The Christmas market in Edinburgh is simply amazing! It´s easy to see why it was was voted #9 of the top 100 Christmas markets in Europe by Staycity.
There is so much to see and do!
The Christmas market in East Princes Street Gardens has dozens of stalls selling gifts, food and drinks. We bought the cutest Christmas ornament with all four of our names on it.
The family-friendly Santa Land transforms the lower part of the gardens into a magical place for families who can board the train at Santa’s train station or get lost in the enchanted Christmas Tree Maze!
Opening Times
The market is open from 10am – 10pm every day except from16 November: 1pm – 10pm; 24 December: 10am – 8pm; 26 December: 12pm – 8pm; 31 December: 10am – 6pm and 1 January: 12pm – 8pm
Where
The Edinburgh Christmas Market is held at East Princes Street Gardens, located beside the Waverley Station and the National Gallery Complex.
Food we ate
Many of the food stands feature German food such as German sausages, however there are a number of options which include hamburgers, fish & chips, yorkshire pudding wraps, haggis, pulled pork, crepes, mini pancakes, churros & more.
There are also stands that sell hot drinks such as hot chocolate & coffee, and alcoholic options like hot cider, mulled wine (Glühwein), and hot toddies. You might even find Glayva, which is a local whisky that has a spicy taste and is good on its own, or paired with coffee or hot apple juice.
Other Entertainment
Why not go on the big wheel at 10£ per person with breathtaking views across the market, And the double floored vintage carousel could be super fun (and perfect for a photo opp) too!
Festive Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a festive afternoon tea at the following places:
There is luxury afternoon tea on offer at The Dome in St George’s Street. They have vegan, non gluten and children menus too. Visit their website to see their menu options.
Dine under a sparkling glass dome of Palm Court and indulge in the great British tradition of Afternoon Tea. The Balmoral Afternoon Tea is served with your choice of loose leaf teas or coffee and costs £45 per person.
There is also a option with champagne (R de Ruinart) at an extra cost of £10 per person. During the month of August and December there will be an additional supplement.
Why not treat yourself (and a loved one) to an afternoon tea package at the castle. The package includes admission to the castle too. The Tea Room is located in the heart of the castle in the Crown Square.
Served in a 1886 Restaurant every day from 2pm to 4.30pm (pre-booking is highly recommended).
Welcoming residents and non-residents since the hotel opened its doors in 1886. The restaurant is flooded with natural daylight and offers panoramic views of Braidburn Valley Park, Edinburgh City Centre and Forth beyond.
Ice Skating
Sadly this year (2019) the ice skating arena at St Andrews Square won’t be assembled. The decision was taken as a result of the damage caused each year to the square by the event and the assembling of the rink, but if you’re in time you could be Skating with Santa at Murrayfield Ice Rink or catch a show on ice like Sleeping Beauty.
Lights – St Andrew’s day
Launching on St Andrew’s Day (30 November 2019) and running until Christmas Eve, this special Old Town architectural installation will see 26 arches of 60,000 lights rising 19 metres high illuminate the Royal Mile from the City Chambers to the Tron Kirk. The lights will be synced to music sung and played by choirs from across Edinburgh.
Christmas Shopping
Princess street
There is so much to see & browse in this bustling street. Also head to…
Go watch my Instagram highlight ‘EDINBURGH’ to see a video clip of this store. Their range of products were insane! Warning: you’re going to want to buy (nearly) everything in there!
This multi-floor shop sells traditional Scottish woven items, and is the perfect place to shop for unique Christmas gifts.
For budget shopping and great for a souvenir or stocking fillers, visit B&M, Poundland and Primark in Princes street.
If you’re looking for traditional gifts & Christmas ornaments this shop is definitely worth a browse. This shop is based in High street.
Christmas Decorations
Based in George Street, Burr & Co is a place where you can grab a cup of coffee and read your favourite book, or perhaps meet up with friends for a scrumptious brunch or cocktail. I especially loved their Christmas decorations at their entrance.
The Intercontinental in George Street.
The InterContinental Edinburgh The George has been welcoming hotel guests since 1881.
Located in St. Andrew Square, the Ivy on the Square is an all-day British brasserie with an all-encompassing menu serving modern British and international Ivy-inspired classics from dawn until dusk, seven days a week. The restaurant features a Parisian-style outdoor terrace and a bar, offering tranquil relaxed yet sophisticated dining just a stone’s throw from Princes Street.
We enjoyed a lovely light lunch here, the queue to get in however was another story, but trust me it’s so worthit! Their Christmas decorations, as well as their sandwiches, were so delicious! Try the turkey, stuffing & cranberry version.
George Street 
The Ivy 
Burr & Co 
The Dome
Whisky Tour
The Scotch Whisky Experience in Castlehill is situated next to the Edinburgh castle. It’s a perfect introduction to the world of whisky. The tours are open all day and tickets are available for sale on site.
A guided tour plus a nosing and tasting of a Scotch whisky (or a soft drink for the younger ones) in The World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky.
The silver tour is ideal for families.
24 Doors of Advent
The 24 doors of advent runs from the 1st to the 24th of December (2019).
Explore some of Edinburgh’s hidden gems through the doors of a real-life Advent Calendar. Each day throughout Advent, a unique Edinburgh location will open its doors to the public. Don’t miss your chance to discover locations like Mansfield Traquair, Custom House, BT Murrayfield or the Anatomical Museum.
Please note that some places do require booking in advance. For exact days & venues, go here.
Edinburgh Castle
The castle becomes the Castle of Light
Expect wonder, enchantment and a spectacle of colour as Edinburgh Castlethe defender of the nation, becomes the ‘Castle of Light’. Buy your tickets here.
Visit my Instagram feed to see some more places we have visited in Europe. One of our favourites this year was when we went to Vienna in March.
If you´re looking for some outfit inspo on what to wear in Edinburgh during Christmas time, I added some links for you guys below of one of the outfits I wore on this trip.
Shortly I will be writing a comprehensive blog post about our trip to Dublin and London, so be on the lookout for that x
Edinburgh looks magical this time of the year! I’d love to see all the Christmas decorations and have some afternoon tea 😉
Afternoon tea is a definite must 🙂
Edinburg looks like a beautiful city. Never visited but I will put it on my wish list.
I´m pretty sure you will love it there. This was our first time during the Christmas period (we´ve been once before), And we absolutely loved it x