5 Free Things to do in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the second largest city. Compared with London or Paris, Edinburgh isn’t a huge city, but offers the same amount of history or even more. An amazing part of the city is known as ‘The Old Town’ and refers to the medieval age, with most of the buildings having the same structure and architecture since being built.
1. THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY
Located just on the side of the Princess Street Gardens, right in the middle of Edinburgh, The Scottish National Gallery does not charge for admission like many others museums and galleries all over the United Kingdom.
2. ARTHUR’S SEAT
If the weather is dry, climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat. It may take a little because of the 250m going up the hill, but it’s worth it! Some people say that the name of the hill is a reference to King Arthur, one of the most famous British leaders. The best view all over the city of Edinburgh is from here.
3. CALTON HILL
Right in the middle of Edinburgh, just a few minutes walk from the end of Princess Street, Calton Hill is probably the most famous spot in Edinburgh for the sunset, so it can get very busy at that time, especially during the summer. On the top of Calton Hill you can find the National Monument, the Nelson Monument and one of the city icons, the Dugald Stewart Monument.
4. THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN
Get lost in this maze full of trees, flowers and some wildlife, located just a 15 minutes walk from the city center, The Royal Botanic Garden contains over 13,000 species of plants. There is some paid exhibitions, but you can enjoy most of the garden for free. Some people say that the name of the hill is a reference to King Arthur, one of the most famous British leaders. The best view all over the city of Edinburgh is from here.
5. HAVE A STROLL AROUND
Edinburgh is not a big city, you can use public transportation like the bus or the tram, but walking is the best way to get to know the city. Between the New Town and the Old Town there are many places to see and streets to discover. The Royal Mile is the most famous street in the Old Town, always busy with tourists, but also here you can find live performances, restaurants, pubs, shops and at the top of the street the famous Edinburgh Castle.
In the New Town you can find Princes Street, the biggest street in the capital, known for the huge amount of shops, and some monuments. Just at the side of Princes Street is the Princes Street Gardens, lovely for a picnic in the summer and from the garden you can get beautiful views of Edinburgh Castle. Don’t forget to stop for a visit to Greyfriars Bobby, the famous dog that spent 14 years guarding his owner’s grave… once you are there …get a pint at the pub with the same name, but unfortunately, that is not free!
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