LANGUAGE

English

CURRENCY

pound sterling

BEST TIME TO VISIT

June to August

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Edinburgh Waverley railway station

NEAREST AIRPORT

Edinburgh Airport (EDI)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

There are countless wi-fi hot spots all over Edinburgh. Internet cafes, such as Coffee Home in Leith, are spread around the city, and most cafes and bars offer free wi-fi for customers.

VISA

Generally not needed for stays of up to six months. The UK is not a member of the Schengen Area.

If you’re a citizen of the EEA (European Economic Area) nations or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa to enter or work in Britain – you can enter using your national identity card.

Visa regulations are always subject to change, which is especially likely after Britain’s exit from the EU on 29 March 2019, so it’s essential to check before leaving home.

Currently, if you’re a citizen of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, the US and several other countries, you can stay for up to six months (no visa required) but are not allowed to work.

Nationals of many countries, including South Africa, will need to obtain a visa: for more info, see www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration.

The Youth Mobility Scheme, for Australian, Canadian, Japanese, Hong Kong, Monégasque, New Zealand, South Korean and Taiwanese citizens aged 18 to 31, allows working visits of up to two years but must be applied for in advance.

Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born parent may be eligible for a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode, which entitles them to live and work in the UK.

Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent could qualify for a UK Ancestry Employment Certificate, allowing them to work full time for up to five years in the UK.

British immigration authorities have always been tough; dress neatly and carry proof that you have sufficient funds with which to support yourself. A credit card and/or an onward ticket will help.

HOTEL

Edinburgh’s city center is the ideal place to stay for first-time visitors who want to see the city’s best-known sights. The historic Old Town surrounds the Royal Mile, stretching from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle. This neighborhood is popular for its old-world charm and plentiful museums as well as its historical significance. The adjacent Princes Street neighborhood is famous for its posh retail shops and the stunning Princes Street Gardens, which decorate the grounds in front of the castle. The New Town business district offers some of the city’s best dining, from the ritziest restaurant to cozy bistros. The neighborhood’s laid-back atmosphere is perfect for people-watching, and independent shops offer an alternative to Princes Street’s retail chains. The Broughton & Calton neighborhood is a bit more spread out, home to Calton Hill and the National Monument of Scotland.

LUXURY

Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa- $300 onwards per night

24 Royal Terrace- $267 onwards per night

MID- RANGE

The Inn on the Mile – $165 onwards per night

Ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St. Andrew Square Hotel: $108 onwards per night

BUDGET

Cairn Hotel Edinburgh- $64 onwards per night

Hotel Ceilidh-Donia – $90 onwards per night

COST OF LIVING

Edinburgh will be a welcome relief to anyone coming from London, as it’s noticeably cheaper. As long as you aren’t visiting during the August festival season you should be able to get a reasonably deal on either a well located hotel or hostel, at least compared to London. If you are coming in August, here’s how to do the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the cheap.

The attractions in Edinburgh range from quite expensive to completely free, as state-run museums throughout the UK have no admission charge. It’s also worth mentioning how far north Edinburgh is and that the days are extremely long in summer and quite short in winter.

The cost of food and drinks is also lower here than in London, though of course your options are far more limited as well. There are plenty of snack bar and sandwich places around the city if you are looking for a cheap meal, and plenty of great restaurant choices if you want to try some local favorites like haggis. Hotels in Edinburgh have more or less three distinct seasons. The absolute peak season is the entire month of August, when the city is overflowing with festival-goers and performers. If you want to stay in Edinburgh during the festival season then you are advised to book at least six months in advance, and many hotels are literally booked up a full year in advance.

The rest of summer is the normal “high season” so June, July, and the first half of September are as busy as the days are long, so it’s best to book well in advance even during this season. The low season is really only from January though March, but availability and decent deals are possible from October through December as well, although the Christmas and New Year’s holidays do get crowded and a few smaller hotels actually close during this period.