A First Timers Guide to the Fringe

First time at the Edinburgh Fringe? Don’t panic! We’ve put together a handy guide to help you make the most of your visit.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is an experience like no other, with thousands of shows and events at hundreds of unique venues. At EdFest.com, we've got the inside scoop on the best venues in the city to share with you throughout the Festival.

Choosing from thousands of shows can be overwhelming, so let the shows come to you!

Find yourself wandering around Edinburgh with no idea what to see next? Being flyered on the Royal Mile is an essential Fringe experience. Talk to the people flyering to get a better idea of what their show is like and look out for acts who bring a small snippet of their show to the Mile so you can ‘try before you buy’. 

Be open to trying something new and you might find your new favourite act!

As a beautiful historic city, Edinburgh is great for Instagram but can be tricky to navigate!

If you’re following a map to a Cowgate venue, you might find yourself confused on top of a bridge. The Old Town is on multiple levels, so make sure you’re going underneath a bridge on your way to a show at Cowgate. Many venues also have similar names, so make sure you know George Street from George Square before booking back to back shows.

When in doubt, give yourself plenty of time to get there and explore the city as you go - and make sure to double check the venue address on your ticket!

A trip to the Fringe can be a long day, so make sure you fuel up while you’re out! 

Alongside some brilliant pop up bars, many venues have also added food stalls and trucks to help you make it through to the late night performances. This includes appearances from some of the best local businesses like the award winning Alandas and Edinburgh street food favourite Mana Poke. 

Our favourite places to grab a bite to eat this year are the Pleasance Courtyard and Assembly George Square!

Looking forward to your favourite TV comedian? Heard about your kids’ favourite book being performed? Think you’ve found the next Fleabag? 

If you’re set on seeing a performance it’s important to book your tickets before you miss out. Luckily, EdFest.com has made it easy to book shows at some of the most iconic venues, all in one place! This includes Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Just the Tonic, Pleasance, theSpaceUK, Underbelly and ZOO.

Our FREE Membership allows you access to our exclusive offers - 241, 20% off, 50% off, £5 and £8 tickets! Sign up here!