Having lived in Edinburgh for the best part of half a century, I like to think I know a thing or two about the city, so here are 12 things I think first-time visitors to ‘Auld Reekie’ need to do.
We previously took a look at the first things people discover about Edinburgh when they move here, and I’m now looking at the best tips for visitors who are experiencing the city for the first time.
There are almost too many things for visitors to enjoy in Edinburgh all year round, obviously more so during the Fringe in August, and even a week in the city isn’t enough. So I’ve listed a dozen things any first-time visitors to the Capital need to see and do before they return home.
These include catching our local football teams in action, heading to some of our most famous landmarks, trying out our array of great restaurants and pubs, and of course, trying our famous chippy brown sauce!
9. Spitting on the heart
It is said that you should spit on the The Heart of Midlothian on the Royal Mile for luck - one of our more quirky traditions here in Edinburgh. Perhaps not the most hygienic of things to do but I have to say I enjoy taking part in this favourite Auld Reekie past time anytime I'm passing the landmark outside St Giles' Cathedral. But perhaps that's because I'm a Hibs supporter and this is the only way we will get one over Hearts this season, given that the old mosaic is now the Gorgie side's badge. The heart marks the location of the entrance to Edinburgh's Old Tolbooth, which was demolished in 1817. | Cate Gillon Photo: Cate Gillon
10. The One O'Clock Gun
The people of Edinburgh always know what time it is thanks to Edinburgh Castle's One O'Clock Gun's daily reminder. The gun goes off at 1pm every day, with visitors to the ancient castle gathering round to watch the spectacle, which often gives tourists on Princes Street below quite the fright! | Ian Georgeson Photo: Ian Georgeson
11. Tourist attractions
Yes Edinburgh has hundreds of attractions visitors can enjoy, but I would recommend that you at the very least check out these three. The Scott Monument (top left inset) is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, situated in East Princes Street Gardens. Opened in 1846 it is the second-largest monument to a writer in the world after the José Martí monument in Havana. It is well worth walking up the 287 steps of the 200ft monument to get breathtaking views of the city centre, although it is much more fun coming back down! Camera Obscura (main picture) at Castlehill is five floors jam-packed with over 100 illusions, and my 12-year-old son's favourite Edinburgh tourist attraction. While, no trip to Edinburgh is complete without going to see our favourite dog, Greyfriar's Bobby, a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for supposedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner John Gray until the dog itself died in January 1872. His statue has sat proudly at the top of Candlemaker Row since the year of his death. Bobby is pictured above keeping safe during the Coronavirus pandemic. | National World Photo: National World
12. Murrayfield Stadium
While Glasgow is often seen as Scotland's home of sport, the biggest stadium in Scotland is in the Capital. Murrayfield Stadium currently holds 67,000 spectators for Scotland rugby matches and the occasional football match, while even more fans can enjoy concerts there, with thousands flocking there last summer for concerts by Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles, with Taylor Swift set to perform at Murrayfield this summer. While I'm not a fan of egg-chasing, I've seen some great concerts there including two by Britpop legends Oasis, and erm, I once saw Hibs lose 7-0 to the mighty Messi-inspired Barcelona at Murrayfield, but I don't like to talk about that. So other than for the odd Hibs game at the home of rugby, it's well worth a visit. | Mark Runnacles Photo: Mark Runnacles