If you find yourself in Edinburgh this St Patrick’s Day, you’ll discover plenty of celebrations taking place across the city.
To help you make the most of the occasion, we’ve rounded up a few suggestions for enjoying the occasion in the Scotland’s capital.
While Ireland is famous for its whiskies, there are many fantastic distilleries in Edinburgh and the Lothians, including the Scotch Whisky Experience located next to Edinburgh Castle in Castlehill, and the Johnnie Walker Princes Street.
A tour of the distilleries is a must for any whisky lover, with stunning insights into the production and history of our national drink.
For the Scotch Whisky Experience, hop off The Edinburgh Tour or CitySightseeing Edinburgh Tour at the National Museum of Scotland – from there it’s a walk of about 6-7 minutes. Johnnie Walker Princes Street can be reached via The Edinburgh Tour stop 11 and CitySightseeing Edinburgh stop 2.
Edinburgh has deep historical Irish connections, centred historically in the ‘Little Ireland’ area of the Cowgate, which was driven by 19th-century famine migration. Throughout the 1840s, Edinburgh saw an influx of Irish families move to the city, and as the population boomed, Cowgate saw multiple families, many of whom were Irish, squeeze into one room flats.
Today, the area has a thriving night-life scene and is a popular location for many up-and-coming acts in the city’s world-famous Fringe Festival. It’s well worth exploring the many bars and restaurants that populate this part of the Old Town. Hop off the Edinburgh Tour at stop 7 – the Cowgate is just a 5 minute walk away.
Edinburgh is unique in many ways however there’s one thing it has in common with every other city in the world – it has a wide range of Irish bars to choose from! We Scots know how to party, too, and it will be no different on St Patrick’s Day this year.
With bars dotted all around the city, you’ll be spoiled for choice when deciding where to raise a pint of Guinness in honour of Ireland’s most famous son. For a lively atmosphere and traditional live music, head to Biddy Mulligans in the Grassmarket.
Hop off The Edinburgh Tour at stop 10 of CitySightseeing Edinburgh Tour at stop 3.
No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a journey onboard one of our open-top tour buses. Whether you’re a tourist looking to tick off all the historic landmarks or a resident looking to learn more about your home city, we’ve got you covered.
Embrace the spirit of the day with our Edinburgh Tour, our distinctive, green-liveried tour bus led by an expert live guide. The city’s rich history will be brought to life while you enjoy breathtaking views from the top deck. There’s no better way to spend an hour exploring Edinburgh. Head to Waterloo Place where you can speak to members of our team to find the right tour and ticket for you!
Slainte from all at Edinburgh Bus Tours!
