Old Town
ART ROCH HOSTEL
2 Westport, Grassmarket
HOSTEL
0131 228 9981 www.artrochhostel.com
The new kid on the block, the Art Roch is already showing everybody else how it’s done. With cool, airy dorms featuring sturdy wooden bunks (instead of squeaking metal), this will be a comfortable palce to hit the sack. However, you’ll be really comfortable when you’re hanging out, as the lounge-and-kitchen area is the size of a small airport and fits a kitchen, ping-pong table, TV, chairs and couches, and even a teepee, all with plenty of room to spare.
Wi-Fi available. Dorms high-season £12, £80 per week; low-season £9. Singles £20. Reception 24hr.
BUDGET BACKPACKERS
37-39 Cowgate St.
HOSTEL
0131 226 6351 www.budgetbackpackers.com
A surf-green hostel just a few drunken steps from the pub-filled Grassmarket, Budget Backpackers is a vibrant place that’s bound to be packed during the summer with young travelers searching for the next party. If you are staying in (we’re not going to say you’ll be the only one, but...) there’s a DVD and movie rental at the lobby.
Breakfast £2. Wi-Fi £1 per week. Internet £1 per 30min. Book well ahead of July-Aug for summer reservations. Dorms high-season £20-40; low-season £10-20. Reception 24hr.
EDINBURGH BACKPACKERS
65 Cockburn St.
HOSTEL
0131 220 1717 www.hoppo.com
You’ll get those quads in shape hiking up and down the many stairs of this tower. Dorms in EB are basic, but with new people coming in all the time, you’re certainly not going to be lacking excursion partners. The hostel’s kitchen has cupboards with dry erase markers so you can write down which foods are yours (threat level depends on how hungry the bro in the other room is). The lounge shows Braveheart (a lot) and stag parties have been known to frequent the place, so be ready for a fun, if raucous, time.
Cockburn St. winds off of High St. Free Wi-Fi. Internet £1 per 30min. Dorms M-F £10, Sa-Su £13-16; Singles £25. Reception 24hr.
For details on Edinburgh map, click here
COWGATE HOSTEL
96 Cowgate
HOSTEL
0131 226 2153 www.cowgatehostel.com
Apartment-style hosteling—now this is different. In this series of individual little flats, you’ll be bunking with a smaller group of people than at a normal hostel. You’ll share the same kitchen, bath, and lounge area as a group. For those traveling solo, this will either be a chance to make some good friends or a really quick way of finding out that the people you’re staying with are jerks. Regardless, the place is nice. Head to the blue and orange lobby for internet and tourist information.
Wi-Fi free. Coffee and tea free. Dorms Aug £22, Sept-July £10. Reception 8am-11pm.
New Town
Accomodations in New Town, with the exception of Caledonian Backpackers, are usually far out of the budget traveler’s pocket. However, should you have a little extra cash to spend, there are some fantastic guest houses in the area. No matter where you stay, you’ll be near all the action.
CALEDONIAN BACKPACKERS
3 Queensferry St.
HOSTEL
0131 226 2939 www.caledonianbackpackers.com
By far the best budget option in New Town, and not just because it’s the only one, this 250-bed monster is comfortable and crazy all at the same time. With free Wi-Fi, internet, and kitchen use, as well as a fully stocked bar, it’s not cheap fun, it’s cheap and fun. Check out the beanbag-filled theater, where you can watch free movies anytime on a projector screen. The murals on the walls depict everything from rock stars to penguins, and the hostel has about as wide a range of people stop in.
West End of the City Center, across from the Caledonian Hotel. Breakfast 6am-noon. Laundry: washer £1, dryer £1. 18+ only. Female-only dorms available. Wi-Fi, Internet, and kitchen free. Dorms £13-20. Reception 24hr.
ELDER YORK GUESTHOUSE
38 Elder St.
GUESTHOUSE
0131 556 1926 www.elderyork.co.uk
Providing relatively constant prices throughout the year, the Elder York Guesthouse benefits from three distinct things: a prime location a few yards away from the bus station, a beautiful and shining breakfast area, and large, airy rooms. And then there’s the wonderful hospitality of new owners Harry and his wife, who are doing a fine job of running the place.
Right off of York Pl. and St. James Pl. Cancellations in July-Aug should give 1 week notice. Aug £60 per person, Sept-Jul £40 per person.
Haymarket and Dalry
THE HOSTEL
3 Clifton Terr.
HOSTEL
0131 313 1031 www.edinburghcitycentrehostels.co.uk
Haymarket and Dalry’s hostel, “The Hostel” (this is going to get confusing, isn’t it?) is spotlessly clean. Having just undergone a massive renovation and refurbishment, its carefully color-coordinated lounge space has pool tables and a large flatscreen TV as well as free tea and coffee. Bear in mind, though, that The Hostel is intent on maintaining its stellar appearance, as evidenced by the long list of rules on the wall.
Right in Haymarket. Continental breakfast £1. Towel rental £1, £5 deposit. 16-bed dorms £7-12; 5-bed dorms £12-14; 3-bed dorms £14-20. Reception 24hr. Lounge open 8am-11pm.
