Arriving at the airport there is an excellent bus service to the centre of the city which runs every ten minutes.
Getting around can be done mainly on foot but if you need to use the bus then you must have the correct fare available , all fares are currently £1 the best value is a day ticket which you can use as often as you want and costs £2.50 currently.
There is a tourist office at the airport and in Princes Street at Waverley Mall.
There is a big range of accommodation from Luxury Hotels to Bed and Breakfasts and sometimes the best price is available for some of the more upmarket hotels.
The best idea is to check out a couple of web sites recommended are
There is a wide range of eating available in the city and most guide books will list a variety from Scottish, French, Chinese and Indian and many others
Some recommended favourites are
Café Marlayne 76 Thistle Street 0131 226 2230 Possibly the best value for money cooking in town a French menu that changes daily and has a variety of fish and meat options, the staff are excellent the only slight downside is that there is not a lot of room and you can be eating fairly close to your neighbours, don’t let that put you off ! ££
They have another branch off the High Street at 7 Old Fishmarket Close 0131 225 3838
Fishers in the City 58 Thistle Street 0131 225 5109 Excellent restaurant specialising in as the name suggest fish and seafood always has a wonderful selection of different fish cooked in adventurous ways there is always a meat choice for non fish eaters ££ - £££
They also have another restaurant in Leith Fishers Bistro 1 The Shore 0131 554 5666
Le Café San Honore 34 North West Thistle Street Lane 0131 226 2211 Possibly the best French Restaurant in town they have a great value “Apres Cinq” menu available until 7 during the week £££
Centotre 103 George Street 0131 225 1550 great Italian cooking in stylish surroundings can be reasonable to expensive depending on choices there is pizza and pasta to great meat and fish dishes. The tables outside are where to be seen on a warm day ££ to £££
Original Kushis 9. Victoria Street 0131 220 0057 the best value Indian food in town the quality is excellent and you can bring your own wine or get a beer from the bar next door £ Website www.khushis.com
Nearby is The Buffalo Grill 12-14 Chapel Street 0131 667 7427 specialising in Steaks and Burgers with the advantage of Bring Your Own Wine, they have another branch in Stockbridge at 1 Raeburn Place 0131 332 3864 ££
There are a number of Bars that also do excellent food at reasonable prices one is
Indigo Yard 7 Charlotte Lane 0131 220 5603 trendy bar at night but excellent value for lunch or an evening meal
There are a number of restaurants that are always recommended which I would class as special occasion places
Tower Restaurant, Museum of Scotland Chambers Street 0131 225 3003 highly rates and with wonderful views £££
The Witchery by the Castle Castlehill 0131 225 5613 definitely for a special occasion owned by the same person as the Tower £££
George Street these days is the place for the trendy smart bars some of which are worth just having a drink in because of the fabulous buildings others because they are the new in place !
Rose Street contains some old fashioned bars such at The Abbotsford and at the far end the Café Royal and The Guildford
For an old fashioned bar a stones throw from George Street try the Oxford Bar, Young Street, a no frills locals bar home to the character of Inspector Rebus check out the website www.oxfordbar.com
The Grassmarket is full of bars which attract hen and stag parties at the weekend and are not the place for a quiet drink with the exception of the Bow Bar in Victoria Street a lovely old fashioned bar with a great range of beers
Nearby is Sandy Bells in Forrest Road a traditional bat with excellent folk music sessions most evenings
In the summer Leith is a great for a drink by the shore with lots of bars and restaurants to choose from
The city is full of historic buildings, museums and galleries as well as being a beautiful city for walking around. If you are visiting the various National Galleries it is worth noting that there is a free shuttle bus service linking the National Gallery of Scotland with The National Portrait Gallery and the Dean Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art.
Last update June 2006.
