Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is a classic medieval city with a large, yet walkable, original Old Town surrounding the impressive Edinburgh castle.

Historic sites in Edinburgh include Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the churches of St. Giles, Greyfriars and the Canongate, and the extensive Georgian New Town, built in the 18th century. Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which have been managed by Edinburgh World Heritage Trust since 1999. Try and catch one of the famous festivals that happen in and around the city. The Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe take place in August, the latter being the largest annual international arts festival in the world. The city’s historical and cultural attractions have made it the second most popular tourist destination in the United Kingdom after London, attracting over one million overseas visitors each year

Be sure to spend the bulk of your time exploring the ancient Old Town and the Edinburgh castle, perched atop an extinct volcano in the center of town. Don’t miss the newer (18th century) expansive “New Town” filled with flashy victorian architecture. The nearby Arthur’s Seat, an even larger extinct affords pleasant views over the city but make sure and have a good pair of hiking shoes handy.

One of our favorite things about Edinburgh is the many cemeteries in and around the Old Town. This may sound odd at first, but one stroll along the endless rows of impressive stone tombstones will fill you with an inexplicable peace and curiosity. It’s no wonder J.K. Rowling would wander around the cemeteries while taking breaks from writing the Harry Potter novels. Rumor has it that she got many of the character’s names directly from these ancient grave markers. See if you can spot some recognizable names while leisurely strolling one of the many historic cemeteries!