When planning a vacation to Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh, you will find that this beautiful city offers a diverse mixture of historic and modern architecture and design. The winding streets and wonder walking paths give you a feeling of entering another dimension.

As Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh hosts more and a million visitors a year. Most people come to the city to enjoy the beauty and the festivals that take place throughout the year. The city is divided on one side with medieval buildings, shops, and pubs. This is Old Town and contains much of the historical artifacts that a person will find of great interest when visiting and studying Scotland. The New Town is’th century Georgian architecture as well as modern buildings. The mix of architectural styles is one of the rare incidences when a city has grown throughout the centuries without razing the old to build the new.

A vacation of Edinburgh will take longer than a few days. Each side of Edinburgh has unique and delightful sites to see. Starting at the top of Royal Mile you can visit the Edinburgh Castle. This castle is open to visitors and provides an opportunity to see the home of Mary Queen of Scots, information and plaques on the many historic events that took place in the castle, and a beautiful view of the city from the gardens of the castle.

After leaving the castle a stroll down Royal Mile will provide exciting discoveries. You will see many boutiques, antique shop, and cafes that are maintained in renovated medieval buildings. Reaching Holyrod Palace, the queen’s gardens will be the first thing you notice. The Palace offers daily tours when the Royal family is not in residence. A person can see the paintings, artwork, and explore the artifacts that are found throughout the tour.

Visiting John Knox Home in the High Street section of Royal Mile will give you an opportunity to see the home of this 15th century protestant minister. The home has hand painted ceilings and has been restored to its original splendor. Visiting Canongate will provide you with the opportunity to see the diverse architectural styles of the medieval times. Almost all of the buildings found in Canongate are medieval and many have been renovated and are available for viewing by visitors to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh celebrates its artists and actors through yearly festivals and regular events. But, Lady Stairs home provides a unique commemorative to the works of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. This home maintains the decor and elegance of the era in which it was built. It gives you an opportunity to spend time with great authors and artists in a salon that replicates the one that was there when the home was built.

Grassmarket Square is a great place to see while you are in Edinburgh. By following Candlemaker Row you will come to the center of the square. There are regular festivals and events held in the square. It is surrounded by five star restaurants, inns, and restaurants. The food found at the square fits any appetite. It may be medieval or modern and from any culture that is desired.

Dividing Old Town and New Town is Princes Street. This half mile street provides one with monuments, shops, buildings, and gardens that are a delight. Many residents of Edinburgh enjoy the gardens for reflection and relaxation. From the gardens you can see the castle and all of Old Town.

When visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens you find the plants, shrubs, and exhibitions that reflect the entire country of Scotland. The Gardens have been recently renovated and many of the exhibitions are now housed in newly renovated glass houses. A person will have so much to see and do when they are in Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh that there is just not enough time. One way to get an overall view of the city and its sites is to tour through the street on an open-top bus. The bus follows the route of medieval times through modern in the pattern that the city grew.

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