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

Four seasons in one hour in Edinburgh, but if the sun is shining, why not fish & chips on the beach at Portobello.

The locals prefer brown sauce on theirs.

Rose street isn’t great tbh,it’s mostly filled wit tourists. If you like Mary Kings close look up ‘mercat tours’ they take you into the vaults. To go between old and new use the bridge next to theBalmoral hotel (you can’t miss it, massive clock tower next to station). It’s much easier than the mound. Good food can be found on the Royal Mile, the Albanach is good and the Clamshell chippy is surprisingly nice. I like The last Drop on the grassmarket for a few drinks is always nice. The main thing to remember is it rains a lot and it’s windy and everywhere is on a hill and walkable so you will need proper shoes.

Yes to Henderson's in Hanover St and David Bann's on St Mary's St. I think Henderson's also has a vegan restaurant on Thistle St. Saves you a trip to Leith if you only have three days. (Leith is good but there's plenty round about where you are).

Have a brilliant time!

Following this with great interest as I am going to Edinburgh next month. Congrats op, hope you have a fabulous time.

Met my DH as a student in Edinburgh, so it's very close to my heart. Most of my faves have already been covered: Royal Mile, Victoria Street and Grassmarket definitely. Walk up to castle esplanade (great views) but don't bother going in. Nat museum on Chambers St is fab if museums are of interest, even if not the roof terrace is worth going up to. Stockbridge is a lovely place to wander (my fantasy location for buying a house!), would recommend the Water of Leith walk through Stockbridge and also the botanic gardens. Modern art gallery also very good nearby. It's a fabulous city, so much to see and do. I wouldn't bother with Leith - not that it's bad, but I'd use the time in the city centre instead. Enjoy and have a great wedding

Ooh also meant to say that a walk up Arthur's seat is a must!

We enjoyed the underground your when we were there. It was fascinating.

I would definitely give Leith a miss. There are so many nice places to go in the central parts of Edinburgh and you've only got 3 days.
I'm thinking of the 'romantic' places you can go. I'd make sure you go to some of the lovely up market places like the Dome on George St for a drink. There are also some gorgeous places for afternoon tea. Make the most of Edinburgh by night. Come down George St on perhaps Hanover or Castle St and get the lovely view of the castle and the back of the buildings going down the royal mile all lit up.

I love the National Museum of Scotland, between the two sections you could probably spend the best part of a day there. There are a few wee ones on the Royal Mile too.
David Banns is lovely for vegan/veggie dinner.
If the weather is clear then a stomp up Arthur's Seat will give you a fabulous view.
Camera obscura is fun. We like Dynamic Earth but not sure I'd do that without kids around but maybe that's because I've been there so often.

George street is lovely, Cafe Andaluz is wonderful but not sure how vegan friendly as I'm vegetarian not vegan.
Henderson's is fab for lunch.

You can potter about on the buses if you feel like it but you should be able to fill 3 days within the centre just walking.

There's a fab wee shop that sells raw vegan cakes in the West End...Gramms i think its called. Soooo delicious.
The thing is that Edinburgh is just such a beautiful city to walk round.

I don't live there anymore but i love visiting.

Seconding the ghost walks. Enjoy

And no. I wouldn't bother going to Leith either

I did a tour of the Scottish parliament last time I was in Edinburgh - I loved it! Way better than the overrated castle imo.

I am so glad I started this thread! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply - I do appreciate it!

Surprised to hear so many people saying not to bother with Leith. Maybe we will give it a miss then - we don't have long there at all.

Off to print this thread out then I am fully prepared

Sorry if its cheeky to ask on the ops thread but I have booked a hotel in Royal Terrace (because it was fairly cheap), can you wise Edinburgh savvy posters tell me if this a decent area and within easy reach of the city? Thanks.

I loved Edinburgh Castle. Its much more than a castle, it was a whole community, it shows the, military history, 'crown jewels', bed chambers and living quarters of royalty, as well as the chamber were Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI, the 12th century Chapel and were prisoners were kept.

There is usually medieval dancing in the banqueting Hall, with characters in costume.

As you walk around the whole thing, you realise how incredible it is, having been hacked out of stone.

It's much better than anything we have in England/Wales.

I agree with leaving Leigh for another time, you will want to go back.

@Deadringer royal terrace is very close and you'll be able to walk everywhere. I recommend pomegranate restaurant just over the road, it's byob and the halloumi is delish.

Thanks Mad

Leith is imo not worth a special visit just to eat in the evening, I lived there for over 10 years and I loved it but and I'm not saying it's unsafe but it is a melting pot of people and that includes a relatively high % of drug issues especially towards the bottom of leithwalk, I will qualify that by saying I never had an issue in all the years I lived there though! If you behave safely as you would in any city then it's fine!

Yes there are a few nice restaurants Italian, Chinese and Indian food and more! and a few quirky bars etc but the road works at the top of elm row have screwed things up for a lot of the interesting small independent shops

If your interested in leith then if your planning on seeing the royal yacht Britannia then the bus will run right through leith and you can see if it's an area interests you. Then you can decide if you'd like to go back.

Thanks for that Ginky. I think Mr Pacino wants to see the yacht so we may go there in the daytime instead, rather than at night. I suppose we could always go to Harmonium for lunch!

I remember going to Leith the first time I went to Edinburgh about 15 years ago and it wasn't great then, reminded me of a lot of Holyhead in that it seemed run down and a bit dodgy (sorry!). I must have been sucked in by the touristy websites that tell me it's comparable to Shoreditch!

I agree it's an excellent castle, just so so busy. We got in free as we've been English Heritage members for over a year but even then I felt is wasn't worth the effort due to the crowds.

I'm thinking we will leave the castle this time. I have been in before but it is quite expensive and we are sort of doing this whole shebang on a budget! Might just walk around the esplanade, weather dependent of course! Forecast is not looking good....

Definitley go to the Dome for a drink or tea in the day. The shops and streets around there are so pretty too. Beautiful city.. enjoy! And congratulations on your wedding!

If you are into this sort of thing, there is a great spa at the Sheraton. It's not cheap if you aren't staying there (I think 35 per person), but it's pretty amazing. My dh and I went when we were last in Edinburgh alone (he's not really the spa type but even he thought it was pretty fantastic). It's nice relaxing afternoon thing before going back to your hotel to get ready to go out at night.

Don't waste your time with Hendersons. As far a vegetarian and vegan restaurants go, the last 30 years might as well not have happened. It's a joke.

I love Kalpna for veggie food