Fancy doing the Highland fling this year? Check out Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, one of the world’s iconic New Year’s celebrations. A four-day festival set in the cultural and cosmopolitan heart of Scotland, Hogmanay starts on 31 December and carries on to ‘Ne’erday’ (1 January – or these days, till 3 January). Expect fireworks (spectacular against the backdrop of the 1,000-year-old Edinburgh Castle), traditional dancing and plenty of revelry in the streets.


Edinburgh Castle

As with any festival, some local customs are to be expected. First-footing (don’t panic – there’s no shin-kicking involved) refers to the first person after midnight to cross the door of a friend’s or neighbour’s home, who then has to dole out gifts such as fruit cake, shortbread and whisky. Meant to bring good luck (and possibly a foggy head), this custom goes on until the wee hours of the morning.

Otherwise, take a peek at decadent St Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 12th century. Soak up the story of King Malcolm III (Castle Hill, +44 131 225 9846, www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), or sign up for a night-time Ghost Tour (+44 131 225 5445, www.mercattours.com) – guides take you down to the creepy vaults and tunnels below the Old Town, where they re-tell ancient spooky stories by candlelight, all in an overtly dramatic fashion.

Where to eat and drink: While the national dish of haggis may not appeal to most, it’s a must-try in these parts, as is the deep-fried Mars bar. Once you’re done and want to sample the local catch of the day, head to Fisher’s Bistro (1 The Shore, +44 131 554 5666) in Edinburgh’s northern district of Leith. For a blowout meal, go to The Witchery (+44 131 225 5613) for an eclectic mix of modern European fare. For a real medieval feel, walk downstairs into an ancient candlelit vault restaurant; then head to Sandy Bell’s (25 Forrest Rd, +44 131 225 2751), a down-to-earth boozer with live traditional music and a raucous atmosphere, for a few cold ones.
Where to stay: Malmaison, a sleek and modern hotel in Leith, is a stylish stopover at £275 (S$691) a night. It also has two excellent restaurants, Brassiere and Café Bar (1 Tower Pl, +44 131 468 5000, www.malmaison.com). More affordable (and hip) is Rick’s (55A Frederick St, +44 131 622 7800, www.ricksedinburgh.co.uk) in New Town at £130 (S$327) a night. It has a popular wine bar that serves light bites to a crowd of regulars.
How to get there: British Airways flies direct from Singapore to Edinburgh. Go to www.britishairways.com.