Today, we’re off to the enchanting city of Edinburgh, Scotland! We’re meeting some of our wedding vendors and taking the opportunity to explore this vibrant area. Our journey began at the Düsseldorf airport, a not so familiar spot for us. Despite being about three hours away and in a fairly remote location, its small size makes it a breeze to navigate. We quickly dropped off our bags, breezed through security and passport control, and were on our way.

The flight was just an hour, and thanks to the time difference, we arrived in Edinburgh at the same time we left! After landing, we descended a series of stairs to another

passport control where a quick passport scan and a face scan got us through in no time. With our luggage in hand and some Pounds from the ATM (goodbye, Euros!), we headed to National Car Rental.

The car rental was just a short, well-marked walk away. It was great to see such an organized airport. Checking in at National Car Rental was a joy—super friendly staff, efficient service, and they exceeded all our expectations. The lady at the counter walked us through all the details and even showed us to our car.

Getting into the car was a fun twist: I sat on the left and William on the right, since we’re driving on the left side of the road here. Plugging our hotel into the GPS, we were off on our adventure. Sitting on the right side was a novelty, and William kept commenting on how strange it felt.

We joked that car rental places should offer a quick course on left-side driving before letting you loose! Navigating out of the airport felt like a mini driving lesson with its three roundabouts. Turning left and staying in the left lane was a bit surreal, but William managed it like a pro. We’re excited for the day ahead in beautiful Edinburgh!

Holiday Inn Zoo

In just about 12 minutes, we arrived at our hotel, the Holiday Inn Zoo. It had a nice look to it, with a safe neighborhood, ample parking, and an open, decorative interior. Our room was simple but comfortable, perfect for our weekend stay.

After dropping off our bags, we checked the outlets and realized they were different from those in Europe—something we hadn’t considered before leaving. We made a mental note to pick up a UK adapter and then called an Uber to head to the Edinburgh Street Food market downtown. The ride was a bargain at just £12.

Edinburgh Street Food

Once downtown, we explored the bustling food area before settling at a picnic table. Each table had a QR code and a number, making it incredibly easy to scan, order via an app, and have the food brought to you. It was a seamless and enjoyable experience, without any crowds or confusion.

We sampled several delights from the Edinburgh Street Food market: I had a delicious chicken sandwich with waffle fries from Chix, an apple spritz, and a miso & caramel soft serve ice cream from Softcore.

William enjoyed a bone-in beef rib sandwich and a hotdog from Mr. Boney. Everything was freshly made and tasted fantastic. The lively atmosphere added to the fun.

After our meal, we strolled around downtown to find an open store for a UK outlet adapter. We lucked out at a 24-hour mini mart and grabbed a few adapters.

Then, we called an Uber back to the hotel. With a long day of travel behind us and two more packed days ahead, we decided it was time for some much-needed rest.

Edinburgh - Day Two

The next day, I woke up to the sound of chatty birds from the nearby zoo and discovered my social media flooded with stunning pictures of the Northern Lights. It was amazing to see everyone’s photos, but we had no idea it was happening and missed it again, just like we did in Finland a few months ago. Looks like Iceland will be our next stop for Aurora chasing!

Once we were up and about, we headed to the hotel’s breakfast buffet. It was a bit underwhelming, with a limited selection of eggs, hashbrowns, a few meats, yogurts, breads, and an espresso machine. Unfortunately, the food wasn’t great, and we didn’t eat much. But with a full day ahead in Edinburgh, we didn’t let it dampen our spirits!

Edinburgh Zoo

After the subpar breakfast, we decided to visit the zoo since it was literally right next door and we had a few hours to spare before checking out our wedding venue. We strolled over and found a short line; it cost about £50 for both of us to get in.