What is there to do in Edingburgh?

Question

Im a student on a budget going to Edingburgh for the weekend. What is there to do thats free or cheap?

Answer 1

Free ideas:

-Walk the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace.  The buildings and shops along the way are interesting.  You can stop in a church along the way, and visit shops to pick up souvenirs.

- Climb Calton Hill -- it has interesting unfinished monuments and a wonderful view of the city.

- Visit the Royal Botanic Garden -- free admission to 70 acres of gardens

- Climb Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park -- an extinct volcano

- Visit a festival -- Edinburgh has a boatload of festivals, hopefully there will be one going on while you're there.  In the spring, there is a Ceilidh Culture festival, and a fringe festival in the summer.

- Stroll down Princes Street -- great views of the castle.

Cheap ideas:

-Have a pint of beer with your friends at a pub on the Royal Mile or in the port city of Leith.  Scenic, and never a bad idea.

Not free or cheap, but you should splurge on:

- Edinburgh Castle.  It's got great buildings, cannons, a pet cemetery, crown jewels, a torture methods demonstration, etc. with a wonderful view of the city.  And all your friends will assume you went there.  Ask for a student discount.

- Consider taking a day trip out to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel.  It's a highly unusual engineering feat.  And you don't have to take the boat ride -- just pay for admission and walk around the grounds -- lots of fun.

Happy travels!