With soaring Gothic spires along the Royal Mile, grand Georgian terraces in the New Town and cosy pubs dotted around every corner, it’s no surprise that Edinburgh is one of the UK’s most popular destinations. Apart from the raucous Hogmanay celebrations and the ever-popular Edinburgh International Festival, the Scottish capital has loads to offer visitors. Here are some of the highlights:
  • Edinburgh Castle:
    You can’t go to Edinburgh and not visit the castle. Looming over the city from atop an extinct volcano, the Castle is as much a part of the skyline as that big Ferris wheel is to London. But perhaps try not to mention the English in these parts… the Scots have a long and chequered history with their southern neighbours and the Castle has seen more than its fair share of battles between Scots and English. There has been a fortress here for over 1000 years, and it still offers fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. Visitors can also see the Scottish Crown Jewels and Scottish National War Memorial.

  • Down the pub:
    Edinburgh is overflowing with great pubs, and each one seems to have a story behind it. Good options include the Deacon Brodie on the Royal Mile (named after a wayward judge) and The Last Drop on Grassmarket, a market square which used to be home to the gallows. A few doors down, the White Hart Inn is the oldest pub in Edinburgh and offers folk music from Sunday to Thursday.

  • Take a tour:
    Edinburgh is a city made for wandering on your own and exploring, but if you really want to peel back the many layers of the city and understand how it grew from a witch-burning town famed for its foul air to one of Europe's most gracious cities it's worth the precious pounds to take a tour. There are a number of tours on offer exploring Edinburgh’s chequered past, from witch trials and public executions to tales of subterranean cities. Mercat Tours are one of the best bets for a good mix between entertainment and history. There are also four open-top bus tours to choose from, each following a different route.

  • Hang with the Royals:
    From the castle it’s an easy stroll down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, home to Queen Elizabeth II when she’s in town. When she’s not, visitors can tramp around the historic palace for a good look at how the other half lived. The palace was a particular favourite of Queen Victoria - who loved all things Scottish, including its men - and the Queen Mum, and history buffs will enjoy the time-warp walk through the royal history of Scotland.

  • Get arty:
    Edinburgh isn’t known as the cultural capital of Scotland for nothing. There are five major art galleries in the city that are free of charge, with only a nominal fee for special exhibitions. First stop should be the National Gallery of Scotland (home to a selection of Monet, Gauguin, Van Gogh and hundreds more) and the Royal Scottish Academy (where the work is slightly more contemporary, and includes sculpture, photography and film) on The Mound, slap bang between bustling Princes Street and the touristy Royal Mile. What’s more, when you're tired of these two there’s even a free bus that’ll shuttle you to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery!

  • Take a walk:
    A stroll up Calton Hill, across town from the castle, is a great place to get your bearings and see the city. A climb up the telescope-shaped monument to Horatio Nelson will take you even higher. Arthur's Seat, above Holyrood House, is one of the famous seven hills of Edinburgh and another extinct volcano that's worth the effort of walking up. At just 250m it's hardly Mount Everest, but you'll get more great views and it's another good place to avoid the tour groups. The walk up shouldn't take you more than around 45 minutes.

  • Save the Rand:
    Paying in pounds can get pricey, so it's well worth forking out for an Edinburgh Pass, which offers free access to a number of attractions as well as free airport transfers. A British Heritage pass is also a good idea to save on castle and museum entry fees.

      For more information
    • To plan your trip to 'Bonnie Scotland', go to www.visitbritain.com.
    • British Airways flies daily from South Africa to Edinburgh, via London Heathrow.

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