Craving a trip to Scotland? I’ve got just the inspo and recommendations for you! My now fiance, Logan, and I just got back from our first international trip together to Scotland. And let me tell you, it was the best trip of my life. We based our trip out of the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, known affectionately by locals as ‘Auld Reekie’ (a few hundreds of years ago Edinburgh smelled horrendous, earning it this nickname). We had the biggest adventures in Edinburgh, and even explored more of Scotland- Falkland, Fife, St. Andrews, and more. If you’re interested in visiting Scotland (or even just needing Scotland content while you wait for the next season of Outlander), read along for part 1 our 1 week Scottish adventure!
Arrival In Edinburgh/Where We Stayed
We arrived to Edinburgh Airport around 11:30 am. The airport is about 30 minutes from the city center via bus or tram. We immediately hopped on a bus to Princes Street (basically the dividing line between Old Town and New Town). This is where we had our first adventure- getting very confused by public transportation- so we walked to our Airbnb. European cobblestone + luggage? Humbling. Our Airbnb was located in Leith, a water-front, trendy neighborhood just 10 minutes via tram outside of the city center. While it’s great to stay right in the center, it can be very expensive. Leith is a great place to stay in Edinburgh, and I highly recommend it for its wealth of cafes, shops, and safety. Another plus? Our Airbnb was Outlander-inspired, so it felt cozy, historical, and very Scottish! Obviously, we were in love.
Day 1 In Edinburgh
After settling in to our Airbnb, we finally embarked on the first activity for our trip to Scotland: The Johnnie Walker Experience. But first? We headed up to the Johnnie Walker 1820 Rooftop Bar for exceptional drinks and even better views. We had our first taste of Scottish Whiskey and then went outside for one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle. It was absolutely unreal– a great introduction to the city. While you don’t need a reservation for the 1820 Rooftop bar, I highly recommend booking one in advance so that you don’t miss out.
Afterwards we headed back downstairs for the main event of the night: the Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavour Tour. Scotland is well-known for its production and consumption of exceptional whiskey, so what better to do on our first night than go on a whiskey-tasting tour? And if you’re not a fan of whiskey, never fear! The Journey of Flavour tour isn’t just any whiskey tour. Prior to your arrival, you’ll take a quiz to find your unique flavor profile. You’ll try 3 different whiskey cocktails on the tour- each handcrafted to suit which flavors you like. So if you don’t like whiskey? You will after this tour. You’ll also enjoy learning the history of the Johnnie Walker brand, and develop an appreciation for the depth of flavors found in whiskey. This was one of our favorite experiences in Scotland- I highly recommend!
Day 2 in Edinburgh
Day 2 in Edinburgh was our first full day there, so you bet it was jam packed! We started off with breakfast at Auld Jack’s Cafe- the traditional Scottish breakfast is Logan’s new favorite- he couldn’t get enough! We then headed over to the Greyfriar’s Bobby statue for a free Harry Potter walking tour! This is one of the things I was most excited for- our guide from The Potter Trail first took us through Greyfriar’s Kirkyard to see a few things that inspired J.K. Rowling when she was writing the books. We saw the real ‘Hogwarts’ of Edinburgh, the people who inspired a few famous Hogwarts professors, and even Tom Riddle’s Grave!
Afterwards we headed to Victoria Street to see the real-life Diagon Alley! Our tour guide was fantastic and gave us so much information about Harry Potter and the series’ roots in Edinburgh- we were even pointing out things later on to each other that were mentioned on the tour. Check out the Potter Trail tour here!
The Castle
After the Harry Potter tour we decided to do some shopping on the Royal Mile until our next stop: Edinburgh Castle! This is the castle in Edinburgh. Sitting a top an ancient volcano, the castle was built in the 11th century and has been used in many ways. It’s been a royal residence, military fortifications, prison, etc.
You can see it all around Edinburgh, but I highly recommend booking tickets in advance to actually visit it. I also recommend buying the self-guided audio guide to fully immerse yourself in the castle’s history. There was so much to get through in one visit (we thought that two and a half hours would be enough, but it wasn’t even close!). My favorite parts were seeing the Scottish Crown Jewels (first used in Mary, Queen of Scots’ coronation). I also enjoyed seeing the room where King James VI of Scotland and I of England was born.
We then headed to Mary’s Milk Bar for some amazing hot chocolate. Then, up the Vennel viewpoint for some pictures with the Castle! We did some shopping again and got lost in the streets of Old Town (honestly, Edinburgh at night is magical– it really feels as if you’ve stepped back in time), before heading over to dinner at the Alchemist. I cannot say enough good things about this place. The drinks were interesting, entertaining, and delicious. And the food? Fantastic. Definitely theatre served.
Day 3 in Edinburgh
A trip to Scotland isn’t complete without visiting ornate historical palaces. So on day 3 we headed to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the royal family in Edinburgh. I was in awe of this place- you can visit a 12th-century monastery, see Bonnie Prince Charlie’s belongings, and more. We visited Mary, Queen of Scots’ bedroom (and the murder site attached to it!), as well as remnants of a Jacobite attack on the palace.
Next up, we decided to hike Arthur’s Seat. Rumored to be the potential site of Camelot, Arthur’s Seat overlooks the city of Edinburgh and is a great place to take in the views. It was raining and very windy, but it was so worth it.
For dinner we headed to Cold Town House for some great food and drinks, and afterward Logan wanted to get some pictures at the Vennel Viewpoint. Little did I know, he was actually proposing! Of course I said yes, and after crying for an hour, it was time to celebrate!
The Perfect Souvenir
We went back to the Johnnie Walker 1820 Rooftop Bar to celebrate our engagement with champagne and their fantastic whiskey cocktails. We wanted to do something extra special for our engagement- and Johnnie Walker had just the perfect souvenir!
You can engrave and pour your very own bottle of Johnnie Walker Whiskey. You could choose between a few different blends- summer or autumn. We went with Autumn simply because we were there in the Autumn (and because we had started dating and now had gotten engaged during the Autumn). We got the bottle engraved to say “Our biggest adventure yet. Engaged October 20, 2023. Edinburgh, Scotland”. They even let us write on the label! The staff at Johnnie Walker were incredibly kind and helpful- they even gave us the engraving for free as an engagement gift. I highly recommend pouring and even engraving your own bottle of Johnnie Walker for the perfect Scottish souvenir.
Part 1 of our Scottish Adventure
Our trip to Scotland was jam-packed with activities, experiences, and memories- this was only part 1 of our 1 week-long Scotland adventure! Stay tuned for part 2- where we venture outside of Edinburgh for castles and countryside. You won’t want to miss it! If you’re ready to go to Scotland now, check out this post on what to pack!
What did you think was most exciting about part 1 of our Scotland trip? Let me know in the comments below!
I totally enjoyed your blog Hannah and Logan. It is a beautiful city. So much history. I was there in 2001. Went on a tour called the Best of Britain. England, Scotland and Wales. All very beautiful and interesting. Can’t wait to read about the rest of your week in Scotland. Love you both. Hugs G’ma.
Thank you so much! It’s definitely amazing, that tour sounds like it must’ve been a lot of fun! I would love to do something like that. We love you too! Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading this. You should write your own book about traveling. I would SO read it! <3
Thank you SO much, you just made my day! I’m glad you enjoyed it, I would absolutely love to write a book one day 😉