A charming and elegant city, the Scottish capital will enchant you with its views, castles and a scent of history in every street … not surprisingly, it is nicknamed “Athens of the North”.

Even in the course of just one weekend in Edinburgh, you will have enough time to discover some of its wonderful museums and monuments. In its splendid historic center, a World Heritage Site, you can stroll on foot, admiring the beauties that surround you.

DAY 1, WEEKEND IN EDINBURGH

Edinburgh Castle is the most famous and visited in Scotland; in its architecture, you can read the history of the whole nation. The oldest part of the building, dated 1100, is the Chapel of Santa Margherita (St Margaret’s Chapel).
Not to be missed are the rooms with the crown jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny and in the Scottish National War Museum of Scotland the Mons Meg and One O’Clock pistols.

you might take a picture astride a cannon on the Argyle Battery; try to be near the Mills Mount Battery at 13 o’clock, to watch the gunfire. Once, the cannon fired to indicate the time to ships in the Strait of Forth, while now it does so only for prose guides tradition.

Open from April to September, from 9.30 to 18.00. From October to March, from 09:30 to 17:00 .; Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Closed: 25-26 December.
Prices: Adults 16-59 years: £18 online and £21 at the ticket office. Children 5-15 years old: £11 online and £12.50 at the ticket office. Family (2 adults and 2 children), £52 online and £60.50 on site.

For detailed info, consult the official website from this link.

A few steps from the castle, don’t miss a trip to The Whiskey Experience.

Scotch Whiskey Experience is a must for all Whiskey lovers, or for those who want to get to know this Scottish specialty better.
After a brief description on the production of Scotch, a short tasting course follows with a nice gift consisting of a glass, a small bottle of blended wines of their production and a personalized certificate of participation. You can choose between different tours, starting from 50 minutes (Silver Tour), costing £19, up to the more expensive Taste Of Scotland (£82), which includes food and whiskey tastings.

Detailed information on timetables and prices available on the official website TheScotchWhiskyExperience.co.uk

Not far from the area, a stop not to be missed during the Weekend in Edinburgh, is the Camera Obscura.

The Museum is spread over five floors, of which the last one obviously houses the main attraction: the Camera Obscura. In the remaining four floors, however, a wonderful journey unfolds through the world of magic and illusions: distorting mirrors, giant lenses, electric spheres, magical walls, colored kaleidoscopes, labyrinths, holograms and much more! The Museum is located shortly after Edinburgh Castle, and it is really interesting.

The structure is open in the months of July and August, every day from 9:30 to 21;
In September and October, every day from 9:30 to 19;
From November to March, every day from 10 to 18;
April – June, every day from 9:30 to 19.
Tickets cost £18.95 for adults, £16.95 for over 65s and students, and £14.95 for children aged 5-15. Free for under 5. The prices indicated are valid for online purchase. At the ticket office, the price increases by £1 per ticket.

Kanoa recommends the official website for detailed info CameraObscura.co.uk.

If you still have some, do not hesitate to enter the splendid St.Giles Cathedral; it is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, located in the center of the Royal Mile.

St Giles’ Cathedral is the historic church of the city of Edinburgh. With its famous crown spire, it stands on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrioodhouse Palace; in neo-Gothic style, inside you can admire the beautiful and colorful stained glass windows. Curious enough note: in order to take the photos, you will have to pay 2 pounds. Alternatively, you can find some tricks to try not to be seen by the employees!

Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am-6pm; Saturday 10: 00–17: 00; Sunday 13: 00–17: 00.
Admission is free, however a donation of £5 is preferable.
For detailed info the official website is available.

DAY 2 WEEKEND IN EDINBURGH

Here we are on the second day of the weekend in Edinburgh, probably the most grueling!

Royal Mile is the heart of the old city of Edinburgh, is the popular name for a succession of streets that cut through the old city of Edinburgh and connect the Castle to Holyrood Palace. It is the meeting point for artists and merchants, and we recommend starting your tour of the Scottish city from here. Turn around the alleys, the pubs, the very particular shops, and the houses in perfect “British style”.

After a nice walk, you will reach the Holyrood Palace Castle.

Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Queen’s official Scottish residence. The royal apartments are a must, with the elaborate plaster ceilings, huge tapestries and religious paintings. The palace, a perfect example of Baroque architecture, has a strong connection with the rich Scottish history.

