Scotland holds a very warm place in my heart so I hope my packing list for Edinburgh ensures you have as great a time there as I have had. I spent one of my happiest years there studying in the Robert Gordon University.
I fell completely in love with the Scottish way of life, which is much more chill than, for example, the London lifestyle. And of course I love the amazing Scottish nature and their wonderful pubs.
When I arrived in the Aberdeen airport for the first time in August 2010 I immediately felt at home. Somehow I’ve always been very fond of the UK, so it’s no wonder I’ve already lived in 3 different cities around the country. But Scotland is a special one for me.
Read also: UK versus Finland – The University Edition
Bt instead of Aberdeen, London or Brighton, in this tutorial we are going to focus on Edinburgh. This packing list suits all of your weekend getaways in Scotland, and why not in England as well. So, let’s dig in!
My Ultimate Packing List for Edinburgh
Everybody knows about the not-so-glorious Scottish weather. A bit of rain and temperatures hovering between 10 – 20°Celsius is what you probably should prepare yourself mentally for. And then just follow the tips on this packing list for Edinburgh to make sure you’ve got all essentials with you.
I’m an experienced traveler and thus also a professional packer. So, knowing the Scottish climate I had no problem in choosing clothes for this trip.
I have a simple formula according to which I start packing;
- I choose one bottom half (jeans / skirt /shorts) for each day
- then one top half (T-shirt / blouse / top) for each day
- and also one ‘scalable’ dress (I’ll explain in a bit)
- plus 2 or 3 pairs of shoes depending on the length of the trip and what you’ll get up to.
The actual packing process is made simpler like this:
- take everything out of the closet and pile them on the bed.
- Then mix and match those pieces so that you have a day and a night outfit for each day.
- And then you have a capsule travel wardrobe for your trip to Edinburgh.
What to pack for a 4-day trip
So, let’s go through everything I listed above to get a better image of what exactly one should include in their packing list for Edinburgh:
Scalable dress:
By this I mean a basic dress that works during the day but can also be upgraded to a night out worthy piece by adding some heels and jewelry. Probably the safest choice here is the LBD, as in the little black dress. Works for all occasions.
Sport gear:
Scotland is every hiker’s dream destination, and even within the borders of Edinburgh you can find epic hiking routes. I can personally recommend hiking to
- the Arthur’s Seat or
- for a more challenging trip the Pentland Hills Regional Park.
Thus, I absolutely reccomend adding to your packing list for Edinburgh good walking shoes and sports clothes. Including a waterproof jacket.
I myself didn’t have a waterproof jacket last time so I found myself hiking up with an umbrella… Must’ve been a hilarious sight!
Bottoms
So, now our packing list for Edinburgh has covered the sort of extra pieces that are in any case necessary for the perfect weekend getaway. Now let’s get to the main pieces, and let’s start from the bottom half of the body:
Jeans
A good pair of jeans are the starting point to any ultimate outfit. Thus, they are the first thing to pack. If there is ever a clothing crisis, you can always count on jeans and style them up by adding a nice top and accessories to it.
In case you’re looking for your next pair of favourite jeans, check out these sustainable jeans brands.
Leather leggings
Leather leggings are a nice and versatile piece of clothing. Like jeans, they work really well for the day and for a night out. And most leather leggings fit into a small space, so why not take along a pair for a change.
Skirt or Shorts
There should always be a skirt or a pair of shorts on the packing list for Edinburgh. Just in case the weather decides to throw you a positive surprise and warm up unexpectedly. And with a pair of tights added to the mix shorts and skirts all year round.
Tops
And then we move on to the top half of the body. Add these pieces to your packing list for Edinburgh and you’re definitely covered:
White T-shirt
The absolute, ultimate classic; the white tee should find its way to your suitcase. I recently discovered this Tommy Hilfiger tee, and fell in love with its shape, material and versatility. It looks amazing with a pair of jeans and with a skirt.
Colourful top
You could go for a basic black top, that’s the safest and the easiest option. But who ever liked staying safe when it comes to personal style, so add in some colour! Orange is one of the trendiest tones you can wrap yourself in this season. Blue is also always on trend, and how about some pink?
Leopard print top
Leopard print is something that just never seems to go out of style. And why would it? It can be sexy, sophisticated or fun depending on how you style that piece. So, to make sure you can still dress well while traveling, pack along some leopard print.
Shoes
And finally we come to the shoes. As mentioned above, this packing list for Edinburgh already suggested packing along shoes that are fit for hiking. But in addition you should have at least some of these:
Wedges
I know, a bit weird to start with this. But bear with me! For dinners out or a chill day out in the city on a nice day, wedges are the most stylish and also comfy option. They also save you from having to pack along other kinds of heels, because they are heels, just not so severe on your feet.
Basic sneakers
Just in case it rains and it’s not warm enough to stroll in the city in just ballerinas, it’s good to have a pair of basic sneakers in the suitcase. And by this I of course mean city sneakers, not hiking or running kinds of shoes. Clean and nice-looking footwear for the day.
Ballerinas
Just in case the weather surprises you in the most positive manner, this packing list for Edinburgh also adds a pair of ballerinas to the suitcase. They’re the easiest, quickest, and the most versatile form of footwear. They also work with any outfit from breakfast to dinner.
Conclusion
So, there we go, your packing list for Edinburgh is complete. These are all very basic and simple pieces with a clear colour palette, so you can mix and match them to your heart’s content.
Then just add in your toiletries and grab a handbag for your wallet, passport, phone and keys and you’re ready to go!
Did I forget something from this packing list? What would you add or leave out from this list? Comment below ♥
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