What you need to know before you book your airfare and tickets
The first thing that springs to mind when you think of Edinburgh, is Hogmanay. Crazy street parties with lots of drunk people ringing in the new year. But Edinburgh is a lot more than that. Year round festivals make Edinburgh the culture capital of the North. Summer is the best time of year to visit as the chances of good weather are somewhat higher and the city is buzzing with a multitude of festivals in August. There is the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, the Fringe Festival, and the Book Festival, to name but a few. But even if you book a cheap flight to Edinburgh any other time of year, you will not be disappointed. If you've got some spare cash, check into the new posh Missoni hotel. If you don't then it's worth forking over the slightly lower amount of money for a cocktail at the hotel bar. This way you won't break the bank and you still get to see the awesome design. For more low key bars, head over to the Grassmarket. My favourite is a pub called The Last Drop. The name comes from the fact that across the street they used to hang people. So this was literally their last drop. Needless to say that this place has some house ghosts to entertain their punters. For shopping check out the shops on Princes Street for the high street brands or find some local souvenirs on the Royal Mile. This street leads up to Edinburgh Castle on the hill which of course you can't miss on your visit to this diverse city.
