OrangeSmile Tours Best destinations around the world - Travel Guide
Edinburgh

Colors of Edinburgh - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Edinburgh Castle Residents of Edinburgh are quite friendly and sociable, even though they may seem to be a bit closed at first glance. Finding an explanation to this fact is not really complicated - the fact is according to the local etiquette rules people should stay calm during the acquaintance or at the first meeting. Locals usually greet each other with the phrase «How do you do?» and a slight handshaking (by the way, this is true for both men and women). Locals do not like to talk to strangers. They will not refuse to help a lost tourist, but talking to strangers even on any ordinary topic is considered a sign of bad taste. Residents of the city have great respect to elderly people. They always pass them forward in stores and free seats in subway. Travellers are also recommended to follow these rules, otherwise your behavior may seem strange and bewildering.
Discovering the architecture of Edinburgh from bird's eye view! Edinburgh Castle, St Giles Cathedral, Balmoral Hotel , St. Cuthbert Church, St. Andrew St. George Church, University of Edinburgh, National Monument of Scotland, all those monuments are defining the image of Edinburgh … Open
Edinburgh natives have much respect towards the privacy of other people, so you should not ask them about their work or family relationships. Such themes as sports and weather are much more suitable subjects for communication. You can also discuss contemporary literature. Some of local customs may seem strange to visitors. For example, if you visit someone’s house, its host can give presents to its guests. If you are offered a gift, you absolutely shouldn’t reject it or you will offend the house’s host. National holidays of Edinburgh have always attracted many visitors from other countries. The number and choice of celebrations is really high – there are over 10 colorful festivals during a year, plus other celebrations.
Hogmanay – the local New Year – remains the favorite holiday of locals and tourists. The celebration starts on December 29. During four days various celebrations and public festivals take place on the streets of Edinburgh. Colorful fairs, theatrical performances and activities for children – you will see many people on the streets of the city until late at night. This celebration is also notable for numerous ancient traditions. Before the New Year celebration begins, everyone should clean his/her house and visit houses of all relatives and friends. When New Year is already close, townspeople go out to the streets of the city in order to perform the main ritual of the celebration. They set fire to the barrels with resin and roll them on the streets of the city. This activity symbolizes the "burning" of the old year and cleaning the way for the new one. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scott Monument, St. Mary Cathedral, National Gallery of Scotland, Nelson Monument, as well as many others, they all become the world's cultural heritage objects and remain as iconic monuments for Edinburgh … Open
In Edinburgh, it is accepted to organize various spectacular festivals and celebrations on any necessary event or occasion. People here know a thing in the holidays' organization. The year starts and comes to an end with a huge New Year's celebration, where everyone participates without exception. In Scotland, New Year's holiday starts on December 30. This day takes place the torch procession, which can be seen along the streets of the old city of Edinburgh. Under the sounds of bagpipes and a drumbeat, thousands of people with torches pass on the medieval streets of Edinburgh. This unique show comes to the end with grandiose fireworks. The best view can be enjoyed from Calton Hill. You can also participate in torch procession, but all you need is to purchase the tickets from the official website.
Edinburgh from Calton Hill On December 31 the central streets of Edinburgh turn into the concert hall under the open sky. A lot of Scots and tourists from all over the world gather in the downtown, to enjoy and celebrate the unforgettable atmosphere of the real holiday, which reigns in the city. At midnight, colorful and bright New Year's fireworks light the famous Edinburgh Castle, which stands on top of the basalt rock. On New Year's Eve, in the center of Edinburgh, you can find entertainments and music to your liking - from concerts of classical music by candlelight in a cathedral, concerts under the open sky, live music in pubs and to national vigorous dances under bagpipe sounds. If you are the great fan of Celtic culture, then book your tickets to Edinburgh on the April 30, when Beltane Fire Festival takes place. This is the Celtic pagan festival, which is devoted to the fire and the beginning of summer; it has also very special location - mysterious Calton Hill. In the Celtic calendar, this day is considered the beginning of summer and is celebrated by the kindling of fires on sublime places. The participants of this festival jump through fires for ritual abstersion.
Edinburgh is the city, where the Scottish spirit can be felt as vividly, as nowhere else. A bagpipe and a kilt are a part of everyday life even these days. Scottish food, which consists only … Open
In August you will have amazing possibility to enjoy 20 days of the most popular and so expected event - the Edinburgh International Festival. This is one the world's largest festivals of theatrics. It takes place in the capital of Scotland every year and lasts almost for a month! The Edinburgh International Festival of arts is the unique event: it was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest event. Moreover, the theatrical, opera, dancing, and musical arts are at the same time presented here. It includes concerts of classical, band, chamber and vocal music, theatrical performances, the opera, dancing shows, ballets performed by the leading on-stage performance groups from many countries of the world. Along with the official program, during Edinburgh International Festival, passes also an "informal" part - the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which is dedicated to experimental performing art. What is cool about this event that various young and amateur, as well as experienced bands can participate with it. Even you can if have something to demonstrate and perform. Traditionally, Fringe starts one week prior to the Edinburgh festival, or along with it, and finishes at the end of August.
Edinburgh - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

