Attractions Nearby at Our Hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland
The best Edinburgh attractions and fun things to do are located minutes from Smart City Hostels. Our prime location just off the Royal Mile in the historic Old Town makes it easy to visit places like Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Dungeons, and the Edinburgh Zoo.
Creative Scotland 2012.
We are supporting Creative Scotland 2012, in the lead up to Homecoming 2014. Creative Scotland will celebrate and promote Scotland's cultural and creative vibrancy, shine a spotlight on our creative assets; providing a chance to work together to promote Scotland's festivals, our great cities like Edinburgh, to get Scotland dancing, to recognise our great historic names of culture and contemporary icons; to shine a spotlight on the contribution that people and places play in making us a leading creative nation and create a global platform for the talent of today's creative Scotland. Book with us today by calling reservations on 0131 524 1989, free phone within the UK 0800 840 5500, or email reservations@smartcityhostels.com. Our team can give you directions and more information on anything to see or do in the local area. Keep checking this page for updates activities and adventure packages for 2011.
The Scotch Whisky Experience:
Discover the intricacies of whisky and find the perfect Scotch Whisky for your personal taste at the clever Scotch Whisky Experience. This interactive attraction features a unique replica distillery to help explain the whisky-making process, the Sense of Scotland room to help decipher distinct whisky aromas, a tasting room, and the largest collection in the world of Scotch whiskey so you can enjoy a wee dram of the best Scotland has to offer. Visit http://www.whisky-heritage.co.uk/
National Galleries of Scotland:
The National Galleries of Scotland has one of the most impressive collections of Western art, spanning the Middle Ages to the present day. The National Galleries of Scotland comprise three major galleries in Edinburgh: National Gallery Complex, Modern Art Galleries, and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The National Galleries of Scotland are free to the public and open daily. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is currently under renovation. Visit http://www.nationalgalleries.org/.
Dynamic Earth:
See planet earth in a whole new light at the innovative and interactive Dynamic Earth attraction. You'll explore earth's lifespan from the Big Bang to present day. There are even a few glimpses into the future. Dynamic Earth uses technology in an entertaining and educational format to illustrate concepts of population growth, climate change, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, extreme habitats and much more. Visit http://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/.
Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh:
Founded in the 17th century, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the most sophisticated gardens of its kind in the world. It is also a prestigious academic center for plant science and education. The Edinburgh garden location features 70 acres of meticulously manicured landscape and glasshouses. A variety of garden ranger-led tours, discussions and events are offered throughout the year. Visit http://www.rbge.org.uk/.
St. Giles' Cathedral:
Situated on the Royal Mile between the Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles' Cathedral is the City Church of Edinburgh. In addition to its iconic crown spire, St. Giles' Cathedral is noted for its Chapel of the Order of the Thistle. Membership into the Order is gifted strictly by Sovereign and is considered one of the country's highest honors. Guided tours of St. Giles' Cathedral are available on request. St Giles' Cathedral is an active church with a regular schedule of worship services. Visit http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/.Rosslyn Chapel:
Rosslyn Chapel, founded in 1446 by William St. Clair, gained modern notoriety when The Da Vinci Code was published in 2004, and again when the film version premiered in 2007. Rosslyn Chapel offers guided tours that offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the chapel, its architecture, and the legends surrounding the church and its grounds. Tickets are required to visit Rosslyn Chapel. Visit http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/.
Mercat Ghost Tours:
Explore the haunted depths of Edinburgh with Mercat Ghost Tours. The tour company specialises in walking tours of Old Town Edinburgh that showcase the most haunted places, including the famously freakish Underground Vaults. A variety of interest-specific tours offered throughout the year include paranormal tours, Edinburgh history tours, ghost tours, and Underground Edinburgh. You can purchase your Mercat Ghost Tour tickets from our friendly reception team who can offer expert advice and help with any questions you have. We can also offer a special room and tour package with discounted Mercat tour price and a 10% discount on accommodation. This can also include a private guided tour for up to 40 people with refreshment sfor our larger groups. For those of you who have already purchased your Mercat ticket why don't you bring your unique Mercat reference number to Bar 50 and get 10% off your first round of drinks at the bar. Visit http://www.mercattours.com/home.asp.Edinburgh Bus Tours:
Edinburgh Bus Tours offer a fantastic overview of Edinburgh attractions and important sites. The open-top buses allow for excellent sightseeing and visitors can hop on and off the tour as they please to further explore Edinburgh attractions of interest. A series of tours is available that highlight specific attractions and city routes. Tours include informative narratives of Edinburgh facts, history and news. Visit http://www.edinburghtour.com/
The Scotts Monument:
In honor of Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott, the city of Edinburgh erected The Scotts Monument in the 1840s. The landmark monument stands 200 feet, 6 inches tall, and features four viewing galleries that offer 360-degree views of Edinburgh. The Scotts Monument architecture is of Gothic design and features such intricate details statuettes of 16 Scottish poets as well as characters from Scott's novels. Visitors can also climb the monument's 287 steps for unparalleled views of Edinburgh. Ivanhoe, Waverley, and Rob Roy are among Sir Walter Scott's novels. Visit http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Leisure/Museums_and_galleries/Monuments/Scott_monument/CEC_the_scott_monument3D Loch Ness Experience:
The mysteries of Loch Ness are front and center in Edinburgh at the exciting 3D Loch Ness Experience attraction. This innovative exhibition challenges the illusions, legends and generations of stories surrounding one of the world's most widely recognized unsolved mysteries. Visit http://www.3dlochness.com/.
