While any time of the year is a good time to visit Edinburgh, Christmas is truly a beautiful time to visit our enchanting city. There are so many lovely sites to see and activities to do (please check out our Christmas Market blog post to learn more about that fun event). In this post, I would like to highlight some of Edinburgh’s gorgeous Christmas decorations that are sprinkled throughout the city.
Recently we were fortunate to spend a day walking around the city- solely with the intent of enjoying the Christmas sights and sounds. Many of you know that travelling can be expensive, but the wonderful part of sightseeing for Christmas decorations is that- if you take the time to get outside and walk around- it is a rather inexpensive activity.
Classic Elegance
One of the more beautifully decorated buildings- inside and out- can be found at The Dome. I will have to do a separate blog post on the food and eating experience (research is such a difficult burden to bear), but, on this trip, I was simply enjoying the Christmas lights and décor that fill the foyer.
The spectacular, neoclassical architecture (see the picture at the top of this post) is, itself, a feast for the eyes- but when you add some classical Christmas lights and decorations- it becomes stunning.
The pictures we took and featured in this post don’t do justice to the exquisite decorations that light up the foyer and adjoining rooms. If you are in Edinburgh during Christmas, I highly recommend you stop by The Dome and ask the door man if you can take a wee peek inside.
Scottish Culture & Beauty
There are so many places that inspire me throughout Edinburgh, but one of my favourites is the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. I have a strong interest in architectural history from my days at university, and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery’s building is a beacon of beauty that shines for me and many others. While I admire the Georgian Neoclassical buildings that are the hallmark of the New Town, the Portrait Gallery stands out due to its wonderful red sandstone and neo-gothic design.
Yet, the Christmas surprise at the Portrait Gallery lies inside. Walking into the Main Hall at the Portrait Gallery is already breathtaking (don’t forget to look up), but, as you can see from the picture below, the Christmas décor highlights the lovely surroundings even more. Robert Burns’ statue looks particularly distinguishing among the lush garland, Christmas tree, and sparkling lights as he greets visitors from around the world.
Keep an eye out for future posts because the Scottish National Portrait Gallery has been added on to my must-do list of standalone blog posts (or better yet, if you haven't done so already, consider subscribing to our blog).
The Christmas Spirit Year Round
Of course, not everyone is fortunate to be able to visit Edinburgh during Christmas. However, you need not fret because the spirit of the season can be found any time of year by visiting some of our charming Christmas shops; two of which can be found on the Royal Mile- The Nutcracker Christmas Shop and Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
I hope you have enjoyed our look at some of the magic Christmas moments here in the "Athens of the North". If it inspires you to want to see more, we would love to take you on a wee walk any time of the year, so please check out our various Edinburgh walking tours for more information.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
