Take a Trip to Edinburgh at Home

Your travel plans may have to wait, but with a little creativity, you can imagine you’re anywhere you want to be. As you dream of where your next trip may take you, our Bring Travel Home series will help you explore another place in the world right now – from the comfort of your own home.

Edinburgh is a city I can visit again and again. I spent a semester in the dramatic Scottish capital a decade ago and found it the perfect mix of historic and cosmopolitan; big enough to constantly be discovering, yet just the right size that I could really get to know it. I’ve returned several times, spellbound by the Old Town’s secret closes and winding streets, the intimacy of the pubs and the commanding features, including Arthur’s Seat and the Edinburgh Castle, that define the skyline.

Until international travel resumes, it’s easy to get an Edinburgh fix at home: Whether you’re learning about Scotland’s vast history via the National Museum of Scotland, sipping a whisky or gin made in Edinburgh or tuning into a live ghost tour in the Old Town, here’s how to get a taste of the city from wherever you are.

Get your bearings

Two vantage points that provide unbeatable views of Edinburgh are Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill. Start at Arthur’s Seat with this 360–degree video, which takes you on an express trip up the extinct volcano that makes up most of Holyrood Park. You’ll enter the park on Horse Wynd, strolling next to the Scottish Parliament Building, before skipping ahead to a swan–filled St. Margaret’s Loch and then again to the 14th–century ruins of St. Anthony’s Chapel. You’ll continue to get whisked along to the summit, 251 metres above sea level – at sunset to boot. For a trip up Calton Hill – my preferred view, since Arthur’s Seat is included in it, plus the Royal Mile leading up to Edinburgh Castle in the medieval Old Town, the neoclassical New Town and the Firth of Forth – explore this 360–degree image, which includes a look at the Dugald Stewart Monument, one of the many Scottish monuments and buildings that dot the hilltop.

Tour the royal residences

Scotland has long been a favourite of the British Royal Family and, while their preferred estate is Balmoral, in the Highlands’ mountainous Cairngorms National Park, the Queen’s official Scottish address is the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Located at the base of the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace has housed many monarchs since it was founded in the 12th century and is now used by Queen Elizabeth II when carrying out official engagements in Scotland. You can view three of the lavishly appointed rooms – the Great Stair, Morning Drawing Room and Kings Bedchamber – on a virtual tour. Over in Leith, a port area on the Firth of Forth, floats another royal residence – the Royal Yacht Britannia. The yacht served the Royal Family for 44 years before being decommissioned in 1997 and opened to the public. Until you can see it in person, explore all five decks of the ship virtually (including the teak–lined Sun Lounge, the Queen’s favourite room), and read about what a day on the Britannia would have looked like for HRH.

Enjoy a wee tipple

Of all of the food and drink that comes out of Scotland – shortbread, haggis, fresh salmon and seafood – Scotch whisky is the most famous. While you can sample any type you like in Edinburgh, in one of the hundreds of pubs, at a local distillery such as Holyrood Distillery or at the Scotch Whisky Experience, the majority of distilleries are located in the whisky–producing regions of Highland, Islay and Speyside. So, let’s take a side trip to Islay, shall we? The island off the west coast of Scotland is known for producing smoky whiskies (my favourite kind), thanks to an abundance of peat moss that’s used as fuel for the traditional pot stills. Join Master Distiller John Campbell on a virtual tour of the Laphroaig distillery – and make sure you’ve got a bottle on hand for tasting (it’s available around the world). If you’re not into whisky, perhaps you’d fancy a gin? Edinburgh Gin is made at two distilleries in the city and is available for purchase in Canada. Try one of the gin liqueurs, in flavours like Rhubarb & Ginger and Elderflower, which are delicious on their own or in a cocktail. If a sweet treat is more your speed, try this recipe for cranachan, a simple Scottish dessert featuring oats, cream, raspberries and, of course, a wee bit of whisky.

Tune into a live event

The closest you’ll get to being in Edinburgh without actually being there is through a live experience with someone on the ground. Peek into the city’s darker side by joining a seasoned local guide on the Edinburgh’s Ghosts, Murders and Monsters Online Experience via Airbnb – you’ll get an up–close look at the city’s underground vaults, the dungeons at Edinburgh Castle, the Grassmarket (a large square and former market in the Old Town where public executions once took place) and more in this video game–style virtual tour. For something a bit lighter, but equally historic, peruse the ongoing programming taking place in celebration of famed Scottish author Sir Walter Scott’s 250th anniversary, including the Public and Private Worlds of Sir Walter Scott, an online lecture coming up in June hosted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.