Attractions in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most iconic landmark, a dramatic fortress perched atop an ancient volcanic rock that has dominated the city's skyline for over 900 years. It served as a royal residence, military garrison, and prison throughout its turbulent history.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, situated at the eastern end of the Royal Mile. It is an elegant 17th-century baroque palace with deep royal connections stretching back to the 16th century.

St Giles' Cathedral is the principal place of worship for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, a striking Gothic church on the Royal Mile that has served as the spiritual heart of the city for nearly 900 years.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British Royal Family, now permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith. For 44 years, it carried the Queen and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages around the world.

Rosslyn Chapel is a 15th-century collegiate chapel in the village of Roslin, about 11 km south of Edinburgh city centre. It is one of the most ornately decorated buildings in Scotland, famous for its extraordinarily dense and mysterious stone carvings.

The Scottish Parliament Building is a boldly modern piece of architecture at the foot of the Royal Mile, directly opposite the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Designed by Catalan architect Enric Miralles, it is one of the most important government buildings constructed in Europe in the 21st century.

Calton Hill is one of Edinburgh's principal hills, rising 103 metres at the eastern end of Princes Street. It offers panoramic views across the city and is home to a collection of striking neoclassical monuments.

The Royal Mile is Edinburgh's historic spine, a succession of medieval streets running exactly one Scots mile (1.81 km) downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It is the beating heart of the Old Town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic rocket of blackened sandstone soaring 61 metres above Princes Street Gardens. It is the largest monument to a writer in the world, celebrating Sir Walter Scott, the father of the historical novel.

The Real Mary King's Close is an atmospheric underground attraction on the Royal Mile, a preserved 17th-century street that was literally sealed beneath the Royal Exchange (now the City Chambers) in 1753 and has remained hidden ever since.

Greyfriars Kirk is a historic church on the southern edge of Edinburgh's Old Town, famous worldwide for the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal Skye Terrier who guarded his master's grave for 14 years.

The Nelson Monument is a 32-metre telescopic tower on Calton Hill, built in the shape of an inverted telescope to commemorate Admiral Lord Nelson's victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.