Edinburgh Essentials

National Holidays In Edinburgh

January 1st -	New Years Day
April 2nd (2010)-	Good Friday
April 4th (2010) -	Easter Day
May 5th -	May Day
May 31st (2010) -	May Bank Holiday
August 30th (2010)-	August Bank Holiday
December 25th -	Chrstmas Day
December 26th -	Boxing Day

Edinburgh Castle is open in the summer (1st Apr to 30th Sept) from 9:30am to 6pm and in the winter (1 Oct to 31 May) from 9:30am – 5:00pm. Ticket prices from Oct and March to May: adults – £11.00, concessions – £9, Children (up to 15) – £5.50, free for children under 5. The last tickets are sold 45 minutes before closing time. An Explorer Pass gives savings on admission to 75 historic Scotland properties including Edinburgh Castle.

 Search for Edinburgh City Breaks

Edinburgh Opening Hours

Shops in Edinburgh open between 9am to 5.30pm, Thursday is late night shopping till 7.00pm or 8pm and shops open on Sundays between 12pm to 6pm. Banks open between 9.30am and 3.30 with some staying open till 5pm. Many tourist shops are part of the Tax-Free scheme. Keep receipts and fill out a claim form to benefit from the 17.5% VAT refund.

 

Haggis (stuffed sheep’s stomach) is the most famous Scottish delicacy. Neeps and tatties (haggis, turnips and potatoes), stovies (meat and potatoes), hotch-potch (Scotch broth), pies or ‘bridies’ (similar to Cornish pasties) are also traditional Scottish fare…

Don’t forget the Whisky! Known as the ‘Water of Life’ or Uisge-Beatha in Gaelic.

Edinburgh used to be known as “Auld Reekie” in the days of coal fires. Auld Reekie Cock-a-Leekie – chicken soup with whisky, Steak Auld Reekie – steak with a Whisky and smoked cheese sauce and deserts such as Drunken Rhubarb Crumble are recommended local dishes. Contemporary Scottish cuisine mixes the indigenous with overseas influences and has become more refined than the dishes of the past. New Scottish dishes are created utilising the country’s excellent produce; succulent lamb, game such as grouse, pheasant, partridge and wood pigeon; fresh berries (raspberries, strawberries, Tay berries and brambles and some of the world’s finest lobster and crabs.

Tipping And Etiquette in Edinburgh
In some Scottish restaurants service is included in the bill. Where it isn’t, at least 10% is the standard gratuity unless the service was unsatisfactory.

Gaelic Phrases For Tourists

"Och aye tha noo" - a greeting that literally means, “Oh! Yes just now”.

As in; “so you’re back then?”
 
Scottish Phrases for Tourists

Thank you very much!	Thenk ye uncoly!		Happy Birthday!	Canty Birthday!
Happy New Year!	Happy Hogmanay!		I don't understand!	A dinna kin!
Happy New Year!	Happy Hogmanay!		How much is it?	Tha mi duilich
Don't worry!	Dinna fash yersel!

Edinburgh Useful Numbers
Public payphones take either coin, credit cards or prepaid phone cards. Phone cards can be purchased from post offices and some newsagents. These can be used in phone boxes with the green phone card symbol. The area code for Edinburgh is 0131. When calling from abroad, dial the international country code minus the first 0 for Edinburgh and then the number. When calling overseas from Edinburgh, dial 00 plus the country code, area code and number. For police, ambulance or fire call 999

If you need to find an accessible pub, plan a night out or a shopping trip in Edinburgh, visit www.disabledgo.info for more details.

 

Residents of England and Wales must apply for services at the Embassy in London.

Edinburgh City Breaks  Getting Around Edinburgh

Things To Do In Edinburgh  Edinburgh Weather