New city, new country, new adventure... let's explore. If you’re an international student or just new to Edinburgh, Welcome Week is the perfect chance to get out, look around, and start feeling at home. Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) has curated events designed to help you experience the city’s charm, culture, and hidden gems, all while making new friends along the way.
Think guided city walks, visits to tourist attractions, picnics, scavenger hunts, and a trip to the famous Highland Games. Whether you're here for a semester or the next few years, this guide is your starting point to discovering what makes Edinburgh such a special place to live and study.
Pack your camera, wear comfy shoes, and get ready to explore.
Saturday 5th September
Arthur’s Seat Walk, 12pm @ Scottish Parliament Building
Hike up Edinburgh's iconic Arthur's Seat! A perfect way to take a break and enjoy some fresh air and must-see views. This walk is open to all students who want to connect with nature, boost their mental wellbeing, and meet new friends.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, this walk is suitable for most fitness levels. We’ll take it at a comfortable pace and take breaks during steeper inclines. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle and a snack!
Click here for tickets.
Coffee & Book Crawl, 2pm @ Uplands Roast
Grab your comfiest shoes and get ready to discover Edinburgh's cosiest bookshops and cafes - it's time for a book crawl! We’ll be kicking things off at Uplands Roast with a hot drink in hand, then heading on a guided wander through the city’s iconic sights, stopping in at the coolest bookshops Edinburgh has to offer.
Click here for tickets!
Sunday 6th September
International Students’ Picnic, 12pm @ Calton Hill
Bring a snack, make a friend, and share a little piece of home! Join us for an International Students' Picnic, an afternoon of food, fun, and new faces from around the world!
Feel free to bring along your favourite snack, dish, or dessert to share, and definitely come ready to swap stories and recipes.
Click here for tickets!
Monday 7th September
Sighthill Garden Party, 1pm @ Sighthill Campus
Do you study at Sighthill? Get ready to celebrate the start of uni with your students' union ENSA! Expect an exciting afternoon with lawn games, alpacas, ice cream, painting and a chill space to hang out and make new friends at your campus.
Please note this event is not the same scale as Napier Fest, and we encourage all students to join us for that as well!
Click here for tickets!
Tuesday 8th September
Welcome Fair, 10am-3pm @ The Corn Exchange
Don’t miss Scotland’s biggest Welcome Fair, the ultimate place to kickstart your active student life at Napier! With around 150 stalls to explore, you’ll find exclusive deals, freebies, and the inside scoop on all the sports clubs and societies waiting for you. Whether you’re into sports, arts, culture - or just want to find something new - this is your chance to meet the people behind Napier’s societies, ask questions, and discover how to get involved.
Get ready to dive into the vibrant, active side of Napier and make the most of everything student life has to offer!
Click here for tickets.
Napier Ceilidh, 8pm @ Ghillie Dhu
Don yer kilts and fancy dresses, it's time for a ceilidh! Come along for an elegant night of Scottish music and dance - don't worry, we'll teach you all the steps!
Taking place at the famous Ghillie Dhu ceilidh venue, expect fantastic live music, gorgeous decor and an in-house bar, including a welcome drink (soft drink for those under 18). This is a great event for international students (and from other parts of the UK) to embrace Scottish culture!
Click here for tickets.
Wednesday 9th September
International Students’ Meetup, 12pm @ Craiglockhart Campus
New to Napier, just moved to Scotland or just want to meet new people? This meet up is open to all International Students at any campus! We're going to do a session of speed friending, which is an "icebreaker" social event where you get the opportunity to introduce yourself to different people while a timer keeps things moving. Similar to "speed dating", only with the goal to find pals rather than someone to date. Then you can chat to anyone, get a coffee, and hang around as long as you'd like. We recommend using this event to make friends to enjoy Napier Fest with which starts just after this.
Click here for tickets!
Napier Fest, 1-4pm @ Craiglockhart Lawn
Starting a new chapter in your academic journey? Join your Students' Association as we welcome postgraduates and undergraduates alike to a fun-filled afternoon designed to help you connect, unwind, and celebrate the start of the year.
Expect carnival games, inflatables, a petting zoo, candy floss, and more. Whether you're new to campus or returning for another year, it’s a great chance to meet fellow students from all courses and campuses in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Click here for tickets!
Thursday 10th September
Merchifest, 12pm-2pm @ Merchiston Campus
Studying at Merchiston? Come along for a fun afternoon with games, therapy ponies (Theraponies, if you will), food and music, all on your home campus! Make new friends and get to know your campus with your Students’ Association, ENSA.
Click here for tickets!
Sightseeing Jogging Tour, 3pm @ Merchiston Campus
Lace up your running shoes and join us for an afternoon run through the city to see the sights! This event is open to all abilities, and we can take breaks as needed. Learn new routes to run on, see the beautiful City of Edinburgh and meet like-minded, active friends.
Click here for tickets!
Friday 11th September
Culture Crawl, 1pm @ National Gallery, The Mound
Join us for a day of exploring some of the city’s most vibrant museums and galleries, all while soaking in the unique atmosphere of Edinburgh. We will be starting at the National Gallery, then exploring the Fruitmarket Gallery and the National Museum, with a stop at Black Medicine for coffee along the way!
This free, open-to-all event is perfect for art lovers, history buffs, or anyone curious about Edinburgh’s cultural gems. Come alone or bring your pals and comfortable shoes!
Click here for tickets!
Edinburgh Castle Visit, 3pm @Edinburgh Castle
Explore Edinburgh Castle with a small group of other Napier students and learn about exciting tales of its time as a military fortress, royal residence and prison of war. When you climb Castle Hill, you will walk in the footsteps of soldiers, kings and queens – and even the odd pirate or two.
Click here for tickets.
Saturday 12th September
Pitlochry Highland Games, 8am @ Merchiston Campus
Experience the traditions of Scotland at the Pitlochry Highland Games!
Join us for a day trip to Pitlochry, 70 miles north of Edinburgh, for a day filled with traditional Scottish festivities, a huge bagpipe and drums parade, sports competitions like 'tossing the caber', Highland dancing, and traditional food!
Click here for tickets.
Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt, 11pm or 12pm @ Cockburn Street
Embark on an exciting 3-hour adventure through the historic streets of Old Town Edinburgh with our Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt. Follow the clues and immerse yourselves in a thrilling quest to unravel the mystery and claim the title of ultimate detectives! The route finishes outside the Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate - a great spot for a celebratory refreshment!
*Note: This is the same route as last year - if you have been before, we don't recommend joining the hunt again!
Click here for tickets.
Sunday 13th September
Charity Shop Crawl, 2pm @ Potterrow
Get ready for an afternoon of awesome finds and hidden gems, filling in the bits of your wardrobe you forgot to bring with you. The route involves a short walk in a student-dense area, so you're guaranteed to find some exciting, trending pieces!
Click here for tickets.
Enjoy Welcome Week and don't forget to check out the other events coming up! You can do that here.