Mini Honeymoon (minimoon?!) in Edinburgh. What shall we do? Help!

[CalmDownPacino]

We are off to Edinburgh after our wedding in a little over a week. Staying for 3 nights. Is there anything that we must see whilst we are there? I understand that there are nice bars and restaurants in Leith, already booked in for Saturday night at Harmonium which looks great we also plan to do Mary Kings Close because I saw it on Most Haunted and it looks fun! The idea is really to mooch about sightseeing in the daytimes, hopefully eating nice lunches and maybe having a cocktail or two (!) and then head out each night. I heard Rose Street is the place to be? Can anyone recommend anywhere?

Friends have also told me that there's no need to bother with taxis as there are frequent reliable buses - is this true? We are staying at a hotel on East Market Street which I think is near Waverley Station.

Thanks for any tips - much appreciated

You're staying right in the centre and will hardly need buses. However, they are frequent and generally reliable. There is the castle and Holyrood Palace. There are excellent museums. There are theatres. Walk up the Royal Mile. Go to Princes Street gardens. There's loads to do in Edinburgh.

I like the roof terrace of the Museum of Scotland. That area also has Greyfriars Bobby and the cafe where JK Rowling was working on Harry Potter

Cameo cinema is nice too

The ghost walks are cheesy but fun. The Dome is s great place to pop in for a drink.

LittleCandle - can we get to Leith on foot from where we are, or will we need a bus?

I’m not sure Rose Street is the place to be now. George St is much nicer and the Grassmarket with a wander up Victoria Street
Look at the Bramble Bar, Timberyard, The Devil’s Advocate, The Bon Vivant
To name a few nice places.

I have just been looking at The Devil's Advocate Windyone! It looks fab. Also looked at a place called the Voodoo Rooms which looks stunning.

Will look up George Street - thanks for the tip

Camera Obscura is fun.

The zoo. The pandas are amazing!

A walk down Stockbridge, lots of quirky shops and nice bars/restaurants.
You would probably be best getting a bus to leith, it's about at 30min walk from where you are staying. Honestly, I wouldn't bother going. Plenty to do in town (I work in leith, live in the new town).

I'd go to the zoo- my favorite zoo ever and I would do the underground vaults ghost tour.

Botanical Gardens are lovely if you get good weather. Museum of Scotland is well worth spending some time in. If you like walking and the weather is good you could go up Arthur's Seat.

George Street is OK for mooching/shopping/bars and such, and I love just wandering round the New Town, and second Stockbridge for independent shops and some good restaurants/cafes.

I know it's a bit touristy, but Britannia is worth a look if the weather isn't great - it's really interesting.

Mary King's Close tour on the Royal Mile is fabulous. The Royal Mile itself is absolutely fascinating. A must if you are at all interested in history. Edinburgh Castle is at the top and Holyrood Palace (and the Scottish Parliament building) at the bottom. Rose Street and George Street which run parallel to the main Princes Street are nice to walk along. The Zoo is lovely. So many fabulous restaurants. You'll love it!

You’ll be able to get a bus down to the Shore area no problems, there are several.
Was coming on to say not so much Rose Street these days, lots of bars and restaurants in George Street. There’s a place called Brewhemia really close to where you’re staying which has a good atmosphere and nice food.

Also try Juniper / 20 Princes Street which is good for cocktails (and food) and I see a pp suggesting the VooDoo rooms which are also fab!

I have just been to Edinburg for the first time and fell in love! I recommend the Ivy on the Square for food or drinks/ afternoon tea. We walked everywhere tbh you won’t need taxis unless you get knackered.

We went to the castle and the museum and really enjoyed them. Walk down the royal mile and grass market in the old town for lovely shops and pubs. Enjoy I’m very jealous!!

Book a table at The Witchery by the castle - it’s a beautiful romantic place! That National Museum of Scotland is well worth a visit too :)

Congrats on your wedding! I absolutely love Edinburgh, and one of the best nights of my life was when me and my now DH went to Wildfire on Rose Street for steak, and then onto Blackcat which is just a few doors down and danced all night to locals playing folk music. We then got a cab very late to a Jazz Club up near Cowgate and it was incredible.

Wildfire is a tiny restaurant, best steak I've ever had, make sure you book if you go!

Gosh so many replies! Thanks everyone - really appreciated.

Getting quite excited now. I've been dieting furiously for forever so all I seem to be doing is looking up places to eat and drink

Look on Lothian buses website.
Daysaver is great. £4 valid all day. Or theres a ticket from 6pm and valid on night buses at £3.50
www.lothianbuses.com/tickets/

www.lothianbuses.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Network_Map_181202.pdf

We've plenty walks in the city, the Queens Parkand Arthurs Seat. Water of Leith walkway. Portobello Beach. Silverknowes beach with walk out to Cramond islandat low tide or up beside the river Almond.

Museum ofScotland in Chambers St is facinating.
The Art museums are pretty good
www.nationalgalleries.org

Good job your minimoon isn't this weekend. Scotland v Wales rugby, think it might be a little busy.
Hope you have a lovely time. Edinburgh is a great place to visit.

Thanks for the Lothian buses info - looks great.

madminimoomin - do you really think it's not worth going to Leith? We had booked Harmonium because it's vegan and I never get to eat anywhere that has so many choices! Don't want to trek out there if it isn't worth it though....

Yes to the Museum of Scotland and Mary Kings Close and just wandering down the Royal Mile. There’s a new vegan place in Bruntsfield, Seeds for the Soul? It’s licensed and open in the evening I think.

There are some nice new bars/restaurants down leith, it's a lot nicer than it used to be, but I wouldn't bother trekking down no. There are some places I wouldn't wander around at night and around harmonium is probably one of those places, sorry. There is a bus stop right outside and the number 22 will bring you straight to town and back though. It's also only about £5 in an taxi.
I will admit that I've never been to a vegan restaurant in my life though so can't comment on the food/menu I have only heard good things about Hendersons on Hanover street though or david Bann on st Mary's street.
The best nights I have had have been in The Grassmarket or Stockbridge and there are so so many amazing restaurants to choose from.
Whatever you do you will have the most amazing time. It's the best city in the world

Also try the Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile, about opposite John Knox's house. Its great. There is also a terrific second hand bookshop on the Royal Mile, towards the bottom, on the same side as John Knox's house.