Edinburgh, Scotland Port Reviews
 

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Bag Pipe Player on Edinburgh's Royal Mile
 

Overview:

St. Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the perfect port. It offers outstanding shopping, excellent restaurants, tons of sightseeing and is easy to explore on your own. Everywhere that you look you will see churches, statues, fountains, beautiful architecture, parks and Scottish culture. In fact, Edinburgh is very close to being the perfect port.

Cruise Port Location and Information:

The Water of Leith Walkway

Ships dock in the port of Leith, a suburb of Edinburgh. Leith is a great little destination in its own right and offers much to see and do. Close to where the ship docks is Victoria Pier with some wonderful shops, restaurants and pubs. The statues that you see along the way are very interesting and make the port area attractive. The Ocean Terminal, a new shopping center is located right next to Leith's number one attraction, the Royal Yacht Britannia. which was once the personal yacht of the Royal family. Ocean Terminal offers tons of shopping opportunities in a traditional mall environment.

Leith is located on two-miles from the very center of Edinburh and even closer from Princess Street. While buses run from Ocean Terminal into Edinburgh every few minutes and taxis are very plentiful, one of the best ways to enjoy your visit to to walk into Edinburgh using the Water of Leith Walkway. This walking path meanders through forest and along the small river that winds through Edinburgh.

Exploring on Your Own:

There is a Surprise at Every Turn in Edinburgh

Edinburgh was made for exploring on your own. In fact, that is the very best way to enjoy it. There are numerous visitor centers throughout the city and the maps are quite easy to use..

The Edinburgh Hop-On Hop-Off Visitor Tour Bus

One of the best ways to get acquainted with Edinburgh's many attractions is to take the HoHo bus. By taking it in a complete circle, you can note the stops that you would like to return to.  The bus traverses the Old Town and New Town and circles Edinburgh Castle on one end and the Palace of Hollyroodhouse on the other.

An Edinburgh Taxi

If you do not intend on taking the HoHO bus, but just want to get started exploring, I would suggest taking a taxi right to the entrance to the Edinburgh Castle when you arrive into Edinburgh. This is the highest point in the city and it is a lot easier to walk down from it than up to it. Plus, the castle can get more and more crowded as the day goes on.

Shopping Tips:

The Royal Mile From the Entrance to the Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh is a shopper's paradise. Most visitors find that the shops along the Royal Mile and on its side streets offer them just about every thing they could want.

A Typical Tourist Shop

There are so many products, souvenirs, clothing items and more to investigate that it would be easy to spend an entire day shopping in the one location.

Scottish Sweaters Make an Excellent Purchase

Stores selling sweaters and all things that can be knitted offer excellent selection and prices.

The Cashmere Factory Outlet

Many stores also sell cashmere items that you will not find anywhere else. These are great gifts to take home.

Traditional Scottish Garb Boutique

Of course, if you want to celebrate your Scottish heritage you can always buy some traditional Scottish clothing. There are so many different shops, stores, boutiques and shopping opportunities in Edinburgh's Royal Mile area of the Old City it will make your head spin.

Princess Street Shopping

But, if you are not satisfied with the shopping in the Royal Mile area, just head over to Princess Street where you will find just about every brand name you have ever heard of in dozens of department stores and specialty shops.

There is way more shopping here than anyone could accomplish in a day's visit to this city.

Port Highlights:

Edinburgh Castle is Overwhelming

Without a doubt, Edinburgh's main attraction is Edinburgh Castle. Dating back more than 1,000 years it has been at the very center of Scotland's history.

Edinburgh Castle Entrance

The best way to visit the castle is to Make your way to the castle entrance in the morning upon arriving in Edinburgh. On top of Edinburgh rock, you are at the highest point in the city and you can see the city as it grew from the castle outward. From here, it is all downhill to the rest of Edinburgh's sights, shopping and dining.

Inside Edinburgh Castle

Exploring the various buildings and artifacts in the castle is very interesting. It is easy to see why Edinburgh was such a desirable place to reside because of its seemingly impenetrable walls and defendable location.

The Castle Walls

Walking within the castle walls really makes one think of what it must have been like in Edinburgh centuries ago.

