Scotland: Glasgow or Edinburgh

If you are considering a trip for THIS August, then Edunburgh might be more difficult. Accomodations book up early (like nearly a year in advance) and are the most expensive during festival. Have you considered Inverness? It is my favorite Scottish city. There are lots of great day trips you can do from there, too. It has the best tourist informaiton office I've ever seen.

Which ever city you chose, you can take the train to the other for a day trip. The train takes an hour. You go from Waverly Station in Edinburgh to Queen Street station in Glasgow, or the reverse. We prefer Glasgow and have taken six or eight day trips to Edinburgh.

Having just returned from Scotland a few weeks ago, my vote definitely goes for Edinburgh. Not too far from Edinburgh would be a train trip to St Andrews or a bit further to Dundee and would recommend the beach at Broughty Ferry just outside Dundee for a nice stroll on the beach and visit to Dundee castle. You will find lots of beautiful sea glass and agates on the beach at Broughty Ferry. If you were lucky to get tickets to the tatoo in Edinburgh that would be a real plus. Enjoy!

My vote is for Edinburgh. You do need to hop in it if you're looking for this August, but you can likley find something. They like you to stay longer than one night so your plans fit with expectations for festival season. Pam

Glasgow has a gritty reputation but it is the gateway to the Western Isles and Loch Lomand. It also has some great museums and art galleries. I'd go for a trip to Oban (train or bus) and then maybe a trip over to the Isle of Mull and Iona Abbey. Check into coach tours for this. Or take the Waverley (a paddle steamer) down the Clyde to Rothesay on the Isle of Arran. Edinburgh has the castle and during the Festival it is the place to be - depends on how much you like crowds. If you go try and get a seat at the Military Tattoo (you may be out of luck it sells out a year in advance). But you will see massed banks and lots of bagpipes and the Taps ceremony at the end will raise the hairs on the back of your neck.......

Our vote would be for Edinburgh. If you have trouble booking a place in August - try staying outside of the city. One year we stayed in Dunfermline and took the train in. Nice place and an easy trip in. With only 3 days don't spread yourself too thin or waste a lot of your precious time travelling. Pick one area and really see it. Enjoy Scotland - we always do!

Thank you all for the ideas and responses! Looks like we will try Edinburgh and maybe we'll get lucky with tickets to festivals and the military tatoo.

Edinburgh is great. Glasgow is "getting better". If you have to choose one, it should be Edinburgh.