Quick Overview:
Auld Reekie, as Edinburgh is also known, is a cosmopolitan city that boldly mixes ancient Celtic traditions with modern innovations. It’s an underrated gem for stag party Weekends. Edinburgh is home not only to the world famous namesake music festival but several others that attract visitors from all over Europe - a consideration when planning a stag do in Edinburgh. There is everything for the discerning visitor from restaurants, cultural and historic sites, pubs, bars and dance clubs to rival any in Europe.

Getting Around:
Compactly designed, Edinburgh is easily traversed on foot. The city’s Old Town and New Town - where most things to see and do are located - are separated only by a 15-minute walk. Edinburgh’s public transportation system is heavily reliant on buses that have sufficient operations but they can’t escape the city’s traffic woes. Black taxis are also available for transportation while on a stag party in Edinburgh. A tram system is being constructed but its completion is still about a year off. The Festival Cars minibuses are great people carriers that hold up to eight; call ahead to book their services.

Must See/Must Do:
• Edinburgh Castle - A stunning fortress situated on a hill high over the city; Edinburgh Castle has seen continuous use for over 1,000 years.
• The Scotch Whiskey Heritage Centre - Located at the top of The Royal Mile, the centre offers an interactive "tour" of all things related to whiskey distilling. There are over 200 varieties available for sampling at reasonable rates while on a stag party in Edinburgh.
• Museums - Edinburgh has world-class museums and checking out at least a couple major ones is recommended even on a stag party. The Museum of Scotland and the Royal Museum are high quality and should not be missed.
• Arthur’s Seat - Take in some great views from atop the extinct volcano located just east of the city.
• Take in a Festival - From the world-famous four-week-long International Festival to the Fringe, Edge, Jazz, Military, Film Book and Television; Edinburgh is known as “Festival City” for a good reason.

History:
Humans have lived in the area of modern day Edinburgh since the Bronze Age. The Royal Capital of Scotland has been Edinburgh since 1437. Famous writers Sir Walter Scott and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are natives of Edinburgh. The city was given the nickname Athens of the North in reference to the University of Edinburgh’s influence during the Enlightenment. Nowadays, the city if the seat of Scottish Parliament.

Nightlife:
Edinburgh is home to a wide selection of brew and whiskey pubs where great drinks and food are masterfully paired - check out the Grassmarket and Old Town areas. Rose Street has a number of pubs with good food. More modern-themed bars are found in areas like Cowgate and Lothian as well as New Town. In Old Town, the George IV Bridge is a trendy after-dark spot. For night clubs, some of Edinburgh’s best for a stag party include Opal Lounge, GHQ, The Hive and Why Not.

Eating:
Food lovers will feel close to heaven in Edinburgh on a stag party. With about 500,000 residents, the city has people from all walks and their culinary tastes are well represented with fare that ranges from traditional Scottish (Haggis anyone?) to Continental and just about every other country with even marginally notable cuisine. Try the Leith and West End areas for off-the-beaten path eateries or got with the tourists to the Grassmarket area.