Edinburgh

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If you're planning a trip to Scotland, a stop in Edinburgh should definitely be on your list. This beautiful hilltop city, Scotland's capital, has ancient roots, amazing architecture, and a charm that captivates visitors from all over the world.

If you're planning a trip to Scotland, a stop in Edinburgh should definitely be on your list. This beautiful hilltop city, Scotland's capital, has ancient roots, amazing architecture, and a charm that captivates visitors from all over the world. Whether you're interested in exploring Scotland's natural beauty, learning more about its storied history, or just want to enjoy its delicious food, music, and culture; Edinburgh is the destination for you.
<h2>1. Lauriston Castle</h2>
Scotland's rolling green countryside is dotted with the ruins of towers, walls, and castles, majestic echoes of a bygone time full of mystery and adventure. Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh is one of these captivating castles. It features daily costumed performances that help visitors feel as though they have stepped back in time. After a tour of the Edwardian interior, don't miss the opportunity to tour its grounds which have an enviable view of the sea as well as extensive gardens.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011379" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/shutterstock_136751456.jpg" alt="Lauriston castle" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>2. Scott Monument</h2>
While in Edinburgh, pay a visit to the Scott Monument, a Victorian tribute to beloved Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott, the author of Ivanhoe, Waverly, and Rob Roy. This awe-inspiring monument in Gothic style features stunning stained-glass windows, a marble statue of the famous writer, and fantastic views of the surrounding area from each of its four levels.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011381" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-8338459761.jpg" alt="scotland" width="1100" height="1100" /> Geoff Eccles / Getty Images


<h2>3. 21st Century Kilts</h2>
If you're brave enough to try dressing like a true Scotsman, you can get a bespoke kilt or kilt suit made just for you at 21st Century Kilts in Edinburgh. Favored by celebrities including Alan Cumming and Lenny Kravitz, this unique independent shop is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for custom tailoring appointments. Pay a visit and bring home an unforgettable souvenir from your time in Edinburgh.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011382" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-4835031381.jpg" alt="" width="1100" height="733" /> stephenmccluskey81 / Getty Images

<h2>4. Edinburgh Castle</h2>
If anything is a can't-miss attraction in Edinburgh, it's this imposing and impressive castle. By far the most recognizable landmark in the city, this historic castle dominates Edinburgh's beautiful city skyline. History buffs know that this castle was the setting for a number of important events in Scottish history, and was even home to Mary, Queen of Scots. Visitors can browse many interesting Scottish artifacts and even enter St. Margaret's Chapel, which dates from the 12th century and is the oldest surviving structure in Edinburgh.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011384" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/shutterstock_1230974311.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="750" />


<h2>5. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art</h2>
Edinburgh may be an ancient place, but it loves to show off its modern side too. Well-known for being a haven for culture and the arts, Edinburgh is also the home of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, house an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art including Dadaist and Surrealist works as well as an impressive sculpture garden.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011386" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/shutterstock_1118094014.jpg" alt="Scotland Edinburgh" width="1000" height="625" />


<h2>6. Scottish National Gallery</h2>
If you're a lover of fine art, enjoy a day losing yourself in the collection at the Scottish National Gallery. This museum is home to some of the greatest art in the world, including masterpieces by Renaissance masters like Botticelli, Raphael, and Titian as well as Baroque legends like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Located in the heart of Edinburgh, this free museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011387" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-1713686831.jpg" alt="Edinburgh" width="1100" height="731" /> ChrisHepburn / Getty Images


<h2>7. Holyrood Palace</h2>
Royal-watchers will not want to miss the opportunity to visit Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. During most of the year, visitors can tour its historic Royal Apartments and State Apartments as long as they are not being used for state functions, as well as its exquisite gardens and grounds. Explore the gift shop or book an afternoon tea at the cafe for the chance to feel like you are having tea with the Queen.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1011388" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-4771245461.jpg" alt="travel Edinburgh" width="1100" height="734" /> rabbit75_ist / Getty Images


<h2>8. Royal Yacht Britannia</h2>
Another site royal-watchers won't want to miss is the Royal Yacht Britannia, which served the royal family from 1954 to 1997. Now docked at the historic Port of Leith in Edinburgh, visitors can spend a day touring sites such as Queen Elizabeth II's bedroom, the Bridge, the state dining room, and crew quarters. Check out the self-guided audioguide for more information about each location as you walk around the ship.

[caption id="attachment_1011389" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-1011389 size-full" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-910114722.jpg" alt="scotland marina" width="1024" height="683" /> Robert Perry/Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>9. Stroll Down the Royal Mile</h2>
The historic Royal Mile was the main highway of medieval Edinburgh. It runs down the hill from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, connecting these two landmarks with five different streets bustling with shops, restaurants, museums, and other interesting attractions. This busy place is a great place to grab a bite to eat or to enjoy people-watching in the old part of the city.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1011391 size-full" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-5383044711.jpg" alt="royal Edinburgh" width="1100" height="856" /> Alicia_Garcia / Getty Images


<h2>10. St. Giles Cathedral</h2>
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without stopping at St. Giles Cathedral. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, this 14th-century church is the principal place of worship for the Church of Scotland. Don't miss the small but beautiful Thistle Chapel and its intricately decorated ceiling. It was built in 1911 for the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's most important Order of Chivalry.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1011392 size-full" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/02/GettyImages-8743049341.jpg" alt="Edinburgh" width="1100" height="614" /> Susanne Neumann / Getty Images

The Most Exciting Places to Visit in Edinburgh

Scotland occupies the northern third of the Island of Great Britain. From historic castles in Edinburgh to Scotch whiskey distilleries in the Highlands to legends of the Holy Grail, King Arthur, and the Loch Ness Monster, the tourist attractions in Scotland are intriguing, beautiful, and fun to explore.

