10 Things to Do in Edinburgh in February

With its famous castle and cobbled lanes, Scotland's capital is one of the most visited cities on the island and both the city and its surroundings have breathtaking scenery.

If you decide to travel out of season and come on holiday during February, there are plenty of things to do to get to know Edinburgh better. The cold weather this month doesn't slow down the pace: festivals, tournaments, Chinese New Year and beautiful snowy landscapes are just some of the things that await you, shall we start?

Edinburgh is undoubtedly one of the most legendary and mysterious cities on the continent. It has come to be known as the haunted city because of all the tales of ghosts and witches that are told about its streets. If you like all this atmosphere and you come in February, you'll be in luck.

During the winter months it tends to get dark much earlier in the evening, and by 6pm it's completely dark. The whole atmosphere is conducive to taking one of Edinburgh' s ghost and mystery tours or booking the Edinburgh Ghost Bus. You'll get to know the most macabre stories in cold, dark and cloudy weather.

Without a doubt, the best weather to get inside all those stories that will give you goosebumps.

I'm not going to kid you. It can get pretty chilly in Edinburgh in February. However, the locals have one product that can quickly warm you up: whisky. Originally from Scotland, this liquor has been its standard bearer for generations and, if you're visiting the capital in February, you should know that one of the best plans is to book a guided tour of The Scotch Whisky Experience.

With the cold weather, trying different samples of these liquors will quickly warm you up, but also allow you to get to know a bit more about the culture of this beautiful and bucolic country. Whether it's a whisky tour or tasting, a beer tour or a trip to one of the country's iconic pubs, it's an experience that's sure to keep you entertained and keep out the cold.

Edinburgh is a city that, just by walking through its streets and seeing its spectacular architecture, you will fall in love with and be impressed by. Of course, if you're coming for a few days and you're well wrapped up, you'll want to be able to get into all of Edinburgh's tourist attractions.

However, if you feel that February is too cold to walk around outside all day, one of the best plans is to book a sightseeing bus tour.

This type of transport easily adapts to the weather. While in summer the roof becomes convertible to cope with the heat, in months like February, when temperatures hover around 7-8 degrees Celsius, the bus is covered and becomes a shelter with large windows from which to tour the main sights and stop for photos. In addition, these tours of Edinburgh usually last 24 hours. They have free stops and you can hop on and off as often as you like with your ticket.

If you come to Edinburgh in February, you'll notice straight away that it's not a time when many tourists want to take a holiday. This, far from being a deterrent, is one of Edinburgh's great strengths. You can beat the cold by wearing warm clothes and, with this issue resolved, you can enjoy a city practically to yourself.

During the winter season, many museums and landmarks are virtually empty and you can enjoy them without queues. It's a real treat to be able to visit Edinburgh Castle without the crowds and in a season that makes it look even spookier.

Plus, many of the museums in the centre are free, such as the National Museum, so there's no excuse for a culture and history marathon.

If there's one thing Scotland has, it's an unsurpassed natural environment. Its vast green moors and valleys have made it a film set for decades. What's more, from Edinburgh, you're only a day's journey there and back.

Booking a trip to the Highlands or Loch Ness, for example, can be done all year round, but I can assure you that in February you'll be blown away. Seeing the snowy landscapes with your own eyes will make you feel like you're on another planet. Some of the destinations are completely covered in a blanket of snow that will transport you to a Game of Thrones or Outlander location

There are numerous tours that take you around these spectacular landscapes in one day, such as the Outlander location tour. They also have a local guide and a vehicle that can traverse the icy surfaces, getting you to the best places to fall in love with the charm of this land.

You can't forget that February is the month of love and as in many parts of the world, in Edinburgh it's celebrated in style. If you've come to spend a few days in February with your partner in this beautiful city, you should make the most of it to make some of the most romantic plans.

