Details: Edinburgh guided sightseeing tour
Edinburgh Castle, the historical and emotional heart of the city, is just one of the many sights you will see on this tour, led by a licensed professional guide. Make your way along the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the 16th and 17th centuries. (It's actually one mile and 107 yards long--from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House). As you make your way along cobbled streets, you'll see a handful of the several thousand buildings officially protected in Edinburgh because of their architectural or historic importance. The 200-foot spire of the Sir Walter Scott monument soars above the East Princes Street Gardens. Grand figures from Scottish history adorn its heights, make sure you also look down -- the figure below the marble statue is Scott's favorite dog, Maida.
Details: Royal Mile (Old Town)
Walk the Royal Mile, one of the most famous and scenic city walks in Europe.
Details: Festival Fringe begins
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is, quite simply, the largest and most prestigious performing arts festival in the world. Every August, the city transforms into a magical, thrilling world of all things performance: comedy, drama, dance, cabaret, circus, performance art, street performers, and anything else you can imagine. Original works, devised pieces, and classic theatre and dance are all welcome and celebrated. In addition to traditional theatre spaces, pubs, museums, churches, alleys, courtyards, and specially created spaces become venues. Almost nothing seems off-limits—entirely by design.
Imagine a city swept away by the pulse of such creativity, and you’ve only started to understand what’s happening here. With over 300 venues, 3,800 shows, and 60,000 performances, you will be immersed in the arts and never lack for new experiences!