With the Castle at its head and Holyrood Palace at its Foot, this World Heritage Site is packed with fascinating history and architecture along its entire length. A visit is a must.

A World Heritage Site that combines fascinating historic monuments with the best views in the city. A favourite place from which to watch Hogmanay and festival fireworks, not to mention the Beltane festivities.

Edinburgh's literary heritage is legendary. Tap into that rich history by learning more about 3 of its greatest writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

The whisky bar in the Balmoral Hotel – Scotch is where you’ll find over 500 Scottish malt whiskies and a knowledgeable staff to help you with selecting a dram to suit your tastes. This comfortable bar is a haven from the busy streets and a great place to unwind and taste some of Scotland finest whiskies.

Showcasing Scotland’s culture year-round, from regular storytelling nights to one-off performances. There's always loads going on during all the festivals, and you can tie in a visit to historic John Knox house too!

Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh offers a glorious cornucopia of books. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, free tea/coffee and sliding ladders to reach the top shelves. What more could you ask for?

A light and airy basement cocktail bar which feels like a country garden full of flowers. Its relaxing atmosphere makes it a great place to chill any time of the day. They serve an excellent selection of cocktails and the food is homemade using locally sourced ingredients.

The market runs every Sunday from 10am to 5pm under the trees on Saunders Street. It’s a small market but packs a punch. The street food stalls are hugely popular - be prepared to queue (particularly for the paella!). The neighbourhood is also great to explore. It's worth knowing they also have sister markets in Leith and the Grassmarket.

A magnificent Victorian red sandstone building is home to this superb gallery on Queen Street. It’s free to enter and fantastic to explore. The national collection of portraits is here as well as the national photographic collection. Good café too!

The Stand is small and intimate comedy club with shows most nights of the week. It’s a great place to see new talent as well as well-established comedians. You’ll need to be early to get a seat as it’s a popular wee place.

It feels like you’re in Paris as soon as you step in the door of this beautifully decorated restaurant but the food is all Scottish and locally sourced. A great place for dining out for a romantic dinner, special occasions or family celebrations. Food and the service are always excellent.

The Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh is a wonderful garden spread over 72 acres with stunning views of the city landscape. The “Botantics”, as it is affectionately known locally, is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the world.