Scotland's capital: Edinburgh Castle on an extinct volcano, the Royal Mile, and Arthur's Seat hill walkable from the centre. The National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery are free — good for families. In August the world's biggest arts festival, the Fringe, and the Military Tattoo; Hogmanay on 31 December. Day trips to Loch Ness, the Highlands and Stirling Castle. No direct flights: connect via Istanbul or Frankfurt. Mongolian citizens need a UK visa; from 24 July 2026 a 5% visitor levy is added to accommodation.
🛂 Visa: Visa required · 180 days✈ Flight: 14h☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Edinburgh Castle★ 4.6 (95,000)
CultureOnline £21.50 (children 5–15 £13, family £52); £24 at the gateApr–Sep 9:30–18:00, Oct–Mar 9:30–17:00 (last entry 1 hour before)
A thousand-year-old fortress on an extinct volcano: the Honours of Scotland (crown jewels), the Stone of Destiny and St Margaret's Chapel — the oldest building in the city. The One O'Clock Gun fires at 13:00 except Sundays. Book a timed ticket ahead — July and August sell out.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goSort the UK visa first, and if you're going in August book your hotel months ahead.+
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Visa: Standard Visitor (not an ETA)
Mongolians are UK 'visa nationals', so a visitor visa is needed in advance; the ETA is only for visa-exempt nationalities. Scotland is part of the UK — the same visa as for London. Apply online on gov.uk, pay the £135 fee for a visa of up to 6 months, then give fingerprints and a photo at the VFS Global centre in Ulaanbaatar. A decision usually takes 3 weeks.
Tip: Buy your ticket after the visa is issued, or choose a refundable fare.
Just changing planes at another UK airport such as Heathrow requires a Direct Airside Transit visa (£41.50) — not needed with a valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa. Flying straight into Edinburgh via Istanbul or Frankfurt avoids the issue. Travel insurance covering medical treatment is a must.
In 2026 the Fringe runs 7–31 August and the Military Tattoo 7–29 August — hotels cost several times more and sell out fast. From 24 July 2026 Edinburgh adds a 5% visitor levy to accommodation (on the pre-VAT price, for the first 5 nights).
🛬Landing and getting to the cityEdinburgh Airport is small and the centre is about half an hour away. Pay on buses and trams with your bank card.+
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At the border
Visa holders queue in 'All other passports' and show their passport, hotel address and return ticket; answer briefly about the purpose of the trip. Meat and dairy products (including borts and aaruul) may not be brought into Britain. If you landed in London first, border control happens there.
From the airport to Waverley Bridge (city centre) 24 hours a day, every 10 minutes, in 25–30 minutes. Single £6, return £8.50; children (5–15) £3, family return £22.
The tram runs from the airport to Princes Street and Leith in ~35 minutes. From the airport a single is £7.90, return £9.50; children £4. Within the city the tram costs the same as the bus, but the airport section has its own fare.
If your phone supports eSIM, install a UK or Europe eSIM from Airalo, Ubigi or similar before flying — it works as soon as you land. The airport, museums and most cafés have free Wi-Fi.
Tip: Signal drops in the Highlands, so download Google Maps for offline use.
EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three are the main networks; giffgaff and Lebara are cheaper. SIMs are sold at Boots pharmacies, supermarkets and network shops on Princes Street without a passport; top up with a monthly bundle.
🚇Getting aroundThe Old Town is compact — you can walk to most places. For longer hops, Lothian buses and the tram.+
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Bus and tram — tap & cap
A single ride is £2.40 (children £1.20) for any distance in the city. Tap the same card all day and the daily cap is £5.70 — you never pay more. Paying cash, drivers give no change, so have the exact fare. Up to 3 children under 5 ride free.
Tip: Everyone taps their own card — one card per person.
The Old and New Towns are linked by bridges and stairs — lots of slopes and cobbles, so wear comfortable shoes. Pushchairs struggle on the steps; check step-free routes in Google Maps.
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Trains out of the city
From Waverley station ScotRail goes to Stirling (~1 hour), Dalmeny for the Forth Bridge (~20 minutes) and Glasgow. Buying ahead in the app is cheaper; off-peak tickets cost less.
The currency is the British pound (GBP). Scottish banks print their own pound notes — accepted everywhere in Scotland but sometimes refused in England, so spend them before you leave. Almost everywhere takes contactless; withdraw cash from bank ATMs.
Tip: When paying, choose to be charged in GBP — decline conversion into your home currency.
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Tipping and tax
Check whether a service charge has already been added to restaurant bills. Tipping in pubs is optional. The UK has no VAT refunds for tourists. Hotel bills in Edinburgh may include the 5% visitor levy.
🍜FoodScottish food is hearty and made for cold weather; the seafood and lamb are excellent.+
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What to eat
Haggis (sheep offal with oats) with neeps and tatties — a familiar taste for Mongolians. A full Scottish breakfast, Cullen skink smoked-fish soup, salmon, fish and chips. For dessert, shortbread and cranachan.
Tip: In a pub you order and pay at the bar.
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Cheap and quick
The 'meal deal' (sandwich + drink + snack) at Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S is the cheapest lunch. Lots of places to eat around the Grassmarket in the Old Town and the Leith waterfront; a farmers' market on Castle Terrace on Saturdays.
