Scotland and specifically Edinburgh has been at the top of my travel list for awhile. So when we planned a family trip to visit my sister in New York last December my mom and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to hop over the pond for a couple days to explore Scotland. It was such a great mother-daughter trip and especially wonderful during Christmas. Here is a list of our favorite things we did, ate, and drank during our time in Scotland.

To Do -

Walk the Royal Mile

Stretching through the heart of old town Edinburgh, the Royal Mile connects Edinburgh’s Royal Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse on the other side of the city. Along with the two castles you will find some of Edinburgh best attractions along the Royal Mile including St Giles' Cathedral, Mary King’s Clothes, and the Scottish Storytelling Centre. On this historic cobbled street you will also find some of the city’s best dining, drinking and shopping options.

TIP : If you are interested in learning more about Edinburgh, join a free walking tour. They start every afternoon along the Royal Mile and last a couple hours. We loved the free walking tour we did, our guide was hilariously energetic and we learned so much as we winded our way through the nooks and cranies of old town Edinburgh. There are also nightly Ghost Tours which sound super fun too!

Christmas Markets

We planned our trip to Scotland in December so that we were able to visit the beautiful Christmas markets set up this time of year. Edinburgh’s Christmas Market was our favorite in Scotland! Located right in the center of town near the Scott Monument, this market was giant with a ton of different stalls selling delicious Scottish food, mulled wine, desserts and local handicrafts.

Visit the Writers Museum

Hidden down an alleyway off the Royal Mile you will find the Writer’s Museum. This beautiful building built in the 1600’s houses a small museum that commemorates the lives of three of Scotland’s most distinguished writers, Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Visit Edinburgh Castle

Perched up on the hill overlooking the city, Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. When you climb Castle Hill to the top, you will walk in the same footsteps as soldiers, kings and queens have for nearly a thousand years.

Walk down Victoria Street

One of Edinburgh’s most beautiful streets is Victoria Street near Grassmarket. This colorful street is home to delicious restaurants, lively bars, and great shopping. And it’s a perfect place for a photo op.

Shop at the Harry Potter Stores

It’s easy to imagine why Edinburgh inspired JK Rowling when she was writing the Harry Potter series. With its hidden alleyways, cobblestone streets, and stunning architecture, this city already feels magical. There are a lot of different places throughout the city that are significant to the books, you can google them and do your own walking tour if you like. But if you are a fan, like me, make sure to stop by the Harry Potter store on Victorian Street. It was filled with magical things you can find in the books. My favorite thing about visiting the store was being able to see all the different character’s wands up close.

To Stay -

The Witchery

We stayed at two different places in Edinburgh during our trip. We started off by staying a couple wonderful nights at the Witchery. One of the most unique and opulent rooms we’ve ever stayed in and probably in one of the oldest buildings too. The Witchery Hotel is in the most ideal location, right on the Royal Mile next to the castle and walking distance from everything.

All the rooms are housed in old historical buildings and are decorated in a lavish, Gothic, and Victorian-style with antique furnishings. Being in these rooms makes you feel like you stepped back in time.

If you aren’t staying at the hotel you can still eat at The Witchery restaurant. It is set in a 16th-century building, and a luxurious meal on white tables is served by candlelight. We were there during Christmas so we were able to taste their Holiday Menu. It was a fantastic meal and a unforgettable night.

The Scotsman

When we came back to Edinburgh after exploring more of Scotland we stayed at The Scotsman Hotel and loved it! The location cannot be beat and the building is architecturally stunning. This hotel is iconic part of Edinburgh’s stunning skyline.

The inside of The Scotsman is just as stunning as the outside. The room we stayed in was modern and luxurious with sweeping views of the city from the windows. The service was superb and we would definitely stay here again.

To Eat -

Dishoom

Our favorite meal of our trip wasn’t actually Scottish cuisine but Indian!

This world renown Indian restaurant chain has a few other locations in the UK including London. When Dishoom finally made its way to Scotland they opened this restaurant in Saint Andrews Square. The food is delicious and pays homage to the Irani cafés of Bombay, India. The dishes are bright & flavorful and every bite of food we had here was mouthwatering.

We ordered the House Black Daal, Prawn Koliwada, Ruby Chicken, Raita, and garlic naan. Everything was delicious. It was one of those meals that you think about and crave when you come home.

Prawn Koliwada - crispy spicy prawns perfect dipped in the different chutneys

Fishers In the City

We wanted seafood for dinner and were looking for some place with local seafood on the menu and more specifically oysters. Fishers in the City had all of that and more. We left after a great meal of seafood chowder, fresh shucked oysters and steamed clams. These are of our favorite seafood dishes, and they were all delicious. We accompanied them with a glass of crisp white wine and had a great meal. We will definitely come back to Fishers next time we visit to Edinburgh and may possibily checkout their flagship restaurant located on the harbor in a 17th Century watchtower.

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Photos by Fischers

Deacon Brodies Tavern

There are so many charming pubs along the Royal Mile it was hard to pick one for lunch. We settled on Deacon Brodies Tavern and are glad we did. We sipped on pints of beer and enjoyed a lunch of fish and chips and shepherd’s pie.

To Drink -

The Dome

Besides being one of Edinburgh’s iconic landmarks, The Dome is one of the most beautifully decorated buildings during Christmas time. Inside The Dome you will see a giant decorated Christmas tree above the bar. Come here for drinks, dinner, or afternoon tea. Reservations are a good idea or you will be waiting in a line outside!

Tollbooth Tavern

Another one of Edinburgh historical pubs along the Royal Mile. We stopped by a lot of pubs during this trip and loved them all. Usually set in old buildings these pubs are dark and always serve frosty pints of beer on tap. The menus are usually similar with fish and chips, bangers and mash, burgers, and Scottish pies on them. If you are feeling adventurous try Haggis or Black Pudding two of Scotland’s national dishes. Don’t knock them until you try them, they are actually very tasty.