Edinburgh old town - Città vecchia di Edimburgo

Edinburgh old town (Old town) is a district of the city of Edinburgh.

To know

Edinburgh's Old Town is the historic heart of the Scottish capital, built east of Castle Crag, along the Royal Mile to Holyrood. This article also covers the areas immediately south and west of the old city, namely Southside and Tollcross.

Together with the New Town of Edinburgh, the old one was declared byUNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

How to orient yourself

The 'Royal Mile', flanked by the Old Town, is the most famous street in the center of Edinburgh. This long artery, which connects Edinburgh Castle to the palace of Holyroodhouse, is surrounded by palaces dating back to the Middle Ages and up to 8 floors high in which lived, side by side, the nobility (usually housed on the intermediate floors) and the more poor people (who settled in the attic and basement). "Royal Mile" is actually a nickname due to the fact that the road was traveled by royal processions, but its length is about one kilometer.

The artery is divided into four sections: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate. Let's examine them in more detail.

• Castlehill it starts from the "Esplanade", the vast square in front of the castle arranged in the 19th century to be the backdrop for military parades (and the Military Tatoo), and ends after a few tens of meters at the intersection with Johnston Terrace. Castlehill, very steeply uphill, is closed to traffic. The Hub and the Festival offices are located along this stretch.
• The following stretch, Lawnmarket it is characterized by being populated with many tourist shops. The street derives its name from the textile market that was held there. This stretch today is mainly dedicated to tourist shops. On the left going up to the castle opens the Lady Stair's Close which houses the Writer's Museum, dedicated to the three most important classical authors of Edinburgh: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Lewis Stevenson.
• High Street it is at the heart of the events accompanying the Edinburgh festival. On the right of the street it opens Parliament Square, overlooked by the 17th-century Parliament House (now replaced by the new Parliament at the opposite end of the Royal Mile). Nearby you will also find St Giles' Cathedral (or High Kirk of Edinburgh), the Mercat Cross (former meeting place of the main city merchants) and the Hearth of Midlothian (marked by a mosaic heart in the square) narrated by Sir Walter Scott (passersby spit on you for good luck, be careful!).
• Canongate is the final and longest stretch of the Royal Mile, which starts at the intersection with North Bridge and South Bridge and ends at the Holiroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. At the beginning we meet the building that in 1500 served as a duty collection center (Canongate Tolbooth), now used as a museum of Social History of Edinburgh ("People's Story"), the John Knox House of 1490 and which houses a museum on the religious reformer John Knox, the parish church of Canongate, on the back of which you can visit the beautiful Dunbar Close Garden, the new Parliament building and finally the palace of Holyroodhouse.

On either side of the Royal Mile there are a few main streets and a maze of alleys, i close, often semi-underground, which branch off to Prices Gardens to the north and to GrassMarket, the wide road just south that originally housed the cattle market. Many of these alleys can be visited, in particular the Real Mary King close hosts suggestive and imaginative guided tours.

How to get

Walk, take a bus or a taxi from other parts of the city. The trams and trains do not pass directly into the old town, which is still reachable by a short walk.

By bus

North Bridge is South Bridge are some (along with Princes St in the New Town of Edinburgh) of the busiest bus stops and the waiting time on weekdays is rarely more than minutes. Be careful to wait at the correct stop: there may be three stops a few meters away, each of which stops buses of different lines. Also The Mound is George IV Bridge they are served quite well.

Company buses East-West are less frequent, except a Lauriston Place. Line 6 of the company Lothian Buses departs twice an hour from Hanover Street for Holyrood. Line 2 four times per hour (weekdays) via Grassmarket and Chambers Street. The Lothian Buses Skylink 300 departs 5 times an hour connecting the city to the airport via Chambers Street and Canongate.

How to get around

On foot

Many people are happy to explore the Old Town on foot as there are numerous sights to see along the side of the streets. Many roads are actually bridges, so if you look at a map and two roads seem to intersect, they may actually be connected by steep ramps and stairs. The morphology of the old town can be somewhat compared to that of the skeleton of a fish: with numerous narrow streets and alleys that branch off from the Royal Mile.

