Whenever I think of visiting the United Kingdom London comes to mind, but there are many other interesting places, so I put the edinburgh city, which I find mysterious and charming. That is why I want to make a simple ranking of those five mandatory things to do in Edinburgh. Those things that cannot be missed if you step foot in this city.
This city does not have hundreds of monuments like Florence, but there is always something interesting, and the scottish culture It is unique, so you will like to soak up the kindness of its people and their lifestyle. Write down these five things well, but if you go you will probably have time to do much more, such as getting lost in its old cobbled streets to discover corners full of mystery and history.
Visit Edinburgh Castle
Upon arrival, the first thing you will want to do is visit the famous Edinburgh Castle, located at the top of the hill Castle hill. It is protected on three of its sides by cliffs, and can only be accessed by going up the slope of the hill, at the beginning of the Royal Mile, one of the best known and busiest avenues in the city.
Visiting the castle can take us several hours, so it is good to spend a morning or an afternoon to see the emblem of Edinburgh thoroughly. Open of 9:30 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. or 18:00 p.m., depending on the time of year. The entrance costs 16 pounds sterling, and if you want a guided tour in Spanish about 26 pounds.
There is a tradition that has been carried out since 1861, and it is that of fire the cannon at one o'clock with a British punctuality for people to synchronize their watches. Nowadays it is done as part of the tourist attractions of the castle, since it is a fun spectacle to see how this cannon is fired.
The typical crown jewels are known here as the Scotland Honors. The Crown, the Scepter and the Sword of the State are kept in the castle, as well as the well-known 'Stone of destiny'. This symbol was something very valuable to the Scottish people over which kings were crowned. In the castle you can also visit the National War Museum and the castle prisons.
Enjoy the Scotch Whiskey Experience
Or what is the same, the scotch whiskey experience. It is a kind of museum where they tell us about how whiskey is made and you can even have a tasting to enjoy it. It is very close to the castle, on Castle Hill, so we can do everything in the same day. The visit begins by climbing into a barrel, as if it were an amusement park, to see the phases of making the drink. Then they tell us about the types of whiskey and a tasting is done to learn how to differentiate them by their smell. Finally you can see the largest whiskey collection in the world.
Have a beer in Scottish pubs
A beer or a whiskey, which is the most typical thing in these pubs. You can also eat in them, being cheaper than restaurants. One of the most famous is the The Elephant House in the university quarter, known because JK Rowling often sat here to finish his 'Harry Potter' book. The Dome is also another of the city's great acquaintances, in a building that used to be a bank with an impressive dome, mosaics and columns in the Greek style. It's luxurious and the prices skyrocket a bit, but it's an amazing place to have a coffee.
Immerse yourself in the history of Edinburgh
There are several ways to experience the history of the city. On Gladstones' Land You will be able to enter an old house of a merchant from the seventeenth century that is quite well preserved, to learn about life in the city for centuries. On the ground floor there is an artisan workshop from 1620 and period furniture can be seen in the rooms.
On the other hand, you can visit the National Museum of Scotland, with thousands of objects including works of art, machinery, jewelry or weapons to learn about the history of Scotland to this day, and the best thing is that entry into this museum is completely free.
Typical shopping
Those of us who always like to bring back memories cannot miss an afternoon doing the typical shopping. Keep in mind that the shops here close around 17:00 p.m. or 18:00 p.m., since they have different hours, opening a little more on Thursdays. Some of the typical products that cannot be absent are clothing, with pieces of wool, tweed or the mythical Scottish plaid kilt. You can also buy Haggis, a typical dish that can be taken home in cans. On the other hand, there is a lot of variety in whiskey, but the taxes make it a bit expensive gift. The typical pastries and sweets are inexpensive and delicious gifts to bring home.