Happy New Year from the GetAway Travel family. Now that the noisemakers and bubbly have been put away, it’s time to start thinking about next year’s celebration.

Didn’t you say you wanted to do it up in a big way next year?

So which city does it up best? London? Paris? Maybe Singapore? Nope — Edinburgh, Scotland is the internationally recognized best spot to ring in the New Year! There’s no time like the present to contact a travel advisor at GetAway and plan that trip to welcome 2027 in the biggest international venue.

It’s like spending St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin or Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

And, as a bonus, there’s plenty of things to do during the day while you are waiting for the evening revelry to start. New Year’s in Edinburgh is celebrated from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2.

Scotland’s capital city

 While Glasgow lays claim to being the largest city in Scotland, the country’s capital city is a fascinating series of medieval alleys, civic squares, mysterious courtyards you can explore, and it’s built on a series of extinct volcanoes. Plus, there’s a beach about 18 minutes away where you can go surfing!

Central Edinburgh is divided by a geographic element, a valley and that separates Old and New Towns. Old Town is the medieval area with cobblestone streets and wynds (narrow passageways between buildings and areas). New Town is newer, relatively speaking. It’s only about 250 years old. Old Town has been described as a living museum. And the city has been described as the most haunted city in the world. Do take the haunted ghost tours that are offered in the city if you have time.

Let’s talk New Year’s

 Edinburgh has lots of practice making New Year’s spectacular and more significant than Christmas because in a truly grinch-like move, the Scottish parliament banned Christmas celebrations in 1640. The influential Presbyterian Church had declared Christmas a superstitious and unholy holiday so — no more Christmas. The ban stood until 1958.

The enterprising Scots took their winter festival with its roots in the Norse and Pagan acknowledgement of the winter solstice and morphed it into a New Year’s bash to end all New Year’s parties.

It’s called Hogmanay, derived from the French word hoginane which means “gala day.” Hogmanay is a blow-out street festival of concerts, a torchlight parade with participants dressed up like Vikings, fireworks and parties.

There’s lots of traditions associated with Hogmanay including “first footing” which means the first person to walk through your house in the new year should be a dark-haired male, your house needs to be clean and you need to be free of debt. Oh, and you must sing Auld Lang Syne at midnight.

The torchlit procession kicks things off on Dec. 30. It starts off at The Meadows and winds through Old Tow passing many of the city’s most famous landmarks. It ends at the base of Edinburgh Castle where the torches are put out creating a fiery spectacle that ends in fireworks.

The subsequent celebration is the Night Afore street party with concerts, dancing and plenty of great street food.

You can get fish and chips, tacos, burritos, burgers, haggis bon bons (seasoned and deep fried), churros and deep fried Mars bars. There’s also scotch eggs, a hard-boiled egg covered in sausage meat, lightly breaded and fried. Macaroni pie which is macaroni and cheese baked in a handy-sized pie shell and stovies which is a mixture of potatoes, onions and meat. Cullen skink is a rich, creamy haddock soup, served in a styrofoam cup.

In addition to sweet churros, you can get tablet butter which is butter and condensed milk made into a fudge but without the chocolate. Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert served in a paper cone as street food. It is whipped cream, whisky, oatmeal, honey and raspberries. A Hogmanay favorite is the Black Bun. It is a dense fruit-cake like bun with dried fruit and almonds wrapped in a tasty shortbread crust.

On New Year’s Eve there is a huge headliner concert, in past years Blondie, The Pet Shop Boys, Simple Minds and Pulp have played, a fabulous fireworks display and the traditional Auld Lang Syne singing.

Plenty to do when not partying

 Edinburgh Castle dominates the city skyline. A one-time fortress, residence and prison it is actually a series of historic buildings and interesting little museums. The National War Museum and the Scottish National War Memorial are on the grounds. Queen Margaret died here and her son built a chapel on the grounds to honor her. The chapel is the oldest building in the city and still hosts weddings and christenings.

The Crown Jewels, the Honours of Scotland, are here. Gold, silver and precious gems were made into a crown, scepter and sword of state by Scottish and Italian artisans. They are the oldest crown jewels in Britain.

Grassmarket is the series of streets near the castle. There are shops, cafes and old pubs with lots of atmosphere. If you are a Harry Potter fan, don’t skip the Museum Context Shop. There’s lots of “wizard-y” items here including wands.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the king’s Edinburgh residence when he is in Scotland. It is at the end of the Royal Mile. There are fabulous paintings and incredible tapestries on display here when it is open. Arthur’s Seat is in Holyrood Park. Set at the top of an extinct volcano, it offers great views of the city and the remains of a 2,000 year-old fort are nearby. It is said to be the site of Camelot and another legend says it was the site of a series of epic battles won by King Arthur and his knights.

St. Giles Cathedral is the official church of Scotland. You can’t miss the famous crown spire tower. There’s 900 years of history in this building, not to mention stunning stained glass windows, 200 statues and memorials to famous Scots, the ornate Thistle Chapel and a 4,000-pipe pipe organ.

Museums and more stuff to do…

 There’s a vibrant art scene in the city with lots of contemporary galleries as well as the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museum of Scotland. The National Galleries is divided among two buildings and it has a Portrait Gallery as well as two Modern art galleries. There is art from early Renaissance through mid-20th century including works from major European masters.

The National Museum of Scotland has great hands-on interactive exhibits highlighting fashion, technology and science. There are artifacts from different countries, Dolly the cloned sheep and a prehistoric as well as natural world gallery.

Interested in something else after you’ve had your fill of galleries and museums?

Surfs up! Yes, there are beaches where you can go surfing in Scotland, but Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh has Europe’s largest wave pool. Take a surf lesson.

Take the Johnnie Walker experience. Tour the facility and learn all things whisky. At the end of the tour you get to pick two cocktails for tasting.

Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions is five, count ‘em, five floors of fun, magic and illusions. There’s the mirror maze and the vortex tunnel, the floating head illusion and a bonus, get views of the city from the rooftop terrace.

Gin? Learn all about the liquor, not the card game, at Edinburgh Gin. Lots of great info about the distilling process, view the limited edition bottle collection and try a flight of four gins (raspberry anyone?)at the end of the tour.

So technically Chocolatarium is a chocolate museum, but you can have some serious fun there, too. Learn all about chocolate production from the rainforest harvesting of cacao to the chocolate bar. There’s tastings (we’re in!) and you get to make your own chocolate bar. Try some of the quirky options like whisky truffles or maple bacon pancake chocolate.

 

Planning for new years New Year’s? GetAway Travel is ready to plan your Edinburgh adventure. Or, just travel to Edinburgh and beyond whenever you want! Reach us at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel