Edinburgh, the city whose streets became the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, the city that is home to legends like Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill, the city that is called a crown jewel of Scotland - is one of the most perfect tourist haunts around. From its summer and Christmas/ Hogmanay festivals to sweeping vistas and medieval streets, Edinburgh takes you to many places.

The most obvious initiation for you into the Scottish capital, the Edinburgh Castle is a benchmark when it comes to castles in this country. The monstrosity of a castle, if that is even an expression, can be seen right from the gullies of Victoria Street. When you visit it, you find the ancient structure sitting proudly between the surroundings of the entire city. Some of its rocks have been dated back to the Iron Age, hence history buffs will have the time of their life here.

The Water of Leith Walkway is rapidly becoming one of the most attractive tourist haunts in Edinburgh. It is a public footpath and cycle-track that runs parallel to a small stream and offers a rejuvenating experience to one and all. There are many cool cafes and some fine dine restaurants like Nobles, Kings Wark etc on its sidewalk. The river is dotted with vivid multi coloured boats and there is always a patent Edinburgh-ish bustle in the area.

Calton Hill is a beautiful vantage to see the sweeping views of the entire Edinburgh city. In addition, it also houses the National Monument and Nelson Monument. There are also a few commercial as well as residential areas around, along with trendy eateries, bakeries, pubs, gay bars and galleries. You can also visit the Edinburgh Playhouse to watch one of their theatricals or shows, usually musicals and comedies.

The Royal Mile is really 1 mile long, 1 Scottish Mile long, which is equivalent to 1.81 km. The street is famous for the two main monuments at either end of its spectrum - the castle and the Scottish Parliament. You will find many old buildings, cobbled pathways, shops, garages and more here. There is also the gothic St Giles Cathedral, the castle entrance to Holyrood Palace and opens into the iconic Grassmarket on another side too.

A nice place to enjoy Saturday afternoon picnics and Sunday post-brunch naps, the Holyrood Park is Edinburgh’s go-to place for great walks, eye-pleasing sights, and loads of peace. You can see the Holyrood Abbey here, climb up to Arthur’s seat, visit the Holyrood Palace and try out the Salisbury Crags. Along with these, the real park boasts of lochs and glens, hills and cliffs, and a very solid highlands aura.

Duddingston was once a village, sitting in the quaint shadow of Arthur’s Seat. From here you can get the best views of the lakes and wildlife reserves. You will find Duddingston as a very welcoming Scottish paradise, hosting the oldest pub named The Sheep Heid Inn, operational since 1360. Alongside, you must also visit the Duddingston Kirk, the local golf club and enjoy small Scottish houses with their own rustic history.

Edinburgh is home to the The National Museum of Scotland, established in 2006, after the merger of the new Museum of Scotland with the Royal Scottish Museum. Here you will find old relics, antiques and collection of Scottish history through the eras, along with its foray into natural history, technology and world culture. The galleries display an array of antiques, from fallen meteorites to Scottish monsters, African relics to East Asian remains. A very interesting display is the trail displaying the story of Scottish history through time, from prehistoric to this day.

The Cramond Beach is a pleasant distraction from all of Edinburgh’s historic and cultural tourism. Situated in the Cramond Village near Edinburgh, the sandy beach acts as a cool getaway, especially during spring and summer season. There are also a few World War II fortifications that were abandoned on the beach after the war and the remains of a Roman settlement here. Some locals also enjoy the beach in autumn-winter seasons and heavy fog, but you may want to watch the weather updates and tide updates before planning such an outing as a tourist.