What see

• 55.9487-3.200731 Edinburgh Castle (Edinburgh Castle). Adults (16-59 years) £ 16.50, children (5-15 years, under 5 free) £ 9.90, discounted (over 60 and unemployed) £ 13.20 (August 2015). 1 April-30 September 9: 30-18: 00; 1 October-31 March 9: 30-17: 00. With the help of audio-guides you will visit the state apartments including the bedroom where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI of Scotland, who later became king of England with the name of James I. In the room called the Crown Chamber are exhibited the Scottish crown jewels (Scottish Crown Jewels or Honors of Scotland). The oldest structure of the castle is the Chapel of Santa Margherita (St Margarets' Chapel), built in the 12th century and dedicated to the wife of King Malcom III. You will also see the "Stone of Scone", or "Stone of Destiny" on which the kings of Scotland have been crowned since time immemorial. In 1296 the stone was moved to London by order of King Edward I and placed at the foot of the throne in Westminster Abbey. Only in November 1996 was it returned to Scotland and returned to its original location with a solemn ceremony. Disabled people can easily access the castle by taking advantage of a free transport service, to be requested from the staff on duty at the entrance. Edinburgh Castle, where the Edinburgh Tattoo is held, is a magnificent fortress located on one of the highest points in the city. The castle has been in constant use for over 1000 years and is in excellent condition. There are audio guides costing £ 3, they are very detailed and worth the price.  

• 55.949-3.195572 Outlook Tower & Camera Obscura, Castlehill. Admission fee: adults £ 15 (2017). Discounts for students, children and seniors. Jul-Aug: 10: 00-22: 00, Sep-Oct and Apr-Jun: 9: 30-19: 00, Nov-Mar: 10: 00-18: 00. At the top of the surveillance tower there is a periscope (Camera Obscura) from 1853 from which it is possible to observe the surrounding city. Educated guides will help you to focus on the main monuments and will illustrate their history. The tower also houses a fun gallery with optical illusions.  

• 55.9495-3.193763 Gladstone's Land, Lawnmarket. £ 7 adults, £ 5 reduced, free for members Trust like FAI. Ancient 17th century building decorated with period furniture. Of particular interest is the ceiling of the bedroom painted with fruits. The visit is possible only with guided tours of one hour that allow you to trace the history of the building, once a pub, from its construction to the acquisition and renovation by the National Trust of Scotland which saved the building from demolition. On the ground floor there is a large shop where you can buy souvenirs.  
• 55.9497-3.19374 Museum of Writers (Writers' Museum), Lawnmarket, ☎ 44 0131 529 4901. Free admission. Wed-Sat: 10: 00-17: 00, Sun: 12: 00-17: 00. The museum is housed in the "Lady Stair's House", an early 17th century house that belonged to Elizabeth, Countess of Stair and is dedicated to Scotland's greatest writers. It features portraits, original manuscripts and personal items of Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.  
• 55.9503-3.193335 Museum on the Mound, The Mound, EH1 1YZ, ☎ 44 131 243-5464. free. Tue-Fri: 10: 00-17: 00; Sat-Sun: 13: 00-17: 00. Coin Museum in the former Bank of Scotland headquarters.  

• 55.948553-3.1918976 National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, ☎ 44 131 623-3700. free. Exhibitions: Mon-Fri: 10: 00-20: 00, Sat: 10: 00-17: 00, Sun: 14: 00-17: 00. A permanent exhibition of works from the John Murray archive and temporary exhibitions usually on the history of literature. The main library is one copyright library and it is necessary to apply for a permit in advance to access the reading rooms.  
• 55.94912-3.191127 Old Parliament Hall. Completed in 1639 to a design by James Murray, this building is now the seat of the Scottish Supreme Court. Initially used as the seat of the Scottish Parliament, with theAct of Union of 1707 which sanctioned the union of the Scottish parliament with the English one stopped carrying out this function.  
• 55.949444-3.1908338 St Giles Cathedral (halfway on the Royal Mile between the Castle and the Houses of Parliament). free, ticket required to take photographs. Built in 1120, the cathedral has a severe exterior and graceful interior. The remarkable Thistle Chapel with stained glass windows decorated with coats of arms.  

