Edinburgh is a city with a lot of personality. I only spent about four days in Edinburgh but it's the kind of city that you leave with a heavy heart and a hundred amazing memories. When walking through the streets you can almost feel the history around you. Edinburgh is such an old, historic place that the area known as the 'new town' was built in the 1700's. There are narrow side passages known as 'closes' along the main streets that make you feel like you are walking back in time. Bagpipers can be found on almost every street corner and really make the city seem alive and welcoming. It doesn't take long to realize how proud the Scottish people are of their heritage and a certain man by the name of William Wallace (not to be confused with Mel Gibson). I spent two months traveling around the United Kingdom, and the time we spent in Edinburgh was by far the most memorable and amazing part of my trip. Some sights that shouldn't be missed include Edinburgh castle (if you want to know how to get there just look in the general up direction and you will see it on a giant hill towering over the entire city), the Scott Monument (you can climb to the top and get an amazing view of the city), Holyrood Palace, and St. Giles Cathedral. Edinburgh Castle is the home of the Scottish crown jewels, as well as the Stone of Destiny (the stone was originally inlaid in the English Coronation Chair now in Westminster Abbey), which is famous for the back and forth battle with England over where it should reside. Tours are offered around the Castle and are definitely worth taking. Another absolute must for an Edinburgh visit is a walk down the Royal Mile. This is Edinburgh's main street and it is lined with street performers, bagpipers, pubs, and souvenir shops. The Royal Mile ends at Holyrood Palace. We also went on a literary pub tour during our visit that was a lot of fun. The guides were actors that guided you around Edinburgh's oldest pubs where people such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns, and Sir Walter Scott (of the Scott monument) used to frequent. The guides provide you with quite a bit of interesting history that allows you to envision the city the way it was 300 years ago.
Quick Tips:
The two biggest museums in Edinburgh, the Royal Museum and the National Museum of Scotland, do not charge admission and both are a great place to find information on Scotland's history.
Talk to the locals...they were all very friendly, fun, and welcoming!
Best Way To Get Around:
Walking is probably the best way to sight see around Edinburgh. Most of the main attractions are within a 20 minute walk of each other and this is a city where the journey is at least half the fun. There are tour buses and city buses that are easy to use, but I would say walking is a much better way to go so that you can fully explore and experience the city.