliant if you enjoy geology type stuff really interactive. The Zoo if you don't mind captive animals. Museum of Scotland is excellent as well. All the usual chains but lots of independent places too depends how posh you want to go. Tom Kitchen has a fine dining restaurant in Leith or a gastro pub in the West End (I think)

If you're up the bridges/chambers st area (festival theatre, museum etc), the Mosque Kitchen on Nicholson Square does lovely curries incl good veggie options, and not expensive. It's a queue-up, canteeny, communal table sort of place, no alcohol, I flipping love it! If you're feeling more spendy, Dishoom on St Andrew's Square is lovely.

Lots of good art exhibitions.

Botanic Gardens are lovely if you are into that.

If you don't fancy a tour of the castle (expensive and not especially my cup of tea) it's worth a walk down the Royal Mile anyway - start at the Castle Esplanade and look out there for the v small memorial on a wall (I think) to women executed for "witchcraft", and walk down to Holyrood Palace (you can get in the palace precincts for free or can pay to get into the building and grounds). The Scottish Parliament is down at that end too, you can critique the architecture as you go by! Loads of history on the way. It would be worth getting a guided walk. Also look out for Dunbar Close gardens on the LH side about 2/3 of the way down.

Think I had better stop!

Pandas, pandas, pandas,pandas,...........

Thank you, won't be doing the zoo love history. I've been to Edinburgh a couple of times but they were for drunken girls weekends so never really saw much.

Love the idea of the underground plague town, Mary Kings Close? Is that a bit touristy now though?

I'm fascinated by the history and the apparent ghosts that don't lurk on every corner!

Mary King's Close is actually really interesting, yeah it's a bit touristy but the history behind it is fascinating -- and doing the tour is the only way you can get in, so I'd say suck up the touristy parts and go.

The ghost tours are usually as touristy as all get out, but a good laugh after a couple of drinks.

I'd do a big walking day, start at the castle, go down the Royal Mile, do Mary King on the way, wander round Arthur's Seat, then double back a bit and loop round the New Town.

If the veggie person is happy to eat in restaurants that serve meat they'll mostly be fine, things have moved on a bit from mushroom risotto in most places.

Places I like: Three Birds/Apiary, 83 Hanover Street, Le Roi Fou, Chez Jules (much cheapness but probably less veggie choice), Le Petite Mort, lots of places around The Shore (def go to Harmonium, vegan but amazing and nice for your friend to be able to eat everything on the menu).

I'm the veggie, no issue with eating where they serve meat.

Thank you for the brilliant suggestions, as for the ghosty stuff aside from the vaults, the graveyard and Mary Kings Close excluding the dungeons (I've done that and shit myself I hate surprises!) what else is there to do that will put the willies up us?