Why are people in Gorgie dressed head-to-toe in burgundy? And what is the Six Nations? Scotland's capital has a diverse sporting scene, with local clubs and international leagues everyone is invited to. Here's a guide to everything sports-loving expats should know about their new home city.
Which Edinburgh neighbourhood you live in will determine the local's football loyalties. Hearts of Midlothian F.C (Hearts) is based in Gorgie to the west of the city, and Hibernian F.C (Hibs) is located on Easter Road in Leith. On match days you can expect to see big crowds of people dressed in the team's colours - burgundy in Gorgie, and green in Leith.
Both Hibs and Hearts play in the Scottish Premiership, and you are likely to see them play against teams including Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, and St. Mirren. Tickets for matches cost between £15 - £40, depending on the demand.
Many Scots would consider rugby the country's national sport, and Murrayfield Stadium is home to matches in both national and international leagues. Attending a standard rugby match costs between £20 - £45. Six Nations match tickets are particularly desirable (if more expensive!), with fans flocking to see games held in February and March between Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, France, and Wales. If you do have the opportunity to attend one of these games, it is highly recommended, even if you aren't a big rugby fan, to get a proper flavour of the Edinburgh sports scene.
Murrayfield Stadium is the largest sports venue in Scotland. There are guided tours available every Monday - Saturday, which cost £12 for an adult ticket.
Join the Edinburgh community
Get regular tips and advice to make the most of your expat life
Golf courses in Edinburgh
There are around 30 golf courses in Edinburgh and its suburbs. Often, membership is required to play golf in Edinburgh, with a subscription to Edinburgh Leisure's courses costing between £250 - £440 a year. However, anyone can play on the popular Bruntsfield Links for free all year round.
True golf fans should take a trip to neighbouring St Andrews. This quaint Scottish town is less than two hours away from Edinburgh, and home to arguably the most famous courses in the world.
There is a mixture of Edinburgh council-run and private gyms across the city. Edinburgh Leisure offers a variety of swimming, gym, tennis, and sports pitch facilities. These can be found in areas such as Craiglockhart, Leith, and Newington. Edinburgh Leisure's facilities offer both monthly memberships and pay-as-you-go options.
If you are living or working in the city centre and looking for a gym to work out in you will find big chains such as Pure Gym, The Gym Group, Nuffield Health, and Bannatynes Health Club in various locations. Memberships at these companies cost from £15 a month.
Whatever your sport, there is a club for you in Edinburgh. Locals practice everything from athletics to netball, squash to jujitsu, and ice hockey to wrestling, to name a few. Club Sport Edinburgh's website can help you find your local club.
ℹ️
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
A journalist, holder of the DALF C1 and C2 and a diploma from the University of Mauritius, I have nearly twenty years of writing experience. After six years in the Mauritian press, I joined Expat.com, where I have been working for over a decade, including five years as editorial assistant, and now as editorial manager.
