Edinburgh... what to see and do?

Just hop on the train and come through! 

Did you recently move to Edinburgh?  For some reason, I thought you lived in Glasgow.

I lived in Glasgow for 10 years, back in the 80s/90's... the moved to London, then moved to Linlithgow, and this summer i moved to Edinburgh when i split with my hubby... but Im moving back to Glasgow again at New Year! 

It's only the most fabulous city on the planet!! 

julia-mel, you have had some great suggestions already!

I want to also suggest you walk to the bottom of the Royal Mile, and take a walk in Holyrood Park. There's a lovely old ruin overlooking St. Margaret's Loch, which is quite an easy hike... or if you're feeling ambitious, hike to the top of Arthur's Seat for the most breathtaking views of our beautiful city and beyond. You'll love it!

I live right off Holyrood Park, and it has to be one of my favourite places in the world. It's a little taste of the Highlands right inside the city. Gosh, with the sun shining this morning, I might have to drag DH out for a walk in the park - I've convinced myself!

I'm liking these ideas, as we don't have much money to spend.  Although DH has been there many times, he doesn't seem to know where any of these places are... 
I am sure we could figure it out.  We were thinking of taking the train, but do you guys think it would be better to just drive there in our own car?  It's only about 60 miles from here, but only costs about £20 train fare for both of us, so I am not sure which is the better option.  Seems having a way to get around would be good, but if we don't know where we are going, maybe it doesn't matter anyway...
where is this infamous Lupe Pintos??  sounds like a good place to stop on the way back....
thanks for all the suggestions, and please, more free/cheap stuff!!!!  keep it coming...

Holyrood Park is really easy to find from the city centre. It's just a straight walk down the Royal Mile - you can see Arthur's Seat from almost everywhere in Edinburgh.

Here's a good website with a bit of info and how to get there:

http://www.edinburghguide.com/holyroodpark

And it's free!

where is this infamous Lupe Pintos?? 

Leven Street, at the junction with Valleyfield Street.

We were thinking of taking the train, but do you guys think it would be better to just drive there in our own car?  It's only about 60 miles from here, but only costs about £20 train fare for both of us, so I am not sure which is the better option. 

I'd recommend getting the train and leaving your car behind.
It's more relaxing on the train, and if the fare you're quoting is right, it's cheaper.
Also, there are already farrrr too many cars on Edinburgh's streets, and nowhere to park.
Additionally, a tram system is being built, and many of the roads are dug up, leading to diversions, traffic jams, and just a general pain for drivers.

DH is planning on taking me there in a few weeks, my first trip to Scotland!!! 

Well, I suppose geographically it's in Scotland, but any place in Scotland where they ban bagpiping in the High Street because of noise complaints you gotta wonder about (don't tell DH) 

Anyhow, lots to see and do for the visitor! 

Wha? I see plenty of bagpiping on the Royal Mile and Princes Street!! It's definitely Scotland, no doubt about it!

Wha? I see plenty of bagpiping on the Royal Mile and Princes Street!!

You have to be in designated areas - big fracas about it in the Evening News.

It's definitely Scotland, no doubt about it!

Ever lived in the West of Scotland?     I'll sum up the words of my pal, Helen, who was speaking with my husband Andrew.  They're both Embra natives and got to talking about why they moved to the West.  Helen:  'It's mair Scottish through here.'  Andrew, 'Aye, it's that.' 

Ah, okay, I thought you were saying in more absolute terms that 'bagpiping is banned on the High Street in Edinburgh' and 'Edinburgh isn't Scotland'.  Thanks for the further explanation.

This thread has convinced me. I really need to get to Edinburgh soon!

Yes, you really do!! Wish you could get up here before I leave!   

Ah, okay, I thought you were saying in more absolute terms that 'bagpiping is banned on the High Street in Edinburgh' and 'Edinburgh isn't Scotland'.  Thanks for the further explanation.

My husband and two of our children are from Edinburgh, after all.  I lived there myself for 6 years.

But the West is . . . well, don't know how to put it other than 'mair Scottish'.  Hard to qualify if you've not stayed here any length of time, but you'll be hard-pressed to hear a London accent round these parts  .

My husband and two of our children are from Edinburgh, after all.  I lived there myself for 6 years.

But the West is . . . well, don't know how to put it other than 'mair Scottish'.  Hard to qualify if you've not stayed here any length of time, but you'll be hard-pressed to hear a London accent round these parts  .

Anywhere in Scotland is more Scottish than Edinburgh!  Are there even any Scottish people in Edinburgh?  I thought it was just English people and Americans that lived there   

I do of course jest but there are loads and loads and loads of English/Australians/Americans in Edinburgh compared to the rest of Scotland.

Well, I'm sure that is true with any major city, really.  I mean, walking around London there seemed to be hardly any English accents around, more European accents of different varieties, but up here in the northeast, it's definitely very English!  Besides me, there is only one Polish girl who lives in our village, and everyone else was born and raised here.  So I enjoy it more here, feel like I am getting more of a cultural experience, I suppose.  I would absolutely love to see more of Scotland, and I think we will get the opportunity next year, as my best friend is coming for a visit and dying to make her way through Scotland a bit, which will give us a great excuse to go exploring (and a new thread for me to start  )
I'm really looking forward to seeing Edinburgh, though... I am thinking that since we are only going for the day and coming back that night, it would be easiest to take the train, walk around the Royal Mile and do the Mary Kings Close tour, then maybes head off to Holyrood Park to have a picnic (would be good to bring our own sandwiches so we can skip lunch and spend the money on admission tickets instead) and see if we can muster the energy to climb up to Arthur's Seat (maybe see a sunset?)... what do you guys think?
I definitely want to see the castle at some point, but I hear that takes all day to do, and I would rather see a few things my first time out, rather than just wandering around a castle all day.... 

Anywhere in Scotland is more Scottish than Edinburgh! 

Yeah, I agree - but Edinburgh is still Scottish!