Visit Edinburgh

Visit Edinburgh to discover a vibrant city which effortlessly combines the old and the new.

A compact city, it can be covered on foot (if you don’t mind the hills) and offers a huge range of attractions and activities.

Edinburgh Castle is a must-visit. Dominating the Edinburgh skyline it is home to the crown jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, Mons Meg (the famous 15th-century gun), the One O’Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland. The characters of the castle will intrigue and fascinate while the prisons will make you shiver. And the views over Edinburgh are simply breath taking.

To soak up the history, try Craigmillar Castle, Lauriston Castle, the National Monument of Scotland and, on Calton Hill, the famous symbol of loyalty that is Greyfriars Bobby.

If art’s your thing, Edinburgh boasts the Scottish National Gallery, the City Art Centre, the Fruitmarket Gallery, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and more. That’s quite a collection!

Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Scotland, has close associations with some of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures including Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Set in a beautiful park, with the iconic Arthur’s Seat, it makes for a fascinating visit.

The National Trust Scotland has some wonderful houses including Gladstone’s Land and The Georgian House, and there’s St Giles Cathedral in the old town, Greyfriars Church, and Kirkyard which is said to be the place where JK Rowling found the names for the Harry Potter stories.

The city also has many award-winning museums including the prestigious National Museum of Scotland, Camera Obscura (the oldest visitor attraction in Edinburgh), the Museum of Childhood and Our Dynamic Earth.

Fans of the darker side of history will delight in the grisly Edinburgh Dungeon and the Blair Street Underground Vaults. Not for the faint-hearted!

You can shop till you drop on Princes Street, St James Quarter and George Street and browse the designer labels on Multrees Walk. Visit the Grassmarket and Victoria Street for lovely little independent shops and pick up some souvenirs on the Royal Mile.

For a bit of peace and quiet, take a stroll in the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens or wander around Edinburgh Zoo to take in the wildlife.

Edinburgh is very much a 24-hour city and after dark, there’s theatre, live music, comedy and independent cinema plus lots of places to dance the night away.

And, of course, no trip to Edinburgh would be complete without sampling a wee dram of whisky. There are several gin and whisky distillery tours to choose from and many of the local bars can offer specialist advice.

It is impossible to sum up Edinburgh in a few short words. For more information please visit Forever Edinburgh, the official guide to Edinburgh.