As I mentioned in my January MirLo’s Moments, I spent ringing in the 2015 year in Edinburgh, taking part in Hogmanay. I strongly recommend taking part in all 3 days of activities if not more. Here is my suggested itinerary, to maximize fun with even the smallest budget.

December 30th

• Edinburgh Castle (approx. 2 hours) ~^~ Purchase the audio guide
• Visit the Big Wheel & Christmas Gardens (Festival suitable for all ages)
• Torchlight Procession (~^~ PIck up torchlight early and if you want to see the final burning of viking and close-up Fireworks, get to front of line before/by 6pm)
• Late night dinner at The Outsider (~^~ Reservations Required – especially if you want a castle view)

December 31st

• Falkirk Wheel ~^~ Outside city, but lovely drive or train ride and great for the family. It is one of a kind boat ride and technological genius!
• Lunch/Drinks at Tolbooth Tavern
• If time take Scotch Whisky Experience, its a good way to pre-game for the night’s events and educational
• Keilidh and Street Party (~^~ If you fancy seeing the bands for NYE, then buy tickets. BUT you can hear the music from Street Party)
  • If you want to learn scottish dance moves, see Fireworks in a managed-crowd space, Keilidh is a must)
• If you are expecting a late night, after midnight, then potentially pre-book tickets to The Tron or City Nightclub (as the queues can get long, but the entry price is FREE or reasonable). If you don’t want to pre-book and just go with the flow, then walk the streets of Royal Mile or Grassmarket or some side streets to find a local pub.
  • Recommendations, I recommend:
    • Bannersman Bar (pool tables, laidback rock bar, FREE CD)
    • Whistle Binkies (live band plays cover song)
    • The Three Sisters (huge bar, great place to watch sports, get food, drinks, and dance)

January 1st

• Great pubs along Cowgate, Princes Street, and Royal Mile to get a traditional breakfast and cure that hangover
• Climb Arthur’s Seat (Note: Can get very windy, so be careful and dress appropriately)
• Catch a Mary King’s Close tour (~^~ Great way to see underground vaults, and learn the mysterious history of Edinburgh)

Other things you can do in Edinburgh:

• Walking Tours of the City (Sandesman)
• Visit Glasglow for a day
• Take a coach day-trip to Loch Ness monster
• Pub Crawls at night are a great way to meet people, see people (Sandesman)
• Visit Holyrood Palace; National Museum; Royal Botanical Gardens

Total Budget Spent–> Lodging for 4 nights (£230) + Train (£150) + Food/Drinks/Entertainment (£138)= £520

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What ways could you save money on a trip like this;

• If you are a student or have a student ID, get the concession rate
• Book trains and lodging early. Edinburgh is a walkable city, therefore, you don’t necessarily need to stay central. You can stay on the outskirts of the city, and be able to walk to the centre in 15-20min.
  • Book lodging with a kitchen, therefore you can go to the local supermarkets (e.g. Tesco or Sainsburys) and prepare breakfast and/or lunches for the day, then go out at night or similar dietary plan
• Pre-book tours and attractions to save money using their online feature

NYE Keilidh Edinburgh Hogmanay Dec 31, 2014

Like what you see? What to spend time in Edinburgh but not during NYE? Contact me for further information.