How to Find Hotels in Edinburgh, Scotland

A trip to Edinburgh, the scenic capital city of Scotland, suggests a plethora of activities to keep a traveler occupied and entertained. Whether you visit Stuart palaces or humble neighborhood pubs, there's a friendly smile waiting for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Plane tickets
• Passport
• Luggage
• Rental car
• Hotel reservation
• Computer
• Map
• Credit card

Plan Your Itinerary

1. Time your visit so you can attend the Edinburgh International Festival in August. Make sure you have hotel reservations well in advance, though, because the city's population doubles at this time of year due to the influx of visitors.
2. Educate yourself about Scottish culture and heritage at the Royal Museum of Scotland.
3. Tour the city's architectural gems, including St. Giles Cathedral.
4. Hike to the top of Arthur's Seat for an impressive panoramic view of Edinburgh, and don't forget your camera.
5. Wander the neighborhoods that were home to such well-known figures as Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
6. View the art exhibitions at Edinburgh's five National Galleries.
7. Stroll along the popular pedestrian paths in the Royal Botanic Garden and admire the lush greenery.
8. Check out List magazine's Web site (see, below) for restaurant reviews and to find out about entertainment scheduled at the city's pubs and nightclubs.
9. Attend a soccer, rugby or cricket match, all of which are popular professional sports in Scotland.

Find Accommodations

10. To book accommodations, contact Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
11. Use your itinerary and a map to decide what part of town will be most convenient for your stay.
12. Think about staying in Bruntsfield, an area of Edinburgh known for its food and its golf. Here, you'll find an array of charming local delis, as well as a golf course located in the city's open park, the Meadows.
13. Use a travel agent or online travel site to book your accommodations in advance (and WAY in advance if you plan on being there in August).
14. Consider staying in the up-and-coming district of Leith, home to the Royal Yacht Britannia on permanent exhibition. This port district offers plenty of new hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. There's an open-air market and an exclusive shopping gallery, too.

Get Around Town

15. Make use of Edinburgh's popular bus system to get to practically any corner of the city.
16. Catch a train from Waverley railway station to explore Scotland outside of Edinburgh.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• The national currency of Scotland is the Pound Sterling. Knowing the current exchange rate will prevent any surprises when you make purchases.
• English is the official language, but it may take some time to get accustomed to hearing it spoken with an accent different from your own. If you anticipate having problems with the accent, try watching some Scottish films before you go.