9 Festive Issues to Do in Edinburgh at Christmas

Edinburgh, Scotland, could be certainly one of my favourite cities on the earth. With its lengthy historical past, magical structure, and the sound of bagpipes and the scent of whisky wafting by way of the streets, Edinburgh actually is in contrast to every other place I have been. And that is true any time of 12 months!

I have been to Edinburgh at the least 9 occasions (however presumably extra; I’ve truthfully misplaced depend), visiting in each single season. And whereas I like Edinburgh through the lengthy days of summer time, I find it irresistible equally across the holidays, when town transforms right into a twinkly wonderland.

Previously, I’ve celebrated New Yr’s in Edinburgh, happening within the raucous Hogmanay celebrations over the course of a number of days. However final 12 months I made a decision I needed to see town within the barely less-crazy pre-Christmas season, too. And so I took the prepare up from London for a couple of days of Scottish vacation magic.

Issues to do for Christmas in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a a lot smaller metropolis than, say, London. So you may’t actually evaluate Edinburgh at Christmas to Christmas in London. However Edinburgh nonetheless has lots of attraction through the holidays, and many to do!

Edinburgh at Christmas is simply as pretty as I imagined it might be, and listed below are my favourite issues to do there through the festive season.

1. Browse the Edinburgh Christmas market

Town of Edinburgh places on “Edinburgh Christmas” every year, which encompasses lots of the issues on this listing. The most well-liked side of this vacation take-over of Edinburgh’s metropolis heart is the normal Christmas market that they arrange in Princes Avenue Gardens.

There’s really two elements to this market; one half in East Princes Avenue Gardens, and one in West Princes Avenue Gardens.

The market in East Princes Avenue Gardens has 70+ stalls promoting meals, drinks, items, and extra, together with iconic rides just like the LNER Large Wheel (Ferris wheel) and the Starflyer arrange subsequent to the towering Scott Monument.

In West Princes Avenue Gardens instantly under Edinburgh Citadel you will discover the Festive Household Funfair with kid-friendly rides, illuminations, and even a station the place you may write and ship a letter to Santa.

This market space opens every year in mid-November and runs into the primary week of January.

2. Go ice skating on George Avenue

George Avenue within the New City transforms into its personal winter wonderland, together with an ice rink the place you may hire skates and take to the ice. This rink is ticketed, they usually supply children’ classes, in addition to adults-only late night time skates.

3. Go to a pop-up Christmas bar

Proper subsequent to the ice rink on George Avenue, yow will discover the pop-up Polar Ice Bar, the place the tables, chairs, and even glasses are carved fully from ice. This spot IS a bar, however in addition they supply a couple of family-friendly classes the place you may convey the youngsters. They serve each alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks inside, and coats/gloves are supplied upon entry so you do not get too chilly.

Elsewhere in Edinburgh, there are additionally a couple of different pop-up Christmas bars, too. Final 12 months I went to Tigerlily, which transforms its restaurant and bar house right into a Christmas explosion of baubles and sparkles. Add in a menu of Christmas cocktails, and it was the right spot for vacation vibes. This 12 months, they’re including festive vacation afternoon teas to the calendar, too!

4. Have a vacation afternoon tea

Talking of festive afternoon teas… there aren’t any scarcity of them in Edinburgh! (Simply make sure you e book forward.)

Locations to strive them embrace:

• Colonnades on the Signet Library – That is essentially the most stunning spot for afternoon tea in Edinburgh.
• Festive tea at The Witchery – Benefit from the darkish literary tea of your goals at this vacation afternoon tea loved by candlelight.
• Tigerlily – Have a lovely holiday-themed tea, and even have tea with Santa on choose dates!
• Tea at The Scotsman Hotel – Their pleasant afternoon tea will get a vacation improve every winter season.
• The Tea Rooms at Edinburgh Castle – Get pleasure from tea throughout the citadel grounds, which has a festive twist all by way of December.
• Tea at Prestonfield House – Simply previous Holyrood park, Prestonfield Home does a decadent vacation afternoon tea of their embellished historic rooms.
• Fingal Hotel – This floating resort inside a historic ship in Leith goes all-out with its festive afternoon tea; it is completely gorgeous.

In search of non-holiday sights? Verify this put up for one of the best issues to do in Edinburgh, or this one for a 3-days in Edinburgh itinerary.

