Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital and the second largest city in Scotland. The city is named after its founder - Clydno Eidyn. It is located on the north shore of the Firth of Forth estuary. Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world with 13 million visitors per year. The city is famous with the annual  Edinburgh International Festival of performing arts. Only a few European cities like Vienna and Prague could compete with the beauty of the green and aristocratic Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is definitely a place which requires at least a week to be properly seen. For example a city tour can start with a walk in Princess Street and Princess Street Gardens including a short climb to the cathedral-like monument of Sir Walter Scott located on the premises of the same gardens.

Once the visitors find themselves in the Edinburgh Old Town they cannot help but falling in love with it. One can truly feel and enjoy the old times spirit here. The buildings are between 300-500-years-old and everything looks magnificent. There are great many churches in the Edinburgh Old Town to be appreciated by the tourists interested in religious sites.

Edinburgh Old Town is also where the fans of Loch Ness can visit the 30-minute 3D Loch Ness Experience. The main street of Edinburgh tickles the visitors with a variety of shops, great dining places and resting areas. Edinburgh Zoo is another attraction in the city; it should be noted that the visitors are not allowed to feed the animals. The Zoo is a perfect spot for an outdoor lunch and has a castle-like building in the middle.

A proper tour should of course include visits at the splendid Edinburgh Castle and The Scottish National Gallery located just off Princes Street. The rich collection shown at the gallery grabs the visitors’ attention and two or three hours pass unnoticed.  Princess Street Gardens are also preferred area by young and elder people for an outdoor lunch or just to read a book laying on the grass during sunny weather. Calton Hill and the monument on top of it is another landmark that should not be missed. This is the best location for a bird’s-eye view over Edinburgh with guides available on spot.