A WEEKEND IN EDINBURGH

As a little autumn getaway, my boyfriend and I spontaneously decided to spend a long weekend in Edinburgh. For both of us, it was the first time in Scotland and I can already say this much: the time of year was perfect for this trip! Here’s what we did…

Edinburgh Castle. Basically seen from every corner in the city. Such a beautiful landmark overlooking the city. Seeing the castle and hearing bagpipes right when we got out of the cab was definitely the best Welcome to Edinburgh we could have wished for.

We didn’t really expect much from the Scottish autumn weather, so we were pleasently surprised when we saw blue skies and some sunshine the next morning. Perfect conditions to start exploring all the beautiful historic neighbourhoods.

Here, you can see the Royal Mile, one of Edinburgh’s main streets, connecting different parts of the city.

At every corner, you can find beautiful and inviting pubs that seem like they have been there as long as the city itself. My favorite one was Greyfriars Bobby – so picturesque, I could’ve spend hours there just people watching.

When in the UK, you have to have Afternoon Tea at some point during your trip. We decided to be fancy and went to The Balmoral. We are still joking about the price we paid for tea and pastries (it was ridiculous) but we still agree, it was a memorable experience and we’re happy we did it. So if you are looking to have tea at the hotel where J.K. Rowling finished writing the Harry Potter saga, now you know where to go. 😊

Edinburgh is known to have inspired multiple aspects of the Harry Potter universe. Greyfriars Graveyard for example. Taking a closer look at the gravestones, you might come across some familiar names…

No matter where you go, the Gothic architecture and the gloomy autumn weather create such a mystical and special atmosphere, I could’ve strolled through these streets forever.

The next morning, we had to try one of the city’s many famous cafés. We went to The Milkman for coffee and pastries. And it did not disappoint!

Fueled with some caffeine, we made our way to Arthur’s Seat. A famous cliff from where you can overlook the city and, with clear weather conditions, can even spot the North Sea close by.

We both highly underestimated the walk up. It was definitely more of a hike. 😅 Of course, we chose the windiest day to go up there, so it really was a full on work out. Keep that in mind, and pack some sporty clothes when planning to go there. The views were incredible, so it was worth every single step. I would do it again anytime!

About 30k steps later, we agreed that we deserved some spa time, a massage, and a cozy evening at the hotel. Best. Decision. Ever. 😁

The next day, we did some more exploring, took it slow, bought some souvenirs, just went with the flow. Rhyme intended. 😉

In the afternoon, it slowly started to drizzle. For us Germans, usually not a joyful moment. 😅 But since we wanted to really get the full gloomy Scottish experience, we both weren’t necessarily mad about it. Let me just say, I have never seen my boyfriend so happy and excited about rain. 😁

When the rain got heavier, we got some last minute tickets for The Scotch Whisky Experience. Neither of us drinks much or knows much about whisky, but it was a fun and interactive “museum” visit. 100% recommendation if it is your first visit to Edinburgh, or you would simply like to know more about whisky. 🥃

For our final dinner, we went to another Edinburgh favorite, The Witchery by the Castle. The food and atmosphere were both amazing, it really completed our autumn trip to Scotland.

On our walk back to the hotel, for a final time, we appreciated the beautiful architecture and clear air of Edinburgh. We both didn’t really have any expectations when we booked this trip. We were more than positively surprised.

Edinburgh was the first step. We will come back to Scotland one day, that’s for sure. Maybe to pet some of the famous Highland cows? 🤩 I’m already getting excited!..