• 55.9503-3.190289 Real Mary King's Close, Writers' Court, ☎ 44 0 131 225 0672. 14,95£ (2017). Apr-Oct: Mon-Sun 10: 00-21: 00, Nov-Mar: Sun-Thu 10: 00-17: 00 Fri-Sat 10: 00-21: 00. In the basement of the City Chambers there is a maze of alleys (closes) where the population of Edinburgh has lived for centuries in disadvantaged conditions. When construction of the Royal Exchange began in 1753 (today City Chambers) the pre-existing houses were demolished but it was decided to save the first floors to make the foundations of the new building. In April 2003 the dungeons were opened to the public. The visit takes us back to 1644, the year in which Edinburgh was hit by an epidemic of bubonic plague probably brought by a ship that landed at the port of Leith. According to legend, the victims of the infection were walled up alive and left to starve, but this has proved false. Victims were quarantined and their homes marked with a white flag. In exchange they received provisions. The figure of the Dr George Rae who, for a large fee, lent himself to visit the sick, taking care to wear rubber gloves and on his face a mask with an enormous beak where medicinal herbs were placed which, according to the beliefs of the time, were used to prevent infection. It was believed that the plague was carried by miasmas and not by the bite of fleas. Subtle lights and sound effects help make the visit more spooky.  
• 55.95067-3.1902510 Stills Gallery, 23 Cockburn Street, EH1 1BP, ☎ 44 131 622-6200. free gallery. Mon-Sun: 11: 00-18: 00. Photo gallery with temporary exhibitions. Black rooms and digital laboratories available and rented by the hour. 
• 55.95095-3.1892911 City Art Center, 2 Market Street (in front of the Fruitmarket Gallery), ☎ 44 131 529-3993. for a fee if there are exhibitions, there is usually always a free plan. Mon-Sat 10: 00-17: 00, Sun 12: 00-17: 00. Four-story gallery run by the municipality with temporary exhibitions. 
• 55.951389-3.18888912 Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street (behind Waverley Station), ☎ 44 131 225-2383, @[email protected]. free. Mon-Sat 11: 00-18: 00, Sun 12: 00-17: 00. The Fruitmarket Gallery aims to find the best ways to bring artists and audiences together. It is a non-profit association.  
• 55.952106-3.18846913 North Bridge. Bridge over the railway and Waverly Station, offers spectacular views of the city skyline. Connect the old town and new and the main station.  
• 55.94899-3.1864314 St Cecilia's Hall - Concert Room and Music Museum, Niddry Street, Cowgate, EH1 1NQ, ☎ 44 131 650 2600. Free entry. Tue-Fri 10: 00-17: 00, Sat 12: 00-17: 00 (opening at 10:00 on Saturdays in August), last admission 30 minutes before closing. St Cecilia's Hall is the oldest concert hall Scottish open in 1763. After renovations started in 2015, it reopened in May 2017 and today contains the University of Edinburgh's collection of historic musical instruments (from the 16th to the 20th century). The collection focuses mainly on instruments no longer in use today. Musical events are periodically organized in the concert hall. 
• 55.950369-3.18549715 Museum of Childhood (Museum of Childhood), 42 High Street, ☎ 44 0131 529 4142. free. Mon, Thu-Sat: 10: 00-17: 00, Sun: 12: 00-17: 00. On the four floors of the museum, dolls and toys from every era are exhibited. The museum also has a room with video projections. 
• 55.9515-3.179916 The Peoples' Story Museum, 163 Canongate, ☎ 44 131 529-4057. free. Mon-Sat 10 am-5pm. The museum allows you to learn how life in the city has changed in recent centuries.  
• 55.9514-3.179617 Museum of Edinburgh, 142 Cannongate, ☎ 44 131 529-4143. free. Mon-Sat 10 am-5pm. Edinburgh History Museum.  

• 55.95194-3.1751318 Parliament building, Cannongate, corner of Holyrood Rd. free. Mon, Fri-Sat: 10: 00-17: 00, Tue-Thu: 10: 00-18: 30 (last admission half an hour before closing). Modern structure that bears the signature of the Spanish architect Enric Miralles, who died in 2000. The building that houses the seats of the Scottish parliament has been defined as a granite monster while for the Guardian newspaper it is a masterpiece. The final judgment is up to you if you ever decide to visit it. Inside the palace it is possible to visit an exhibition on the history of the parliament and its composition and, when it is not in use (usually on Mondays and in the morning), the room where debates take place. If you decide to take a guided tour of about 1 hour, free but by reservation as places are limited, (first tour at 10:30 am) you can also visit the commission rooms and other parts of the parliament. Inside the building there is also a bar and a souvenir shop. If you have booked a guided tour make sure you get to the parliament at least 15 minutes early as you will need to go through security before entering.  