City tours, excursions and tickets in Edinburgh and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Edinburgh
♥   Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Edinburgh, 1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Former Cathedral of St. Andrew, Saint Andrews, 50.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee, 58.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Edinburgh
♥   Castle 'Edinburgh Castle' Lothian, 0.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Craiglockhart Castle' , 0.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Merchiston Tower' , 2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Craigmillar Castle' Lothian, 4.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Dalhousie Castle' , 12.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Fa’side Castle' , 12.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Aberdour Castle' Fife, 13.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Unique landmarks in Edinburgh and around

Lochleven Castle

From the series “The Greatest Castles of Scotland”
The castle remained in Douglases' hands for the next 300 years. At that time, it was used as a prison for high-level individuals. Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned here in 1567. The last owner of the castle was a famous architect Sir William Bruce. He turned this place in a beautiful estate with a great park. After the architect’s death, Lochleven Castle was never used as a place for living. With time the castle became empty. A lot of buildings are still ruined today. … Read further

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

From the series “15 Unofficial Man-Made Wonders of the World”
The mirror maze, in which everyone will be able to experience a so-called inner compass, attracts great interest. The swirling colored tube is visited by only the bravest people, confident in their vestibular apparatus. In the mysterious rooms visitors could be on opposite sides of the mysterious world. One of them literally turns into a giant, and the other becomes a midget. This is just part of the incredible surprises prepared by the unusual museum in Edinburgh. … Read further
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Edinburgh

Saudi Arabia to Open 38 Hotels in Diriyah

Diriyah is one of the first mega projects in Saudi Arabia. Hotels and other infrastructure will start opening next year, and all works are expected to end in 2026. The first 18 restaurants in Bujairi Terrace will start operating already in early 2022. Read this

19.03.2024

Colors of Edinburgh in photos

Search for popular touristic sites on Edinburgh map

Address/Sight name City/Region Country Within radius, km
 Types of touristic objects to search for
Hotels & Car rental
Carhire locations
0 star
1 star
2 stars
3 stars
4 stars
5 stars
Touristic places
Art galleries
Churches/Temples
Museums
Castles/Palaces
Monuments
Touristic areas
Sightseeings
Attractions
Attraction parks
Casino
Theaters/Cinema
Disco/Clubs
Parks
Zoo
Aqua parks
Transport
Airports
Train stations
Bus stations
Metro
Parkings
Fuel stations
Ports/Ferries
Open the list of object types
Health/Sport
Open the list of object types
Food/Money
Open the list of object types
Shopping
Open the list of object types
Beauty/Medicine
Open the list of object types
City services
Open the list of object types
Useful services

Traditions and festivals in cities around Edinburgh

Cityguide on traditions, mentality and lifestyle of people in Edinburgh. Learn the best periods to visit Edinburgh to discover its soul - authentic festivals, events and celebrations. We will also reveal the interesting habits, attitude towards the world and to tourists in Edinburgh.
OrangeSmile.com - online travel reservation expert providing reliable car rental and hotel booking services. We feature more than 25.000 destinations with 12.000 rental offices and 200.000 hotels worldwide.
Secure Server
Head office
Weegschaalstraat 3, Eindhoven
5632 CW, The Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | OrangeSmile.com | Under the direction and management of IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered at Kamer van Koophandel (KvK), The Netherlands No. 17237018