We all want to put our best foot forward, and in Edinburgh it's easy. With one dormant volcano, seven hills, clusters of cobbled streets and tantalising vistas waiting around every bend, the capital is a fabulous place for a wander.
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Edinburgh, ScotlandSplit into two distinct halves, Edinburgh is one of the most walkable cities around. Start your walk at the city's highest point, the Castle. It's a fascinating start to your tour with The Scottish Crown Jewels and the huge 16th century cannon, 'Mons Meg', on display.
Count all 70 steps on the most direct route to the summit of the Castle Rock. This great flight of stairs once formed the original entrance to the castle. The gentler alternative route that winds up and around the cobbled hill was created in the 1600s for moving heavy guns.
Once there, you can hop on the city's tram system or explore the city via bus or black cabs, which can be found on high streets (main thoroughfares) and other points of interests throughout town. Edinburgh's intimate size makes walking the best way to get around.
Edinburgh is an expensive city by UK standards but not when we compare it to the capital London. Average rents for a 1 bedroom apartment stand at around $810pcm. For a large 3 bedroom apartment expect to pay around $1,240 a month. If you decide to live outside of the city center prices are much more reasonable.
Edinburgh is a very manageable cityAlso, walking around Edinburgh is safe at any time. Of course, be careful when crossing the street, the traffic lights for pedestrians last very little and you should always look both ways when crossing, remember that cars in the UK drive on the opposite side.
Within Edinburgh's medieval Old Town and neoclassical New Town, there's so much to experience. If you only have a day in the city, don't despair: The city is big enough to keep you entertained but compact enough that you can explore almost everything on foot.
Edinburgh has been named among the '25 Most Beautiful Cities in the World' by a renowned US travel magazine. New York-based Travel + Leisure, which has nearly five million monthly readers, included Scotland's capital in its 'by-no-means exhaustive list' of the world's most beautiful cities.
No, you cannot walk around Edinburgh Castle freely without paying anything. Edinburgh Castle is a popular tourist attraction and visitors must pay an entrance fee to access the castle and its grounds.
How long should you spend in Edinburgh? Two days in Edinburgh is the ideal amount of time to see the main city highlights. If you want a more relaxed visit, that includes a few museums or specialty tours, then I would recommend at least three days or more.
Who can get free bus travel? Every 5-21 year old living in Scotland for more than 6 months of the year can travel for free by bus if they have a valid National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC). If you are 5-15 years old, your parent or guardian must apply for you.
Edinburgh Castle is a world famous icon of Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site. It was recently voted top UK Heritage Attraction in the British Travel Awards and is Scotland's number one paid-for tourist attraction.