• 55.9527-3.1722919 Palace of Holyroodhouse (in front of the Scottish Parliament), ☎ 44 0131 556 5100, fax: 44 020 7930 9625, @[email protected]. 12,50£ (2017). Apr-Oct 9: 30-18: 00, Nov-Mar 9: 30-16: 30. A first palace was built in the 12th century by order of King David I next to a Benedictine abbey whose ruins can be seen today. Much of the structure as we see it today dates back to the time of King Charles II. We visit the audience hall where David Rizzio, Italian secretary of Maria Stuarda was assassinated with 56 stabbings by the assassins of Lord Darnley, consort of the queen.  
• 55.953161-3.17157520 Holyrood Abbey. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the fifteenth century the abbey was changed into a royal residence. The abbey church was used as a parish until the seventeenth century and was abandoned in the eighteenth century. The remaining walls of the abbey are located next to the palace.  
• 55.9506-3.1743721 Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road. £ 15, 10% off online tickets (2017). Apr-Oct: Mon-Sun 10: 00-17: 30 (Jul-Aug close at 18:00), Nov-Mar: Wed-Sun 10: 00-17: 30. Opened in 1999, Our Dynamic Earth is a museum that illustrates to the public the processes that led to the formation of planet earth. The structure that houses it was built by the architect Michael Hopkins.  
• 55.9474-3.1871922 Talbot Rice Gallery, University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, ☎ 44 131 650-2210, @[email protected]. free. Tue-Fri 10: 00-17: 00, Sat: 12: 00-17: 00. A gallery with various exhibitions of avant-garde modern art. Even if you don't appreciate the art very much, the gallery is worth a visit for its location in the old University of Edinburgh, a building built between 1789 and 1827 by Robert Adam and Henry Playfair.  

• 55.947222-3.18972223 National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, ☎ 44 300 123 6789, fax: 44 131 220-4819, @[email protected]. free, for a fee only temporary exhibitions. Mon-Sun 10 am-5pm. The complex of the National Museum of Scotland of Edinburgh was formed by the union of National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (National Museum of Scotland), containing collections of Scottish antiquities that tell the story of the country, with the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum (Royal Scottish Museum), in which collections on science, technology and natural history are kept. The building has a Victorian facade in neo-Romanesque architecture. The museum contains artifacts from all over the world in the geological, archaeological, scientific, technological, artistic and natural history fields and one of the most interesting items is the embalmed body of the sheep Dolly, the first mammal to be successfully cloned. Also not to be missed is the seventh floor terrace with excellent views over the city.  

• 55.94669-3.1915624 Greyfriars Kirkyard. Ancient cemetery that contains ancient tombstones and allows views of the castle. Many people also visit the cemetery for its connection with 55.94692-3.191281 Greyfriars Bobby, the little dog brought to international prominence by Walt Disney. It is also said that the tomb of Thomas Riddell inspired J.K. Rowling in naming "Tom Riddle" in Harry Potter.  
• 55.94503-3.1899925 Anatomical Museum, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. free. Last Saturday of the month 10: 00-16: 00 (last admission 15: 30). Closed in July, August and December. William Burke's skeleton is one of the exhibits. Together with William Hare, he killed at least 16 people in 1828 and provided their bodies for vivisection. The museum also displays death masks of prominent scientists and politicians and notorious murderers. 
• 55.9467-3.185326 Surgeons' Hall Museums, Nicolson Street (in front of the Festival Theater), ☎ 44 131 527-1711, 44 131 527-1600, @[email protected]. £ 6.50 adults, 4 concessions (8/2017). Mon-Sun 10 am-5pm. The permanent exhibition includes the Pathology Museum, the History of Surgery Museum and the Dental Museum. Not suitable for children.  

