Edinburgh, Scotland is a European capital city waiting to entertain and delight during your next vacation across the pond.
1. Edinburgh Castle
When you think of Edinburgh, number 1 on most people’s lists is Edinburgh castle, and it doesn’t disappoint. The castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and is easily accessible from the city and airport. The incredible structure, thought to date back as far as the 12th century, has been the home to a number of different royalties in its rich lifespan. Nowadays, visitors can enjoy award-winning guided tours of the castle from the Great Hall to the Royal Palace. Within the grounds, you can also enjoy themed cafes and a gift shop which is an ideal spot to get your souvenirs.
2. Arthur’s seat 
Looking for an incredible view of Scotland’s capital? Look no further than Arthur’s Seat. The challenging hike up the Scottish landscape is always worthwhile as you will be amazed by the beautiful view across the capital. History buffs will be happy to know the park was one of four hill forts dating back 2000 years ago. The attraction is accessible year-round. As well as Arthurs seat at the top of the park, you may also like to visit the 15th century St. Anthony’s Chapel nearby. The park has impressive cliffs that reach 150m high which will also provide remarkable scenery.
3. Royal Yacht Britannia
It can be difficult to compete with the rich history of Edinburgh castle but if there is ever a Scottish attraction that puts up the fight, it’s the Royal Yacht Britannia. This amazing ship was home to the royal family for over 40 years.During those years, it sailed 1 million miles, traveling and exploring the world. Certainly when visiting Edinburgh, the Britannia should be on everyone’s to-do list, and our advice to you would be to book tickets well in advance as the tours can be very busy.
4. The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is the busiest street in the capital and understandably so, with a number of popular attractions and shops. The street is exactly one Scots mile and runs from arguably the two most iconic buildings in Scotland; Edinburgh Castle & Holyrood Palace. Throughout the Royal Mile, you’ll find an array of restaurants and bars waiting to welcome you to the heart of the city. There will be no shortage of things to do for visitors, with a friendly and lively atmosphere both during the day and for nightlife.
5. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
If you’re lucky enough to be traveling to Edinburgh in August then it is a must to GET TICKETS TO THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO! The International award winning ceremony is host to 48 different nations portraying traditional music and talents from across the world. This sensational event takes place at Edinburgh castle which in its own right is something to be admired, but combined with the 220,000 viewers in attendance (30% of which are from overseas) and the magnificent entertainers, the Tattoo becomes quite the spectacle, Our advice: be quick to book as the celebration is continuously growing in popularity.
6. Edinburgh Gin Distillery
Whether it is a planned tour or you’re just passing by the distillery on your trek through the city, the Edinburgh Gin Distillery is definitely a worthwhile attraction where you can taste and learn the history of two stills, Flora and Caledonia. The distillery offers walking tours and is easily accessible from the city center (about a 15-minute walk from the royal mile.) The popular attraction now has its own bar where the tour starts and finishes for the visitors who want to taste a bit more. And if you’re ready to stock up on souvenirs to take home, there is also a shop onsite.
7. Pubs and Bars 
With all these distilleries it is no surprise that the city has some amazing bars and pubs within its parameters. Edinburgh is one of those unique cities where you truly get the best of both old and new bars. Visitors will have no shortage of entertainment be it live music at night or large gatherings for sports and other events during the day, you can be sure to have immense fun.
8. The Scotch Whiskey experience
At the top of the Royal Mile is the very popular Scotch Whisky experience that shouldn’t be missed by visitors in the area. At this magnificent site you can learn about the history of scotch, how it’s made, and importantly taste different types of distilled whiskey. Of course the distillery has a bar where visitors can enjoy an array of different whiskeys. The site also has a highly regarded restaurant that brings out the best of both Edinburgh and Scottish foods alike.
9. The Edinburgh Dungeon
One of the must-see attractions in Scotland’s capital the Edinburgh Dungeons which proves to be a fantastic day out for the whole family. The dungeons are constantly changing their themes to share Scotland’s history in unique ways. The attraction brings together acting and some great special effects. While this can be slightly scary at times for younger visitors, others will enjoy fantastic fun designed to exhilarate, entice, and entertain you at the same time. The dungeons are also accessible from all areas of the city and is situated next to a number of public transport stations.
10. Day Tour
Edinburgh is in a perfect location for taking day tours to make the most of your stay in Scotland. You can branch out to places like Loch Ness and Inverness or stay in the city, itself, for exploring. City day tours demonstrate Edinburgh’s rich culture and history adding humor and highlighting attractions that you may not have noticed otherwise. The tour guides are friendly and always happy to answer any questions you may have about traveling through the city. With this in mind, taking a day tour early in your trip is a good idea to help you plan what you might want to see and do later in the week.
