I travelled Solo for the first time and I went to the most amazing city. I know most of us have the desire and dream to travel somewhere solo. This is something that I wanted to do for myself, so I decided to book a trip to the city of Edinburgh. Here is everything that you need to know if you want a Solo Travel Trip to Edinburgh.
Why Edinburgh?
I chose to take a solo trip to Edinburgh as it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This may be biased, but I’m sure that there are many people who can agree with me on this one. In fact, there were a lot of tourists from around the world who came to visit this wonderful city. So, I guess there’s some truth to Edinburgh being one of the best cities in Europe.
Edinburgh is known for its historic attractions, world heritage sites and rich history. What attracted me to this city was its amazing buildings and the Scottish of course. I have to say, Scottish people for me, were really friendly and welcoming. This made my 3 Day Trip, very pleasant.
Another reason why I chose to travel to Edinburgh is because it is one of the safest places to travel. In 2021 it was rated as one of the safest places to live in the UK based on a survey. But, as you should already know as a solo traveller. No one place is completely ‘safe’, it is important to be cautionary when you travel alone.
The list can go on, but I can assure you. The decision to make travel solo to Edinburgh is one that I do not regret.
How did I get there?
If you live in the United Kingdom, there are different ways for you to travel to Edinburgh, dependent on your location. The options vary from getting a train, driving or booking a flight. I chose the latter, as it was the cheapest for me at the time. But next time I go back, I’ll make sure to look out for cheaper train tickets as this would be a environmentally friendly option for me.
I booked my flights via SkyScanner and traveled with Ryanair. My flight to Edinburgh and back cost me £29. This was a massive bargain, so I had to take it. The flight to Edinburgh was short and sweet.
Which hotel did I book?
So, I was solo travelling on a budget. My goal was to see as much as I can in those 3 days that I went. So for the hotel I prioritised my budget over a fancy hotel.
I booked the hotel via booking.com and found the IBIS Budget hotel in Edinburgh Park. This cost me £164 for 2 nights. Though I had no expectations. Let me assure you, this hotel was everything for me and more.
The name speaks for itself, it was a budget hotel for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on accommodation. However, everything was perfect with this hotel. I got a double bed, TV, shower, breakfast on sight and it was very clean and tidy.
The best thing however, was the location of the hotel. The tram, which is the best mode of transport for getting everywhere was a 2 minute walk from the hotel. In addition to this, there was a mall just a few minutes walk from the hotel, if you wanted to go shopping for food and clothes. I cannot commend this hotel enough. It was the most ideal thing for me.
How to get around in Edinburgh
So another perfect thing about Edinburgh is the Tram. When I got to the airport. I had no idea how I would get to my hotel or anywhere for that matter. But I soon found out that there was an option to buy a ticket to get me around on the Tram. You can get this ticket online and mine lasted 4 days at the price of £14.50. Yet again, another cheap and convenient way to get around Edinburgh.
Which places did I visit?
I visited Edinburgh for 3 days, during the Christmas period and planned to see as many sights as I could. Initially, I followed a guide which I saw online on what to do for 3 days in Edinburgh. But, on Day 2 I realised how I close everything was to each other. Truthfully, you can actually see all the sights in one day.
Which is why it’s probably best to have an idea of what you want to see, then work around it in that way. Although, I didn’t get a tour guide, I believe that to truly enjoy and appreciate Edinburgh and its history. It would probably be a good idea to book a tour of some of its famous sights.
There are a few things that I got to see and experience:
1. Scot Monument
2. The Milkman
3. Dean Village
5. Victoria Street
These are just a few pictures of the places that I got to see. But there was so much more that I saw including the Edinburgh Castle.
Was it Safe?
From my experience, I felt safe the 3 days that I was in Edinburgh. It is important that I mention that I was back in the hotel most days by 6pm. So I did not travel at night. However, overall I felt safe throughout the duration of my trip. I made sure to keep to my self and be conscious of my surroundings.
Best time to travel to Edinburgh?
I travelled to Edinburgh during the Christmas period as I wanted to see Edinburgh market and partake in the Christmas spirit. However, from research most people do recommend going there in autumn. I am inclined to agree, as I can imagine how beautiful a lot of the places would look in autumn such as Princess Garden Street.
My tip for Solo travel to Edinburgh
My biggest tip for solo travel to Edinburgh is to try and walk every where if you can. What I mean by this is that, most of the sight seeing places are close together. You won’t need to get a bus or taxi. The first time I got to Edinburgh I was occupied with ticking places to see on my list. When I decided to walk everywhere, this is truly when I experienced and grew to love the city. I got to see places that were not even on my list. I paid more attention to the detail of the city and its wonderful cathedrals. Everything just felt amazing. I highly recommend travelling to see Edinburgh whether it is by yourself or with friends and family. This will be an experience that you will never forget.
