Christmas markets selling mulled wine and delicious sausages, fairytale Old Towns covered in the glistening white snow, and amazing History just about everywhere you look: there’s nothing quite as magical as December in Edinburgh.
The centuries-old capital of Scotland, it is easily Europe’s most beautiful winter getaway, beating London, Prague, Amsterdam and the like to the top spot, and lucky for Americans, it’s a short 7-hour flight away!
Before we get to those flights, however, let’s have a look at how Edinburgh, or Edi, as locals commonly refer to it, is stealing the hearts of visitors:
A Fairytale Capital That… Barely Feels Like A Capital?
If you ever expected a literal fairytale scene when landing in Europe and ended up disappointed in Germany’s post-war, modernist makeover or the ghettoization in certain areas of Paris, you can rest assured you’ll not be disappointed in Edinburgh.
This is a city that has barely experienced drastic changes since first being built in the High Middle Ages, when a quaint settlement started developing at the foot of a monumental Edinburgh Castle, perched atop a dormant volcano.
Every corner you turn looks like a storybook page come to life, from the colorful, shop-lined Victoria Street all the way up to a cobbled Royal Mile, a medieval street lined with storied pubs, Gothic churches, and even the odd red telephone box––yep, they get those in Scotland as well!
Beyond the narrow streets of the Old Town and its dark bricks and pointy spires, the ‘New Town’–still pretty old by American standards–is dominated by 18th-century Georgian-style buildings.
Its busy Princes Street Gardens play host to the most beautiful Christmas Market on the continent.
The Prettiest Christmas Market In Europe
Yep, Europe’s most mesmerizing wintertime event takes place here, as revealed by Solopress, a UK-based online printing services company that analyzed over 60 similar markets across the region, only to come to the conclusion there’s no beating Edinburgh’s.
It is the true definition of a winter wonderland, with rows upon rows of chalet-style food stalls serving spiced hot wine, Scottish haggis to go, and other delicacies, as well as handicrafts.
Not to mention all the thrilling, fun-fair rides and live shows.
According to the survey, Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets has the most social media impressions out of all the major seasonal events in Europe, with 2,738 TikTok posts and 55,304 Instagram hashtags: in other words, it is picture-perfect!
Oh, if you’re a prolific ice skate––or you just do it for fun, like us––you’ll be glad to know the Christmas Ice Rink will be open on George Street this year, and for the beer buffs among us, don’t miss out on a visit to the nearby, recently-debuted Polar Ice Bar, where (nearly) 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 cozy, welcoming pubs where you can drink generous pints of beer as you engage in good-spirited banter with locals, and trust us, Edinburgh has its fair share of those.
A local fave is The Mother Superior, a 2024 finalist for Best Pub at the Edinburgh’s Bar Awards, highly sought-after for its lively atmosphere, reasonably-priced drinks, and typical pub-style menu:
Whether it’s ta oad in the hole or some good old fish and chips drenched in vinegar and salt, the Britphile in you will be going home with a happy tummy.
Over in Leith, a grungier part of Edinburgh popular for its Trainspotting associations, The Strathie is a solid pick if you’re keen on a more laid-back night out with friends, and as for street food, walk no further than the lower end of the Royal Mile:
Oink serves the absolute best pulled pork sandwich in all of Scotland, and if you have no reservations about eating meat––this is Scotland, after all!––the crispy skin on top will make your day.
Escape The Cold In A World-Class Museum
Edinburgh can be freezing cold in winter, so once you’re done snapping pictures of the Circus Mile and strolling the riverside walk in Dean’s Village, you can always take refuge in one of many of the city’s 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 close leading down from the Royal Mile.
The monumental National Museum of Scotland, which gives London’s Natural History Museum a run for its money: other than being an architectural marvel, as a grand hall ringed by balconies dating back to the 19th century, it displays dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian mummies…
and a stuffed Dolly, the sheep.
Yep, the actual Dolly.
Our third and final pick is The People’s Story Museum, one of the most unique exhibits in the Scottish capital.
It is a firsthand account of the lives of ordinary Edinburghians over the centuries, with preserved memorabilia, letters, photographs, and other objects.
Oh, are there any Harry Potter fans out there?
This is not exactly a museum, but should you ever need a warm cuppa or a chokie mug, you can grab one at The Elephant House, where J. K. Rowling penned the first books of her wizarding saga.
Fly Nonstop To Edinburgh From America
You know why Edinburgh is such an incredible place in winter now.
Onto those flights.
There are 2 Stateside airports offering nonstop service to Edinburgh (EDI) this winter, without unnecessary layovers in London or other British and European hubs, those being Newark (EWR) and New York (JFK).
United operates the Newark-originating flights daily, while Delta overseas traffic from JFK to Edinburgh every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Flying with United from Newark? Be at the airport ready for takeoff at 8:10 pm, with an expected arrival time in Edinburgh at 7:55 am of the following morning, at a flight time of only 6h45! Flying westbound, flights are scheduled for 9:25 am, touching down in Newark at 12:20 am local time.
If your departure point is JFK with Delta, you should expect to depart at 9:55 pm, landing in Scotland at 9:45 am of the next day, for a total flight time of 6h50; returning home, departure is set for 11:45 am, with landings expected at 2:40 pm of the same calendar date, totalizing 7h55.
Check the latest airfares for United here, and Delta here.
There will be plenty more nonstop flights launching to Edinburgh in the near future, with Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington all being on the cards, though only from spring 2025.
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