Share the article
Last updated
Christmas markets selling mulled wine and delicious sausages, fairytale old towns covered in glittering white snow, and amazing History just about everywhere you look: There’s nothing quite as magical as December in EdinburghH.
Scotland’s ancient capital is by far the most beautiful winter retreat in Europe, beating London, Prague, Amsterdam and the like for the top spot, and luckily for the Americans, it’s a short 7 hour flight!
Before we embark on those flights, let’s take a look at how Edinburgh, or Edi, as locals commonly call it, steals the hearts of visitors:
A fairytale capital that… hardly feels like a capital?
If you ever expected a literal fairytale scene when you landed in Europe and ended up being disappointed by Germany’s post-war modernist makeover or the ghettoization of certain parts of Paris, rest assured you will not be disappointed in Edinburgh.
This is a city that has seen little drastic change since its construction in the High Middle Ages, when a picturesque settlement began to develop at the foot of a monumental Edinburgh Castle, atop a dormant volcano.
Every corner you turn looks great like a page from a storybook comes to lifefrom the colorful, shop-lined Victoria Street to the cobbled Royal Mile, a medieval street full of legendary pubs, Gothic churches and even the odd red telephone box – yes, they have those in Scotland too!
Beyond the narrow streets of the Old Town and its dark bricks and pointed spires, the ‘New Town’ – still quite old by American standards – is dominated by 18th-century Georgian-style buildings.
The busy Princes Street Gardens play host to the most beautiful Christmas market on the continent.
The most beautiful Christmas market in Europe
Yes, Europe’s most enchanting winter event takes place here revealed Through Solopressa UK-based online printing services company that analyzed more than 60 similar markets in the region and concluded there is no better Edinburgh.
It’s the true definition of a winter wonderland, with rows upon rows of chalet-style food stalls serving spiced mulled wine, Scottish haggis to go and other delicacies, as well as crafts.
Not to mention all the exciting fairground rides and live shows.
According to the research, Edinburgh’s Christmas markets have most social media impressions of all major seasonal events in Europe, with 2,738 TikTok posts and 55,304 Instagram hashtags: in other words: it’s a picture!
Oh, if you’re a prolific skater – or you just do it for fun, like us – then you’ll be happy to know that the Christmas Ice Rink will be open on George Street this year, and for the beer lovers among us, don’t miss visiting nearby, recently debuted no Arctic ice barwhere (almost) everything is made of ice.
Hearty pub food that will keep you warm this season
Winters in Europe are all about hearty food and warm and cosy, welcoming pubs where you can drink generous pints of beer while chatting good-humoredly with the locals, and believe us, Edinburgh has its fair share of them.
A local favorite is The Mother Superior, 2024 finalist for Best Pub at Edinburgh’s Bar Awards, highly sought after for its lively atmosphere, reasonably priced drinks and signature pub menu:
Whether it’s ta oad in the hole or a good old fish and chips soaked in vinegar and salt, the Britphile in you will go home with a happy tummy.
In Leith, a rougher part of Edinburgh that is popular for its Train spotting associations, The Strathie is a solid choice if you fancy a more relaxed night out with friends, and as far as street food is concerned, walk no further than the bottom of the Royal Mile:
Oink serves up the absolute best pulled pork sandwich in all of Scotland, and if you have no reservations about eating meat – this is Scotland after all! – then the crispy skin on top will make your day.
Escape the cold in a world-class museum
Edinburgh can be freezing in winter, so once you’ve finished snapping photos of the Circus Mile and walking along the river in Dean’s Village, you can always take shelter in one of the city’s many incredible museums.
Some of our favorites include The Writer’s Museum, a tribute to the lives of three world-famous Scottish authors, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, tucked away in a narrow street leading down from the Royal Mile.
The Grade II listed National Museum of Scotland, which gives London’s Natural History Museum a run for its money: apart from being an architectural marvel, as a large hall surrounded by balconies It dates back to the 19th century and displays dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian mummies…
and a cuddly toy Dolly, the sheep.
Yes, the real Dolly.
Our third and final choice is The People’s Story Museum, one of the most unique exhibitions in the Scottish capital.
It is a first-hand account of the lives of ordinary Edinburgh residents over the centuries, with preserved memorabilia, letters, photographs and other objects.
Oh, are there any Harry Potter fans out there?
This isn’t exactly a museum, but if you ever need a hot cup of tea or a chokie mug, you can grab one at The Elephant House, where JK Rowling wrote the first books of her wizarding saga.
Fly direct to Edinburgh from America
Now you know why Edinburgh is such an incredible place in winter.
On to those flights.
There are two US airports offering non-stop flights to Edinburgh (EDI) this winter, without unnecessary stops in London or other British and European hubs, namely Newark (EWR) and New York (JFK).
United operates flights from Newark daily, while Delta overseas flies from JFK to Edinburgh every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Are you flying United from Newark? Be at the airportI will be ready to leave at 8:10 PMwith an expected arrival time in Edinburgh at 7.55am the next morning, with a flight time of only 6.45am! Flying west, the flights are scheduled to start at 9:25 a.m., landing in Newark at 12:20 p.m. local time.
If your departure point is JFK on Delta, you can expect to depart at 9:55 PM and land in Scotland at 9:45 AM the next day, for a total flight time of 6:50 hours; Upon returning home, departure is scheduled for 11:45 a.m., with landings expected at 2:40 p.m. on the same calendar date, for a total of 7:55 a.m.
View the latest flight tickets for United here, and Delta here.
That will be so Many more non-stop flights to Edinburgh are starting in the near future, with Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington all planned, but not until spring 2025.
✈️Join our Travel Off Path community forum: Where travelers come together, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel companions!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
