In the heart of Old Town is the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare and location of most of Edinburgh’s historical attractions. Begin your day with a tour of the marvelous Edinburgh Castle, the dominant skyline feature. Highlights of the tour include viewing the State Apartments, including the room where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James IV (who would ultimately become James I of England, the unifying ruler of both countries).

 

Another of the tour highlights is viewing the Scottish Crown Jewels, which are referred to as the Honours of the Kingdom. The diciest piece of royal history relates to the Stone of Scone, which you will also see on the tour. It was traditionally the stone pillar all the Scottish royals sat upon at their coronations. It was stolen by Edward I in 1296 and carried off to Westminster Abbey, where it sat under the coronation chair for 700 years. The Stone was finally returned to its rightful owner when it was delivered back to Scotland in 1996, amid massive national celebration.

 

When you are finished at Edinburgh Castle, commence one of the best strolls of your life, down the fantastic Royal Mile. The first major site you will pass is the Outlook Tower and Camera Obscura. At the top of the tower is a 19^th century periscope, through which you can view the city. There are guides at the top to point out historic landmarks.

 

The Writer’s Museum is housed in a home dating back to 1622, and it displays an absorbing collection of letters, manuscripts, and other relics from the lives of Scottish writers Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

 

Stop into the St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh’s religious center for over 900 years. Many chapels have been added over the centuries, the exquisitely decorated Thistle Chapel being the most notable.

 

Finish your day with one of Edinburgh’s most intriguing experiences, a tour through the Real Mary King’s Close. It consists of a number of closes (narrow streets) with houses on either side, stretching up to seven stories high. In 1753, the Burgh Council decided to develop a new building on this site, the Royal Exchange (now the City Chambers). The houses at the top of the closes were knocked down and part of the lower sections were kept and used as the foundations for the Royal Exchange. The remnants of the closes were left beneath the building. On the fairly spooky tour you will visit a 16^th century townhouse and the (supposedly) haunted Shrine Room.

 

For great exhibits about the history of Edinburgh and its inhabitants, stop by The People’s Story, located in the Canongate Tolbooth and the Museum of Edinburgh, which features rooms dedicated to city industries such as glassmaking, pottery, and woodworking.

 

Kids will love a stop at Our Dynamic Earth, which has 11 galleries full of special effects simulating the beginnings of the earth.

 

Finish your tour of the Royal Mile at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Palace is best known for being the home of Mary, Queen of Scots and the setting for many of the dramatic episodes in her turbulent reign. Mary was twice married in the Abbey, and she witnessed her husband, Lord Darnley, brutally murder her Italian secretary, David Rizzio, in her private apartments. The Palace briefly served as the headquarters of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 Jacobite attempt to regain the throne.

 

Today the Queen and other members of the Royal Family use the Royal Apartments for State ceremonies and official entertaining, and the Palace is considered their royal residence any time they visit Scotland.

 

Complete your day with a traditional Scottish meal in one of Edinburgh’s fine restaurants. Good choices include The Atrium, No. I Princes Street, and Haldanes Restaurant. For great French food, try Martin Wishart or the Vintner’s Room.

 

Spend time strolling the shopping district on Princes Street, as well as the interesting George Street and Queen Street, which run parallel. Queen Street flanks the lovely Queen Street Gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens are located north of New Town if you would like to view even more exquisite flower displays.

 

History buffs will enjoy spending the afternoon exploring the National Museums of Scotland, a combination of two facilities, the National Museum of Antiquities and the Royal Museum of Scotland. Art lovers should investigate the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

 

The Hunterian Art Gallery has a large collection of works by James McNeill Whistler, as well as other artists including Rembrandt. The McLellan Galleries contain a collection of 16^th and 17^th century Italian works, as well as a modern art collection. The St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art highlights the various religious groups who have lived in and around Glasgow. The Museum of Transport contains displays about all forms of transportation.

 

The Cathedral of St. Kentigern (also referred to as St. Mungo’s) was burned in 1192, and rebuilt not long after. The Laigh Kirk (lower church) is considered by some to be the finest in Europe. Other notable areas include the Chapel of the Knights and the Blacader Aisle.

 

The most famous castle in the region is Balmoral Castle, purchased by Queen Victoria’s beloved husband Albert. It is still considered a private residence of the British royal family; parts of it are open for public tour. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret was born there. Other castles include Braemar Castle, Fyvie Castle, Castle Fraser, Kildrummy Castle, Huntingtower Castle, Drummond Castle, and Blair Castle.

 

Balmoral Castle and Glamis Castle are the most popular castles, due to their connection to the royal family. With so many to choose from, your best bet is to research the options and choose the castles that are most appealing to you in terms of architecture, history, and location.

 

Scottish Whisky lovers will enjoy the Malt Whisky Trail, which takes you to several of the major malt distilleries in the area. Other historical and cultural attractions include the large battlefield and visitor center at Culloden, as well as Inverness Castle, Cawdor Castle, and Clava Cairns, a fascinating archaeological site.