Why visit
Edinburgh is castle + Royal Mile + Arthur's Seat volcano in the middle of the city. August brings Fringe. The world's largest arts festival.
Edinburgh at a glance
City population
520k
Metro: 910k
Elevation
47 m
154 ft
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 DST)
Europe/London
Airport
EDI
Edinburgh
Founded
7th century
Getting around
Tram line, buses; compact and walkable
Signature dish
Haggis, neeps and tatties, Scotch pie, cranachan, whisky
Neighborhoods for travelers
Old TownNew Town (both UNESCO)LeithStockbridge
United Kingdom at a glance
Country center
54.0°, -2.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
242,900 km²
93,784 mi²
Country population
67.8 million
279/km²
Subregion
Northern Europe
Currency
British pound (£)
GBP
Dial
+44
Language
English
Demonym
British
Internet
.uk
UN
Member state
ISO code
GB / GBR
Where in the world
54.0° · -2.0°
United Kingdom
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Edinburgh hosts the world's largest arts festival every August (the Fringe): 3,000+ shows in three weeks.
- Underneath the Royal Mile are the Mary King's Close vaults: a preserved 17th-century street sealed during the plague.
- JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter in Edinburgh cafés like The Elephant House.
- The UK has no written constitution: just conventions, statutes, and common law built up over centuries.
- The London Underground is the world's oldest underground railway (1863).
Bordering United Kingdom
Traveler notes
- Edinburgh Castle + Royal Mile + Arthur's Seat in one day
- Fringe (August) makes accommodation 3x normal
- Day-trip to Rosslyn Chapel or Loch Lomond
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Edinburgh
What currency is used in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh uses the British pound (£), ISO code GBP.
What languages are spoken in United Kingdom?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for United Kingdom?
The calling code is +44.
What airport serves Edinburgh?
Edinburgh (IATA: EDI).
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