Tollcross and West End
ARGYLE BACKPACKERS
14 Argyle Pl.
HOSTEL
0131 667 9991 www.argyle-backpackers.co.uk
Argyle is a great place for those who like to keep the party time outside and the cool, lounging-around time in the hostel. A beautiful red kitchen connects to a covered skylight area that in turn links to an outdoor seating area. The lounge space has two computers for guest use as well as a big-screen TV and wood-burning fireplace.
In Aug, prices generally increase £5 with min. stay 3 days. M-F 10-bed dorm £13.50; 6-bed dorm £15; 4-bed dorm £16.50; double £48. Weekend 10-bed dorm £15.50; 6-bed dorm £17; 4-bed dorm £18.50; double £52. Reception 9am-10pm; call ahead to arrange a late check-in.
KINGSVIEW GUESTHOUSE
28 Gilmore Pl.
GUESTHOUSE
0131 229 8004 www.kingsviewguesthouse.com
You can look for hummingbirds buzzing about the entryway garden as you eat breakfast in the front room of this quaint little Victorian guesthouse. The rooms are quaint but comfortable, with tiny desktop flatscreens.
Dog-friendly. Low-season £27.50; high-season £40.
SIGHTS
Old Town
THE SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE
354 Castlehill, the Royal Mile
TOUR
0131 220 0441 www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
Beginning with a carnival ride in giant barrels (it’s a good thing that this happens before the drinking), you’ll be explained the process of distilling single-malt whisky by a ghostly apparition with a serious penchant for the elixir. Then after a short look at the barrel-making process, you’ll be ushered into the tasting room, where an informed guide will offer you smells representative of each whisky-making region in Scotland. At the end of that segment of the tour, you’ll select the whisky you want to taste and head to the display room, which houses the Diageo Claive Vidiz Collection of whiskys, almost 3500 of them. There you’ll learn how to properly enjoy your whisky and have the opportunity to purchase a bottle from the store, should you find one that you really enjoy. Good luck walking home!
By the bottom of West Princes St. Gardens. Silver tour (basic) £11.50, students and seniors £10, children £6, family £27. Gold tour (advanced) £20, students and seniors £17.45. The Collection Tour £20. Open daily 10am-6:30pm. Last tour daily 5pm.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND
57 George IV Bridge
LIBRARY
0131 623 3700 www.nls.uk
Yes, it’s a working research library and you can get a borrower’s card (free with valid ID), but who wants to do that on holiday? Instead, mak
e a stop to check out the exhibit space in the library’s large entryway. Each focusing on a different author or theme, the different displays are put up in a large, attractive space that makes it a bit like a museum instead of a library.
There’s a cafe open in the library as well. Open M-F 9:30am-8:30pm, Sa 9:30am-1pm, Su (cafe only) 2-5pm.
BRASS RUBBING CENTRE
Trinity Apse, Chalmers Close, 42 High St.
ARTS CENTER
0131 556 4364
Located in what seems like a one-room cathedral complete with sky-high echoey ceilings and stone gargoyles, is this oddball activity. Pick out a brass plates of Pictish designs (prices vary according to size) and the center will supply you with all the materials you need to do a rubbing and create your own take-home artwork. Work on anything from a plate as big as your hand (£1). to a life-size Pictish knight (£20).
Open M-Sa 10am-noon and 1-5pm. During festival open Su noon-5pm. Last rubbings at 4:15pm.
ST. GILES CATHEDRAL
St. Giles Cathedral, High St.
CATHEDRAL
0131 225 9442
The stonework on the outside is finer than your granny’s lace doily, and the inside’s just as beautiful. With glowing stained-glass windows that cast enormous rainbows onto the walls in the late morning and a massive wooden organ near the center of the building, St. Giles is so photo-worthy that you’ll find yourself looking like the ultimate tourist and trying to get a shot of everything. However, you won’t be the only one, and the constant flow of tourist traffic means that St. Giles is hard-pressed for that calming atmosphere associated with cathedrals. Still, get someone to take your picture in front of a jewel-like window and you’ll be more colorful than Captain Planet at Chuck E. Cheese’s.
Tours available, inquire inside. Free. Open May-Sept M-F 9am-7pm, Sa 9am-5pm, Su 1-5pm; Oct-Apr M-Sa 9am-5pm, Su 1-5pm and for services.
SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE
43-45 High St.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk
Possibly one of a kind, the Scottish Storytelling Centre is just that: a place where people tell tall tales. Featuring Scotsmen and women from all over as well as professional storytellers from Canada, Japan, Africa and beyond, the center also runs storytelling workshops in case you’d like to make sure you have something to say about your trip other than, “Yeah, Scotland. It was cool.”
£4-10. Open July-Aug M-Sa 10am-6pm, Su noon-6pm; Sept-June M, Sa 10am-6pm. Open later when events are on.
