The Old Town is laid out like a fish - the head is the Castle, the Royal Mile is the backbone, and the ribs are the closes, or alleyways, that go off the sides of the ridge. In the Old Town, there is the Lawnmarket, which is the starting point for exploring the old closes. There is great shopping on Victoria Street, which was added to Old Town in the nineteenth century. If you ever read Eleanor Atkinson's beloved classic book Greyfriars Bobby, then make sure to visit the Kirk of the Greyfriars (Kirk means Church in old English) and see the statue to the loyal little Skye terrier that stands in the beautiful cemetery. You can tour the various museums in Old Town, as well. These include the Royal Museum of Scotland and the Museum of Scotland, as well as the Museum of Childhood and the Brass Rubbing Centre, where you can pick up unusual souvenirs. The Royal Mile becomes Canongate after the Netherbow Arts Centre - further along Canongate are the Canongate Tollbooth, Huntly House, and Canongate Kirk. In order to see all the sights fully, set aside two days for the walk around Old Town.
2. Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Whiskey Museum
Learn all about the process of turning spring water and malted barley into one of the world's legendary alcoholic beverages at this museum. Scotland is the birthplace of whisky. The beverage is its largest export. You can ride in slow moving barrels with your partner as a guide explains the process to you. One of the stops is a huge vat where you can hear bubbling sounds and smell the scent of malt that fills the air. You can also taste the different types of whisky. Be sure to stop at the gift shop on the way out to buy keepsake bottles for your loved one. This trip will warm the cockles of your heart, as the romantic writers of yore used to say!
3. The Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland
Royal Museum
The Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland stand next to each other on Chambers Street and are well worth a visit. The Royal Museum's collections, housed in a Victorian building, include displays related to nature, science, and the history of industry. Its central hall, with its soaring roof, has an ambience of almost divine inspiration and is an architectural wonder.
The Museum of Scotland, connected to the Royal Museum via a common passageway, is more modern in its structure as well as exhibits. It is a state-of-the-art exhibition space, which has displays about the Bronze Age settlements as well as modern pop culture. Touring through these wonderful temples to human endeavor is sure to be a great way to spend the afternoon.
4. Edinburgh Castle
Edinbirgh Castle
The sight of the Kingdom of Fife from the top of Edinburgh Castle on a clear day will surely astound you. This amazing structure towers over the city and its battlements hark back to centuries past-of times lived in danger, glory, and high romance. Scots, Englishmen, Roman Catholics, Protestants, and soldiers have all had possession of this venerable edifice, which has always stood as a symbol for the reigning power in Scotland.
On entering the castle and crossing the Esplanade, you can cross the drawbridge and enter the Half-Moon Battery, where everyday at one o'clock a gun is fired. As you climb upwards through the castle, you will see St. Margaret's Chapel, the Crown Room, the Stone of Scone, Queen Mary's Apartments, and the Great Hall. Do not miss seeing the Scottish National War Memorial and the Scottish United Services Museum. Indeed, no visit to Edinburgh is complete without having walked through Edinburgh Castle.
5. Charlotte Square
Charlotte Square
The New Town's main attraction - at least in the architectural sense, is Charlotte Square, located on the western end of George Street. This square, built in the 18th century, is the masterpiece of Scotland's greatest neoclassical architect, Robert Adam. A palatial façade unites three separate town houses at the northern end of the square. Make sure to take note of the graceful proportions of this beautiful piece of urban design - it is sure to take you back to a time of chivalry and grandeur.
There are a number of ways to spend your time in Edinburgh. With your partner, you can reflect on the rich Scottish Heritage, try out Scottish cuisine, indulge in your love for the arts by attending the annual Arts Festivals in autumn, or simply walk through a town that is so rich with history; you will feel it in every corner, in every cobblestone, and every breeze. What is more romantic than that?
