After the flight, accommodation and meals budget is tighter, so we will look for free things to do in Edinburgh. Museums, walks, gardens, panoramic … are some of the proposals for not spending and, instead, enjoy a beautiful city and all it has to offer.
If only we stayed with the museums, we would have a plan for several days. But we will vary the possibilities to have where to choose and so seduce all who travel to Edinburgh, whatever your tastes. These are my suggestions for free Edinburgh …
What to do in Edinburgh?
- Tour the Royal Mile with the bustle of pedestrians, with its vibrant shops, street artists, the sound of traditional bagpipes … The Royal Mile is an artery that connects Edinburgh Castle to the west, with the Palace of Holyroodhouse, To the East. It was described by Daniel Defoe as the most beautiful street I’ve ever seen, will it also seem to us?
- Visit the Cathedral of Sant Giles, in full Royal Mile (Saint Giles’ Cathedral), a historical religious building, built from the twelfth century, emblematic of the city. Erected on an ancient sanctuary built in the 9th century, it is Gothic style and in its interior stand out the beautiful stained glass and the chapel d the Order of the Cardoon, with an excellent marquetry.
- Writer’s Museum, the Museum of the writers, in which we can approach life and work of the three most important writers in the history of Scotland Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson. The museum is located in the beautiful Lady Stair mansion, next to the Royal Mile.
- Free tour by the Old Town. A walking tour of more than two hours that takes us through many attractions combining history with curiosities. The tour departs every day at 11am and 2pm in front of Starbucks Coffee on High Street.
- The National Gallery of Scotland (National Gallery of Scotland), in a neoclassical building, exhibits the most important collection of painting and sculpture Scotland. The works range from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, and we contemplate works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Paul Gauguin, Monet, El Greco, Zurbarán, Goya …
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- The National Museum of Scotland, National Museum of Scotland. If in the previous one we can spend a whole day, so does this other great museum, dedicated to the history, people, geology, fauna, flora and culture of Scotland and ideal to visit with family with children. From the terrace, we have fabulous views of the city.
- Princes Street Gardens, on either side of the National Gallery and The Mound, offer a fabulous opportunity for the ride, to rest, to pause, take a lunch or ice cream. They occupy the former bed of Nor Loch, a lake that was drained because of its high pollution. Today, there is a relaxing atmosphere for its inhabitants and tourists, it is a meeting point and in it there are concerts and other outdoor events.
- Museum on the Mound, the “Mound Museum” dedicated to the history of the Bank of Scotland from its origins to today. It is located in the seat of the Bank of Scotland, perhaps the most recognizable building of Edinburgh, after the castle. A display case with a million pounds in cash (canceled to avoid temptation) or the first Scottish ticket issued are some of the curiosities we found.
- Up to Calton Hill, from where we get one of the best views of Edinburgh. There is the National Monument inspired by the Parthenon of Athens, the Monument to Nelson, the Observatory, the monument to the Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart … From here we get a better idea of the physiognomy of the city, its basic arteries, The surrounding hills, the nearby sea …
- The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, beautiful gardens over 28 hectares located in the district of Canonmills. Ideal to get lost in its trails, among the waterfalls, or sit on a hill to contemplate Edinburgh at our feet, next to playful squirrels or a harp that sounds with the whistling wind.
There are still other plans to do in Edinburgh free, which we will return, more museums where you can lose more neighborhoods to savor. A charming town full of history and legend, in which we were lucky not to encounter the rain and enjoy it to the fullest with spring temperatures that leave an indelible mark.