That’s right, I’m going to a place that’s reknown for being cold and damp in the summertime in February (the 16th-20th). If I venture out out on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon what are the one or two things I must do or see?
Edinburgh is a great place to tan the bevy, so that would be top of my list of things to do Sat night. Its also a great place to eat out, so I would reckon on a fine meal followed by a skinful of ale. Good places I’ve eaten recently are:
A room at the west end (Scottish food, somewhere in the west end)
Le partenope (best Italian in Edinburgh, no contest. On the Dalry Rd)
The appartment or The outsider (trendy food, Bruntsfield Place or George IV bridge)
Too many good pubs to name, would depend on where you were staying.
Sun I would either go to the castle, a predictable but good tourist option, or go for a walk up to Arthur’s seat overlooking the city. Then tan the bevy 
Edinburgh is going to be one of the driest places in the UK in Feb btw, although it is colder and darker than the southern UK.
It’s freezing here now, and it’s been raining for the past few weeks. Where are you going to be staying?
Tan the bevy?
I note that if you Google this (in quotes) you get no matches. Has to be one of the shorter phrases of which that’s true.
Man, I spelled bevy wrong - it should be bevvy
I'll be at the [Marriot](http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/edigs-marriott-dalmahoy-hotel-and-country-club/) Saturday and Sunday night. Traveling to Sunderland for meetings on Monday and Tuesday and then flying out.
Is Edinburgh Castle worth checking out? Any armories? What about the Scottish Whiskey Heritage Museum. Can you tan the bevvy there? 
I was in Edinburgh in February once. Wear seven coats, three hats, twelve scarves, sixteen pairs of gloves, and lots and lots of thermal underwear.
To get away from the cold, spend most of your time in the (mostly excellent) pubs.
Never been in the castle, but the National Museum of Scotland is absolutely fantastic. One of my favourite museums in the world, for the architecture, and brilliance of the interior alone (I hesitate to use the word “experience” in this context, but it’s so well designed that it really does change the way you experience the museum).
My wife (with her son and his partner) visited Edinburgh in mid January, and really enjoyed it.
They enjoyed the Castle, the Whiskey museum, and the Royal Yacht Brittania. And Holyrood, too.
Si
The castle is pretty good. Apparently the whisky museum isn’t that good, but I’ve never been. Climbing Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags will waste a few hours and you get a nice view of Holyrood Palace / the city - but you might get soaked.
A few of the ghost tours in the vaults are entertaining. There’s also loads of museums and portrait galleries.
Can you see the Northern Lights up there this time of year? Any activity so far?
Very rarely - you need to go a bit further north, and further away from artificial lighting.
It’s mid-afternoon and the temperature is apparently 14C (um… 57F); I’ve had the door open all day and it’s not felt too cold…
The Castle is worth seeing and has military collections and museums and fantastic views over Edinburgh and the surrounding area - allow a couple of hours at least.
The Museum is also v.good but some of it is closed for refurbishment at the moment - mainly the big stuffed animals sections, though!
There’s a world class zoo on the west of the city if you’re into zoos, although it, too, is undergoing work. It’s laid out on a hillside so some paths are a bit steep…
Art galleries - the modern art galleries are excellent (about a mile from the city centre), and the main National Galleries have also got great stuff in them. They’re directly below the Castle in the city centre. A free bus connects them.
Arthur’s Seat is a steep little hill (800 feet) close to the middle of town - you can walk from the bottom, or drive half way up if you’ve hired a car. I wouldn’t especially recommend driving in Edinburgh though - loads of one-way systems, roadworks, narrow roads, bolshie wardens, expensive parking etc. And there’s a pretty good bus system.
Calton Hill is topped with a fair amount of stuff to see, and some great views and is lower than Arthur’s Seat!
For evening entertainment, as mentioned above, we do have a few pubs!
Or. better, look here for films, theatre, etc. It’ll be pretty dark so sightseeing after about 17.00 or so won’t be worth trying.
E-mail me if you want to meet or anything.
It certainly is, nudge nudge wink wink 
I *did *say not to go sightseeing after dark!
I hate you for going without me…
not really, but it does bring out the jealous side of me. Of course, if I was in Scotland I dont think I would come back to the states.
If you’ve never seen one I suggest the camera obscura on the Royal Mile - open 10 - 5, if you get a clear crisp day then you’ve no excuse for not going. Even if it’s murky the whole set-up is still fascinating.
Yeah; it’s just before the Castle Esplanade and is definitely a curiosity! Just poking about that area can be fun.
I work about 3 minutes walk from it (5 or 6 going back up the hill!) and see the Castle from the door…
I was in Edinburgh in Feb several years ago. It was cold, probably mid 30s F, but clear. There were hardly any tourists and I seemed to have the castle to myself. If you’re interested at all in the history and technology of whisky (no ‘e’) then the Scotch Whisky Experience is worth a go.
It’s almost balmy at the moment, but I see you’ve picked the wrong time to visit! The weather forecast shows a colder dip just when you’re here!