Edinburgh takes the cake as one of my absolute favorite cities I have visited. I expected it to be good and it exceeded all expectations. I definately recommend visiting in the future and when you do here is what you should check out, especially if your time is limited. Here are my top things to see here.
1. The Elephant House
For the avid Harry Potter fan, a stop at the Elephant House is a must. For people who like food, it's a great stop too. The Elephant House is known as the birthplace of Harry Potter because JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book there. Its best to go early because the place becomes very busy later on. The food and coffee was good and affordable. If you just want to look around, they ask for a charitable donation in lieu of a purchase.
2. Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle sits at the upper end of the Royal Mile. Its position above the surrounding city shows its importance and make it a top spot to visit in the city. Admission is not cheap, but it is worth it. Because of this, I recommend allowing plenty of time to see everything. Guided tours are free and very informative. While here you can visit rooms where Mary, Queen of Scots, lived. Also housed here are the Scottish Crown Jewels and former cells for prisoners of war.
3. The National Gallery
The National Gallery is not a super large attraction, but the artwork there is quite impressive. Admission is free and the art is gorgeous. Not only will you see Renaissance art, but also impressionist and special exhibitions. Why not take a look, it definately was worth it.
4. Palace Holyroodhouse
The Palace Holyroodhouse sits at the opposite end of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle. This place is the royal residence whenever the Queen visits Edinburgh. I didn't expect the palace to be as cool as it was. Every room had great explanations and was super cool. It also wasn't as overrun with crowds as some other palaces in the UK. However my absolute favorite part of the whole place was the abbey. Attached to the palace is the ruins of the Holyrood Abbey. No longer structurally sound, the building stands as just a shell of itself. Walls and the roof have come down and it is stunning. I wanted to look at every single corner and surface of this place.
5. Climb Arthur's Seat
Right behind the Palace Holyroodhouse is Arthur's Seat. I didn't plan to go up at first but the potential to see amazing views compelled me up the hill. To start you will take in views from above the city along the Salisbury Crags. The views here are fabulous on their own, but it gets even better. Next, head up the higher peak to Arthur's Seat. I will warn you that it is not the easiest right up at the top and some form of good shoes will be required. However the climb is so worth it. The view is perfect. I would build a house up there if I could.
I hope you will pay Edinburgh a visit in the near future. But even more so , I hope you will take me with you. I still can't get over the beauty and uniqueness of this city.
