Foggy, overcast days are best spent at your cosy apartment with the smell of brewed coffee hanging in the chilly air and old songs in the background. It could be a nice excuse to stay-in for a bit, but these grey days can get a nice appeal when you changed your perspective, or location. Edinburgh is one of the cities that has that magic of turning a cloud-covered sky into a dream. With its well-preserved medieval backdrop, it has always been one of the best city breaks, and being in Scotland which was named as the most beautiful country in the world in 2018, you will never run out of things to see and do.

I am so lucky to visit Edinburgh so often, as it is just over an hour of train ride away. But one of the places that I always would see whenever I come to visit is the Rosslyn Chapel. This place is made popular by the novel Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and the movie of the same name which had been controversial in its release. Speculative theories about the chapel’s connection to the Knights Templar made it a perfect set for the novel’s ending. But what made this chapel really worth seeing is its medieval gothic design, considered to be the finest in Scotland. From the outside, the carvings on the pillars and buttresses can be comparable to those in the Cathedral de Notre Dame in Paris. When you enter its doors, it becomes incomparable with its fully carved stone ceiling, pillars and naves. It made me wonder how it was even possible to carve those from stones perfectly in the 14th century. Legends, Latin inscriptions, plants, animals and scenes from the bible were the themes found on the carvings, still in perfect condition despite numerous restoration efforts and erosion on certain parts, and for me, still the most beautiful chapel in the world.

From the outskirts of the city in Roslin to Holyrood, it seems a world suspended centuries before. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen herself when they are in Scotland. Built in 16th century, the Palace has been a home to monarchs in rule since 1678. It is built in three orders, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian respectively in each subsequent floor and their purposes. The galleries, apartments and gardens are open to the public for visiting except when the Royal Family is in residence. The much older Holyrood Abbey’s ruins is also part of the palace grounds and is also worth a visit.

As if you haven’t got enough of medieval castles, their beauty and history surviving throughout the years, the Edinburgh Castle catches your view built atop the rocks at the city’s skyline. From the Palace of Holyroodhouse, you have to walk The Royal Mile to get to the gates of the castle, named as such because the distance from these two must-see locations is equal to 1.6km, which is a mile. Considered to be the busiest tourist street in Old town Edinburgh, you will never get bored in your stroll along its cobblestone road, numerous shops selling kilts, whiskey, shortbread and all things Scottish, buskers, and some more sights. You will pass through the St. Giles Cathedral, which in itself is a destination with its stained-glass windows and intricate woodwork designed from the 14th century. Also, you can discover more things to try in this city by just walking this historical street, like the secrets of distilling their well-known whisky in The Scotch Whisky Experience; the ghost stories at The Real Mary King’s Close; and the art of deception at Camera Obscura.

After a mile and more experiences, you will finally reach the famed Edinburgh Castle, which is not only strikingly beautiful but also is a fortress with 1100 years of history, and one of the most besieged castles in the world. Being principally used as a military stronghold, the castle also houses the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum of Scotland. While Edinburgh still remains free from skyscrapers, the best view of the city is within this castle’s fortified walls. The state rooms and Royal apartments is also open for visits as well as the Great Hall, a medieval hall in Renaissance design for state assemblies and traditional ceremonies like the annual Hogmanay festival in the New Year’s Eve.

From Edinburgh’s highest point up to its docks, this city is always fit for Royals. The Royal Yacht Britannia has been docked in Leith since it retired from royal duties in 1997, after more than a million nautical miles of service. Since then, it had been a one of the UK’s most sought after evening events venue, and a visitor attraction. But before her retirement, the yacht had been used annually for the royal family’s western isles cruise, evacuated 1000 refugees from the civil war in Yemen, and welcomed the Prince and Princess of Wales for their honeymoon cruise. The attraction not only features five decks aboard of the royal yacht for viewing but also the royal racing boat Bloodhound and the Rolls Royce Phantom V state car.

One of the free and worthwhile things to do when visiting Edinburgh, or any other city in the UK is going to the museum. The National Museum of Scotland would occupy your day with its interactive displays, proudly Scottish innovations and Dolly the cloned sheep. It is one of the largest museums in the UK outside of London, and with its modern renaissance design, thou shall not miss it.

Tips:

You can choose from a range of accommodation options in Edinburgh, there are a lot of hotels around as well as Airbnbs that you can rent for your stay. The only thing that you would have to consider is booking ahead especially in the holiday season where traveller traffic is at its highest in the city.

You can visit Edinburgh through Edinburgh Airport which is just a 30-minute bus ride away from its city centre. You can also come from London to Edinburgh Waverley via the train in more or less 4 hours. Public transport in Edinburgh is mainly by bus, hide hailing services and taxis. Trams also run in several routes in the city.

Sandeman’s free walking tours is also available in Edinburgh, although I haven’t tried joining their tour there in particular. I have tried the walking tours with them in several European cities and I would always recommend doing it. There are also city sightseeing buses around the centre where you can hop on and hop off where you fancy and listen to their audio guide.

One food item that would probably be on top of the list when visiting Scotland is the haggis. It is a meat pudding and usually served with mash on the side. I have tried it in a panini in tea shop near Rosslyn Chapel and it is actually interesting although I could imagine it can be not everyone’s cup of tea. The Scottish shortbread is one of their bestselling products as well as the Scotch Whiskey. The royal mile and the shops in Waverley are full of these two items for the taking.

The best season to see Edinburgh is on the yuletide, when the Edinburgh Christmas Market is open in the Princes Street Gardens and the Hogmanay festival is brewing for the New Year’s Eve. The spectacular fireworks display is one of the most watched fireworks events in the world, that’s why people flock here to join the annual festivities. Just be sure to plan ahead and bring thick jackets as it is a few degrees colder than London every time and Christmas snowfall isn’t rare.

Edinburgh is a nice jump off point for those planning to visit the Scottish Highlands and the Loch Ness. There are tour operators within the city that offers tour packages as well as those available for booking online, so make sure to check that out of you would like to extend your Scottish Holiday.