Circus Lane is probably one of the most picturesque parts of Edinburgh, thanks to Instagram. It's a…read morebeautiful place and a hidden gem to visit. We went here early on a weekday morning, and it was quite quiet. However, be respectful, as this is a normal street where locals live. If you're looking for a quick pick with a beautiful background, this is highly recommended!

We stayed in Stockbridge area during our visit, so it only took 3-4 minutes walk from my place to…read moreCircus Lane. I took advantage of that and went here a few times during our stay since it's such a picturesque cobbled street. It gets quite busy in the afternoon since everyone wants a photo here, but if you're patient you can get some good shots without people in the background.

Standing just over 200ft (61m) high, and known as the Gothic Rocket, the Scott Monument is often…read moremistaken for a church - understandably, perhaps - and dominates the view of the eastern section of New Town along Princes Street. Following Scott's death in 1832 the people of Edinburgh decided that a monument should be built in memory of one of Scotland's best-loved literary figures. At the time he was probably the most widely read British author of the era. The Scott Monument is the largest monument to a writer in the world. some data says, its 2nd largest though. This is especially fitting, given that Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature, having been home to many notable writers, such Scott, Burns, Stevenson, Conan Doyle and many more! There are 287 steps to the top of the Scott Monument, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside.

This gothic monument to the famous Scottish writer (Sir Walter Scott) is so dark and mysterious…read morelooking during the day. It's an even better view at night when it's all lit up. It kind of makes you wonder what it actually looked like before it soaked up "auld reekie's" pollution back in the 19th century. In a way, the black soot actually gives it more character. It's also a nice contrast with the white Carrara marble statue of the writer. Do you see his dog (named Maida) laying to the right of him? So cute! So, if you can actually see the outer architectural details then you're in for a treat. It stands at 200 feet tall and has about 64 statues that represent some of the most notable characters in his novels. To be honest, I was more impressed with the gargoyles. We didn't attempt to go inside to climb up to the top of it, but many pay to do that. I'm sure it's a nice view. The courtyard surrounding it was being decorated for Remembrance Day celebrations. I loved seeing all the crosses and red poppies around it. It's definitely a must see monument, and certainly one that you're going to eventually pass by at some point during your stay in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle is definitely worth a visit! There's so much history to take in and plenty to…read moreexplore throughout the castle and grounds. I chose to explore on my own without a guide and was completely satisfied doing it that way. I was able to go at my own pace, take my time, and see everything I wanted to see. Such an impressive place and a must-see while visiting Edinburgh!

A must stop to learn all about the Scottish history, their longstanding fights with England, the…read moreJacobite rebellion and how the Scottish royalty merged with the England royalty. Joining the All Stars tour with ticket entrance to the castle is a definite highlight. Our guide Davy was humorous and a well of knowledge. Plus he resembled Jamie Fraser from the Outlander. Or as one of our tour group members said, he looks like Thor and we can imagine him carrying a hammer wearing his kilt! The view of Edinburgh is gorgeous. And there is also poignancy with a cemetery dedicated to fallen dog companions of soldiers as well as a war memorial for fallen soldiers from World War 1.

Very busy bar. Indoor & outdoor seating. Hostess will seat you inside to the left or first come,…read morefirst serve seating to the right and outside. The staff was friendly. Full bar to include local gin and beer offerings. Good menu. The pie was great as was the beer and gin we had. Traditional decor inside. It's definitely worth coming in for just a pint or staying for a meal.

Greyfriars Bobby is one of Edinburgh's most popular tourist attractions. Located just in front of…read morethe entrance to the Greyfriars Kirk can be found the bronze statue of Bobby. Hundreds of fans flock here every day to pay their respects, all eager to get a closer look at their doggy hero. History and why it is famous- and trust me guys, he is inthe same league as Hachi- Bobby, born in 1856, was a Terrier who spent over 14 years guarding the grave of his beloved owner. John - a dedicated nightwatchman for the Edinburgh City Police Force - carried out his duties with his trusty companion night after night. After John's untimely death in 1858, Bobby refused to leave his master's grave until the day he died himself. The rumours about this little dog began to spread far and wide, and Bobby soon had quite the fan base. In 1867, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh presented him with his very own collar. This gesture signified that Bobby was a licensed dog, meaning that he was protected against the new law that had recently been enforced, which stated that all unlicensed dogs would be destroyed. Bobby passed away in January 1872, and as a final token of his loyalty, was buried close to his master in the Kirkyard. A granite fountain with a statue can be found opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard - a permanent memorial to this faithful pup. Bobby's grave can be found immediately inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard. He was buried close to his much-loved John, ensuring that the pair's astonishing bond would never be broken. It is not uncommon for doting visitors to leave sticks, dog toys, and flowers on his grave.

You might be asking yourself why I am reviewing a building which functions as part of the…read moreadministrative machinery of the Scottish government. Well, it might just be an administrative building, but what a building it is! Every time I go past this building I have a sudden urge of wanting to work in their due to the design of the building and its impressiveness! Located in Leith, just across from the Ocean Terminal and in front of Commercial Quay, this building was built in the nineties and was first used by the Scottish Office before devolution. It overlooks the coast and is right bang in the centre of the redevelopment program in Leith. It is modern and looks quite light due to its light colouring and staggering amount of glass! I probably, naively, think this would be a brilliant place to work in just due to the building, but what I can be sure of is that Victoria Quay is one of the most remarkable buildings in Edinburgh!

