Having conquered a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list, being the capital city of Scotland and attracting more than 2 million visitors every year, Edinburgh is a city which can’t be left out of your bucket-list when traveling in the UK. I visited this magical city for 3 days in February during my exchange. The timespan was perfect to see the highlights and to get a glimpse of the Scottish culture. Since the city isn’t that big and a lot of sights are situated in the same area, it was very easy to explore it by foot. It’s time to share the highlights, activities and nice places to eat with you guys!
To do:
1. Climb the Artur’s Seat
This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Artur’s Seat, a vulcano hill, is part of Holyrood Park and is situated very close to the city. By climbing this mountain, you’ll get incredible views of the city on your way up. There are different hiking routes which lead you to the top. Since my friend and I were in for a challenge, we decided to choose the adventurous path. It was quite steepy at some points, so I do recommend to wear good shoes! We did the hike late in the afternoon, so we were able to see the sunset. This resulted in some stunning views…
2. A stroll through Royal Mile
This buzzing street is situated in Edinburgh’s Old Town and the most important one of the city. It connects Hollyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. Here you’ll probably spot the most tourists, since the main street and the smaller side-streets are full of souvenir shops. Cashmere, shortbread and whisky are the main staple items to buy here.
3. Edinburgh Castle
This castle is a must-see sight in the city (it’s almost impossible to miss it, since it’s situated on a hill in the centre of Edinburgh!). Most parts of the castle are built in the 17th century and it functioned for a long time as a residence of the Royal family. Various museums and other sights are housed here. Since I didn’t had time to go inside, we decided to walk to the entrance and stroll around in the area, which was already very impressive.
4. Visit the biggest whisky collection in the world and do a tasting session in the Scotch Whiskey Experience.
5. Shop till you drop in Princess Street.
6. Watch an awesome Scottish comedy show at night.
To eat:
1. A full Scottish Breakfast at Loudens
Eating a big, hearty and traditional breakfast in the UK was still on my bucket-list, so we decided to go for it in Edinburgh. Loudens is a big, bright and busy cafe, where they serve amazing breakfast and lunch (Egg dishes are their speciality). I ordered the real deal, and as I healthy foodie I must say it was quite ok!
2. A hearty and healthy lunch at Milk Cafe
I was definitely in my happy place once I took a look at the menu-card in this cosy cafe: so many healthy and mouth-watering options! After a long and hard decision, I ordered the pumpkin salad with falafel and flatbread. It was the best.
3. Mediterranean dinner at Laila’s Bistro
After a long search for food, we stumbled upon this little gem in Cockburn Street. I love the Mediterranean cuisine since they usually use a lot of veggies and fresh products. I ordered the grilled salmon filet with various vegetables & rice. The dish was well-made and the staff was very friendly.
Lots of love, Manisha
On a very warm and sunny day, my sister and I decided to visit one of the most beautiful forests of The Netherlands: The Veluwe. The National Park of this forest-rich ridge of hills is situated in the province of Gelderland and features several different landscapes. Heath, woodland and sand drifts, they are all present. The best way to explore all the amazing things this region has to offer is a very “Dutch” one, namely by bike! The well-known white bicycles are very convenient and scattered throughout the whole park.
Manisha captures 