City of Edinburgh itinerary — 2 days

The monument to Sir Walter Scott in Princes Street Gardens — the largest monument to a writer in the world. Built between 1840 and 1844 to a design by the self-taught joiner George Meikle Kemp, it centres on a Carrara marble statue of Scott with his dog Maida, ringed by dozens of characters from his novels. The viewing galleries take 287 steps to reach; the climb is ticketed, while the gardens are free to all.

A sprawling public park at the foot of Castle Rock, dividing Edinburgh's Old and New Towns. Established in the 19th century after draining the Nor Loch, it provides iconic postcard views up to Edinburgh Castle. Highlights include the ornate 1872 Ross Fountain, the world's oldest floral clock ticking since 1903, and the towering Gothic Scott Monument on its eastern edge.

Housed in an elegant neoclassical temple on The Mound in central Edinburgh, Scotland's national art gallery houses the nation's premier collection of Western fine art. Free permanent galleries exhibit treasures spanning from the early Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, including masterworks by Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, and Van Gogh, as well as celebrated Scottish masterpieces such as Henry Raeburn's 'The Skating Minister'.

Standing at the center of the Royal Mile for nine centuries, St Giles' Cathedral is Edinburgh's principal historic place of worship and the cradle of Scottish Presbyterianism. It was here that reformer John Knox preached during the 16th-century Scottish Reformation. Renowned for its distinctive 15th-century crown spire, the sanctuary features soaring ribbed stone vaults, vibrant stained-glass windows, and the exquisite Thistle Chapel.

A preserved underground labyrinth of 17th-century tenement streets buried beneath Edinburgh's City Chambers on the Royal Mile. Led by costumed character guides, visitors descend beneath modern street level to explore authentic historic rooms, hear harrowing tales of the Great Plague, and uncover intimate stories of the merchants, families, and everyday Scots who lived and died in these shadowed closes.

The historic spine of Edinburgh's Old Town, the Royal Mile stretches exactly one Scots mile from the volcanic perch of Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Paved in historic cobblestones, the thoroughfare is threaded with narrow medieval wynds and closes that descend the ridge. Along the route stand St Giles' Cathedral, historic taverns, tartan shops, and buskers playing traditional highland bagpipes.

Scotland's national museum pairs a soaring Victorian Grand Gallery with iron arches and a glass roof with a modern wing devoted to Scottish history. Highlights include Dolly the sheep, the 12th-century Lewis chessmen carved from walrus ivory, and ancient Celtic treasures. The rooftop terrace offers sweeping views over Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town rooftops. Admission to the permanent galleries is free.