Edinburgh Attractions
If you have a stop over at Edinburgh airport and don't want to spend it in an edinburgh airport lounge or an edinburgh airport hotel, you might consider spending some time at one of the local attractions - the things to do near to edinburgh airport.
Because the airports is close to the city, things to do close to edinburgh airport include just about anything in edinburgh. And as the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh has a wealth of treasurers for the visitor to discover.
Dubbed 'the Athens of the North', Edinburgh offers an architectural wonderland, set among rocky crags and brooding volcanic hills. It is the perfect city to enjoy on foot, with top class shops just a stone's throw away from 5-star attractions.
You might want to visit the historic Edinburgh Castle and old town, take a break from it all and relax in the pretty surroundings of Princess Street Gardens or the 260 hectares of mountains, moorland, lochs and fields that Edinburgh's Holyrood Park has to offer, or if you are feeling a little more adventurous, you can make the climb up Arthur's Seat for a breathtaking view of the city.
We have included outline details on the top things to do near edinburgh airport below (in alphabetical order), with more details on separate pages, including how far they are from the airport and how you would get there. Click on the name of the attraction to find out more:
Edinburgh Annual Events: details of the major annual events in edinburgh.
Edinburgh Camera Obscura: built in 1873 as an outlook tower, it has been converted into a huge 'camera' where images are projected onto a viewing table below using lenses and mirrors, allowing you to watch what's happening all over the city at that moment.
Edinburgh Castle: this magnificent, historic castle, full of Scottish history, sits atop an extinct volcano and dominates the city that surrounds it. It is a world-class heritage site which not only offers a fantastic glimpse of medieval Scotland, but is also a place to get some wonderful view over the city itself.
Edinburgh Cinema: a list of the cinema's in Edinburgh, including contact details.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival - part of the Edinburgh Festival season held every August, the Edinburgh Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. The Fringe is focussed almost exclusively on the performing arts, particularly theatre and comedy.
Edinburgh International Festival - the origin of the Edinburgh Festival, which happens every August, the Edinburgh Festival is a festival of music. For 19 days each year, Edinburgh is filled with some of the best performers, artists and musicians from around the world.
Edinburgh International Book Festival - part of the Edinburgh Festival season held every August, the international book festival includes readings and discussions, writing workshops for both adults and children and meet the author sessions. The festival always includes a number of famous writers.
Edinburgh International Film Festival - part of the Edinburgh Festival season held every August, the international film festival is the established home of innovative and exciting cinema in the UK and an important date in the calendar for film lovers and the industry.
Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens - a wonderful haven of tranquility within the city, as well as the home to a world-renowned centre of botanical science and offering great views of the city.
Edinburgh Royal Highland Show - A celebration of farming and livestock. Farmers and breaders from all over Scotland gather to compete for prizes at the Royal Showground. The show also has the largest festival of food and drink in Scotland.
Edinburgh Shopping: this is not only a city of history and beauty, but also a great place for some retail therapy. Click on the link to find out more.
Edinburgh Travel: for information on how to get around Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Zoo: the largest and most exciting wildlife attraction in Scotland. Set in a beautiful parkland setting on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the zoo houses 127 different types of animal (over 1,000 animals).
Malleny Garden, Balerno: just six miles from Edinburgh, this three acre garden is a haven of peace and tranquillity, renowned for its flamboyant plantings of old fashioned roses. You can also visit the vegetable and herb garden, the Victorian greenhouse, and the surrounding area of woodland which adds to the aura of shelter and seclusion.
Murryfield Rugby Stadium: the home of Scottish Rugby (Union), which has been played at Murryfield since 1925. You can take a stadium tour or, if you're lucky, catch a game.
Museum of Scotland: the biggest museum in the UK outside of London. In addition to tracing the history of Scotland, the museum of scotland houses excellent collections from the world of art, natural history, geology and technology, and features a children's section, with touchable exhibits.
There are other museums and galleries to enjoy in Edinburgh, including The National Gallery of Scotland, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and The Scottish Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery.
