Take in a little Scottish heritage
Edinburgh Castle is built on an extinct volcano and dominates the Scottish capital's skyline. Take a guided tour around the castle and discover the city's oldest building, St Margaret's Chapel, which dates back to the 10th century. View the royal apartments of the Scottish kings, witness the famous one o'clock gun salute and gaze upon Scotland's very own crown jewels. The visit is worth it just to experience the spectacular panoramic views over the cobbled streets of Edinburgh.
If time permits, visit the Museum of Scotland in the old town and take a back-track into the history of Scotland and its people. Admission is free, so you've got the perfect excuse to indulge in a trip to the fifth floor to sample the menu at The Tower. With previous diners including Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery, you can expect an extensive menu of Scottish produce and a selection of wine that would impress the most ardent connoisseur.
Hit the shops
Well, no city break is complete without a little retail therapy. Start at Princes Street, where you'll find a huge selection of high-street stores, plus Scotland's oldest department store, Jenners. Running parallel to Princes Street is George Street... bring your credit card, because it's a haven of exclusive shops, including Edinburgh's very own Harvey Nichols.
Vintage boutiques and antique stores often go unnoticed by tourists, but they can be found dotted around the cobbled backstreets in the old town. Head to Victoria Street, just off the Royal Mile, and from here venture to West Bow and Cowgate. Be sure not to miss Armstrongs in Cowgate, Edinburgh's largest vintage clothes emporium (call 0131 556 5977 for more information).
Wining and dining
The Grassmarket in the old town has a wide selection of bars and restaurants. Agua, set in the four-star Apex City Hotel, is a new but firm favourite. Its blend of modern décor, relaxed ambience and excellent service make this a restaurant not to be missed. The menu takes influence from traditional Scottish flavours, but adds a refreshing twist.
Another hot favourite is The Dome, situated in the heart of the new town. Visit the grill room for the à-la-carte menu or, if it's just a drink you're after, try Frazers Cocktail bar, also located in this impressive venue.
Sea breeze, anyone?
A trip to Edinburgh isn't complete without a visit to the city's most fashionable night spot, The Opal Lounge, on trendy George Street. It's the perfect place to sample a cocktail or two. Live music can be found at Henry's Jazz Cellar and Beat Jazz Basement, or if you fancy something more traditional, visit the Grassmarket for a selection of pubs with cosy log fires - the perfect place to stop after a hard day's shopping.
Edinburgh festivals
Although Edinburgh has a lot to offer all year round, the city really comes alive during the end of year Hogmanay celebrations and the Edinburgh Festival in the summer. For more information about festivals in Edinburgh visit www.edinburgh-festivals.com.
One recommendation
If you are going to be in Edinburgh in August, make sure you catch A Night Of A Thousand Jay Astons on at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's a very funny musical about the life of the supposedly slutty one in Bucks Fizz - and you'll be amazed at the story, the songs, the performances and the costumes. Oh, and the legs - three of the four performers are men in drag with better pins than most women! A guaranteed hoot and worth the £9.50 ticket price.
For more information
To find out more about Edinburgh visit the Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board at www.edinburgh.org or the Scottish Tourist Board at www.visitscotland.com.
