Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh is filled to the brim with thrilling adventure and historical intrigue that any traveller can enjoy. With a sprawling historical cityscape, a massive castle and well-kept greenspaces, it’s easy to see why so many from around the world flock to Edinburgh for holiday adventures. By booking a holiday accommodation in Edinburgh, you can experience all this adventure and wonder for yourself in an unforgettable getaway.
Even before Roman arrival in the 1st century, people have been occupying the Edinburgh area for thousands of years. Since then, it has grown to be a sprawling metropolis packed with historical sites from centuries past. The most popular historical landmark is Edinburgh Castle, an imposing fortress built at the peak of a long inactive volcano. Visit this castle, and you can explore its long and varied history as a prison for pirates, a defensive fortification and the home of St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 12th century. You may also want to stop by St Giles’ Cathedral. It’s spires are visible across the Edinburgh skyline, but visiting the building itself showcases 14th-century architecture with vibrant stained glass and expertly-crafted angelic sculptures. No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a stop by Arthur’s Seat. This hill offers breathtaking views of the entire city, and it was the potential site of Camelot, according to Arthurian legends.
Are you looking for things to do in the area? Venture out of your cosy holiday rental and check out everything that Edinburgh has to offer. These are some of the major attractions to put on your list, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city centre:
Whether you're looking for adventure or just want to spend some time taking in the scenery, Edinburgh is a great place to get out in nature. Here are some of the area’s most enchanting features, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city centre:
Fly into Edinburgh (EDI), the closest airport, located 6.5 mi (10.5 km) from the city centre.
If you're travelling by train, Edinburgh Waverley Station, Edinburgh Haymarket Station and Slateford Station are the main stations that serve the city.
Getting to Edinburgh is easy, thanks to its international airport. With its extensive public transportation system, getting around the city itself is simple, as well. There’s a bus service that takes visitors and residents throughout the city, and there’s even a bus service called Airlink100 that takes travellers to the airport 24 hours a day. Additionally, there’s a wheelchair-accessible tram service that operates all over town. Of course, you can also hail a black taxi cab or rent a car hire for that extra bit of freedom on your holiday.
As the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is home to all the traditional Scottish food and drink you’d expect, along with some lesser known treats. The most famous Scottish beverage is arguably Scotch Whisky, and there’s no better place to find some than Edinburgh. Aged at least 3 years in an oak barrel, this powerful drink is legally required to have at least 40 percent alcohol by volume. For a more challenging experience, you can try the infamous haggis. Made from lamb heart, lungs and liver, this traditional Scottish dish isn’t to be taken lightly, but preferably with a dram of Scotch. If you’re trying to remember your Edinburgh holiday, you may want to drink Irn Bru instead. This soft drink is Scotland’s second most famous drink and comes with a deliciously sweet orange flavour.
Edinburgh is known for its numerous events and festivals put on throughout the year. The longest running is the Edinburgh International Festival. During this event, you can enjoy musical performances and theatre productions that feature some of the best directors, orchestras and performers from around the world. The largest festival, however, is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also known simply as ‘The Fringe’. As one of the world’s largest arts festivals, this massive festival spans 25 days throughout August and features thousands of performances across hundreds of venues. It’s especially notable for having no selection committee. That means anyone can participate in any way they see fit, so expect to see a wide variety of acts. Additionally, you can attend the traditional Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event every new year. A variety of attractions near holiday homes can be seen there, including concerts, fireworks and even the burning of a Viking longship.
Our 2019 accommodation listings offer a large selection of 2,042 holiday rentals near Edinburgh. From 1,707 Condos/Apartments to 228 Houses, find unique holiday homes for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends. The best place to stay near Edinburgh is on HomeAway.
There are many lovely places to stay for a long holiday or just a weekend break in Edinburgh. From HomeAway travellers, the popular destinations to visit are:
HomeAway offers you the possibility to discover many other popular destinations in Edinburgh! Please use our search bar to access the selection of holiday rentals available in other popular destinations.
Whether you are travelling solo or with family and friends, here are the cities in Edinburgh with the largest selection of holiday rentals for a perfect city break:
For other cities, please use our search bar to access the selection of holiday homes available.
HomeAway offers a large selection of holiday homes near great places to visit in Edinburgh. From HomeAway travellers, the more popular points of interest to stay for a holiday trip or just for a weekend are:
But there are many other points of interest around Edinburgh listed on HomeAway where you can find your place to stay. Just write your wanted destination in our search bar and have a look at our selection of holiday homes.