What to do

• 55.9502-3.18751 Walk along the Royal Mile. from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Royal Mile is the fulcrum of the sixteenth-century historic center and most of the buildings were built in this period (to be renovated and modernized over the centuries). Get lost in the narrow alleys (close) found on both sides of the Mile. On the street there are also numerous bars and shops where you can drink, why not, a pint of beer. 
• 55.950911-3.1680172 Holyrood Park. Walk the park in the eastern part of the historic center. Created by King James VI in the 16th century, it somewhat represents the Scottish landscape in miniature: with theArthur's Seat, tree ponds, St Margaret's Loch with the ruins of an ancient chapel nearby, Dunsapie Loch along Queen's Drive with great sea views and Duddingston Loch and the fascinating ones Salisbury Crags.  
  • 55.944167-3.1619443 Arthur's Seat. The extinct volcano east of the city offers fantastic views from its top and having an altitude of only 251m even the ascent is not that strenuous!  
  • 55.9464-3.17384 Salisbury Crags. If you are looking for a less strenuous walk then your best bet is certainly to stroll the Salisbury Crags on Radical Road with similar views over the city and the sea. 

Shows and tours

• 55.9511-3.190885 The Edinburgh Dungeon, 31 Market Street. Edinburgh's scariest attraction with 11 shows about Scotland's darkest history: William Wallace, Mary King's Ghost, the cave of Sawney Bean, Burke and Hare and more. 
• 55.9488-3.195756 The Scotch Whiskey Experience, 354 Castlehill, @[email protected]. Basic tour £ 13. Offers an interactive tour of the history of whiskey distillation. Ideal logo if you want to taste some Scotch whiskey: large selection at fairly reasonable prices. Older whiskeys cost more especially if they are rare and can cost as much as £ 50 per serving. The atmosphere is less like that of a pub than one might think, the environment is usually quite peaceful.  
• 55.94967-3.193417 Follow a ghost walk. drive through the alleys around the Royal Mile, where history merges with legend and you will learn the most sinister events of the city's past. 
• 55.9494-3.187228 Follow a ghost tour for the South Bridge Vaults. Series of chambers built in 1788 under the 19 arches of the South Bridge. For the first 30 years they were used as taverns and warehouses of illicit materials such as the corpses of the unfortunate killed by serial killers Burke and Hare. As a result of the increasing degradation, the activities abandoned the place and the rooms were used as dwellings until the 1920s. Today these rooms and tunnels are mainly used for ghost tour.  
• 55.94992-3.188149 Free Tour of Edinburgh. free, but a free offer is recommended. Mon-Sun 10:00, 11:00 and 14:00. High street Starbucks guided walking tours. In various languages, it lasts around 2.5 hours with a break for lunch. Alternative tour to visit the city: even a substantial offer will still save something compared to a classic guided tour. 

Shopping

To take home a souvenir from Edinburgh, it is not necessary to go to one of the many shops of the large international chains: just enter one of the many shops in the historic center that sell local products even at low prices.

Victoria Street and the eastern part of Grassmarket are the areas where you can find the most characteristic shops. On the side of the streets there are numerous independent shops with prices far cheaper than those on the Royal Mile.

• 55.94851-3.19451 Red Door Gallery, 42 Victoria Street. Some of the strangest and best souvenirs can be bought here. 
• 55.94769-3.194332 Armstrongs, 83 The Grassmarket. An institution: it has all the vintage clothes you could want. 

Cockburn Street (pronounced "co-burn") has numerous other small shops:

• 55.95068-3.190063 Route One, 29 Cockburn Street. Sportswear shop. 
• 55.95067-3.190794 Underground Solushn, 9 Cockburn Street. A small but well-stocked record shop that mainly deals with dance and electronic music. 
• 55.950593-3.1891245 Time & Tide, 53 Cockburn Street, EH1 1BS, ☎ 44 131 285-0678, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 10 am-7pm, Sun 11 am-5pm. Household items and interior accessories. 

Along the Royal Mile, especially in the part near the castle, there are many tourist shops selling Scottish souvenirs (postcards, whiskey, kilt, bagpipes, biscuits ...). Some alternatives to these stores are

• 55.95118-3.180376 Cadenhead's Whiskey Shop, 172 Cannongate. Independent whiskey shops. 
• 55.9506-3.183647 Focus, 270 Canongate. A casual and sports clothing store located at the lower end of the Royal Mile. 

