Stopover guide

Famed for its yearly arts festival, Scotland's capital is a city that combines modern facilities with historic sights and typical Scottish traditions. Sights such as the Edinburgh Castle top the list of the city's landmarks, while the nearby Royal Mile makes it onto the list of best places to shop. The Edinburgh Festival in August is undoubtedly one of the city's greatest draw cards, attracting thousands of visitors who come to appreciate the fine displays of music, comedy, drama and dance.

Attractions:

Edinburgh Castle is a major landmark and one of the city's most popular attractions. Views of the city are magnificent from aloft this 1,200-year-old construction.
The Royal Mile takes in Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High street, Canongate and Abbey Strand, before finishing at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre offers visitors an insight into the history and continuing legacy of one of the country's most popular alcoholic beverages.
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is a good choice for a rainy day, offering works in a large number of media by an equally large number of artists.
The annual Edinburgh Festival is a highlight on the city’s calendar and it attracts visitors from all over the world with its mix of live entertainment.

Eating and shopping: good restaurants can be found throughout the city and there isn't any one area noted for eating out. The city's drinking scene is thriving and popular drinking areas worthy of mention include Rose street, Grassmarket and the West End. Among the city's trendiest drinking establishments are Brass Monkey, on Drummond street, and the Bow Bar, on West Bow. Shops are located throughout the city however the Royal Mile is home to a particularly good selection.

Day trips and tours: within driving distance of the city, Dalkeith Country Park is a great place to head for a daytrip. Acres of scenic woodland make for hours of pleasant rambling, while the estate's architectural sights are also worthy of discovering. For kids, the park features an adventure playground that promises hours of fun with its rope swings, slides and other rides.

An hour's drive from Edinburgh brings you to Stirling, a town that epitomises all that is considered typical of historical Scotland. A fine castle is the Stirling's centrepiece, which sits majestically above the old town. The William Wallace monument is also a noteworthy landmark and can be seen from all over the town, reminding residents and visitors alike of one of Scotland’s most famous warriors.

Edinburgh Tourist Information Centres

Edinburgh Tourist Information Centre
3 Princes Street
Edinburgh
Lothian
Scotland
EH2 2QP
Tel: +44 845 22 55 121
Email: info@visitscotland.com
Website: www.edinburgh.org

Edinburgh Airport
Airport Tourist Information Desk
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh
Lothian
Scotland
EH12 9DN
Tel: +44 870 040 0007