MUST SEE & DO IN EDINBURGH

​Ahh, Edinburgh. It seems like a city that lives in both the past and present. The moment I arrived, in a late spring evening after a horrendous incident of missed flights, I was immediately smitten. The first thing I saw when my train dropped me off in the middle of the city is a large gothic structure, dark and skeletal, a contrast from its surrounding lively streets of modern city. Edinburgh makes no effort to hide its medieval history, and why should it? Set in the middle of scenic Scotland, it retains its old charms while also bursting with culture, a melting pot of students and lives from all over the world. You see the diversity in the restaurants, the people boarding buses, and food stalls in the morning markets. But you’ll never miss the native identity of Scotland, the streets lined with old buildings made of beige stones, churches sturdy in corners of the city, and the castle perched on top of the granitic hills. It’s also exceptionally green in the city thanks to the constant rain all year round, making it all the more pleasant for walks, excursions and exploration.
Here are things you must try to do when you’re in the city.

Bask In The Hustle and Bustle of City Life At Princess Street
​
Princess Street is a great place to center yourself in Edinburgh. It pulses with people, from locals going about their daily lives to throngs of tourists sightseeing. The buildings are modern, it’s the hub for most bus routes, and there are blocks of shops, restaurants and pubs. Walk along the main street that faces the hills where the old Edinburgh is – the view is quite something. Across the main road is the Princess Street garden, a popular spot to sit back in one of the benches or take long leisurely strolls overlooking the panoramic view of old Edinburgh. On a sunny day, go into the nearby Marks and Spencer right off the street, grab some snacks and have a gorgeous picnic here. The Scott Monument, a tall gothic splendor piercing through the modern buildings makes for a very appealing photo stop (I did. A few times. Good luck clearing the crowds though). On weekends expect live street performances of music and bagpipes echoing along the street, adding to vibes of modern Scotland. 

Sample Some Local Delicacies At The Morning Outdoor Market
​
I sound like a broken record, but truly: one of the best ways to experience a new place is by experiencing its cuisine. The Edinburgh morning market is the perfect representation of what the city is all about. On one hand, you’ll find amazing local products and traditional Scottish cuisines like cheeses, pheasant soup, pies and preserved meats. On the other, there are also popups showcasing the diversity of the people in the city, like stalls selling curries, dumplings, paellas and even Utopian stews. Make a point to visit a morning market and spend ample time browsing and sampling to your gastronomic content.

Channel Romance At Dean Village
​
At face value, Dean Village is truly just a small city village with quiet old buildings lined along a serene Water of Leith (it’s a river). And therefore, expect to do nothing here except take a long, long walk around the buildings. Good weather is imperative for a good experience here, so it’s worth planning your visit around a forecast.
Dean Village gives a glimpse of the simple Edinburgh living neighborhood. The buildings are old but well-preserved, you’ll walk down cobbled streets passing by the river, and the roads lead in and out of lush city parks that definitely channel some of those British romance novels you would’ve read at least once in your lifetime (or watched).

Explore The Many, Many, Many Independent Bookshops

Scotland is the birthplace of many significant and prolific writers – think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Walter Scott and helloooo JK Rowling. Scots are also avid readers, and you could easily see this from the sheer volume of book shops around the city. There are the newer establishments selling glossy new editions of this century’s budding writers, sure, but for me the real gems are the second hand book shops, independent business nestled in cozy little stores by the street, showcasing old-bound editions with that oh-so-heavenly smell of books. More often than not I found myself spending hours just browsing down the aisles, shop after shop, marveling the early 1900s edition of novels and illustrations. If you’re lucky, you might even find one with handwritten notes from a loved one of the owner decades ago, a reminder of the passage of time.
I would recommend specifically: Armchair Books, Edinburgh Books.

Walk The Royal Mile
​
The Royal Mile is essentially a large road that leads you up the hill towards Edinburgh castle, lined with century-old buildings now converted into shops selling all manner of Scottish products. Always with throngs of tourists, it’s a lively area, with a dark gothic church in one corner and cafes dotted around for you to sit and watch the world go by. More often than not there would be bagpipes being played along the street, adding to the atmosphere.
An interesting feature that can be observed here (and many more places around the city, actually) are the hides. These are small narrow lanes that you can access from the main street, and these serve as a pathway during the medieval times into the back alleys of the main street. At the Royal Mile, some of them boast beautiful secret views to the city (as we’re now uphill), and it’s a fun little task to uncover what some of them has to offer and you move up towards the castle.

Try Local Produce In Season (Cook, Or Check Out Local Restaurants/Pubs)

I’m going to sound like a broken record, but truly! The best way to discover a new place, a new culture, is via what’s being served on its plate! Dining locally gives an insight to the kinds of produce the locals consume, and the palette that’s exclusive to the area of that region. But what is British food? I hear you ask. It doesn’t always have a good rep, but Scottish food has its own personality. Edinburgh food scene is diverse, a reflection of its mix of cultures and heritages.
I recommend going to Howies for its excellent fish dish, Queen’s Arms for proper pub grub (Sunday roast! And they even have a vegan option!), the Miles (it’s a franchise I know, but it’s really good!) for a potato and onion pasty (trust me on this), Thai for its pad thai (it will surprise you, in a good way), Mimi’s Bakery for its Victoria sandwich cake (proper British dairy cream, so so good), and here’s a bonus tip: pop into Marks and Spencer and get its Ultimate Trifle and eat it by the spoonful; it doesn’t get anymore British than a trifle, folks.

