When you stroll down the streets of Edinburgh, it feels like you’ve entered a magical world of wizards, bagpipes, and horse-drawn carriages. This stunning medieval city is also home to the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where hundreds of thousands of theatergoers descend on the city to see indie theater productions and musicals put on in both high-end theaters and local pubs.
My partner Kyle and I visited for this Fringe Fest, finding ourselves watching musical adaptations about Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski accident case as well as a well-made one-woman show about a weather girl losing her mind as wildfires sweep California and she searches for her homeless mother.
This festival gave birth to shows like Fleabag, but it’s also a wild time to be in the city. You’re clamoring past crowds as buskers and street performers try to grab your attention by throwing fire or doing magic tricks. You’re trying (and failing) to avoid spending $20 on a sandwich. And as you wind through a narrow stone alleyway past the castle, a lone bagpipe player serenades you under the twilight as torches burn from the top of the towers of the castle.
We threw paper airplanes in pubs that held contests for just this type of activity. We ate amazing naan breakfast rolls at Dishoom and delighted in their creamy chai lattes. We ducked into bookstores to avoid the “summer” weather of rainstorms and wind.
Edinburgh is a special place, but it’s also expensive and cold. If you know what to expect and pack a pair of waterproof boots and an umbrella (yes, even in the summer!) then you’re likely to have a great time in this city.
✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: Working Remotely in Edinburgh, UK (Digital Nomad Travel Guide!)