The capital of Scotland
Take a coach to Edinburgh to arrive feeling recharged and ready to explore! Fill your shopping bags in the St James' Quarter, or boost your Instagram feed with photos from the top of the Arthur's Seat. Tuck into a plate of gourmet food at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Edinburgh’s New Town, or put your palate to the test with a whisky tasting session in the Old Town. Scotland’s capital city – also known as Auld Reekie – is the kind of place you’ll want to visit again and again. Here’s some mega-inspiration to get you started…
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Edinburgh: top 3 things to do
1. Climb Arthur's Seat
One of the best places to soak up Edinburgh’s true beauty is from the top of Arthur's Seat. Offering panoramic views of the city, you can either give it a go on your own, or join a local for a personalised and private walking tour.
2. Visit the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Scotland's capital comes to life with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Make the most of thousands of open-access performances into three weeks every August. It runs alongside the Edinburgh International Festival.
3. Have a Whisky experience
Celebrate all things whisky, with tours and tastings on a number of different whisky attractions in the city. The Scotch Whisky Experience is based at the top of the Royal Mile and lets you take a tour, visit the shop and restaurant and they even have events of tasting on offer too.
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Explore local attractions
Right in the city centre, the National Museum of Scotland has just undergone multi-million-pound redevelopment. And with more than 20,000 artefacts under one roof, it’s no wonder it’s one of the top 20 most-visited museums in the world. Check out the museum’s timetable of exhibitions, talks and special events before you visit.
Take a break from the buzz of the city with a visit to Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. It’s open all year round, apart from Christmas Day and New Years Day and is totally free - unless you fancy exploring inside the 10 glasshouses. In summer, another great outdoor spot is The Meadows. Expect sunbathing uni students and picnicking families galore.
There’s no better way to get to grips with Edinburgh’s rich history than a walking trail around the city. Thankfully, Edinburgh World Heritage has made things really easy with a collection of free trails you can download and follow at your own pace. You’ll soon see why the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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mega-fun activities
Here for the night? Then you’re in luck, because Edinburgh’s nightlife scene has the lot from traditional pubs to high-tech clubs, and everything in between. If drinks are on the agenda, head to one of the pubs in Edinburgh’s Old Town, where cask ales and local whiskies are the order of the day.
If cocktails are more your thing, Edinburgh’s swanky New Town is the place to be. And it goes without saying that if you’re looking for a night like no other, you’ll want to book your Edinburgh coach travel for the city’s Hogmanay celebrations.
If you're a fan of Outlander, then the location tours will be right up your street. Explore some of the filming locations on the Outland Adventure tour.
And if you love Harry Potter (who doesn't?), then give the walking tour a try. Grab your wand and put on your robe to discover the magical locations that inspired JK's characters and scenes in the series, as well as visit the places where she wrote the books.
At Christmas time, immerse yourself in the capital's festive activities. Edinburgh's Christmas is a world famous event which brings cheer to the city centre. From traditional markets, funfair rides, ice skating and more, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Travel in style
Take the megabus to Edinburgh and you won’t need to worry about petrol, parking or low-emission zones. Plus, you’ll enjoy charging points, comfy seats and extra legroom. From Glasgow, the 900 runs up to every 15 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days a week!
Once you’re in Edinburgh itself, it’s really easy to get around. This Scottish city may be hilly, but it’s also nice and compact, so you can walk between lots of the big attractions.
Let's get to the capital
From Glasgow, megabus can get you to Edinburgh in just over an hour. If you're travelling from a northern city like Aberdeen, you'll enjoy your journey on our comfy coaches for around 3 hours.
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Image credits: Kenny Lam / Visit Scotland