10 Must Visit Amazing Attractions In Edinburgh

Whether you’re interested in witchcraft, royals or writers, there are many must-see attractions in the Scottish capital.

No visitor will be short of things to do in Edinburgh. There are, of course, many historic sites, from the castle on its rugged crag to the distinctly spooky Greyfriars churchyard. However, other attractions bring visitors bang up to date – there’s Dynamic Earth for science buffs, as well as outstanding modern art collections. Put on your walking shoes to navigate the hills and cobblestones and get exploring.

# National Museum of Scotland

This unmissable Edinburgh museum comprises two contrasting but complementary buildings: a Victorian palace made of wrought iron and glass and the other a modern sandstone fortress with a striking circular tower. With everything from Dolly the cloned sheep to a fashion gallery and extensive displays on world cultures, it’s hard to know where to start. This excellent combined Edinburgh History Walk and National Museum tour will help focus your explorations.

# Camera Obscura and World of Illusions

Trippy and inspiring, the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is Edinburgh’s oldest purpose-built visitor attraction, created back in 1835. This alluring labyrinth contains a maze of mirrors and a magic gallery, with plasma balls and both optical and old-style illusions. The star of the show (and namesake), the camera obscura, sits within the Victorian rooftop chamber, offering unrivalled views of the surrounding city streets and the citizens who walk them – you view the action via the magic of pinhole technology. This popular tour will help you get the best out of this historic yet strangely futuristic attraction.

# Edinburgh Castle

The mighty fortress of Edinburgh Castle towers over the city, on a rock formed as a result of millennia of glacial erosion. This guided tour is a great way to explore the best of this complex of buildings and its history of monarchs, sieges and battles. At 1pm each day, a gun salute booms out from the castle across the capital. Other military attractions include the 1457 Mons Meg cannon and a war museum, while kids can seek out the soldiers’ dog graveyard. It also offers panoramic views of the beautiful city sweeping down to the sea.

# Palace of Holyroodhouse

Gracefully guarding the bottom end of the Royal Mile near the Scottish Parliament Building and Arthur’s Seat is the opulent Palace of Holyroodhouse. This royal residence has been the home of kings and queens of Scotland since the 16th century, and it remains an official residence of the Queen. Expert tours of the palace take in the state apartments, Mary, Queen of Scots’ historic chambers and the evocative ruins of the neighbouring abbey.

# Scottish National Gallery

One of Edinburgh’s many wonderful (and free) gems, the Scottish National Gallery is housed in a grand Neoclassical temple in Princes Square Gardens, containing the national collection of fine art. As well as masterworks by art history heroes Raphael, Botticelli, Turner, Monet and van Gogh, there’s an excellent collection of Scottish art, including sensitive portraits by 18th-century genius Allan Ramsay.

# Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Kirkyard offers an alternative way of exploring Edinburgh’s history, via mortsafes and funeral monuments that date back to the 16th century. Most famous for loyal canine visitor Bobby, the graveyard has a more grisly past; a Covenanters’ prison sits alongside the tomb of Sir George ‘Bluidy’ Mackenzie, whose poltergeist spirit is said to interrupt these chilling graveyard tours often – take one if you dare.

# The Real Mary King’s Close

Travel under Edinburgh’s skin into a maze of subterranean streets and closes from the 16th through 19th centuries. The Real Mary King’s Close, lurking below the Old Town, is the source of many a juicy and macabre tale, from plague outbreaks to a mysterious royal visit, brought to life on these excellent guided tours.

# The Scotch Whisky Experience

Taste the water of life at The Scotch Whisky Experience, and let the whisky gurus reveal all there is to know about Scotland’s national tipple. Tour the replica distillery, gawp at 3,500 bottles of the iconic elixir, ride in a whisky-barrel car and take home a tasting glass. There’s an attached shop, restaurant and whisky bar, should you fancy a post-tour dram.

# Royal Botanic Garden

Known locally as The Botanics, these extensive gardens are one of the most colourful ways to spend an afternoon in Edinburgh. Discover approximately 13,500 species, including a giant lily pond, a Scottish heath garden and Victorian glasshouses filled with exotic plants from around the world. Its café is famed for its excellent scones, which you can take away and enjoy on the cool grass on a hot summer’s day. In winter, the Royal Botanic Garden transforms into a white wonderland.

# Royal Yacht Britannia

Walk in the footsteps of royalty and climb aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, which once ferried the Queen from port to port. This royal vessel, in service from 1954 until 1997, is berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith and is well worth a visit. These audio tours tell of celebrity visitors (Liz Taylor and Frank Sinatra among them) and share delightful anecdotes such as the glowing Rolls-Royce Phantom V onboard, which was used when her majesty disembarked.