The Edinburgh Rock

At the very heart of Edinburgh where the castle reside is Edinburgh Rock. This huge rock can be seen from everywhere in the city and even before trying to scale the castle walls, invaders had to climb the steep side of the rock. This is why the castle has remained intact for over 1,000 years.

The Royal Mile

Directly in front of the entrance to Edinburgh Castle is the Royal Mile. This is the very heartbeat of Edinburgh's Old City and home to some of Edinburgh's most interesting shops, pubs, boutiques and restaurants. No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a stroll down the Royal Mile,

The Lawnmarket, Heart of the Royal Mile

Right in the heart of the Royal Mile, the Lawnmarket marks the epicenter of visitor activity. With unique bars, pubs, restaurants, boutiques and more, the Lawnmarket is not to be missed.

The Queen's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Another sight worth visiting is the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is the official residence of the monarch of Scotland and is used for formal ceremonies and state functions. It resides at the other end of the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle and is a downhill walk all the way to the palace. The Queen's Gallery is an art museun well worth a visit and there are constantly changing exhibitions that one can enjoy.

The National Gallery of Scotland

While Edinburgh sports numerous museums, a visit to the National Gallery is certainly one of the best. Built in the 1800s, The National Gallery of Scotland is considered to be the finest art gallery in all of Brittan.

The National Gallery of Scotland's Interior

What makes this gallery so special is the architecture, presentation of the pieces of artwork and sculptures and the overall experience. You do not have to be an art aficionado to enjoy a visit to the gallery, as it captures Scotland's past in a way everyone will enjoy. Don't miss it.

Princess Street Gardens

In the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and on the south side of Princess Street lies the fabulous Princess Street Gardens. Said to be the most beautiful gardens in all of Europe. Formerly a lake and trash dump for centuries, the gardens were formed to connect the Old City with the Mew City.

Just One of the Many Statues in Princess Street Gardens

As one meanders throughout the gardens there is an endless display of sculptures, fountains and memorials.

A Typical Princess Street Gardens View

If you are given a sunny day, be sure to take your camera and traverse Princess Street Gardens for some unbelievable shots.

A Memorial Stone with the Edinburgh Castle in the Background

As the day progresses, the lighting changes the scenes dramatically.

The Caretaker's Cottage in Princess Street Gardens

Even the caretaker's cottage is extremely photogenic.

The Hub

Once a church, The Hub is now a landmark on the Royal Mile that promotes the Edinburgh Festival and also hosts several concerts and performances. This gothic structure is certainly worth exploring and The Hub Cafe located in the Hub is a great place for a cup of coffee or tea.

One of Edinburgh's Residential Streets

Just exploring Edinburgh's back streets is a ton of fun. As an example, after you have visited the castle, walked the Royal Mile and visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse, try just taking off on the side streets on your return to Princess Street and Princess Street Gardens.

The Architecture in Edinburgh is Always Interesting

You will find surprises at every turn while walking Edinburgh's side streets.

The Kilt Factory

Outside the entrance to the Edinburgh Castle is the Royal Kilt Factory. If you are interested in Scottish garb, then a visit to this factory is quite interesting. You can watch as the woolen patterns are created with the old weaving machines and when you are all done watching the process, you can purchase a kilt or other Scottish clothing items of your choice.

Off the Beaten Path:

Glasgow's Pubs and Restaurants Make the Trip Well Worth it

About 45-minutes via train, visiting Glasgow is a great way to spend the day if you have already visited Edinburgh before and are looking for a different experience. Click HERE for a thorough port review for Glasgow.

Dining and Drinking Suggestions:

Typical Edinburgh Pub

We don't have any specific recommendations, but would highly recommend any of Edinburgh's pubs for some Guinness and local fare. They all have menus posted outside and you can pick the one that you find most intriguing. We never had a bad meal in any pub in Edinburgh and that is really saying something.

Must Do List:

Part of Edinburgh Castle

Visiting Edinburgh Castle, walking the Royal Mile, viewing the National Gallery of Scotland and exploring Princess Street Gardens is something not to be missed. Enjoy your day in Edinburgh.

 

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