Edinburgh is a city of great beauty. Both the natural occurrences and man-made structures are bound to take your breath away. This gives Edinburgh an edge over many other big European cities which have long since lost their appreciation for nature. So, whether you like a bit of history, art, magic or outdoorsy fun, there are plenty of things to do in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is almost certainly the main attraction of the city and is a MUST on your list of things to do in Edinburgh. Standing atop a hill overlooking the city, the castle is one of the most spectacular places to see in Edinburgh. It will almost certainly provoke thoughts of scenes from centuries past, looking something from ‘Dracula’ or even of Hogwarts.
Be sure to go and explore the castle for yourself to see the worlds most famous medieval canon. Mons Meg, it launched 150kg canon balls up to 2 miles towards enemies! It won’t be firing anything today but makes for a great stop off on a tour. Visit St Margarets Chapel, the oldest building in the castle and the Fore Well, what was once the castles water supply.
Outdoors
Castle Rock, on which Edinburgh Castle is built is one of the famous seven hills of Edinburgh, and the views are astounding. For better, you’ll have to head to one of the other six. The most famous being Arthur’s Seat. A dormant volcano and the highest peak of the seven. Take a tour of Arthur’s Seat and the surrounding areas for the best views of Edinburgh. It is an interesting hike and a very easy, pleasant walk, even if you’re not an experienced hiker. Head a little further to the outer limits of the city to Braid Hills or Corstorphine Hill to visit Edinburgh Zoo.
Art in Edinburgh
The National Gallery of Modern Art is the place for art lovers looking for things to do in Edinburgh. The gallery is free to enter and has a plethora of interesting exhibitions, galleries and grounds to explore. Making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring work of famous artists such as Picasso and Lucien Freud.
Great Festivals
There’s also a reason to visit Edinburgh for party-goers, 12 reasons actually, festivals! The city hosts 12 major festivals (mostly in August) with over 1000 shows per day! There is the Edinburgh International film festival, Fringe Festival, Magic Festival, Jazz Festival and more.
Ghosts, Hauls and Gory Histories
If you’re looking for something a little more creepy and less outdoorsy, go on an underground ghost tour or head to Edinburgh Dungeons. Learn all about the spooky ghost stories, terrible murders, torture chambers, and ghostly apparitions! The dungeons will almost certainly give you a fright, and learning about the aftermath of the bubonic plague, a disease which swept throughout the country, will give you the chills!
Royal Mile Strolls
Meander along the Royal Mile, located in the old town, the Royal Mile is the main street in Edinburgh. If you manage not to get distracted by the interesting places off the main path, at the end of this route, you’ll find St Giles Cathedral. The Cathedral has 900 years of history, ready and waiting for you to discover!
