The Scottish capital of Edinburgh is a truly spectacular city – with over 75% of its buildings listed, it’s a picturesque place any time of year. But, if you plan your time in Edinburgh right, it’s bound to be the Winter of your discontent (who doesn’t love a Shakespeare pun?) – so next time you’re in Edinburgh and its chilly, warm your soul with these amazing activities and superb sights!
1) Edinburgh Castle
Ok, so it’s not an unexpected edition to a list like this, but sometimes a tourist attraction is an attraction for a reason. More than two million visitors stop off at the castle every year, and there’s good reason. Nestled in the heart of the city, not only is the castle itself stunning, but the views are amazing (even in the dead of Winter!)
It’s not the cheapest castle to visit, with it costing around £33 per adult for a guided tour, but many travel websites offer discounted skip the queue options – so make sure to check these before you buy!
2) Ghost Tours…
The earliest known human activity in the area now known as Edinburgh was in approximately 8500 BC – so, if there’s going to be a place to find ghosts, Edinburgh has got to be high on the list!
While a ghost-agnostic myself, sceptics and believers alike should always check out ghost tours (be it larger, comedy-theatre companies like the Ghost Tour Bus, or smaller, local tour guides) because they offer a unique perspective into the city’s deep and rich history. They’re especially great in the Winter, when the evenings get dark and spooky early…
We personally recommend The Ghost Tour Bus, as it is so fun and quirky to travel around the city in a traditional bus – but there are so many options to choose from, so make sure to shop around !
3) Head to The Duck and Waffle for a bougie breakfast
Whenever I travel anywhere, my priority is always food, and I love a restaurant with not only good vibes but delicious foods. The Duck and Waffle delivers luxury in all aspects of its menu. While slightly more expensive than your average brunch spot, their food is impeccable.
They had a fantastic range of Winter warmers, cocktails and food choices (including an actual Duck and Waffle…) so you’ll be spoilt for choice as you warm your insides!
You can book a spot here – and again, no affiliation just think everyone should have a chance to eat their hash browns (genuinely think I’d fly back to Edinburgh just for a plate of them)
4) Go nature walking…
“If you go out early in the morning, you’ll see everything Scotland has to offer”
Our Taxi Driver, who clearly mistook me for someone much more capable than I am…
So, while walking out in nature in the Winter might not seem like the perfect thing to do on your trip, hear us out. We were encouraged by our taxi driver and our hotel manager to not be put off by the cold weather and we’re so glad that we weren’t! While I am certainly not fit enough to climb them, Edinburgh is surrounded by breath taking peaks (literally, which is why I didn’t climb them), and my husband loved his morning nature walks.
The brisk cold air and views of the city made it worth the risk of rain, and you can’t beat the view of the city from the top. You’re going to have to take his word for it though, as unlike me, he doesn’t photograph everything! The picture above was taken from Edinburgh Castle of the hill he said had a nice view… so you’ll have to use your imagination on this one…
5) Gorge yourself on Chocolate!
Winter is a time to keep out the cold, and so it’s super important for your health to stay insulated. With that in mind, we have the perfect experience to keep a healthy amount of sugar in your system and that is the Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour.
Joining the tour starts at about £15 and let me tell you, it was one of the best tours we have ever been on – not just in Edinburgh! On arrival you’re given some delicious melted chocolate (still lovely and warm, so perfect for a Winter’s day) and then you sit in their ‘jungle’ for a quick talk about chocolate!
Not only is the tour informative, but you get to make your very own chocolate bars to take home with you – all in cute Scottish themed moulds! It’s such a novel experience and you get to sample so much chocolate that eventually you stop trying it on your own volition – that’s how you know you’ve had enough!
My favourite flavour was toffee apple – we visited in December and I only have one bar left! Soon I’ll be booking back with them again – and you can try it out if you’re in the area here! Remember to book early to avoid disappointment.
So that’s the end of our list – do you have any activities you think shouldn’t be missed in Edinburgh? Comment your favourite places to visit down below!
“This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.”
Alexander McCall Smith
TillbrookTravel 
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