Edinburgh

How long is the trip in total?

Are you flying from Dublin to Edinburgh?

I researched a lot of places there for a trip last November. I wanted to go to The Kitchin (Michelin starred) in Leith, but my daughter vetoed it. Very expensive. We went to Noto (Michelin starred) in New Town instead as it had vegetarian options. It was fantastic, but still pricey.

The Bon Vivant next door for cocktails was top notch. Had on and off the menu cocktails there that I now make at home. There is a basement speakeasy in New Town called Panda & Sons my nephew went to and recommended.

I recommend you stay in New Town. Less crowded with tourists.

The Devil's Advocate in Old Town had good food and cocktails too. If you want a rec for a good vegetarian place near the Royal Mile, I can provide that.

Ditto to Bon Vivant and Devil's Advocate.

Looking at the Stena Line site, you can't take a ferry from Dublin to Cairnryan (coastal town in Scotland), you can only ferry from Dublin to Holyhead in Wales.

So you'd have to take a train to Belfast (2 hours), hop on the ferry(2.5 hours travel time, but need time for loading/unloading), get on a bus to basically Glasgow(2 hours) and rent a car to drive to Edinburgh (a little over a 1 hour drive plus getting the car time).

You're better off flying both ways if you must see Edinburgh. We only spent a day there and it was cool to see, but lots of tourists. I enjoyed Scottish highlands and isles (Oban, Skye, Inverness is where we stayed overnights) significantly more than Belfast or Edinburgh. But a two day jaunt to the highlands would be a whirlwind mess itself.

We stayed at a hotel right there as well, and it was indeed a good time. I just really enjoyed the highlands so so much.