Top things to do in Edinburgh

Sophie van der:The Old Town of Edinburgh is a beautiful place. Due to the elevation of the Mound, strolling here involves a fair bit of climbing. Walk the Royal Mile and explore the little side streets.

Sophie van der:There are plenty of free walking tours to be found on the Royal Mile, but SANDEMANs is definitelt the best. This European wide tour company offers both pay as you wish walking tours and prepaid specialty tours. You'll want to try them all, especially if Greg is your guide.

Sophie van der:As far as castles go, Edinburgh Castle is not one of the prettiest. It is more a fort than a castle and still has military use. It is worth going inside to see what the castle looked like during Mary Scots reign.

Sophie van der:Greyfriars Church is not all that impressive, but the surrounding graveyard is. The place was used as a mass grave during the plague, but the headstones belong to wealthy citizens. You might recognize some of the names from the Harry Potter books. Don't forget to place a stick on the grave of Greyfriars Bobby, one of the monks dog.

Sophie van der:Edinburghs New Town is actually pretty old. This part of town is often overlooked by tourists, but certainly worth a visit. It is the main shopping area for citizens of Edinburgh. There are beautiful mansions to look at, as well as the infamous Rose Street.

Sophie van der:The Royal Bank of Scotland is not an obvious choice for a tourist destination. The bank actually has a stunning interior, which is a well kept secret in Edinburgh.

Sophie van der:Edinburgh may not get many sunny days, but when they do there is no better place to be than Princes Street Gardens. Bring a pick nick and lounge in the grass, gazing up at the castle and Old Town.

Sophie van der:As beautiful as Edinburgh is now, back in the Middle Ages, it was an overcrowded cesspool of a city. At Real Mary King's Close you get to travel underneath the Royal Mile to see what living in Edinburgh was like a few centuries ago.

Sophie van der:Of course, you can't leave Scotland without trying some Scotch Whisky. At the Scotch Whisky Experience they've turned the art of whisky into a funride for adults. Learn about whisky, distilling and try a few different ones.

Sophie van der:Afraid of haggis? At Makars they understand that the thought of eating offal is intimating to some. That's why they've created a great little haggis tasting platter. I promise you'll want to order the full plate as soon as you try it.

Sophie van der:Done with rich, starchy, greasy Scottish cuisine? Let the girls at Hula make you one of their amazing smoothies or bowls. That vitamin kick cures even the worst hangovers.

Sophie van der:The hippest place to eat in Edinburgh is little more than a glorified food stall. Oink does one thing and they do it right! Oinks hog roast sandwiches are the perfect quick, tasty lunch during a busy day of sightseeing.

Sophie van der:If you only visit one pub in Edinburgh, make it Sandy Bell's. This place is an Edinburgh institution. Rub elbows with the locals, ask the bartender about the whisky specials and listen to the traditional music.

Sophie van der:How many pubs do you know with their own food court? The Three Sisters is right at Kerbside, the perfect place for those who don't want to pick. There are events, food trucks and more.

Sophie van der:This bar is supposedly haunted, but don't let that scare you off. The whole place is a maze of separate little bars and rooms. Wandering around here you might just stumble on a live music show or the dungeons

Sophie van der:Rose Street in New Town was once known for drunks and prostitutes. Now it's drunks and excellent pubs. The best one is Dirty Dick's, a traditional grubby little pub you will instantly fall in love with.