Visiting Edinburgh

(Edinburgh, Scotland)

Scotland's magnificent capital city of Edinburgh has always been a popular city, full of culture and magnificent architecture.

Edinburgh offers many enormous festivals each year, particularly during the month of August, when the Edinburgh Fringe Festival attracts huge crowds, offering an enormous number of events for everyone. The city of Edinburgh is also home to many world-class museums, galleries and many impressive restaurants, with much of Edinburgh being surrounded by beautiful scenery, including a magnificent dormant volcanic terrain.

Visiting Edinburgh: Places to Visit

• Guided bus tours of Edinburgh, with open-top sightseeing buses travelling throughout the city at regular intervals each day
• Walking tours of Edinburgh, with a number of different routes and tours available, all of which are led by experienced, local guides
• Edinburgh Experience, located in the city centre at the Edinburgh Observatory and offering a host of information about the city's rich heritage, including a 3D film and exhibitions
• Edinburgh Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, standing on Blackford Hill and offering superb city views and hands-on displays
• Edinburgh Crystal Visitor Centre, founded in the 1860s and located on the city's outskirts, with glass-blowing demonstrations and a popular factory shop
• Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, located in Old Town Edinburgh, with information about Scotland's historic whisky making industry, which spans 300 years
• Arthur's Seat Volcano, a tall and extinct volcano, known for its superb views of central Edinburgh, Fife and the East Lothian area
• Edinburgh Canal Centre, offering scenic cruises, waterfront restaurants and a dry dock
• Edinburgh Castle, without doubt one of the city's most famous structures, dominating much of the Old Town district and dating back more than 1,000 years
• Royal Yacht Britannia, once the pride and joy of Queen Elizabeth II, this grand boat is now moored in Edinburgh's Leith area and is open to the public
• Craigmillar Castle, historic ruins dating back to the 12th century, now maintained by the Historic Scotland society
• Scott Monument, standing in central Edinburgh and honouring the life of Sir Walter Scott
• Calton Hill, a particularly historic part of Edinburgh, containing many important landmarks, such as both the National Monument and the Nelson Monument
• Royal Mile, one of the oldest areas of the city, lined with many notable buildings, speciality stores and gift shops aimed at the city's thriving tourist market
• Nelson Monument, a tall tower offering superb views across much of Edinburgh, honouring the Admiral's victorious Battle of Trafalgar, which took place more than 200 years ago
• Edinburgh Parliament House, dating back to the beginning of the 17th century when it was home to the Scottish Government, now housing a large hall and hosting seasonal events
• Edinburgh theatres, including the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on Nicholson Street, Kings Theatre at Leven Street, Traverse Theatre along Cambridge Street, Royal Lyceum Theatre on Grindlay Street, Assembly Rooms Theatre at George Street and Bedlam Theatre at the Bristo Place