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Water and children
Tap water is drinkable — ask for 'tap water' in a restaurant and it comes free. Most restaurants have kids' menus and high chairs; picnicking in Princes Street Gardens is perfectly normal.
🛡️Safety and health+
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Emergency numbers
Police, ambulance, fire — 999 or 112, free, 24 hours. For medical problems that are not life-threatening, NHS 24 on 111. To report a theft — 101. If you lose your passport, contact the Embassy of Mongolia in London.
Edinburgh is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in the August festival crowds. Arthur's Seat and Calton Hill are windy and slippery in rain — keep children away from crag edges and don't go up after dark. For the Highlands, bring a waterproof jacket and warm layers.
Tip: The weather changes in minutes — a hooded jacket beats an umbrella in the wind.
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Terrorism and traffic
The UK terrorism threat level has been SEVERE since 30 April 2026 — an attack is highly likely. Stay alert in crowds and report unattended bags to staff. Traffic drives on the left: look right first when crossing.
Scots are proud of their own history and identity — don't call them 'English'; say 'Scottish' or 'British'. Queue strictly and say 'please', 'thank you' and 'cheers' often — it's ordinary politeness.
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On the bus
Board by the front door, greet the driver and say 'thank you' as you get off. Hold out your arm at the stop to flag the bus. Keep the pushchair space free.
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Churches, castles and festivals
Be quiet in St Giles' Cathedral and don't take photos during services. If you watch a street performer's show, it's customary to give a little money. Keep noise down in the residential closes of the Old Town.
📱Useful apps+
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Getting around
The Lothian Buses app shows when your bus is coming and sells mobile tickets. Google Maps is good for walking and tram routes. The ScotRail app covers trains out of the city.
Buy castle, Holyrood Palace and Britannia tickets ahead on their official sites — cheaper and shorter queues. Book Fringe shows on edfringe.com and its app.
The NHS 24 website or phone 111 — describe your symptoms and find out where to go. Uber shows the price upfront; hail a black cab on the street with a raised hand, and all take cards.
The Airlink 100 bus leaves Waverley Bridge 24 hours a day, ~30 minutes; the tram from Princes Street. Arrive 2.5–3 hours before an international flight; security queues at Edinburgh Airport get long at peak times.
Pack hand-luggage liquids to the 100 ml rule to be safe. If you buy whisky as a gift, wrap it well in checked luggage or buy it airside — liquids may be screened again at your connecting airport. On one ticket, bags go straight through to Ulaanbaatar.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
Street and cathedral free; Scotch Whisky Experience from ≈£23
Street always; cathedral ≈10:00–18:00
The ~1.6 km spine of the Old Town from the castle to Holyrood Palace: narrow 'close' alleys, Gothic St Giles' Cathedral, tartan and wool shops. Next to the castle is the Scotch Whisky Experience (children welcome, soft drinks for them). Street performers fill it in August.
Culture£25–28.50 (children £18.25–21)≈9:30–17:00, later in summer (guided tours only)
17th-century streets and houses buried beneath the City Chambers: costumed guides tell stories of plague and daily life. A 1-hour tour; no children under 5. Dark and a little spooky — older kids love it.
A 251 m ancient volcano in the middle of the city: the summit views take in the castle, the city and the sea. About 45 minutes to 1 hour on foot from Holyrood Palace; the top is rocky and very windy — wear sturdy shoes and a windproof jacket. Slippery in rain.
CultureIn advance £22 (18–24 £14, children 5–17 £11); £26 on the day≈9:30–18:00 (winter 16:30), closed during royal visits
The monarch's official residence in Scotland: Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers, the ruined abbey and gardens. Audio guide included, ticket valid for a year. It is at the bottom of the Royal Mile.
Dolly the cloned sheep, the Lewis Chessmen, dinosaurs, and space and technology galleries where children press buttons and try things. The rooftop terrace looks at the castle. The best rainy-day choice.
Scottish National Gallery and Princes Street Gardens★ 4.7 (20,000)
CultureFreeGallery 10:00–17:00, Thursdays until 19:00; gardens daytime
Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet and Scottish painters. Behind the gallery, Princes Street Gardens stretch below the castle: the floral clock, the Ross Fountain, and a winter Christmas market and fairground. Great for a picnic.
A low hill a 10-minute walk from the centre: the National Monument (an unfinished 'Parthenon'), the Nelson Monument and the old observatory. The classic photo of the castle, Princes Street and Arthur's Seat — best at sunset.
A 19th-century mill village 15 minutes from the centre — storybook houses along the river. Walk the Water of Leith path to the Modern Art galleries or to Stockbridge. Quiet and pleasant with children.
Kids£21 (children 5–17 £10.50, family £54)≈9:30/10:00–16:00/17:00 (varies by season)
Queen Elizabeth II's royal yacht for 40 years: the bedrooms, state dining room, engine room and galley. Audio guide; children enjoy it. At Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Leith; bus or tram from the centre.
The UNESCO-listed red steel Forth Bridge (1890) and two newer bridges side by side. Stroll the waterfront in South Queensferry, eat fish and ice cream, and in summer take a boat under the bridges. About 20 minutes by train from Edinburgh.
By minibus through Glencoe, mountains and lochs to Loch Ness (Urquhart Castle), with stops such as Stirling Castle or Highland cows on the way. A long day, hard for small children. Closer alternative: Stirling Castle, an hour by train.
