Greatest City on Earth

The city is themed around the 3 sisters: Castle --gorgeous, a fabulous view of the city; Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park (takes about half an hour to climb). The wind at the top will blow you away, as will the view if you climb near sunset. Calton Hill -- capture the grace of the castle accented by Arthur's Seat, Compare the layout of the New town and the Old town. Although the city lights are mesmerizing at night from Calton Hill, stay away from it after dark.

The Palace of Holyrood House is worth going to, particularly because you can compare the modern day splendour to that of the Castle. The Royal Mile is definitely a tourist's must. Stop by the cathedrals and memorials along the way from the Castle to the Palace. If you're the theatre going type, you might check out the Festival theatre a few blocks off the Royal Mile on Nicholson Street. The theatre itself is gorgeous, the shows are popular, the tickets are relatively inexpensive and mostly available.

Quick Tips:

Do not shop on the Royal Mile! It's a tourist trap like there is no other! Princes Street has more variety and reasonable prices. For fancy boutiques, check out George Street, but beware, big names also mean big prices.

The nightlife is vibrant. Families and couples: Grassmarket and Rose Street in New Town with its 30+ pubs and bars. 18-24 year olds: the Cowgate for clubs and bars, although some places on the Grassmarket can be entertaining as well.

Definitely stop in at the Three Sisters Pub on the Cowgate - Edinburgh's most famous bar. Dance fanatics may fall for Espionage, a 5-floor dance club in India buildings (Victoria Street). Jazz lovers can find some talent at the Jazz Cellar #1. There is a different theme for every night, and often, live music. Medina is a more Middle Eastern themed bar -- definitely worth going to (especially for lovers of gin and tonics).

And if you have any extra time, I would visit McEwan Hall, part of Edinburgh University -- it's a GORGEOUS building, and worth your time.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you're a walker, it's the cheapest way to go. Cabs are inexpensive for a tryst here and there, but taking them all over the city can get pricey. Late nights are safe to venture about if you're in a group, but make sure not to get involved in any passing fights. Although I walked around by myself when I was there, I would not recommend doing so -- especially after a drunken night out. Cabs can be hard to find on weekend nights, but many companies will come to pick you up for a very small fee (if anything), so look up a cab company number and call if you can't find a cab -- the phone booths look just like the ones in Austin Powers. The buses are a treat, although you'll be hard pressed to find a double decker. Driving is a nightmare. As a pedestrian, I would watch out when crossing streets -- they don't necessarily drive fast, but they aren't very careful either, although they try to be courteous.

This corner restaurant boasts a pleasant atmosphere which can be romantic at dinnertime, but is suited for all. The extensive menu offers Mediterranean and North African cuisine from Paella to kababs, and all at reasonable prices. Their lamb kababs are WONDERFUL, there are some reasonably priced good quality wines, and the hummus is great for an appetizer, especially when served with the varieties of homemade pita bread. Try the tzatziki after an exhausting day of sightseeing. This cucumber and yogurt-based dip is refreshing and light and accents any meal well. Their salads are small, but the greens are fresh and the house dressings are very well made. Just beware that if you order a salad, it won't be enough for a whole meal. Many of the other entrees are generously proportioned, although none are meant for sharing. Lastly, the dessert menu offers up varieties of ice creams and cakes, but the chocolate gateaux is to die for. Overall, the restaurant is characterized by True Mediterranean cuisine -- there's a touch of Europe, Africa, and even the Middle East. The friendly and fast service can cater to larger groups, but is designed for 2-4 people. The restaurant has irregular hours on a day to day basis, so make sure it's open on the day you want to go if you're looking to plan ahead. Also lunch time and dinner time traffic can be pretty heavy, so get there early (or late) to avoid a wait. Oh, and if you're paying by credit card, make sure that you've racked up at least a 10 pound bill!

This is a fabulous place! There are 3 bars in one and a dance floor on top. The first is an American bar, the second, an Irish bar, and the third, a Gothic bar. The dance floor plays popular music, and is jam packed on late weekend nights. The bar staff are slow, but that's common. The atmosphere is fun and vibrant on the weekends, and generally packed with everyone from college kids to business professionals, and there are specials almost every day of the week -- sometimes it's free shots! If you go earlier in the day, their food is not very good, but they're skilled at drinks. There is a big screen and any soccer (don't dare call it that in Edinburgh -- it's football for them) fan can catch a game.

George Street and Princes Street are havens for clothes horses, filled with equal numbers of affordable shops and delectable designer stores that are just outside of the average shopper's reach. Princes Street is very affordable, with many department stores that are classy, and although they aren't inexpensive, are reasonable. For quality merchandise, check out Jenners for their beautiful Scottish Wool sweaters and quality European Women's fashions. Their accesories are attractive as well, but overpriced. If you want to accessorize, try "Accessorize" which is just a block down from Jenners. Every color of hat, scarf, bag, and gloves can be found in that store, and they all match! There are lots of other stores on Princes St., but many (like Levi's and Gap) can be price gougers.

For more elite fashions(eg. Escada), try George Street. Although many stores here are out of reach for the normal consumer, stores such as Jigsaw and French Connection offer higher end merchandise that is still unique and approachable in terms of price. Just strolling down George Street is a treat though, because the window displays are magnificent, and at the end of the road sits Toni & Guy, a premiere salon, which offers 5 pound haircuts on Wednesdays if you're willing to let the amateurs have at your hair! They certainly do a great job, but make sure your hair's long and you have an appointment!