When visiting Edinburgh, you will be surprised to see such a small city offering you countless fascinating things to see and do.
This beautiful Scottish city is full of history and curiosities and allows you to take a trip back in time to the Middle Ages, thanks to its interesting small streets and architecture, numerous buildings that date from this historical period, and its impressive monuments of the sixteenth century.
There are many tours and visits you can take to get to know Edinburgh in particular, and Scotland in general, depending on the time you have available during your stay in Edinburgh.
Here is a list of some of the most interesting and popular places to see and things to do in Edinburgh during your visit to this historic city.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is the most impressive and a place you cannot miss when visiting Edinburgh. The hill where Edinburgh Castle is located is of volcanic origin and for this reason, all the fortification is built with this material.
The most important places to visit in the castle are the Foog Gate, the Chapel of Santa Margarita, the great canon (Mons Meg) along with the battery of Argyle and the Royal Palace (and the Crown Jewels).
Palace of Holyrood House
This palace, formerly a monastery, is now the official residence of the Queen of England (when visiting Edinburgh). In Holyrood House, you can visit the State apartment (where the Queen stays when in Edinburgh), the Throne Room and the Grand Gallery. This last room is full of portraits of legendary Scottish kings and heroes.
In addition, the palace is surrounded by truly spectacular gardens, which are well worth a visit. Together with Edinburgh Castle, the gardens are one of the must-see places while visiting Edinburgh.
Saint Gile’s Cathedral
In the middle of the old quarter, you will find this magnificent medieval cathedral, one of the most visited places in Edinburgh, and one of the buildings that must be visited, especially if you are interested in buildings from other eras.
Scott Monument and Calton Hill
These are the two most emblematic monuments of Edinburgh. Not only because of what they represent at the architectural level but because if you go up to the peak of either of them you will have the best views of the city of Edinburgh – truly spectacular! While viewing them, you might catch yourself thinking that the monuments look familiar, this is because they have appeared in numerous movies and television series.
Mary King’s Close Street
This is a terrifying street where you can discover the spookiest legends of the ancient city of Edinburgh. It is an easy place to visit because it is near the centre. To gain the most out of this visit, it’s worth taking one of the night tours!
Scotch Whisky Experience
If you are looking for a fun way to get closer to the history of Scotch whisky, you cannot miss a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience: an audiovisual experience that will also allow you to taste the whisky and understand more about the secrets of this drink. Also, if you are a faithful Scotch Whisky drinker, you cannot miss the whisky route, an experience that will make your trip!