Scotland

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle—a 12th-century fortress that looms atop an extinct volcano towering over the city below—is the jewel in Edinburgh’s crown and the capital’s most popular attraction. Casual yet cosmopolitan, Edinburgh is as proud of its history and steeped traditions as it is of its modern-day festivals. Medieval Old Town is a place to wander and lose yourself amidst the labyrinth-like alleyways that branch off the historic shopping street of the Royal Mile before finding your way along the peaceful canals.

Walk through quaint neighborhoods and stop in at a gastropub to sample some Scottish specialties like haggis, or venison at a stylish restaurant in the West End. With appetites content, hit New Town which offers up elegant neoclassical buildings and sweeping Georgian terraces that flank contemporary masterpieces like the Scottish Parliament House. Stroll through the many secret gardens about town, or spend time in the sprawling Princes Street Gardens, which are pruned to perfection.