Today, the State Apartments are used regularly by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family for state ceremonies and official receptions.
The Castle, in our opinion, certainly deserves to be visited.
The building is open every day from April to October 09: 30-18: 00 (last admission at 16:30) and from November to March 09: 30-16: 30 (last admission at 15:15). Closed: 25-26, 31 December, 1 January (The palace opens at 11am, last admission at 3.15pm).

The cost of the ticket is £17.50 for adults, £11.50 for young people aged 18 to 24 and £10.50 for under 17. For families there is also an affordable Family ticket that allows you to save up to £15. Only in the months of July and August there is a small surcharge on the cost of the ticket (maximum £1).

As always, our invitation is to consult the official website for info and updates.

For all lovers of art and museums, the Scottish National Gallery is certainly a must for the Edinburgh Weekend. The building is located a 5-minute walk from Princes Street on Queen Street (around the corner from Harvey Nichols).

Splendid paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Raphael and Titian, the spectacular sculpture by Canova “The Three Graces” and many Scottish masterpieces, you can find in the National Gallery and great Scots of the past and present, in the Portrait Gallery. Art of the twentieth century and contemporary art, in addition to the sculptures of the English gardens in the chic serenity of the Gallery of Modern Art.

Modern Art Galleries: The National Gallery of Modern Art houses Scotland’s most important national collection of modern and contemporary art, the complex includes the Dean Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art.
The Portrait Gallery: The Scottish National Portrait Gallery offers a unique visual history of Scotland, told through the portraits of those who formed it. Explore the lives of great Scots of the past and present who have inspired and changed the world: royalty and rebels, poets and philosophers, heroes and villains.

The facility is open every day from 10.00 to 17.00.
Opening hours are extended during the Edinburgh Festival (August); Closed on December 25-26.
Admission is free ì!!

The next step will be to admire one of the most evocative views of Edinburgh: Arthur’s Seat!!

Coming from the Royal Park of Holyrood, arm yourself with a windproof jacket and umbrella: the advice is to go up only when the weather is good or nearly so, as with clouds and rain it is unlikely to be able to see into the distance; Arthur’s Seat is a way to escape from the chaos of the city but, above all, to walk on what was once a volcano.

Today, from the height of its 251 meters, it overlooks the city; to access the hill and its 4 lakes you can start the climb up the path from the well of Santa Margherita which forks at the beginning of the Hunter’s Bog valley (the two roads both lead to the top).

The Scottish National Museum is another stop on your grueling day. Our advice is to take everything calmly: it is still a holiday. If you like to relax, stay and enjoy the fresh air of Arthur’s Seat, otherwise take the train to Edinburgh Waverley and after about 10 minutes walk you will arrive at the Museum.

Spectacular and innovative; for this reason it is worth visiting the structure, if only to shelter you from the Scottish cold. You will be surprised how much the Museum can reserve for your sight.
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh is an important and articulated historical and scientific museum. The museum was born from the merger of two different institutions: the Museum of Scotland, mainly dedicated to Scottish history, and the Royal Museum, dedicated instead to ethnography, science and natural history. Consequently, the museum complex is quite complex and we are sure you will spend a few hours in a very interesting place, furthermore the museum organizes temporary exhibitions and educational activities for children and adults.
Inside the museum, there is a library, a shop and two café-restaurants. The National Museum of Scotland is wheelchair accessible

It is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Christmas
Admission to the National Museum of Scotland is free, however, a fee may be required for admission to some special exhibitions.
For detailed info we advise you to consult the official website.

It’s time for dinner. Long last. After an exhausting day of sightseeing and hill walking, warm up in the locals’ favorite pub: the Royal Oak. This pub features musicians playing the best music in town; just a stone’s throw from the Royal Mile, you will find this ancient pub where you will listen to real phenomena of “folk music”.

The pub is structured on two floors: in the upper one, you can drink beer at the tables and listen to artists who will perhaps accept some offers; on the lower floor, on the other hand, you will find a room for small live concerts by the most famous artists: in this case the cost is 5 pounds.
Go to the Royal Oak to immerse yourself in Scottish culture which, even on a musical level, has nothing to envy to other noble cities.