Edinburgh is made up of the new town and the old town. While you can get a seamless tourist experience when visiting the new town replete with fancy boutiques and chain fast food stores, you should not miss out on the old town which holds all the charm and allure of the historic city. From the castle to the historic closes, the old town in Edinburgh is full of sightseeing places which should not be forgotten about.
From the Reformation-era buildings to the medieval streets, the old town is in itself an attraction which reels in tourists throughout the year! The Edinburgh International Festival, as well as the Fringe festival, is also held in the old town, along with shootings of numerous films like Fast and Furious, Avengers, and Da Vinci Code.
National Galleries of Scotland
When you go to Edinburgh, you should visit the many museums hidden within the city. You can learn a lot by going through the well-curated art pieces within these galleries. The National Galleries in Edinburgh include the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and the Scottish National Gallery. You can go through the contemporary, Victorian, and modern art pieces that shape the city and its history.
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh's old town is most famous for the Royal Mile which connects important historical buildings like the Edinburgh Castle, the Holyrood Palace, the Dundes House, The Scottish Storytelling Center, and the Scottish National Parliament. It is a great cobblestone walk which will help you look at all the important sites in the city.
How to reach?
It is very easy to reach the new town via flights. Edinburgh Airport connects the historic city to various international and domestic locations like Paris, Doha, Budapest, London, Belfast, and Dublin. You can take a cab from the airport to the Royal mile in about 15 minutes as the distance between the locations is only 12 kilometres. You can also conveniently take a train to Edinburgh Waverley Station, from where both the new town and the old town are walking distance. The National Express and Megabus services will also leave you to the bus stop in the new town, making it easy to explore the city.
The old town in Edinburgh should be explored via the pedestrian-friendly cobblestone streets, as you will be able to go through the narrow closes and winding alleys that snake throughout the old town. You can also opt for taxis and local buses if you wish to expand your travel radius.
What to Eat
You should visit the many historic pubs in the old town to learn about the numerous stories connected to them as well as get a taste of the Scottish drinking culture. Some important pubs to visit are The Jolly Judge, Maggie Dickson’s Pub, The Royal Mile Tavern, and The Bow Bar. You can also get a taste of Scottish cuisine by trying the haggis and neeps and taters at The Witchery by the Castle.
Best accommodation in Old Town, Edinburgh
There are several brilliant OYO hotels which are walking distance from the old town of Edinburgh. OYO Hotels come with amenities like free WiFi, TV, AC, car-parking, tea/coffee maker, daily housekeeping, CCTV cameras, and card-payment options for comfort and convenience of the guests.
Top hotels In Old Town, Edinburgh. OYO Hotel UK offering affordable budget hotels with best amenities like free wifi, free parking, and more.