Other places to shop are as follows:

• 55.94779-3.203518 Edinburgh Farmers' Market (Farmer's market), Castle Terrace. Sun 9: 00-14: 00. Every Sunday morning local producers offer tourists and non-tourists delicious foods such as freshly made burgers, baked goods, cakes, breads, as well as Scottish products such as cheese, beer, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. 
• 55.95016-3.184069 Avalanche Records, 21 St Mary's Street. One of the main and best independent music stores in the city. 

How to have fun

Shows

• 55.94727-3.205021 Usher Hall, Lothian Road, ☎ 44 131 228-1155 (Box office). Concert hall that hosts regularly The Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Completed in 1914 thanks to a donation from Andrew Usher. 
• 55.947-3.204272 Royal Lyceum Theater Edinburgh, 30b Grindlay Street, ☎ 44 131 248-4848 (ticket office). Theater in which one of Scotland's leading theater companies performs, the building dates back to 1883. 
• 55.94765-3.204813 Traverse Theater, 10 Cambridge Street, ☎ 44 131 228-1404 (Ticket office). The Traverse theater is dedicated to new shows. 
• 55.94193-3.203194 King's Theater, 2 Leven Street, ☎ 44 131 529-6000 (Box office). Main international shows. 
• 55.9467-3.18615 Festival Theater, 13/29 Nicolson Street, ☎ 44 131 529-6000 (Box office). Theater of Scottish Ballet and of Scottish Opera. It also hosts contemporary ballets and musicals. 
• 55.94489-3.189286 Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square, ☎ 44 131 650-2422. free. The Reid School of Music (University of Edinburgh) offers free concerts at lunchtime (usually from 1:10 pm with a duration of around 1 hour) with an irregular cadence. Check the calendar for details on these events and other shows. 

Cinema

• 55.9427-3.203827 Cameo Cinema, 38 Home Street (Tollcross), ☎ 44 871 902 5723. Large-scale distribution and alternative films, a cinema much loved by Scottish fans and definitely worth a visit. 
• 55.9465-3.206068 Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, ☎ 44 131 228-2688. Leading Scottish cinema for foreign language films with bars and hubs for the International Film Festival. 
• 55.94566-3.205869 Odeon Cinema, 118 Lothian Road, ☎ 44 870 505 0007. Mainly large distribution films. 

Night clubs

Pub

There are numerous pubs traditional to Grassmarket. However, be very careful to avoid those that are too touristy which could have excessively high costs and below average quality. Even those along the Royal Mile they are often tourist traps. Good options are the The Jolly Judge in James Court, just off Lawnmarket, e Albanach, on the corner of Cockburn Street and High Street.

• 55.94955-3.1939710 The Jolly Judge, 7 James Court (near Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, and the castle), ☎ 44 131 225-2669. Mon-Sun mid afternoon-11:30 pm (later on weekends). Quite small pub with a great selection of beers and whiskeys. One of the few pubs on the Royal Mile that is definitely worth a visit. It has a WiFi internet connection for guests. 
• 55.94551-3.1909511 Doctors, 32 Forest Road. It offers good beers and good food in a relaxed atmosphere 
• 55.94607-3.1912712 Sandy Bells, 25 Forest Road. With live traditional music every night. 
• 55.94441-3.1853213 The Pear Tree. With a garden for the summer months, it is popular with university students and residents all year round. Alternatively there is next door The Blind Poet. 
• 55.94173-3.2032114 Bennets Bar, 8 Leven St (immediately after the King's Theater), ☎ 44 131 229-5143. Old-fashioned pub where you can get a draft beer and tasty cheap dishes. Bennets also has a good range of bottled beers whose assortment changes weekly. 
• 55.95218-3.1770115 The Kilderkin, 67 Canongate, EH8 8BT, ☎ 44 131 556-2101. On Mondays, from 5pm while stocks last, I propose the option of paying a £ 1 pizza if ordered with a drink (only one pizza per person). They have a variable selection of four beers and a good range of whiskeys (including some of Cadenhead's independent bottlers). 
• 55.94842-3.1941416 The Bow Bar, 80 West Bow, ☎ 44 131 2267667. An unpretentious traditional pub with a large selection of whiskeys and beers. 

