So you’re traveling to Edinburgh on a business trip and aren’t sure where to get started? We’ve got your complete Edinburgh travel guide so you can master your trip and make sure you’ve got all your bases covered – from where to stay, to getting around, and some helpful tips, keep reading to find out more.
Edinburgh receives 2.56 million overnight international visitors each year. In fact, Edinburgh is the second most visited UK city by international tourists after London, which receives over 20 million visitors annually. As one of Europe’s most important financial centers, it’s only normal you might find yourself here on a business trip.Let’s find out what this city has to offer.
Practical tips for visiting Scotland for business
- The currency is the British pound
- Tipping at restaurants isn’t mandatory, but it is common practice to leave 10-15%
- Pack layers for different climates during the day, and don’t forget an umbrella
- Stay connected! Popular providers for cellular data are EE, Three and O2
- The Exchange District is Edinburgh’s main business district, home to financial services and Edinburgh’s International Conference Center
- The New Town is a hub for banking, finance and legal services
- Many new companies especially in the IT and media sectors, have set up base in Leith after considerably development over the last 10 years
Getting around Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a very accessible city for flights and trains, and once in the city center it’s an incredibly walking-friendly city, with an excellent network of buses as well. If you arrive at the airport you can get an Airlink or Skylink bus to and from the airport every 30 minutes. Airlink runs from St. Andrew Square and Skulink from Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird. If you are staying in the north part of the city, you can also take the tram, which runs every seven minutes from the Edinburgh Airport.
Moving onwards from Edinburgh to Glasgow for business? It takes just an hour by train.
The weather
Scotland is known for its unpredictable weather, so be prepared for some sun, rain, wind, and maybe all of the above in one day. Don’t leave home without your umbrella and rain gear. If you’re traveling on a business trip in January or February, you will get some cold weather, with average lows of 1°C. Pack layers, including a warm coat and of course good footwear. If you’re lucky enough to visit Edinburgh for business during the months of July and August, you should experience average temperatures around 19°C.
Where to stay in Edinburgh
If you want to be centrally located and within walking distance to the major sites, look for a hotel near Edinburgh castle, a short stop from the West End tram stop, making it easy to get to the airport. For those staying through the weekend, you can easily get to the Farmer’s Market, the Castle and the Grassmarket. For business travelers, you may want to check out hotels in the Exchange District (Edinburgh’s central business district), Leith, South Gyle or New Town. Edinburgh has a broad range of accommodation options to suit different budgets.
pro tip
If you want to find a hotel near a certain site or area, use a travel management platform like GetGoing where you can easily book a convenient hotel both price-wise and location-wise.
Musts for downtime or extending for a bleisure trip
- Walk the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, which connects the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle, home to the most important Scottish artefacts, including the oldest crown jewels in the UK (the Honours of Scotland).
- National Museum of Scotland – this museum has free entry and is home to 20,000 unique artefacts. The rooftop terrace has great views of Edinburgh.
- The Scottish Gallery of Modern Art – Comprising two galleries (Modern One and Modern Two), two sculpture parks, defining the Modern era of Scottish art. It is also free entry, only charging for certain expos.
- Arthur’s Seat – For those looking for a physical challenge, you can take the stunning 6km trail to Arthur’s seat, for great views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
- Visit the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden – Check out the Glass Houses used for researching rare indigenous flora.
Did you know Edinburgh was named the UK’s greenest city, with 44 parks and green spaces, making up nearly half of Edinburg’s total area?
Edinburgh travel guide: final notes
Edinburgh is a vibrant city that makes for an excellent place to visit whether you’re there for business or pleasure. With friendly people and beautiful sites, you may want to tag on some bleisure time if you can! And don’t forget to try Scotland’s national dish: Haggis is Scotland’s iconic national dish, a savory pudding made from sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with oatmeal, suet, onions, and spices. Happy travels!