Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

Last June, my dream finally came true: I flew to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, to attend an amazing Taylor Swift concert! Not only did I immerse myself in the ocean of music, but I also explored this city full of history and art. Come and review this unforgettable journey with me. 

🛬 Arrival in Edinburgh 

If you want to go to Dublin Airport, the 712X bus is the most convenient option, with two pick up points in the city center and Castletroy. This bus goes directly to the airport, which means you don’t have to change buses in the middle. After arriving at Dublin Airport, fly directly to Edinburgh Airport. Follow the instructions at the exit of Edinburgh Airport and you can easily find the Tram ticket machine (if you don’t know how to operate it, don’t worry, there are manual ticketing staff next to it). It is recommended to buy a Day Ticket directly, which allows unlimited tram rides on the same day. Payment methods support credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. 

The tram is clean and on time, and it takes about 30 minutes from the airport to the city center. The scenery along the way gradually transitions from pastoral green land to classical buildings, leaving a very deep impression. 

🎤 Unforgettable Concert 

In the evening, my friend and I went straight to Taylor Swift’s concert (the concert was at Murrayfield Stadium, and you can take the tram directly to it). That was absolutely amazing! I almost cried when the whole audience sang together. After the concert, we were able to take the tram back to the city center, but the flow of people was very large, so we finally chose to walk to a less crowded place and take an Uber back to our hotel. 

🖼️ More than just music: museum and gallery tours 

At the second day, my friend and I went to two famous cultural attractions in Edinburgh. 

–National Museum of Scotland 

Location: Chambers Street 

Opening hours: 10:00–17:00 daily 

Tickets: Free 

This museum is huge, and the exhibits cover everything from Scottish history, natural science, space, ancient civilization to fashion technology. The famous cloned sheep Dolly is also in this museum. There is also a Chinese exhibition hall in the museum, which gave me a lot of feelings. The museum building itself is also beautiful. I stayed in it for almost two hours and still felt unsatisfied. 

– Scottish National Gallery 

Location: Next to Princes Street Gardens, very convenient transportation 

Opening hours: 10:00–17:00 every day 

Tickets: Free 

If you are a fan of oil painting or Western art, this is heaven! The collections range from Renaissance to Impressionism. It is really shocking to see the original works of Van Gogh, Monet, Titian, and Rembrandt in person, and there are not many people, so you can enjoy it quietly. 

🏰 More Recommendations 

In addition to museums and art galleries, if you have enough time, I also recommend: 

Edinburgh Castle: Overlooking the entire city, it is magnificent, but please remember to make an appointment and buy tickets on the website in advance. We went there late that day and were told that we could not enter without buying tickets in advance. 

Royal Mile: An ancient street with many specialty shops and cafes. There are also many shops on this street selling small souvenirs full of Scottish style. It is also a good choice to buy them and bring them back to family and friends. 

This trip to Edinburgh not only satisfied my dream of seeing Taylor, but also unexpectedly gained a cultural journey. Whether it is the warm atmosphere of the concert or the quiet historical time in the museum, it makes me fall in love with this city even more. If you also plan to travel to Edinburgh, don’t forget to arrange museums and art galleries, and experience the convenience of Tram by the way!