Endinburgh

Antoine Struelens,

Correspondent (Travel)

 

What better way to discover the everlasting culture of the proud Scots than spending a few days in their capital? Wandering in the streets, tickled by the nostalgic melodies of bagpipes and the scents of Haggis, the tourist will step in a world of history, culture and charms.

EndinburghYour visit should start with a free walking tour of the city, where you will be led all around the streets of the Old Town by a well-trained guide, who will dispense a 3-hours historical tour that will throw light on the events that made the city what it is today.

Hundred miles away from a dull history lesson, the numerous anecdotes and witty stories about the capital’s most famous figures will hold you spellbound for the entire walk. And the best part is that the guide works on a tip basis, which means you decide in the end what the tour was worth.

For the spirit-hunters and other witchcraft fans, the city offers ghost tours in the evening. Although shorter, these tours cost around 8 to 10£ and skip all historical relevance to focus on the spooky facts and rumours that make Edinburgh one of the most haunted cities of Great Britain.

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Edinburgh is a medieval city, and its castle is famous in the whole UK; it overhangs the entire city and the view it offers is a must-see. While a bit expensive and not particularly architecturally interesting, the visit is worthwhile. Indeed, inside the walls, you will find plenty of museums and exhibitions, including a war museum, a reconstituted prison, and above all, the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) and a complete history of their whereabouts.

If museums are your cup of tea, then the National Museum of Scotland is highly recommended, for its building architecture and vast collection of Scottish antiquities. If you are more of a hiker, climb up Arthur’s Seat, the biggest hill surrounding Edinburgh, it offers a splendid view of the environs.

However, the best way to really get a grip of what Edinburgh is all about is to lose yourself in the maze constituted by its countless tortuous streets, alleys, courts and bridges. And, who knows, you might end up sipping tea in the coffee shop where a certain young wizard was born in the mind of his creator. Or even eventually come across the tomb of his archenemy.