The castle, Old Town & the Fringe
Edinburgh
Edinburgh · Castle, closes & festival city
Scotland's dramatic capital rises on volcanic crags, its medieval Old Town tumbling down cobbled closes below a clifftop castle. In August the whole city becomes the planet's biggest arts festival; the rest of the year it broods handsomely in the Scottish mist.
Top sightsSights
Edinburgh Castle
The clifftop fortress over the city, home to the Scottish crown jewels.
Royal Mile
The spine of the Old Town, running from the castle to Holyrood Palace.
Arthur’s Seat
An extinct volcano with a short climb to sweeping city and sea views.
Holyrood Palace
The monarch’s official Scottish residence beside the modern parliament.
Calton Hill
Monuments and the classic postcard panorama of the skyline.
What to eatFood
Haggis, neeps & tatties
The national dish of spiced sheep offal with mashed swede and potato.
Scotch whisky
Sample single malts at an Old Town whisky bar.
Cranachan
A dessert of cream, raspberries, oats and whisky.
Good to know
- Visit in August for the Fringe and Tattoo — but book far ahead and expect crowds.
- Pack layers and rainproofs whatever the season.
- The Old and New Towns are compact and best explored on foot.
Getting there
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) links Europe and beyond; frequent trains reach London in about 4.5 hours and Glasgow in under an hour.
Next city
Manchester