Edinburgh is located in Scotland, which is the northern part of the United Kingdom. It is located in the southeastern part of Scotland, about 60 miles north of the border between Scotland and England, and about 50 miles east of Glasgow, which is Scotland’s largest city. Take a look at the things not to miss if you come to Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is a city that excited me, full of magic and history. Walking the cobblestone streets, listening to the sound of bagpipes, admiring ancient castles-isn’t all this wonderful!!!
I have chosen a variety that will please a certain number of travellers: the majestic castle, a palace, a famous ship, gardens, whiskey tasting, family attractions, excursions and several museums.
Edinburgh Castle
One of the best things to do on your own in Edinburgh is to go to Edinburgh Castle.
This is a historic castle that is very old. At the site, there was a royal castle for at least 800 years, which is incredible!
Take the audio guide, it allows you to learn about the history of the castle, which is great!
Edinburgh Castle is the city’s most recognizable landmark; it sits atop a volcanic peak and dominates the city skyline. The castle has been the setting for a number of important historical events in Scotland and many famous people once visited or lived within its walls, including Mary, Queen of Scots.
Inside the castle, you can see a lot of Scottish historical artifacts, including weapons, clothing and even the “Scottish crown jewels” that are known as the Honors of Scotland. The castle is also the site of the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum of Scotland (admission included in the castle admission price). If you like the story of Breaveheart you will be happy to find the statue of William Wallace.
It is best if you book your fast-access ticket in advance to skip the ticket lines. Booking an advance ticket will also save you some money on the admission price.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
This attraction has two main features: first, it has several floors with optical illusions, light tricks, old-fashioned games and magic displays that we had a lot of fun playing with. Find the ticket here.
Try to go early in the morning so as to avoid the crowds inside the hall, unfortunately we stood in line for almost every attraction and it was not pleasant. Many people rave about the attractions but I’ll be honest, I definitely didn’t regret seeing it, because two or three attractions were very interesting and the view from the terrace deserves .
Technology-wise, I expected something more and more state-of-the-art attractions, definitely kids will go crazy from the fun, for adults don’t expect much.
Scotch whiskey experience
Just across the street from the Camera Obscura is The Scotch Whisky Experience, which is a popular place to visit along the Royal Mile. You can take tours, master classes, training sessions or just enjoy food and whiskey in their restaurant. I have reserved tickets in advance since it is sometimes difficult to find available space; you can purchase them here.
Start with a fun and informative whisky cask tour and then a self-guided tour to learn about the origin, history and production of whisky. Then have a guided tasting experience and learn about the different whisky regions in Scotland-the best part of the tour!!! Then finally take a look at a giant whisky collection, the largest collection of its kind in the world!
Arthur’s seat
One of the best things about Edinburgh is that you can find large green spaces just outside the city center. Not far from Holyrood Palace, you will find the towering remains of an extinct volcano, which has become known as Arthur’s Seat; the name is believed to come from the legendary tales of King Arthur.
St Giles Cathedral
Close to Mary King’s Close and a fixture on the Edinburgh skyline is the beautiful St. Giles Cathedral with its crown-shaped steeple, the church itself dates from the 14th
Guided walking tours of the cathedral and rooftop tours are also offered on certain days for a fee. Guided walking tours can be booked in advance, but rooftop tours can only be booked on the same day.
Admission to the cathedral is free although a donation is requested.
Take a tour and discover the city’s dark past
During this tour, you will learn about the darkest parts of the city’s history. For example, you can learn about witch trials and pagan rituals.
A guide will take you to many different places in the city. For example, you will go up Calton Hill where you can also see the city from above or they will take you to the city’s basement. This was also a site where pagan rituals were performed.
Most of the most interesting tours I book with Get your guide. I have always been comfortable with it and use it in every city I visit, so I hope it can be useful to you as well.
National Museum of Scotland
Leaving the attractions of the Royal Mile, we recommend that you take some time to explore the vast collection of the National Museum of Scotland. This excellent free museum contains exhibits on all sorts of things related to both Scotland and the world, from Scottish history and culture to art and fashion to science and technology.
Some highlights for me were items related to Mary, Queen of Scots, which include jewelry, coins, letters, and furniture. Laurence likes the science and technology parts, which feature a series of interactive exhibits.
