Edinburgh is a terrific walking city, famous for its cobblestone streets. It is compact and beautiful, with interesting architecture and gardens. It is a university town and also the capital of Scotland.
My husband Jonathan Katz and I have visited this historical city twice on one-day trips. It is necessary to stay two or three days to cover the entire city. In addition, many day trips are available to see other interesting parts just outside the city, such as a tour of the Scottish Highlands. On this trip, we stayed at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, which is centrally located and an excellent hotel.
The weather was wet, grey, and windy, but this type of weather adds to this city’s ambiance. During our first trip to Edinburgh, several of us loved the city, and several of us were not excited at all, but we were convinced another visit was warranted.
There is something unique and quaint about Edinburgh that is captivating, and only on our second trip did this become apparent. The city’s main part comprises the West End, Old Town, and New Town. The outstanding area that must be visited is the Royal Mile. It is a succession of streets forming the Old Town’s main thoroughfare. The Royal Mile runs between two locations, Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Edinburgh Castle is located on a large hill overlooking the city, and the views are not to be missed. The Royal Mile is filled with history, culture, and specialty Scottish shops. Also, there are many restaurants, quaint pubs, and whiskey bars. In the New Town, we walked down the well-known Princes Street. It is known for its architecture, Princes Street Gardens, and shopping.
Getting to and from Edinburgh city center from the airport is fast via tram. The trams depart every 7 minutes between 7 AM and 7 PM. The tram ride to the city center takes about 30 minutes costing 9.5 pounds.
