Explore an Edinburgh holiday and discover the best time and places to visit.

Edinburgh is a city that begs to be discovered, filled with quirky, come-hither nooks that tempt you to explore just that little bit further.

This Scottish capital is a center of culture and the arts and is especially known for its festivals, from the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which welcomes more than 1,000 authors, to the sparkling Christmas Markets and the Edinburgh Fringe, the world's largest festival of the arts. Between these and internationally known events such as the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, there are always plenty of things to do here.

The Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most famous landmark and also one of Britain's most visited tourist attractions. Highlights include the One O'clock Salute from Half Moon Battery (cannon fire commemorates the tradition of helping ships synchronize their clocks); the impressive Scottish National War Memorial; and the stunning collection of Crown Jewels housed in the Royal Palace. Another notable feature is the Stone of Destiny (aka, the Stone of Scone), famously stolen by Edward I and placed under the English throne in London - only returned to Scotland 700 years later in 1996.

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings.

Sometimes Edinburgh seems like two separate cities, the 18th-century New Town's elegant Georgian neighborhoods of stately terraces from the Old Town's narrow winding lanes, steep staircases, and hidden passageways. 

People ask, What should I see in Edinburgh? 

Top 10 Attractions: 

1. Edinburgh Castle - It was both a military stronghold and royal palace until the 1600s when it became strictly military barracks; this castle was key in many wars
2. Royal Mile -This street, which connects the Palace of Holyroodhouse (Queen Elizabeth II’s royal palace in Scotland) and Edinburgh Castle, will make you believe that you’ve actually stepped into history.
3. Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano which is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh.
4. The Scotch Whisky Experience, a five-star visitor attraction at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, where we've been inspiring visitors to Edinburgh about the joys of Scotch whisky for over 30 years.
5. The Elephant House is a gourmet tea and coffee house..
   Harry Potter fans cannot miss this cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the earlier novels in the famous series. The Elephant House, while a great place to grab a cup of tea and dessert, attracts Potter fans from around the world.
6. Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness - If you’re trying to get the full Scotland experience, you cannot leave the country without searching for Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.
   Immerse yourself in spectacular scenery, beguiling mystery and dramatic history on this day trip from Edinburgh. Traveling to the Scottish Highlands, witness the stunning vistas of Cairngorms National Park and cruise along world-famous Loch Ness in search of the Loch Ness Monster and tour Urquhart Castle ruins.
7. The Ghost Tours There are tons of ghost tours that will take you around Edinburgh, but make sure you pick one that will bring you into the depths of the city- literally! The Edinburgh Vaults are underground chambers that, for a few decades in the 1700s, held small businesses and pubs, and also served as storage. When the vaults started to deteriorate, the businesses fled and the homeless and outcasts (Criminals! Witches!) moved in. Now they are a hub of paranormal activity and ghost tours take visitors into some of the chambers.
8. St. Andrew’s and Fife- St Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, and according to legend, his remains were washed up on the Fife coast. St Andrews is also home to the third oldest university in Britain and a beautiful ruined castle perched on a cliff. You have around two and a half hours to explore this fascinating town
   St. Andrew’s is home to the famous university that William and Kate studied and fell in love at.
9. National Museum of Scotland- This unmissable Edinburgh museum comprises two contrasting but complementary buildings: a Victorian palace made of wrought iron and glass and the other a modern sandstone fortress with a striking circular tower.
10. Greyfriars Kirkyard - a Cemetery
    Greyfriars Kirkyard offers an alternative way of exploring Edinburgh’s history, via mortsafes and funeral monuments that date back to the 16th century. Most famous for loyal canine visitor Bobby, the graveyard has a more grisly past; a Covenanters’ prison sits alongside the tomb of Sir George ‘Bluidy’ Mackenzie

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