See Edinburgh Like Never Before With These Unique Experiences

A visit to Edinburgh doesn’t have to be all tartan, bagpipes and ancient castles; there’s lots to do in the Scottish city beyond the most significant landmarks. This hand-selected list of activities and experiences will help you uncover Edinburgh’s unique side.

Want to see the much-loved streets of Edinburgh from a whole new perspective? The city’s full of iconic landmarks, from the majestic castle to the towering Arthur’s Seat, but it’s well worth exploring the city’s quirkier offerings as well. Venture deep underground on a journey through the city’s grisly past, cruise through the waters toward a remote island or learn about the musical icons inspired by Scotland’s capital.

1.

Tours

You’ll be given an immersive walking tour in the Old Town while listening to the music of the city. All you need to bring is your phone and headphones! During the tour many stories and curiosities will be told about local heroes, famous Scottish bands and international rockstars who lived in the city at some point in their careers. Did you know that David Bowie lived in Edinburgh for a while? What if I tell you that Nirvana gave a memorable concert in front of only 20 people in a famous pub in the city? If this wasn’t enough, all these stories will be amused with music (lots of it!) which will be played from one stop to the next. Make sure you have WhatsApp and a QR reader app installed in your Smartphone. Don’t forget to bring your headphones to live the experience to the fullest! At the end of the tour, you’ll be given a map with music-related things to do in the city as well as a playlist you can enjoy in your phone or from home, anytime!

2.

Activities

I was born and brought up in Edinburgh and am passionate about locally produced food – I made a 16-series TV programme about eating and cycling in Scotland called The Woman Who Ate Scotland. I want the tour to be like a food-loving friend is taking you to their favourite places – like the best place to get scones warm from the oven, served with vanilla bean cream and homemade jam. Guests get to meet the makers – the fishmonger who smokes the salmon, the marshmallow lady who makes the marshmallows, the butcher who makes the haggis. I also give guests a guided tour of the fascinating history of the 18th-century UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE of The New Town. I have been running my unique food tours for four years and am used by tour companies such as Abercrombie and Kent and also VisitScotland. I can also tailor tours to suit your group, from hen nights with safari hats to sourcing a piper to pipe you into a unique kilt shop!

4.

Activities

The Firth of Forth is simply overflowing with myths, turbulent history and fascinating marine wildlife. Join Forth Boat Tours on a 90-minute cruise to discover more about the Three Bridges, including the UNESCO World Heritage Forth Bridge. View the stunning Inchcolm Island and the medieval abbey, known as the Iona of the east. During your cruise, you will find plenty of opportunities to see a wide variety of marine wildlife including seals and puffins.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.