The charms of Edinburgh for the Irish used to only come every other year when their throngs of rugby fans would descend on Murrayfield in the city’s west end.
And now it seems they can’t get enough of us, the culture and the castle yes, but probably mostly the craic around the Rose Street hostelries.
With our friends at loveholidays reporting too that the Scottish capital is their leading emerging destination.
As part of a growing market for Britain.
Now its proximity and our Celtic kith and kin comradeship as well as Edinburgh being a much easier city to get around than, say London, is probably part and parcel of it.
And will account for why our travel provider pals have seen a 75% spike in bookings.
Who do we love?
Analysing bookings from the last three months, the online travel agent reports that Edinburgh is leading a distinct spike in city break popularity for 2026.
Not that London will ever lose its appeal with a notable 48% surge.
Indicating that holidays to the UK are taking off, while escapes to other European city destinations Prague (+48%) and Budapest (+44%) have seen significant increases too.
Now having enjoyed the delights of those two great Central European cities, and having been barred from most of the pubs in Edinburgh.
We’ve decided to take the wise counsel of our loveholidays friends to expand our Greek islands knowledge by booking up for Rhodes next month.
It is +54 per cent while perennial favourite is +63%.
New York, New York
For long haul it will come as no surprise that New York continues to grow, and always will, with +30.
While Dubai, understandably, figures highly at the start of the year with +53%.
Now it helps with your city’s promotion to have somebody at the helm of loveholidays’ Irish promotion who loves their rugby and golf.
And my old mucker Clem Walshe, Irish Commercial Director at the firm, is just that.
Clem to fame
‘What unites these emerging destinations, from the cobblestones of the Royal Mile to the thermal baths of Budapest, is the variety that they offer,’ the travel provider expert opines.
‘Beach holidays remain a firm favourite, but there is a clear increased enthusiasm for city escapes this year. Edinburgh is the standout performer.’
Just remember, Clem, to promote the Golf Coast, east of Edinburgh and our championship-standard courses Muirfield, Renaissance and North Berwick.
Although you might have to give me a monster handicap next time you’re over.