Winding down from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket, Victoria St. is a tourist hotspot, and…read morerightly so. What's so nice about it is all the businesses on it are independent - there's a tweed shop, a few fashion boutiques, a cheesemongers, a place for mixing your own alcohol (Demi-John) and the awesome Oink, which sells hog roast sandwiches. In fact, go to Victoria St. just to go to Oink because it's ace. It's funny too - all the aforementioned businesses run down the right hand side (going down to Grassmarket). The left is dominated by the entrance to the Underbelly (by far the best Fringe venue), Espionage (four floors of w****s), and Finnegans Wake, which has just reopened after the fire at Kushi's next door. Certainly worth a visit. But then if you're being touristy in Edinburgh you'll have probably already gone there by now.

This is a magnificent bronze statue of The Duke of Wellington. Noted British General for aiding in…read morethe defeat of French General Napoleon at Waterloo Belgium. He is mounted on a rearing horse that really captures the imagination as your view it on busy Princes Street. It was sculpted by Sir John Steel and erected outside 3 W Register St, Edinburgh, United Kingdom in 1852.

It's just one of many interesting closes along the Royal Mile. This one is named after the Lord…read moreAdvocate's House. The house of Sir James Stewart used to be at the lower end the stairs near Cockburn St. It's literally steps away from the Supreme Courts building in Parliament Square. Well, about 70 steps up. Today, it's more of a shortcut between Market Street and the Royal Mile. The best feature of Advocate's Close is actually the perfectly framed view of the Scott Monument through the archway. You'll also see how high you are on the hill when walking up or down this steep & worn set of stairs. Hopefully they will add handrails to it one day like others that we've seen throughout the city. I mean, they don't call them "Death Stairs" for nothing. Oh, and theres's a very popular gastropub called the Devil's Advocate near the bottom of the steps. We didn't get to visit it, but it came highly recommended. It's just another reason to visit it.

Edinburgh is riddled with closes and Advocate's Close is a fine example of these narrow lanes that…read moreconnect streets throughout and behind the Royal Mile. The tall buildings that line the path give many closes a canyon-like feel with many of them sloping steeply down from the Royal Mile. It's like walking into the underground! Advocate's Close is particularly popular with tourists and I can see why. At the top, it offers a beautiful peek-a-boo view of the Sir Walter Scott Monument in the distance and some of Edinburgh's central buildings. Walk all the way down and it connects you to Cockburn Street below. Definitely try walking through a close or two as they are great shortcuts to get from one street to another along the Royal Mile.

Let this review slip through the cracks but brought it back to life after scrolling through my pics…read moreof Scotland on my phone. Traveling through Scotland it is mandatory to take a stroll in the Royal Mile to see all the historic landmarks and whiskey stores. #1 See the iconic retro red British phone booths with the cool stickers. #2 Take a few pics with the Scottish guy in his kilt playing the bag pipes. #3 walk to the top of the Edinburgh Castle for a 360 degree view of the area. #4 Find the hidden Devil's Advocate Bar and have a cold craft beer. Great experience at the Royal Mile and cant wait to visit here again.

A must-see in Scotland. Cut off to vehicles, a great place to walk to see Edinburgh at its…read morefunniest. There at the same time as the Fringe, not sure if that amplified the fest, but it was very entertaining with the party atmosphere. Street performers, hawkers and vendors add colorful flair to the street scene.

This was a wonderful tour. It was full of interesting stories about Edinburgh's past and the black…read moreplague that struck the city. The actors were very into their characters, which I loved. It was so much fun to hear their stories, see their enthusiasm and hear all about the history. I docked a star since I hate when places limit photo opportunities. It honestly feels like a missed opportunity for promotion to not allow tourists to post photos of themselves on social promoting their business. I do work in promotions so maybe I'm slightly biased but feels short sighted. Overall, a lovely tour and a wonderful guide.

The close is a popular attraction, so I booked a tour. It's located on the Royal Mile in Old Town…read more The close is named after Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the close. A close is a narrow alleyway leading from a main street to private shared courtyards, residential areas, or homes. The close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange and it was later closed to the public for many years. It used to be open-air alleyway. We were led by a guide dressed as a period character. We watched interactive projections of Mary and others tell us about who they were and life at that time. We also entered small rooms that housed many people. The most interesting part to me was about the plague. There was also a ghost story, which I don't care for. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the history.

So many fun illusions. I got confused. Especially on the spinning bridge and the mirror maze.read more

We came to Edinburgh for the Taylor swift concert and wanted to do some exploring. My 13 year old…read moredaughter and her friend made it clear they didn't want to do any sightseeing so we looked for fun activities that appealed to teens...and came across this. We found this to be a fun way to kill 90 minutes in this cool city. There's all sorts of rooms with optical illusions, but you also get to enjoy amazing views of Edinburgh on the rooftops. The girls seemed to enjoy, although the favorite part was probably the last room which included some a mirror maze and something that made me super dizzy. Recommended for kid/teen fun!