Edinburgh: A Student Travel Guide

One of the best things about living in the UK is how quick, easy and cheap it is to get to around Britain and to mainland Europe. For short weekend breaks there are so many options it can be hard to decide where to go. To help you out we are creating a series of guides to places in Europe that are perfect for short holidays. If you have been anywhere exciting in Europe and want to write a short guide, then please get in contact with us. 

At ForeignStudents.com, it is Scotland Week this week, so we thought it would be fitting to do a travel guide to the Scottish capital city. If you like the sound of Edinburgh and want a chance to win a free trip to Scotland, make sure you check out our competition here. It is so easy to enter and it is up to you whether you win or not!

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is an important literary and cultural centre, and a brilliant choice if you are looking for a weekend away.

Getting There

Edinburgh is easy to get to from anywhere in the UK. From London, you can go by train in just over 4 hours, by bus in 9 hours and you can also fly cheaply with easyjet in just 1 hour. If you decide to fly make sure you book in advance to get the best deals.

Accommodation

There are lots of options when it comes to choosing a place to stay. There are many reasonably priced hotels located in the centre of town. You can search for cheap accommodation in Edinburgh here.

What You Should Do

There is plenty to see in Edinburgh. The city is rich in culture and history. (It's the birth place of Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone), Sean Connery (actor) and J.K. Rowling wrote her first book in Edinburgh.

• Edinburgh Castle is a famous landmark, sitting on its own volcanic rock at the top of the Royal Mile. Make sure you go and see the Scottish Crown Jewels whilst you're there.

• The medieval old town, the Georgian new town and the award winning modern architecture (including the new parliament building (pictured right)) are all worth a visit.

• You can learn about the history of our planet at Dynamic Earth, or if you are feeling brave then you can also visit the Edinburgh Dungeon.

Top Three Tips

1. Edinburgh is not expensive at all (compared to London) and has a great range of local restaurants to choose from. The locals are very friendly and the nightlife is also great fun.
2. The best way to see Edinburgh is to walk around. Another way to make sure you don't miss anything is buy a 24 hour pass on a hop on and off bus which costs around £10 for students.
3. If you manage to time it right, try and be there for the world famous Edinburgh Festival.

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