Edinburgh

Edinburgh may be associated with tartan, bagpipes and one of the largest New Year street celebrations in the world, but there’s much more to see asides from the firm favourites. If you prefer to get your thrills away from the crowds then take some time to discover the alternative attractions this captivating capital has to offer.

Edinburgh is a fairly compact city where the main attractions are all within easy walking distance. Edinburgh Castle serves as a useful reference point and is situated pretty much at the heart of the city itself. Running parallel – north-east from the castle – are Princes Street, Queen Street, the High Street and Cowgate.

At the east end of Princes Street you can find Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh’s main hills which is easily identified thanks to the unmistakable Athenian acropolis set atop its grassy inclines. Take a stroll up to the top in order to gain some excellent panoramic views of the city and enjoy the peace and quiet of this city centre retreat.

Arthur’s Seat is another famous landmark that makes the ideal spot to enjoy a few moments of quiet contemplation. The pathway up this extinct city-centre volcano leads you all the way to the top where you can take in the sight of the whole city stretching beneath you.

If you fancy a wander by the water’s edge then seek out the Water of Leith. One of Edinburgh’s best kept secrets, this city centre river flows for twenty four miles from its source in the Pentland Hills, winding through the city to its outflow into the Firth of Forth at Leith. A walk along the river heading towards Leith will bring you past the Botanical Gardens, whilst a stroll in the opposite direction will take you past the National Gallery of Modern Art.

The Union Canal is another one of Edinburgh’s waterways where you can enjoy a leisurely amble or hire a rowing boat for the afternoon. Gliding along the canal and enjoying a picnic lunch is the perfect way to enjoy an alternative view of the city.

If you like to be by the water then take a trip to the beach at Portobello where you can savour old-fashioned fish and chips whilst gazing out to sea.

Back in the city centre you can saunter around town and indulge in some window shopping. Edinburgh has some excellent alternative shops where you can find anything and everything from health foods to herbalists.

If you fancy venturing out of the city centre then a trip to Rosslyn Chapel – 10km from Edinburgh – is well worth the effort. This outstandingly ornate chapel is a fusion of pagan, Celtic, Christian and Masonic symbolism and is an amazing sight to behold. Most of the hotels in Edinburgh will have information leaflets on Rosslyn Chapel, but failing that you can drop by the tourist information centre.

As you can, there is much more to Edinburgh that the most famous sights – often the most difficult aspect is being able to find the time to fit everything into one trip!

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is one of the hottest tourist destination in the world. People from different corners of the globe dream of visiting Edinburgh once in their lives. The majority of tourist to Edinburgh includes students and knowledge seekers. This is so because Edinburgh is a hub of art, literature, history, archaeology, architecture and culture. If you are also enthusiastic about visiting this place, then here is an Edinburgh guide that will tell you about the transport system of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is considered as a major transport hub in east central Scotland. The labyrinth of roads and railway system connect the city to the rest of Scotland and to various places in England as well. There are some works of spectacular engineering done in this sector, like – the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge. The chief means of commuting in Edinburgh is by bus. There are Lothian Buses and First Buses that run across the lengths and breadths of the city and the suburbs.

The latest attraction in the transport system is the ‘trams’. Trams have started plying after it was voted in Scottish Parliament in June 2007. At present, there is only one tram line that connects the Edinburgh airport, Granton, the city centre and the Leith Walk. Edinburgh also boasts of a well organised and well managed railway system. The main railway station of this city is called Edinburgh Waverley.

An attempt to make Edinburgh – a cycle friendly city – is in place. And there are also parks and green patches coming up. For more information on various parks, you can consult any good Edinburgh guide. When in this city, you need a proper Edinburgh guide to help you get to places, tell you in detail about the city and its transport system, explain the bus routes and destinations in detail.