Gay Travel
City trip
Schottland
Edinburgh — Old Town Weekend

Edinburgh — Old Town Weekend

Edinburgh · Schottland

Best season

Mai – Sep

Price level

€€

LGBT safety

Very high

What to expect

Trendy district

The Pink Triangle around Broughton Street in the New Town is the centre of the queer scene with a manageable, friendly selection of bars such as the traditional CC Blooms.
Best time to visit

May to September offers the mildest weather; in August, the Fringe Festival transforms the whole city into a single stage, when it is particularly crowded.
Don't Miss

Edinburgh Castle, a walk along the Royal Mile and the climb to the top of Arthur's Seat.

Edinburgh is divided into two parts, and that's exactly what makes it so appealing: a medieval old town with a castle and Royal Mile on one side, the Georgian New Town with its austere facades on the other. In between is the Pink Triangle around Broughton Street - small but with a warm scene and bars where you can quickly get into conversation.

The view over the city from Arthur's Seat is a must, as is a walk through the winding closes of the old town. If you're looking for a night out, CC Blooms and the surrounding bars of the Pink Triangle offer a club night that's more cozy than glamorous. Scottish. During the day, the Princes Street Gardens invite you to rest between sightseeing stages.

Edinburgh is compact enough to reach a lot on foot, and despite the many tourists, it has a core that has remained down-to-earth.

Your programme — day by day

Day 1

Old Town

15:00 Stay in the city and stroll along the Royal Mile through the old town.
18:00 Enjoy the view from the Schlossberg and take a leisurely walk towards New Town.
21:00 Dinner and first bar stroll in the Pink Triangle around Broughton Street.

Day 2

View & Club Night

10:00 Ascent to Arthur's Seat with panoramic views over the city.
14:00 Visit to Edinburgh Castle and stroll through the alleys of the old town.
23:00 Club night at the Pink Triangle, for example at CC Blooms.

Day 3

New Town & Conclusion

10:00 Brunch and stroll through the Georgian New Town and Princes Street Gardens.
13:00 Last foray through the shops before going back.

Hotels around Edinburgh

Tap the map for prices and availability.

Gay Edinburgh

Gay Edinburgh takes place mainly in the so-called Pink Triangle, a manageable district in the north of the New Town. Broughton Street and Picardy Place are home to most of the Scottish capital's queer bars, cafes and hangouts. The distances are short. You can reach a lot of things on foot, and the hustle and bustle of the tourist mile around the Royal Mile is still only a few minutes' walk away. One of the big names in the scene is CC Blooms, a bar with a dance floor in the basement, which has existed since 1991 and is the first place to go for many visitors in the evening.

The New Town is a good base for a few days because you can easily combine the scene, the historic center and viewpoints like Calton Hill on foot from here. The highlight in the queer calendar is Pride Edinburgh, which will take place on Saturday, June 20 in 2026 and is one of the largest LGBTQ events in Scotland with a march across the city. If you arrive during this period, you should book early. Overall, Edinburgh can be explored well on a long weekend. From May to September, the summer months bring the longest days and the mildest weather, while in August it gets crowded but also extra lively during the festival. You should be prepared for rain all year round.

Trip key facts

Destination: Edinburgh, Schottland
Travel time: Long weekend (Thu–Sun)
Best season: Mai – Sep
Price level: €€
LGBT safety: Very high

City guide Edinburgh ↗ Bars, clubs & locations on gay-location.de