Exploring Edinburgh and The Highlands

Edinburgh was on my bucket list for a long time. I decided to visit Scotland with my husband and son mid-July (2023), so we could enjoy sunnier and warmer weather. Edinburgh is great for exploring it by foot, but you can also take the city bus.

I especially enjoyed walking through the Royal Botanic Garden — it was stunning and very well-taken care of. It took us about three hours to explore the various paths and observe the ducks and other animal life in the ponds.

The castle of Edinburgh is a must-see. We spent about two hours with a local tour guide, learning about its history and walking through all the buildings. It is very well preserved and you can actually visualize all the battles fought there.

Our day trip to the Highlands with a local tour group was another fun day. We were able to take pictures in the highlands, explore Glencoe and take a boat ride on the famous Loch Ness. It was definitely a full day of beautiful scenery and interesting information from our tour guide.

You can find different kinds of restaurants in Edinburgh depending on your preferences. We ate at some great Italian restaurants, but also enjoyed sushi and had breakfast and coffee at the local coffee shops.

Scotland is best visited in the summer, so you avoid as much as possible, cold, rainy days. It is a great family destination and to fully explore Edinburgh and also plan for a day tour, it's best to stay 5–7 days. Even in the summer the temperature is not very high, so pack some warmer clothes, especially for the evenings and night time. Since you can walk to most of the city’s sites, make sure to wear comfortable shoes and always have an umbrella with you! Finally don't forget that in Scotland people drive on the left side of the road so make sure you double-check when crossing the street!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Edinburgh. In need of further inspiration? Check out Nicole Whelan's guide, Become Enchanted with Edinburgh in a Day.