Go For A Hike Around Holyrood Park
​
I’ve been to many cities around the world, and I’ve got to hand it to Edinburgh for being one of the most walkable yet. The city is designed to cater pedestrians, with large walkways and proper facilities to ensure it is safe for you to walk around and across the main streets. But it gets even better – there’s a large park right in the middle of the city! Centered by the Eton Hill, the Holyrood park is a serene, green piece of tranquility perfect to spend a sunny day in. the trails are well marked, clean and scenic, offering sweeping views of the city and a peek of the Eton Hill. If you feel like it, you can certainly hike up to the top, but even if you don’t, walking around the hill is a blissful experience by itself. Wear proper walking shoes, pack some water and snacks and if the day is fairly sunny, don’t forget your sunscreen! You can navigate yourself towards the Swan Lake, a beautiful little place with exactly what it says on the tin – swans! 
As per usual when it comes to Scottish weather, it would be smart to check the weather forecast prior to going, or have a raincoat handy in your back pack just in case!

The Grassmarket For Some Epic Ice Cream, and an Equally Magical View
​
Do these things, and do these things in this particular order. First, get yourself to Grassmarket. You can either walk there from the city center or take a bus (use Google Directions for bus schedules, they’re pretty accurate). Then find a place called Mary’s Milk Bar. It’s a small ice cream shop, and it’s special because it changes flavours everyday, showcasing really interesting and unique flavours that are also delicious. The queue is long but moves fast, so be patient. Get your choice of ice cream. Now that you’ve got one, find a large staircase located just next to the shop. This staircase is call the Vennel. Go up that staircase. Keep going until you reach the top, ice cream in hand. When you do, turn around. You’ll find an epic view of Edinburgh castle. It’s probably one of the best view points in the city. Sit on those stairs and enjoy your ice cream and the view. You’re welcome.

Chill At The Graveyards (Yes, Really)
​
Why though? Is what you’re probably thinking. The graveyards in Edinburgh are well kept, sure, but there are also other very good reasons to pay them a visit. The eerie quiet that feels melancholy to sit in. The amazing views (they are usually located on top of hills or along a terrain). Famous graveyards (James Hutton! Father of Geology!). It’s not even totally weird if you bring a sandwich and eat by the grass overlooking the ancient stones that mark the deaths of the many Scots over the century.

Relive Your Harry Potter Dreams At Victoria Street
​
The city is practically a mecca for Harry Potter fans. The characters, locations and scenes were literally conjured out of Edinburgh after all. In particular, the author, JK Rowling, has said that she used Victoria Street as an inspiration for Diagon Alley, the famous street in the Harry Potter series where wizards and witches would go to buy their wands, magic brooms and robes. When you do get to Victoria Street, you’ll feel the enchantment immediately. The curve of the cobbled street, the Harry Potter-themed shops with all sorts of merchandise to bring home, the cafes to sit and get a good view of the street on a busy day – you can truly relive your Potterhead fandom and fantasize yourself as a character in Rowling’s magical world, perhaps.

Check Out The Old University of Edinburgh
​
It’s old. Like, really old. 440 years old, to be exact. The University of Edinburgh has also graduated some well-known figures over the centuries like Charles Darwin, Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and of course, JK Rowling to name a few. But most of all, for us, fellow peasants, the University grounds is perfect for a stroll. The buildings are ancient but well-kept, there are parks to walk through and watch dogs have the time of their lives, and you can get lost in the crowd of students and academicians, all bustling through the buildings like they have somewhere important to be (lectures, or maybe pubs, most probably). Visit the main library, bask in the beauty of the Surgeons’ Hall, or take a stroll under cherry blossom trees lining the streets around The Meadows. It’s like reliving your days as a student, except without all of those… assignments and thesis.

Thrift Shopping Along A7 and South Bridge Streets
​
There is something magical about thrift shops. They’re usually tiny, but packed with all kinds of things you might and might not expect. In Edinburgh, they are usually for a good cause, supporting a specific charity licensed by the government. Step into one to escape the dreary weather and find yourself surrounded by random items, some brand new with the rest laden with history. A leather jacket that will only look better with age. Old books with notes from the previous owners (the best!). Designer handbags, well-kept and less than half the original tag. China tea-sets. Peculiar looking tops from the 80s. Classical music vinyls. Board games they don’t make anymore. The possibilities are endless!
Although there any many second-hand shops scattered around the city, I thought the A7 and South Bridge Streets have the most lined up next to each other, and it’s a fun idea to spend a rainy day in.