This past semester, my best friend and I spent a semester abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland. If you've never been to Edinburgh, all you really need to know is that it's the best city, and if you ever find yourself in the United Kingdom, 10/10 would recommend visiting Edinburgh. In honor of the four months we spent living there, here are 10 things we would recommend on a visit to Edinburgh.

10. Go to a concert

The Lumineers at Usher Hall

Edinburgh has a pretty sweet music scene, on all levels. We went to Finnigan's Wake, a pub, for live music, sweet covers, and a dance floor. Larger venues like The Caves also hosted some cool artists (we saw Ciaran Lavery at Teviot Row House). Usher Hall blew us away when we saw The Lumineers there. It is small enough to feel intimate and have great acoustics, but big enough to get some well-known acts. Also, it's beautiful. No matter what you like, or what setting your looking for, you can find something in Edinburgh worth listening to.

9. Visit The Pentlands

Edinburgh isn't exactly in the Highlands, and if you don't have a lot of time it can be difficult to organize a trip to get up north. Fortunately, you can take a city bus to The Pentlands for an awesome day of hiking and stunning views. Bundle up, even if it feels warm out. The higher you climb, the colder it gets. Also, be prepared to hike through fields of sheep and cows. All in all, not a bad day.

Note: Go to the Highlands. You will not regret it. It was the absolute best trip I could have imagined. The Pentlands are beautiful, and close, but nothing compares to really going up north.

8. Get a potato at The Baked Potato Shop

So you're shopping on the Royal Mile when you realize you're starving. When this moment happens, don't underestimate The Baked Potato Shop. The first potato this gem graced me with was a medium-sized cheddar potato, but don't let the word "medium" fool you, these potatoes are no joke. Since there is minimal seating in the shop, we always took our potatoes down the street and sat on a bench outside of St. Giles Cathedral so we could enjoy a great view with a great potato.

7. Tour a castle

It's called The Royal Mile because there's a castle on each end, and both are awesome. The Edinburgh Castle (pictured above) is the classic one on all the postcards and in all the pictures, and it's really great. You're free to roam around in all the different buildings, and see the Honours of Scotland. If you go to the Palace at Holyrood, you'll be offered complimentary headphones that will guide you through the still-used castle, all the way up to Mary Queen of Scots bedroom. (Side note: Take the headphones. I toured this palace when my mom came to visit, and I definitely would have passed on the headphones if my mom hadn't made me take them. That would have been a mistake. Looking like a tourist is worth it for the history you learn. Also, you're literally touring a palace, embrace the tourist in you.)

6. Visit a used book store

Armchair Books

There are a number of them in the city, and they are well worth a visit. Even if you don't have time to read on your trip, or room in your suitcase to take any books back, browsing the endless shelves and taking in that old book smell makes it all worth it. Also, there's always room in your suitcase for a book.

5. See the art galleries

They're free! And they house paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and other cool people like that. Even if you aren't an art enthusiast, it is seriously worth seeing. Plus, it rains a lot in Edinburgh, and if you ever feel the need to get out of the rain for a moment, popping into one of these galleries won't disappoint. They're quiet and beautiful and informative.

4. Visit Arthur's Seat/Holyrood Park

Climbing Arthur's Seat is a must-do for many, but just make sure you're actually climbing Arthur's Seat. Messing this up is easier than you may think. When you walk into the park it is typical to see a lot of people climbing up a rather steep hill. That is not what you want to do. Arthur's Seat is a fairly easy, 20-minute walk to an awesome view of the city that starts off on a paved sidewalk more behind the park than this hill. However, the views everywhere are great, so if you don't climb the right thing your first (or second) time, you probably won't be disappointed. We came back to Holyrood Park more times than I can count just to go on hikes in the more wooded areas and read outside. The park never disappointed us. We were surprised a few times by blackberry bushes, and once by a stick-fort and rope swing (which we did try out).

3. Have a picnic

It doesn't have to be elaborate, but it will be a nice moment of relaxation in a city. We would stop in a grocery store and pick up a baguette, cheese, some grapes and tomatoes, and occasionally mini wine bottles. Then we'd walk to wherever we wanted to picnic and enjoy the day. We tried out Princes Street Gardens and Holyrood Park a few times, but our favorite place was in front of Edinburgh Castle.There was a grassy hill that overlooked the Grassmarket area with the castle directly behind us. I think we picnicked there one week for dinner every day.

2. Grab shortbread cookies at Pinnies & Poppy Seeds

The only reason I don't have a picture of these amazing cookies is because I literally ate them before I ever thought to take a picture. AKA I ate them as I was paying for them. They're that good. I would have never noticed Pinnies, a tiny little door off St. Mary's Street, if it wasn't for the amazing smell. Honestly, we walked by one day and then had to backtrack to figure out where it was coming from. Then we realized fresh, homemade shortbread cookies were being made while we were just going about our daily lives. It was quite the revelation.

I never thought I loved shortbread cookies before trying these. I mean, sure I ate them, but I never wanted them more than say, a chocolate chip cookie. These cookies totally converted me though. They are melt-in-your-mouth good.

1. Mary's Milk Bar

Mary's Milk Bar is heaven on earth. Made fresh every morning, the flavors of gelato are always unique and amazing. I ate here a lot (sometimes three times a week, but only because eating gelato for lunch is a normal, healthy adult thing). I got in the habit of always getting a two-scoop cone with milk as my base flavor (so good) and something different for the other flavor. Since there are different flavors every day, this was not hard to do. Don't be afraid of the crazier sounding flavors either! My favorites were always kinds that I never imagined I would like in ice cream form.

Also, this place is so cute. Everything is vintage and unique, and if you're lucky enough to sit in the window, you have the best view of the castle while enjoying the best dessert on the planet.