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Scotland, UK · UK

Edinburgh

A castle on an old volcano, Georgian crescents and snug pubs, about an hour from Dublin.

  • DUB → EDI · 1h 10m
  • Best May–Jun, Sep
  • €€ Mid-range
  • City break
  • Romantic
  • Family
Edinburgh's skyline and the monuments on Calton Hill at sunrise

Photo: Kris Tian / Unsplash

01 · Why go

Why Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a short hop that still feels like a proper trip. A medieval Old Town strung along a volcanic ridge, an orderly Georgian New Town below it, and an actual extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat, that you can climb before breakfast: few capitals pack that much drama into a 20-minute walk. The flight from Dublin barely gives you time to finish a coffee, and you won’t need an adaptor.

The pub culture will feel familiar, the whisky bars less so, and the big museums and galleries are free, which makes it a forgiving city in bad weather. It suits couples, history buffs, walkers and families, and it’s an easy first stop before a road trip into the Highlands.

Timing matters more than usual here. August is festival month: thrilling if you want comedy, theatre and music from noon until the small hours, much less so if you want a quiet weekend or a sane hotel bill. December brings Christmas markets and Hogmanay. For the best balance, go in May, June or September, when evenings are long and crowds manageable.

The honest caveat is the weather, which changes by the hour, and the wind, which is serious even in summer, so pack a proper jacket. Hotels are pricey year-round, and since July 2026 a 5% visitor levy has been added to the first five nights of an accommodation bill.

The UK’s health and phone rules catch out plenty of Irish travellers, so read our guide to travel insurance, EHIC and GHIC before you go.

02 · When to go

Best time to visit

Best: May–Jun, Sep. Also good: Apr, Jul–Aug, Oct, Dec.

  1. January: Quieter / less ideal, average high 7°C
  2. February: Quieter / less ideal, average high 8°C
  3. March: Quieter / less ideal, average high 10°C
  4. April: Good time, average high 13°C
  5. May: Best time, average high 16°C
  6. June: Best time, average high 18°C
  7. July: Good time, average high 19°C
  8. August: Good time, average high 19°C
  9. September: Best time, average high 17°C
  10. October: Good time, average high 13°C
  11. November: Quieter / less ideal, average high 10°C (this month)
  12. December: Good time, average high 7°C
BestGoodQuieterAverage daily high, °C

03 · Getting there

Flights to Edinburgh

Typical direct flight times. Schedules change by season, so always check the current timetable.

From

DUB

Dublin

To

EDI

Edinburgh

AirlinesAer Lingus · Ryanair

Flight time

1h 10m

Direct

From

AMS

Amsterdam

To

EDI

Edinburgh

AirlinesKLM · easyJet

Flight time

1h 30m

Direct

From

LHR

London

To

EDI

Edinburgh

AirlinesBritish Airways

Flight time

1h 25m

LNER and Lumo trains from King's Cross take around 4h 20m

From the airport: Edinburgh Trams run to Princes Street in about 35 minutes and carry on to Leith; the Airlink 100 bus reaches Waverley Bridge in around 30 minutes. A taxi takes 25–30 minutes, longer at rush hour.

04 · Where to stay

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Old Town

01

Best for: First-timers

The Royal Mile, the castle, the Grassmarket's pubs and the narrow closes and wynds running off them. You'll walk everywhere, and atmosphere is guaranteed. It's also the loudest, busiest and most touristy part of the city, especially in August, and old buildings often mean lots of stairs.

New Town

02

Best for: Couples and shoppers

Grand Georgian streets and crescents (a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Old Town), with smart cocktail bars and restaurants on George Street and Thistle Street. Waverley station and the tram are close. It's calmer at night, yet only ten minutes' walk from the Royal Mile.

Leith

03

Best for: Food lovers

Edinburgh's old port, with seafood restaurants and bars along the Shore, the Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal and a more local feel. The tram reaches Princes Street in about 15–20 minutes. Hotels are fewer but often better value than in the centre.

Stockbridge

04

Best for: A village feel

Independent shops, cafés and a Sunday market by the Water of Leith, about 15 minutes' walk from Princes Street (downhill on the way there, uphill on the way back). Dean Village and the Royal Botanic Garden are on the doorstep.

05 · Getting around

Getting around

Edinburgh is compact and best on foot, though it's hilly and the Old Town's cobbles punish bad shoes. Lothian buses and the tram (airport to Newhaven via Princes Street and Leith Walk) cover the rest; tap on with a contactless card, or buy day tickets in the Transport for Edinburgh app.

