Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and an extremely popular destination with tourists, and is the second largest city in Scotland. With its unique architecture, wide streets, amazing festival and many attractions, Edinburgh is a must-see city during your holiday in Scotland.

Edinburgh has a population of nearly half a million people and is the seat of the Scottish Government. It is located on the Firth of Forth, a tongue of sea reaching inland from the North Sea and seperating Edinburgh from the Kingdom of Fife. Many tourists comment on the beautiful buildings in Edinburgh and at one time its street layout combined with its forward thinking during the enlightenment brought the phrase "Athens of the north" into use when referring to the city.

Edinburgh castle dominates the city skyline and sits on top of Castle Rock, which has been settled since the 9th century B.C. Most of the buildings that comprise Edinburgh castle today are from the 16th and 17th centuries. Saint Margarets chapel inside the castle dates from the 12th century. Edinburgh castle has always been a hive of activity for the military in Scotland and still is today. It is the official headquarters of the Royal Regiment Of Scotland as well as 52 Infantry Brigade. The castle itself hosts the Edinburgh military tatoo and inside sit the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. A hugely popular tourist attraction and a day out in itself, Edinburgh Castle is a global landmark in the heart of the Scottish capital.

The city of Edinburgh is made up of two sections - the old town and the new. The old town is medieval and many streets still exist with the main artery being The Royal Mile. The new town is 18th century and was the result of a competition held in 1766 in order to solve huge overcrowding problems in the original old city. It is precisely laid out with even streets and has Princes Street as its main shopping street.

There are many attractions in Edinburgh such as the National Gallery, The Royal Museum of Scotland, St Giles Cathederal, Arthurs Seat, The Edinburgh Festival and the Royal Observatory to name but a few. Edinburgh also has an international airport and excellent road, rail and bus links.

If you are planning a holiday in Scotland and you wish to stay in Edinburgh we recommend booking your accommodation online by clicking the link below.

Edinburgh Hotels - Search and Book Online.