“Auld Reekie” as Edinburgh is fondly called puts forward an awesome blend of ancient and modern. Designated the most liveable city in the UK, the capital of Scotland offers much for the enthusiastic tourist. Case in point, the term “Panorama” was originally coined by painter Robert Barker in order to offer a description to his paintings of Edinburgh! A multi cultural potboiler overlooking the enormous Firth of Forth, Edinburgh is possibly the only city where you will find 21st century nightclubs tucked into 15th century buildings! So, if you are a tourist looking for a destination that offers fascinating experiences, pack your bags and set off for Ye Olde Scotland!

Edinburgh is best visited between May and September every year, when the climate is mild and the evenings are long. Also it will mean that you’ll be able to experience the famous Edinburgh festival first hand. Edinburgh is reachable by flights from major European cities like London, Amsterdam, Paris and from major centers across USA and Canada. If you are travelling from elsewhere in the UK consider the Bus service as an inexpensive alternative. The New Edinburgh Train station also has international train services.

Once you set foot, you can either head for Bread and Breakfast hostels as inexpensive options or look higher up the food chain for Edinburgh hotels and lodges. After checking in, you can go around the city via the efficient bus service though it is always more recommended to rent a bicycle (Edinburgh has an excellent network of signed bike tracks) or just going around by foot to explore every nook and cranny of the city. Since the city isn’t hugely expansive but is filled with narrow lanes and cobblestoned bylanes, the latter options are actually better.

Places to visit obviously begins with the Edinburgh Castle dominating the skyline, perched on a volcanic crag near the middle of the city. It is linked to the Palace of Holyroodhouse by The Royal Mile, often called the spine of the city. Most places to visit in Edinburgh fall within the localities of the Old Town, crowded with serpentine lanes and old buildings, and the newer 19th Century New Town, planned and orderly, with its Georgian buildings. If you are a shopping maniac try local woolens at Princes St. If you like to be more scholarly in you approach, you can opt for a lazy day strolling around the Museum of Scotland, filled to the brim with fascinating exhibits, or maybe the second-hand bookshops along the West Port. Along the harbor area there are a great number of bars and pubs making them great places to meet friends and socialize. But beware, if you arrive during the annual Edinburgh festival, the city is extremely crowded and prior reservations may be necessary to ensure a smooth trip.

The Scottish food, ranging from seafood to local country cuisine, comes mostly from the erstwhile working class and are great to taste, generous in portions and relatively light on the wallet. With numerous bars and pubs dotting the cityscape to wash down your excellent meal, the end of a day in Edinburgh is sure to leave you grinning widely.