Cowgate

The area of Cowgate, located under the South Bridge and the George IV bridge, is home to numerous clubs and bars and can get very busy on weekends.

• 55.948144-3.19350617 The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. Definitely worth a mention for tourists, after a short walk along Holyrood Road towards the Scottish Parliament you will reach this venue which hosts live entertainment. 
• 55.9489-3.1872518 Cabaret Voltaire, 36-38 Blair Street. One of the most reputable clubs in the city which regularly hosts shows. 

Other premises

• 55.94637-3.1994719 Dragonfly, 52 West Port. Well hidden trendy cocktail lounge right on West Port road. This is probably one of the best bars in the city. This implies, of course, that the venue can often be very crowded. 
• 55.94376-3.2029420 The Forest, 141 Lauriston Place (Tollcross), ☎ 44 131 229-4922. Mon-Sun 10 am-11pm. Artistic café run by volunteers. 
• 55.9481-3.1869421 The Jazz Bar, 1st Chambers Street (just over South Bridge), ☎ 44 131 220-4298. Generally free admission before 8pm:. open until 3. The famous and award-winning venue that hosts live music events has a warm and intimate atmosphere and a diverse crowd. Among the concerts offered there is much more than 'jazz', there are cabaret shows, acoustic and traditional music and much more. 
• 55.94852-3.1937222 The Liquid Room, 9c Victoria Street. It is one of the most established nightclubs in Edinburgh. It hosts both regular concerts and club nights. "Evol", which takes place on Friday nights, is a very popular indie night. For a cheaper, more student-oriented indie night, try their Wednesday night club "Indigo". 
• 55.94983-3.1939923 Wash Bar, 11-13 North Bank Street. Frequented by a slightly older clientele than one would expect in a student-oriented city, it's a pretty lively nightclub. 

Where to eat

You can find several places with good food for a long time South Bridge, Nicolson Street and (further south) (South) Clerk Street. The city is still full of major fast food chains and bars, although not as numerous in the old city.

Moderate prices

• 55.94618-3.185871 Kebab Mahal, 7 Nicolson Street. An institution in Edinburgh, it serves Kebabs and curry dishes. Takeaway and with few seats. Run by Muslims, there are therefore plenty of options for vegetarians, but no alcoholic drinks. Popular with students as it is close to George Square. 
• 55.95109-3.18432 Tempting Tattie, 18 Jeffrey Street. Baked potatoes (tatties) are also a Scottish specialty. According to some, the best in the city can be found here. 
• 55.95031-3.188483 The Baked Potato Shop, 56 Cockburn Street. from £ 4.70 (2017). Baked potatoes with a wide choice of vegan and vegan toppings. 
• 55.94857-3.19434 Oink, 34 Victoria Street (and 82 Cannongate). sandwiches from £ 3.10 (2017). This small restaurant offers only one product: the pork shoulder sandwich, and it does it extremely well. No chips, or side dishes, just pork, sauces and a sandwich. 

• 55.94504-3.185355 The Original Mosque Kitchen, 50 Potterrow (just off George Square; also entrance from West Nicolson Street). In the building directly adjacent to the Edinburgh Central Mosque. A classic student hangout, with meat and vegetable curry available for around £ 5. 
• 55.94263-3.182426 Kampong Ah Lee - Malaysian Delight, 28 Clerk Street, ☎ 44 131 228 5069. Many main courses £ 6-8 (2017). Mon, Wed-Fri: 12: 00-14: 30 and 17: 00-22: 00, Sat-Sun: 12: 00-22: 00. Tasty dishes from the Malaysia such as Roti Canai, Satay, Nasi Lemak, Laksa, Rendang ... 
• 55.94864-3.18667 The Piemaker, 38 South Bridge, ☎ 44 131 558-1728. Many dishes under £ 3 (2017). It has a wide range of delicious cakes and pastries (even savory ones). 

Average prices

• 55.94236-3.203718 The Everest, 52 Home Street (Tollcross). This restaurant offers great Nepalese and Indian food at moderate prices around £ 7-12 (excluding rice or bread). 

• 55.94756-3.196619 Petit Paris, 38-40 Grassmarket. Traditional French restaurant with checkered tablecloths and white walls. 