THE WRITER’S MUSEUM
Ladystairs House, Ladystairs Close, The Royal Mile
MUSEUM
0131 529 4901
Housed in the majestic Ladystairs mansion is a sanctuary of the works and personal belongings of three of Scotland’s greatest authors: Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and Robert Louis Stevenson. From mannequined displays to locks of hair and writing desks, it’s great for a quiet wander whether you’ve read the collected works of all three or are simply interested in discovering why Treasure Island was so damn good.
Half-hidden in one of the small, tunnelled “close” passages off of the Royal Mile. Free. Open M-Sa 10am-5pm. During the festival, also Su noon-5pm.
THE NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM (NWM)
Hospital Square, Castle Hill
MUSEUM
0131 247 0413 www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk
Located inside the Castle grounds, the NWM is “free,” but only after you’ve shelled out the cash for a ticket to the castle. Still, it’s definitely worth a stop, whether your tastes run to old decorative swords or old decorative admiral’s pistols. It turns out that the evolution of the Scottish soldier and his weaponry is a smorgasbord of the instruments of death.
Free. Open daily in summer 9:45am-5:45pm, in winter 9:45am-4:45pm.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND
NMOS, Chambers St.
MUSEUM
0131 247 4422 www.nms.ac.uk
Housed in an enormous modern “castle” complete with winding staircases and enormous open spaces, this museum features nine floors to check out. Here’s the crazy part: that’s with half of it closed for a massive, £46m renovation that is going to take it “into the 21st century.” The exhibits here are as wide ranging as you would expect, from “The Kingdom of the Scots,” featuring powder horns and ancient Pictish stonework, to “Scotland: A Changing Nation,” showing Scotland in places you’d never expect--inventors, innovators, and even Ewan MacGregors. (Seriously, who knew he was Scottish?) As a final stop, hit up the rooftop terrace for some awesome castle photo ops. But beware: you’ll be fair game for the Camera Obscura tours up there. They’re watching.
3 daily tours at 11:30am, 1:30, and 3:30pm. Free. Open daily 10am-5pm.
EDINBURGH CASTLE
Castle Hill
CASTLE
0131 225 9846 www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk
It’s the first thing you see on the skyline in Edinburgh and one of the most arresting structures on the planet: the Edinburgh Castle just can’t be beat. From the top you’ll get all sorts of brilliant photo ops, and there are several different places where you can snap that perfect pic. However, everyone else in town has the exact same idea, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself jockeying for frame space. The “Honours of the Kingdom” (or the Scottish Royal Jewels) exhibit funnels you along a winding display of murals and mannequins before finally reaching the jewels. If the place is busy, this can take up to 40min., so be warned. Stop by at the top of the hour to see the changing of the guard at the front entrance.
Within West Princes Street Gardens. Disabled patrons should phone in advance to set up a tour. £14, seniors £11.20, children £7.50. Open in in summer 9:30am-6pm, winter 9:30am-5pm; last entry 45min. before close.
New Town
NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND
The Mound, just across Princes St.
MUSEUM
0131 624 6200 www.nationalgalleries.org
At the National Gallery, even the rooms in which the artwork is hung seem designed to make you take your time. The place is octagonally designed and painted a royal red. You’ll not want to rush your way through this collection of pre-1900 works, including some fantastic pieces by Raphael and El Greco.
Free. Special exhibits £5-10. Open M-W 10am-5pm, Th 10am-7pm, F-Su 10am-5pm.
NATIONAL TRUST SCOTLAND
28 Charlotte Sw.
NATIONAL TRUST, GALLERY
0844 493 2100 www.nts.org.uk
The group in charge of conserving cultural sites, artifacts, and buildings in Scotland, National Trust Scotland keeps its head office here, where it also maintains a small gallery full of works by 20th-century Scottish artists, a bookshop, a restaurant, and a cafe.
Gallery open M-F 9am-4:30pm. Cafe, bookshop, and restaurant open M-Sa 9:30am-5pm.
Stockbridge
GLENOGLE SWIM CENTRE
Glenogle Rd.
SWIMMING
0131 343 6376 www.edinburghleisure.co.uk
Having just undergone an £18 million renovation, the Glenogle Swim Centre is totally state of the art, with a 25m pool, a sauna, and a steamroom. The best part? It’s all available for public use. The best best part? It’s all available for public use, for cheap. They also have a gym and fitness classes. Makes you re-consider your wild idea to go down and swim in the freezing Atlantic, doesn’t it?
Swim costs £4. Sauna and steamroom £.60. Open M-F 7am-10pm, Sa-Su 8am-6pm.
STOCKBRIDGE MARKET
At the junction of St. Stephens Pl. and St. Stephens St.
MARKET ARCHWAY
Before you go grab your all-hemp, recycled grocery bag and head off to get your fix of farmers’ market veggies, it’s worth knowing that the Stockbridge Market no longer exists—it’s been replaced by houses. However, the old archway, with its engraved lettering and protruding lamp is still there, and it makes for quite a picturesque scene. Grab the camera, snap a few quick shots and stroll down through the pat
hway, now covered by trees. Or just head off to the art gallery next to the entrance.
WATER OF LEITH
NATURE WALK
Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide Page 28