Your Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide: Taste & Tour Edinburgh Style

Why read this: 

Heading to Edinburgh Fringe this year? So are we! This guide is designed to provide insider tips, essential information and to introduce you to our own Edinburgh Fest Food Tour so that you can make the most of your time at the festival. Join us as we dive into the heart of the festival and discover how to navigate, enjoy and savour every moment of this unmissable month of fun. 

Key points: 

Planning your visit
Navigating the city
Insider tips from Cameron, Director of Taste & Tour Edinburgh

In just a few days we’ll be kicking off our brand new Edinburgh Fest Food Tour as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and we cannot wait to get started! As an explosion of creativity, culture and colour hits the streets of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the most vibrant and exciting events of the year. As the largest arts festival in the world, it transforms the historic city of Edinburgh into a bustling hub of performances, street arts and unmissable shows. Whether you’re a seasoned festival go-er or a first-time visitor, the Fringe is a must-visit event and we’re so excited to bring our Edinburgh Fest Food Tour to be part of the festivities this year.

Planning your visit

Must-see Performances and Events:

The Fringe is famous for its eclectic mix of performances, from world-renowned acts to fresh perspectives and hidden gems. The festival app is great for exploring lesser-known shows and discovering new talent. Use this to plan who you want to see and when. You’ll want to leave yourself pockets of time to enjoy free events and street performances and soak up spontaneity in your itinerary. Embrace the unexpected and allow yourself to stumble upon performances you might have otherwise missed - it’s all part of the fun of the Fringe!

As for food-themed performances, you’re in for a treat. Among the extensive list of performers, you’ll find drama, comedy and performance art focusing on food and eating. The famous Aussie singing cook, Michelle Pearson is back with her Comfort Food Cabaret following stand-out seasons at the Fringe in 2018 and 2019 - expect to be serenaded by the songstress as she prepares a delicious 3-course meal while performing jazz, rock and pop. 

For those who prefer something more low-key and thought-provoking, spoken word performance, Real Food For Thought, from Sheila Erskine explores the impact of the food we eat on our identity, mental health and relationships through a journey of epicurean wonder. 

And for those who like more of a hands-on approach, keep an eye out for the various cooking masterclasses listed in the programme. 

Booking tickets early 

For the shows you don’t want to miss, make sure you secure your tickets in advance where possible. While the Edinburgh Fringe Festival features thousands of performances across numerous venues, popular shows often sell out quickly so use resources like the Fringe website and app to find and book tickets ahead of time. Early planning means you won’t miss out on the acts you’re most excited to see. 

Navigating the City

Although Edinburgh has buses and trams that connect all corners of the city, the festival venues are spread out all over Edinburgh. This means that walking is often the most practical and enjoyable way to travel to shows and immerse yourself in the atmosphere. Just be sure to allocate extra time to journey between venues to avoid rushing and enjoy impromptu street performances along the way. The festival’s website also provides accessibility information to ensure everyone can enjoy the festival comfortably. 

The Ultimate Foodie Experience at Edinburgh Fringe

Edinburgh’s culinary landscape is a foodie haven and the festival does nothing but elevate this experience. Savouring the best of these hotspots is an integral part of the festival experience! Join our Edinburgh Fest Food tour to indulge in the best of local food and drink within a 90-minute slot and 100-metre area - perfect for including in your Edinburgh Fringe itinerary! Enjoy historical insights into the rich history of the Royal Mile, visit the Scottish Storytelling Centre and the site of The Flodden Wall while discovering secret gardens and hidden gems along the way. In just 90 minutes, you’ll have a packed itinerary of eating, drinking and exploring history, making this an unmissable experience during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.

Exploring Edinburgh

Outside of the events and performances, you’ll want to take time to explore the rest of the city. The festival is amazing but breaks are necessary to make the most of the experience so why not continue your culture-filled trip by exploring top attractions like Arthur’s Seat, bustling food markets and historic landmarks within the city?

Your source for the best insider tips? The locals, of course!

Who better to ask for insider tips than the locals themselves? They know the city inside out after all and will have all of the best-kept secret spots and hidden gems up their sleeve. Our guides are Edinburgh locals too, ready to share their best insider tips on making the most of your visit. From hidden spots to must-try dishes, our Edinburgh Fest Food Tour offers an authentic taste of Edinburgh’s history and culinary scene. 

We asked Cameron, our Taste & Tour Edinburgh Director, to share his best pieces of advice to make the most of your time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

What should first-timers expect when visiting Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival?

“Be prepared for an assault on the senses! The city is alive with people enjoying themselves, putting on street performances and promoting their shows. The population of Edinburgh essentially triples during the Festival so the busy bits are incredibly busy but you can still find quiet places for contemplation. 

The best thing to do is throw yourself into it fully. Don’t be worried about seeing the ‘must see’ shows because everything is good and even if it isn’t, it normally doesn’t cost too much plus you never know, you might find your new favourite comedian/act/genre that’ll become a passion for the rest of your life.”

What excites you most about running the Edinburgh Fest Food Tour as part of the festival this year?

“As an Edinburgh lad, it’s always been incredible to experience the Festival as the world descends on us but being part of it is something I never thought I would do. Being able to combine 2 of the things I love: food and Edinburgh, is always exciting and getting the chance to do it, with hundreds of different visitors is amazing.”

Why should guests bump the Edinburgh Fest Food Tour to the top of their Fringe Festival itinerary?

“If you want to eat in Edinburgh during the Fringe there’s no shortage of options but there’s nothing better than the Edinburgh Fest Food Tour that combines food with the chance to hear about the exciting history of parts of Edinburgh that you might not normally see. I love taking people behind the scenes and I really think we’ve nailed it by combining enough traditional food with the focus on the Royal Mile, a part of Edinburgh that is packed with history and heritage.

And given the spirit of the Fringe is to see and sample lots of different things, this is the perfect opportunity.”

Book your Edinburgh Fest Food Tour with Taste & Tour today and immerse yourself in the best of what the festival and the city have to offer.