• 55.94951-3.1831910 David Bann's Vegetarian Restaurant, 56-58 St Mary's Street. Imaginative and tasty vegetarian food. Some dishes are suitable for vegans. Main courses cost around £ 11-14 (2017). 

• 55.9435-3.2024111 Mezbaan, 14 Brougham Street (Tollcross). A restaurant of theIndia from the South quite rare because it serves Indian street food such as "dosas". There may not be many restaurants in the world that serve haggis (vegetarians) pakoras. 

• 55.94857-3.1946512 Thai Orchid, 5th Johnston Terrace. Thai food with vegetarian option. 

• 55.94256-3.200913 The Bombay Bicycle Club, 6 Brougham Street. Average Indian restaurant. 

• 55.94756-3.1917614 The Elephant House, 21 George IV Bridge. One of the most famous cafes in Edinburgh, which owes its fame to the fact that J.K. Rowling wrote much of the first Harry Potter book here. 
• 55.94292-3.1827415 Tanjore South Indian Restaurant, 6-8 Clerk Street, EH8 9HX, ☎ 44 131 478 6518. £15. noon-2: 30PM, 5 PM-10PM. One of the few Indian restaurants in Edinburgh serving South Indian food such as Dosas, Uttapam, Sambar and other Tamil specialties. 

High prices

• 55.94874-3.1956816 The Witchery Restaurant. lunch menu from £ 22 (2017). Proprio accanto al Castello di Edimburgo, The Witchery è un piccolo, bellissimo ristorante a lume di candela con cibo fantastico, servizio eccellente e una ricca e ricercata lista di vini. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• 55.94786-3.193061 Budget Backpackers Edinburgh, 37-39 Cowgate. letto in dormitorio da 7,50£ a notte (2017). Regolarmente votato nella top 5 al mondo grazie al suo personale amichevole e cordiale e ai comfort moderni. È un po' affollato, non aspettatevi che la connessione a internet sia stabile e veloce. 
• 55.94909-3.181892 Euro Hostel Edinburgh, Darroch Court, St John’s Hill, ☎ 44 8454 900 461. 19-50£ a persona a notte. A Cowgate, aperto ogni estate dall'inizio di giugno fino all'inizio di settembre. Sistemazione economica in 43 appartamenti utilizzati come residenze per studenti durante il periodo scolastico. 
• 55.94861-3.185863 Edinburgh Metro (SYHA Hostel), 15 Robertson's Close (Near Cowgate), ☎ 44 131 524-2090, @[email protected]. Da 22£. Aperto nei mesi di luglio e agosto: solo durante le vacanze universitarie prende possesso delle residenze dell'università di Edimburgo. 
• 55.9482-3.195944 Castle Rock Hostel, 15 Johnston Terrace, ☎ 44 131 225 9666. Letto in dormitorio da 11£. Grande ostello sulla collina dietro il castello. 

Average prices

• 55.94636-3.18365 Ten Hill Place Hotel, 10 Hill Place, ☎ 44 131 662-2080. Da 68£ per notte. Pluripremiato hotel creato dalla fusione di una tradizionale terrazza georgiana di Edimburgo con un nuovo edificio moderno e abbastanza elegante, 78 camere da letto e 4 stelle. 

High prices

• 55.947-3.20736 The Sheraton Grand Hotel, 21 Festival Square. Sullo sfondo del maestoso Castello di Edimburgo, lo Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa combina la comodità del centro città con la calda ospitalità scozzese. 

• 55.95014-3.186677 Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High St. A meno di cinque minuti a piedi dai principali quartieri dello shopping e degli affari e l'Edinburgh International Conference Centre è a solo una breve corsa in taxi. 

• 55.9491-3.192758 G&V Royal Mile Hotel, 1 George IV Bridge, ☎ 44 131 220-6666. Situato sul Royal Mile e progettato da Rosita Missoni. 

How to keep in touch

Internet

• 55.94824-3.192212 Central Library (di fronte alla National Library of Scotland), fax: 44 131 242-8009. 

Other projects

• Commons contains images or other files on Città vecchia di Edimburgo

Usable : l'articolo rispetta le caratteristiche di una bozza ma in più contiene abbastanza informazioni per consentire una breve visita al distretto. Use i correctly listing (the right type in the right sections).