5. Have dinner at The Dome

The restaurant referred to as The Dome is legendary in Edinburgh. They provide a festive afternoon tea right here, too, but when you are going to make a reserving at The Dome across the holidays, I actually assume it must be for dinner.

The Dome is positioned inside a shocking Georgian constructing from 1775 with towering columns each inside and outside, marble bars, and complicated chandeliers. At Christmas time, they festoon the columns outdoors with lights and put up a large Christmas tree within the heart of the Grill Room beneath the dome that the place is known as for.

You *can* come right here for lunch or afternoon tea, however I personally assume it appears to be like essentially the most magical at night time.

And if you wish to assure your self a desk with a view, you will need to e book within the Grill Room for dinner. They’ve each a set menu and an a la carte menu, together with some particular festive drinks every year.

I used to be in a position to e book a desk for an early dinner only a couple days upfront, so if it is all booked up while you first look, maintain checking. (It’s also possible to attempt to pop in for drinks on a walk-up foundation, however you may need to attend in line outdoors for some time with a view to get in.)

6. Go on a scorching chocolate crawl

Okay, so this one is not *technically* holiday-themed, however Christmas is actually the time of 12 months I am almost definitely to savor a scorching cup of cocoa. And Edinburgh has some actually wonderful scorching chocolate choices! You may simply take your self on somewhat scorching cocoa crawl.

The must-visit scorching chocolate spots in Edinburgh embrace:

• Coro the Chocolate Cafe – Get pleasure from a comfortable mug of specialty scorching chocolate alongside different tasty dessert treats.
• Moo Pie Gelato – This tiny ice cream store simply off the Royal Mile does wonderful scorching chocolate.
• Basement Gelato Co – Not removed from the Johnnie Walker Expertise, this spot makes use of a completely home-made recipe – AND has vegan choices.
• The Marshmallow Woman – Close to the Royal Botanic Backyard, this spot is understood for its enormous, hand-made marshmallows that high its scorching cocoa.
• Uplands Roast – This espresso trailer close to The Meadows does an excellent decadent scorching chocolate.

7. See Holyroodhouse decked out for the vacations

Edinburgh really is dwelling to 2 castles: Edinburgh Citadel on the high of the Royal Mile (extra of a army fortress) and Palace of Holyroodhouse on the backside of the Royal Mile (the precise palace-feeling palace that the Royal household nonetheless makes use of).

Holyrood dons its Christmas decor across the holidays, together with massive Christmas timber, garlands, and extra. In addition they host a number of festive occasions, and have a Christmas-inspired menu contained in the cafe.

If you happen to’re solely going to tour one citadel in Edinburgh through the vacation season, I’d make it Holyroodhouse.

8. Get pleasure from immersive gentle reveals

There are two right here price mentioning in Edinburgh:

First, the Royal Botanic Backyard does a “Christmas at the Botanics” show every winter, which is made up of illuminated trails, twinkling tunnels, and all kinds of fairly gentle shows. This can be a nighttime-specific occasion, and there are some distributors alongside the way in which promoting issues like scorching cocoa and marshmallows to toast.

The opposite is the “Castle of Light” show at Edinburgh Citadel, which is a light-weight projection expertise on the citadel partitions. Together with the sunshine present, there are additionally meals distributors and hearth pits to get pleasure from. Many individuals say the nighttime expertise is extra geared in the direction of children and households.

I’ll be aware which you could see lots of the sunshine projections on the citadel from Princes Avenue Gardens, which could be sufficient for some individuals who do not need to head as much as the citadel after darkish.

9. Go light-looking across the metropolis

Lastly, there are many pretty gentle shows and decorations to get pleasure from round Edinburgh. A few of my favorites embrace:

• The snowflakes and garlands strung up above Victoria Avenue
• A projected gentle show on the skin of The Johnnie Walker Expertise
• Gentle show on The Huxley constructing
• The surface of The Dome
• You may additionally discover Christmas timber inside most lodges, and even inside St. Giles Cathedral

And naturally you may nonetheless get pleasure from all the conventional issues to do in Edinburgh, too, together with strolling the Royal Mile, taking a Harry Potter tour, visiting museums, seeing the views from locations like Calton Hill and Dean Village, occurring a ghost tour, and extra.

I like Edinburgh in any season, but it surely actually has some additional attraction round Christmas.

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Would you want to go to Edinburgh at Christmas?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by way of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!