--- type: "Article" title: "A Guys-only Trip to Edinburgh" description: "After an elaborate selection process Edinburgh got the nod for our customary guys-only city visit." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/united-kingdom/guys-trip-edinburgh" author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 27 tags: ["City Trip", "Culture", "United Kingdom"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/united-kingdom" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/zuerich" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/city-trip" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culture" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/architecture" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/excursion-tips" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:33:07+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2014-11-04T21:03:07+00:00 } - { by: "process:gsc-organic-traffic", at: 2026-07-23T00:00:00+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: guys-trip-edinburgh.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:33:07+00:00 --- # A Guys-only Trip to Edinburgh > A lively group trip to Edinburgh by nine friends, drawn by the city's cobblestone streets, abundant whisky, Scottish food, and historic sights including the Castle and Holyrood Abbey. ## Destination Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ## Getting there The group flew easyJet from Basel; some travelled by Swiss Air from Zurich; others took the train. ## What to see - **Edinburgh Castle** — Visible from across the city and a must-see, with curiosities lining the Royal Mile leading up to it. - **Holyrood Abbey ruin** — Dating from 1128, damaged by the English in the 18th century and an unusual photo subject adjacent to Holyroodhouse Palace. - **Holyroodhouse Palace** — The Queen's residence, featuring the Great Gallery where Sean Connery was knighted. - **Rose Street** — A street laid out in 1767 by James Craig, lined with shops and restaurants. - **George Street** — Runs parallel to Rose Street; home to the stylish pink-and-lilac bar and hotel Tigerlily. - **St. Giles Cathedral** — Gothic cathedral where John Knox once preached, located in the city centre. - **Harbor district** — Worth a taxi trip for sunset views and seafood; the group visited the Loch Fyne seafood restaurant for oysters. ## What to do - **Whisky tasting at Scotch Whisky Excellence** — A venerable tasting bar reached through a whisky shop, offering a vast selection including Isle of Jura. - **Scottish tasting menu at Amber Restaurant** — Five-course menu featuring Haggis Bon Bons, Potted Hough, Cullen Skink soup, Castle of Mey beef, langoustines, Iain Mellis cheeses, and whisky ice cream bombe. - **Drinks at Tigerlily** — Stylish pink-and-lilac bar and hotel on George Street, popular with a mixed crowd in the evenings. - **Scottish breakfast at Patisserie Valerie** — Recommended as a hearty morning-after remedy; described as a real Scottish breakfast served by a French establishment. - **Oysters at Loch Fyne** — Seafood restaurant in the harbour district where the group stopped for aperitif oysters at sunset. ## Good to know The group stayed in the Old Town Chambers, stylishly renovated apartments near the Scottish Parliament building with lofts and kitchen facilities. The central courtyard provides partial acoustic insulation but weekend nights can be noisy. Morning coffee and brioche are available nearby at Café Nero. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Flughafen-Basel-Super-Constellation.jpg" caption: "Fly more elegantly in a Super Connie" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Taxi.jpg" caption: "Taxi in camouflage" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMAG0848_11.jpg" caption: "The guys on the road, grey on grey, as already critiqued by the Facebook trolls… Colourful plaid just isn’t quite our cup of tea…" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Jungsausflug-Amber-Bar-e1411901827501.jpg" caption: "Workmanlike beer and whisky tasting" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Jungsausflug-24-759x1024.jpg" caption: "Gothic St. Giles Cathedral, where John Knox once preached." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Jungsausflug-22-1024x760.jpg" caption: "Here somebody actually has the balls to park his jalopy right in the pedestrian zone..." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMAG0802_1-760x1024.jpg" caption: "Edinburgh Castle while hunting for a suitable nightcap." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Jungsausflug-3-759x1024.jpg" caption: "Elegantly renovated Old Town Chamber Apartments in the heart of Old Town." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Jungsausflug-759x1024.jpg" caption: "The boys on the \"ascent\" to the Hotel \"Old Town Chambers\"" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMAG0812_1.jpg" caption: "Hearty Scottish breakfast at the \"Frenchman’s\"." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Wale-Lou-Peschae-Spiegel.jpg" caption: "Wale, Lou und Peschä in foreshortened pants" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Edinburg-Rose-Street-Restaurants-760x1024.jpg" caption: "Rose Street planned by James Craig" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tigerlilly-Edinburg-Sofa.jpg" caption: "Plush lilac atmosphere in Tigerlily" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Tigerlilly-Edinburg-Tische.jpg" caption: "In the evenings, the tables are mainly taken by the ladies." - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Holyrood-Abbey-Ruine-Edinburg-760x1024.jpg" caption: "Ruin of Holyrood Abbey" ```