Scotland occupies the northern third of the Island of Great Britain. The country's rugged terrain, lush landscape, and rich history make it a popular tourist destination. From historic castles in Edinburgh to Scotch whiskey distilleries in the Highlands to legends of the Holy Grail, King Arthur, and the Loch Ness Monster, Scotland is intriguing, beautiful, and fun to explore.
<h2>1. Edinburgh Castle</h2>
Edinburgh Castle, which looms high above the city's Old Town, is the most visited paid tourist attraction in Scotland. Begun in the 12th century, the castle complex has been regularly expanded, right into the 21st century. Visitors can tour St. Margaret's Chapel (the oldest building in Edinburgh), the regimental museums, the royal palace, and the National War Museum of Scotland.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/911321070-1024x683.jpg" alt="911321070" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">Catuncia / Getty Images</span>
<h2>2. Loch Ness and Loch Lomond</h2>
These two lochs or lakes are the stuff of legends. Loch Ness, the second largest in the country, is home to the legendary and elusive Loch Ness monster. The myth is perpetuated by the murky waters caused by the high concentration of peat. Loch Lomond, immortalized in the song of the same name, is located at the border between the Scottish highlands and the lowlands. It forms part of the lovely Trossachs National Park.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/478736791-1024x683.jpg" alt="478736791" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">Jiangli / Getty Images</span>
<h2>3. Holyrood Palace</h2>
Built in the 16th century, Edinburgh's Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland and sits across from Edinburgh Castle at the other end of the Royal Mile. The extensive gardens and the historic apartments that were occupied by Mary, Queen of Scots are open to the public for most of the year.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/501950703-1024x615.jpg" alt="501950703" width="1024" height="615" /><span class="image-caption">PobladuraFCG / Getty Images</span>
<h2>4. Shopping on Edinburgh's Princes Street</h2>
The major shopping district in Edinburgh, Princes Street stretches one mile from Lothian Road to Leith Street. It is mostly closed to automobile traffic and provides scenic views of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town to the south. The street is home to some of Edinburgh's top retailers, including Boots, House of Fraser, and Marks and Spencer.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/671075178-1024x768.jpg" alt="671075178" width="1024" height="768" /><span class="image-caption">peterspiro / Getty Images</span>
<h2>5. Arthur's Seat</h2>
Rising at the eastern end of Holyrood Park, Arthur's Seat is a popular destination for hiking and climbing. The hill, which rises 822 feet, offers panoramic views of the City of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. Like the rock on which Edinburgh Castle sits, Arthur's Seat was formed on an extinct volcano. The rock is the mythic site of Camelot and King Arthur's Court.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/154966052-1024x683.jpg" alt="154966052" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">Shaiith / Getty Images</span>
<h2>6. Climbing Ben Nevis</h2>
Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, is located in the Scottish Highlands, at the western end of the Grampian Mountains, close to the City of Fort William. The 4,411-foot summit is a popular site for climbers, with more than 100,000 ascents each year. The North Face is particularly challenging.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/144365298-1024x686.jpg" alt="144365298" width="1024" height="686" /><span class="image-caption">CHARLIE2404 / Getty Images</span>
<h2>7. Balmoral Castle</h2>
Balmoral Castle, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has been a private residence of the British monarch since 1852. The 50,000-acre estate is located within the Cairngorms National Park and is a working estate with grouse moors, farmland, and herds of deer, Highland cattle, and ponies. The castle gardens and the ballroom are open to the public.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/145165038-1024x685.jpg" alt="145165038" width="1024" height="685" /><span class="image-caption">louisemcgilviray / Getty Images</span>
<h2>8. The Scotch Whisky Experience</h2>
The Scotch Whisky Experience (there's no "e" in whiskey in Scotland) in Edinburgh is the ideal stop to learn about all things whisky. The former Victorian school building offers exhibits of the history of Scotch whisky, the national drink of Scotland, along with a tasting room, a gift shop, and a restaurant that features dishes that complement the whisky.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/490361170-1024x683.jpg" alt="490361170" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">OlegEvseev / Getty Images</span>
<h2>9. Abbotsford House and the Scott Monument</h2>
Abbotsford House is a country house in the Scottish borders region that was once the residence of the author, Sir Walter Scott. The house and gardens have been open to the public since the mid-1960s, and the adjacent visitors center has exhibits on the life and works of Scott. The monument stands in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh and commemorates the works of this notable figure, along with 68 of his peers.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/154919174-1024x748.jpg" alt="154919174" width="1024" height="748" /><span class="image-caption">georgeclerk / Getty Images</span>
<h2>10. Rosslyn Chapel</h2>
Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by the novel, "The Davinci Code," is located in Midlothian, outside of the Town of Roslin. The Roman Catholic-turned-Scottish Episcopal chapel was built in the 15th century and is noted for its carvings, rose windows and purported links to the legend of the Holy Grail and the Knights Templar.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/875788472-1024x682.jpg" alt="875788472" width="1024" height="682" /><span class="image-caption">kippiss / Getty Images</span>

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