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About Edinburgh
Edinburgh is an exciting city that gives the traveler the opportunity to fill the days with culture, history and entertainment.
Edinburgh, although not the largest, actually the second largest city in Scotland, is the capital city. It is on the eastern side of the country not far from the Firth of Forth (the forth being a river and firth is an estuary). It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south. A moniker for Edinburgh is “The Auld Reekie” which means “Old Smokey“ (from the days when black smoke draped the city in a gray fog).
Edinburgh, known also as "Athens of the North" is the city of festivals, with various themed- festivals year long.
The old town and the “new” town divide Edinburgh. The main feature of the Old Town is Edinburgh Castle, built on Castle Rock. From there, Royal Mile Street runs down a crest of a ridge to Holyrood Royal Palace. Along the route of The Royal Mile, you will see unique architecture with small and narrow alleys winding between both sides of the main street and as you would expect, there are museums, souvenir shops and crowded coffee shops and pubs.
As you stroll down the hill to the New Town (from the 18th century) and marvel at the Georgian homes you can also find many shopping options along Princess Street and the adjacent streets.
You have to see it to believe it! The road bridge between High and Chambers Streets which was built in the late 1700’s, is called the South Bridge. It has nineteen arches with rooms or vaults as they are called, that were originally intended to be used as shops, spaces for craftspeople and artisans as well as homes or even pubs. About three decades later, as the original tenants “bailed out”, the homeless and petty criminals took over. Today it has become an abandoned hot tourist site!
Probably the most important urban park in Edinburgh is The Princess Gardens, which is about 150.000 sq. meters and divides Edinburgh’s new and old town. There is a mound (which is actually an artificial hill which connects the two!) The Scottish National Gallery is located right there, so if you plan to relax in the beautiful gardens, you can also soak in some culture!
Edinburgh is a great starting point to day trips around the Borders and Central regions of Scotland.
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Book activities in Edinburgh
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Looking for some interesting things to do in Edinburgh? Here are some recommended attractions and sights for you.
art & culture
tours, sightseeing & cruises
Attractions in Edinburgh
- Beach, Edinburgh
- Historic Center, Edinburgh
- National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
- Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
- Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
- Royal Mile, Edinburgh
- St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Castle
- Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Zoo
- Gladstone's Land, Edinburgh
- Victoria Street, Edinburgh
- Canongate Tolbooth, Edinburgh
- Dundas House, Edinburgh
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh
Edinburgh events and occasions
Most Popular Events in Edinburgh, 2025-2026
Edinburgh City voice guide
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Voice guided walking tours give you the freedom to explore at your own pace. You can start walking at any time and stop whenever and wherever you like, for as long as you like. For RoutePerfect customers with our partner VoiceMap's mobile app.
A History of Witchcraft in Scotland: From Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle
A Royal Mile Tour: History and Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town
Edinburgh New Town: A Literary Walking Tour
Edinburgh’s New Town: The Architecture of Money
Edinburgh’s Old Town Highlights: The Origin of Scottish Design
Harry Potter’s Edinburgh: From the Castle to Diagon Alley and Elephant House
History and Architecture in Edinburgh’s Dean Village
In the Footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots: An Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tour
Queer History and Iconic Places: An Edinburgh Walking Tour
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Edinburgh Trail: The Childhood Years
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Edinburgh Trail: The University Years
The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile’s Side Streets and Stories: A Walking Tour with Context
The Thousand Year Theft
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