Traveling to Edinburgh
 

We are planning to go to Edinburgh in June 2004 possibly for a week. Aside from the castle, are there enough sites to see in the area of Edinburgh for a one week period? We will have a car and don't mind traveling on small day trips. Are there any recommondations on places to go and sites to see within Edinburgh.

There is a lot to see in Edinburgh but a full week might not be the best use of your time. You do not need a car (nor want one) in Edinburgh since almost everything is within walking distance and for the few things farther out there is a great bus system.. Driving and parking in edinburgh is difficult.

So you might want to spend 2 or 3 days in Edinburgh without a car. Then pick up your rental and head out into the country for the rest of your visit.

Edinburgh is fabulous - but not the best base for seeing other parts of Scotland because accomodations would be 2 to 3 times more expensive then what you'd find out in the countryside.

3 days in Edinburgh, 2 days in the Borders or in Fife, and 2 days in Perthshire or over on the west coast would be a great week.

On the other hand, thee is plenty do do in Edinburgh to fill a week, if that's what you want to do.

But, as Janis said, you don't need, or want, a car to do it.

Janis suggestion is excellent - just rent a car for a couple of days to do day trips outside the city. We had a great day driving East of Edinburgh along the south shore of the Firth of Forth - saw some great castles (Tantallon had fantastic views), nice coastal scenery, my husband climbed North Berwick Law (giant hill with great views). The traffic was light - we could stop whenever we saw a castle sign or anything that looked interesting. We had a car in Edinburgh and never used it in the city - just take buses within the city.

A week might be too long. I think 4/5 days is excellent. I highly recommend the Witchery Tours in Edinburgh, as well as the Witchery Restaurant (at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle). If you have questions you can email me, I've been to Edinburgh twice in the past year (my fiance lives in Aberdeen). [email protected]