Skip the car

You don't want a car in the city: parking is scarce and expensive, and a Low Emission Zone covers the centre. If you're adding the Highlands, pick one up at the airport on your way out of town.

Store your bags in Edinburgh for the dayLuggage storage · via Radical Storage

06 · Things to do

5 things to do in Edinburgh

  1. Edinburgh Castle

    Book a timed ticket online, especially in summer when slots sell out, and aim for the first entry at 9.30am. Don't miss the Honours of Scotland, the oldest crown jewels in Britain, or the view from the battlements. The One O'Clock Gun is fired daily except Sundays, so time your visit for it.

  2. Climb Arthur's Seat

    This extinct volcano in Holyrood Park rises 251m right in the city. The main path from near the Palace of Holyroodhouse takes 45 minutes to an hour to the summit; go early or near sunset, and wear proper shoes, because the top is slippery when wet. It's windy up there even on calm days.

  3. National Museum of Scotland

    Free, enormous and the best wet-day plan in town: Dolly the sheep, Pictish stones, the Millennium Clock and a lot of Scottish history. Take the lift to the roof terrace for a free view of the castle. Greyfriars Kirkyard and the statue of Greyfriars Bobby are just across the road.

  4. The August festivals

    The Fringe, the International Festival, the Book Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo fill the city with thousands of shows. If you're coming for them, book accommodation many months ahead and expect to pay far more than usual. Free Fringe shows are often the best value in town.

  5. Dean Village and the Water of Leith

    Follow the Water of Leith walkway from Dean Village, a former mill village tucked below Dean Bridge, to Stockbridge in about 20 minutes, ideally finishing at the Sunday market. If you have time, head upstream instead to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and its sculpture-dotted lawns.

07 · Stay connected

Phones, data & eSIMs

The UK isn't covered by EU roaming rules, but most Irish networks currently include it in your allowance at no extra cost, by choice rather than by law, so check your plan before you fly (correct at the time of writing, November 2026). Visitors from elsewhere in Europe are more likely to pay UK roaming charges. An eSIM is worth it if your network charges for the UK, if you need a lot of data or if you're tethering a laptop for work.

More detail in our guide to eSIM vs roaming for Irish travellers.

08 · Insurance

Travel insurance for Edinburgh

Irish residents can use their EHIC for medically necessary NHS care in the UK at the time of writing; the GHIC is the UK's own card for UK residents, so you don't need one. Neither covers cancellations, lost bags, private care or getting you home, so travel insurance still matters.

Not sure what the EHIC covers? Read do you need travel insurance in Europe?

Practical facts

Edinburgh cheat sheet

Entry
Irish citizens: no passport control or UK ETA (Common Travel Area), but airlines require photo ID; most other EU/EEA visitors need a passport and a UK ETA
Currency
Pound sterling (£); Scottish banknotes work across the UK but can be hard to change at home
Language
English, with Scots and Gaelic on some signs
Time zone
Same as Ireland
Plugs
Type G, 230V: same as Ireland, no adaptor needed
Tipping
10–12.5% in restaurants if service isn't already on the bill; not expected in pubs
Emergency
999 or 112
Airport (EDI)
Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh Trams run to Princes Street in about 35 minutes and carry on to Leith; the Airlink 100 bus reaches Waverley Bridge in around 30 minutes. A taxi takes 25–30 minutes, longer at rush hour.

Edinburgh: your questions

Do I need a passport to fly from Ireland to Edinburgh?

There's no routine passport control for Irish citizens arriving from Ireland, thanks to the Common Travel Area, but airlines insist on photo ID and each sets its own list of acceptable documents. A passport or Irish passport card is the safest choice, so check your airline's ID rules before you fly.

Do I need a UK ETA to visit Edinburgh?

Not if you're an Irish citizen. At the time of writing, most other EU and EEA citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling to the UK. Non-Irish nationals living legally in Ireland are generally exempt when travelling from Ireland, if they carry proof of residence; check the latest rules on gov.uk before you book.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?

May, June and September balance long days, decent weather and sensible prices. August is festival month: an electric atmosphere, but room rates soar and the Old Town is packed. December brings Christmas markets and Hogmanay, which is cold, dark and great fun if you dress for it.

Can I use euro in Edinburgh?

No, it's pounds sterling only. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, so a card with no foreign transaction fees will save you more than changing cash. If you're handed Scottish banknotes, spend them before you leave, as banks and bureaux in Ireland can be reluctant to take them.

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Phones & data

eSIM vs roaming for Irish travellers

Your Irish plan already works across the EU, mostly. Here's where the small print bites, when an eSIM earns its keep, and when it's money you didn't need to spend.

8 min read

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