As well as buying flowers and giving greeting cards, Edinburgh has several things you can do to make your partner fall in love with you:

• Watchthe sunset from one of its viewpoints: Edinburgh has some of the most striking architecture in the whole country. Many people travel here just to be able to stroll through its streets and feel like they're in another era. What could be more romantic than climbing to the heights and seeing it all from above? The city has two beautiful viewpoints, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat, both of which are easily accessible and will make for an unforgettable date.
• Take an intimate stroll: Edinburgh's landscapes and surroundings have inspired many authors to write their fantastic and romantic works. The green and leafy nature of this land is ideal if you want to have a special date with your partner. That's why one of the best things to do on Valentine's Day is to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and take an intimate walk in the suburbs, in areas such as the beautiful Dr Neil's Garden Park in Duddingston or the Water of Leith trail.
• Enjoy a romantic dinner: There is nothing more romantic than dinner in a good restaurant. Edinburgh has a number of venues for the occasion, and on February 14 you can find special menus for couples to make the night a perfect end to the evening. One of the best restaurants in the city is The Witchery by The Castle, which has a spectacular décor and great food on offer. Another place where you can book is the Hard Rock Cafe in Edinburgh. It is very close to Princess Street.

Are you a nature and mountain enthusiast? If you're coming to Edinburgh in February, it's probably too cold to take a hike in its stunning countryside. However, there is an option that embraces art and the great outdoors and will keep you under cover for a few hours: the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival.

Every year, during the first few days of February, this festival is held to reward and showcase all documentary films with a mountain, nature and outdoor theme. Sometimes you can find fiction films and, on other occasions, real documentaries about overcoming challenges and effort.

The films are in English, but if you don't speak English, don't worry! The most impressive thing is what you see on the screen. It's definitely an ideal plan if you want to get a closer look at Scotland's beautiful natural environment from the comfort of an armchair. Just check the dates each year and buy tickets for around €15 for the day you want to attend. It's usually held each year at the George Square Lecture Theatre.

February is one of the most eagerly awaited moments in nature for all Scots. During this month, the first stems of snowdrops begin to sprout, beautiful and delicate white flowers that announce the coming of spring, as they are the first to grow of the season.

If you come to Edinburgh in February, you can't miss this natural spectacle by taking a walk through the Botanic Gardens. During the whole month and part of March, when there are the greatest number of bluebells, there are programmed walks of around 3 hours around the garden, explaining the characteristics of this flower and being able to see the large plantations at close quarters.

In addition, thanks to a specialised guide, you will be able to discover the different species and the strategic points of the place where you can find them. If you want to sign up to see this type of show, you can do so any morning for approximately €10.

Scottish cuisine boasts some of the most hearty and comforting food in the whole archipelago. Although it has many overlaps with English food, Scotland doesn't like to go hungry, and it shows in the dishes. Most of the star recipes have to do with game, marinated fish and all kinds of stews that keep you warm.

I can't think of a better plan for a cold day during your visit to Edinburgh in February than to pop into one of the local pubs and try some of the most characteristic dishes.

There's something to suit all tastes and flavours, but some of the ones you might find most comforting during your February visit are:

• Haggis: a traditional dish based on game entrails and game meat.
• Scotch broth: a lamb soup with seasonal vegetables.
• Partan bree: a tasty seafood stew.
• Cullen Skink: a potent smoked fish stew with onion and potato.
• Haddock: a hake dish.

On 1 January, Edinburgh celebrates the arrival of the new year with a spectacular party, just like every other country on the continent. However, in February there is another celebration that you will be able to witness if you come during this month: the Chinese New Year celebration.

The whole city dresses up from the end of January to the end of February to welcome the new oriental year, organising numerous activities, parades, exhibitions and events.

Without doubt, one of the most important ones takes place in Edinburgh Castle Square, which dresses up in red to witness one of the biggest parades of the festivity with dragons, original costumes and lots of music. You'll also get to hear the Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra itself perform live in the company of oriental performers. Just keep an eye out for the date of Chinese New Year next time you're in Edinburgh in February to enjoy this display of magic and tradition.

Edinburgh has plenty to see and do but as you might have guessed, due to its location, it's a city where winter hits hard. While summer temperatures can reach 20 degrees Celsius, in winter it's usually between 2 and 5 degrees C elsius all day. This is one of the reasons why many people decide not to travel during this month to see the city.

However, every cloud has a silver lining and, with warm clothes and waterproof footwear, you can enjoy the beautiful winter atmosphere and a city that is much less crowded than the 'warmer' months.