Edinburgh

Taking advantage of the fact that I was in the UK, I decided that I wanted to get to know as many areas of the country as possible.

Although Wales and Scotland are quite far apart from one another (you practically have to cross the entire country), thanks to Megabus it was possible to get a return ticket for about 30 pounds. After, in order to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh, it was another hour on the bus, and 4 or 5 pounds.

Edinburgh is a fascinating city. Its well-known Old Town and New Town could be considered the historic centre of the city, and are recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Accommodation in the city is very cheap. If you are happy to stay in a hostel, shared with four other travellers, the price per night will be between 10 and 15 pounds, and there are various hostels to choose from within the Royal Mile, in the heart of the city. Aside from the price, these hostels are interesting as they give you the opportunity to get to know and stay with people from all over the world, who, same as you, are spending several days in the Scottish capital. I recommend Brodies Hostel and High Street Hostel.

Once you have arrived, it is time to start exploring the corners of this wonderful city. There is the option of a Free Tour, which departs at various hours of the day from the city centre and is available in different languages, during which a guide gives you a tour of the most symbolic places and explains the history that surrounds each one of them. There is no need to pay anything for the tour, but at the end you can give the guide the amount of money you deem appropriate.

The Old Town is the oldest part of the city. It retains a large number of structures from the Middle Ages. The main street in this area is known as the Royal Mile, a succession of streets that begin at the Castle's hillside and connect to Holyrood Palace, the official residence of Scotland's royal family. It's one of the city's most touristy streets. On both sides of the street we can find a number of small alleys. In one of them is the Writers Museum, which has free entry and showcases important objects belonging to Scotland's most important writers.

In the Royal Mile we can find buildings which used to be house Scotland's parliament or Edinburgh council. Another monument worth a special mention is St Giles cathedral, who was the city's patron saint. The oldest part of this building dates back to the 12th century, and afterwards, distinct 'islands' were added. Entry to this monument is free, although the hours during which you can visit are quite limited, but it's worth going.

As previously mentioned, the Royal Mile connects two very significant points within the city. On one end there's Edinburgh castle, situated on the volcanic hill known as Castle Hill. It's Scotland's most visited monument. Next to the castle, there is a raised area from which you can see the city from higher ground. The castle's doors are 'guarded' by statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Entry costs 17 pounds, but the visit is worthwhile.

On the other end of the Royal Mile is Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the royal family, since the 16th century. Traditionally, the queen spends a week of summer in this palace, attending various events required of her. Except during that week, the palace is open to the public to visit.

Another important area in the city is New Town, constructed between the 18th and 19th centuries. This place is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Its architecture is fundamentally in a Georgian and Neoclassical style.

The most stand-out street in this area is Princess Street, one of the city's best-known. It's the main street, where you can find the most important shops, the south side of the street doesn't have buildings, which makes for a panoramic view over the city of Edinburgh (the Old Town, the Castle). This street is also home to the iconic Lujo Balmoral hotel, a Victorian building.

You can also find the museum which goes by the name Scottish National Gallery. As in the rest of the country, entry to this museum is free, and once inside, you can admire the works of well-known artists such as Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Tintoretto, Rubens...

The city of Edinburgh has two viewpoints from which you can enjoy the more spectacular views of the city. The one with simpler access is the hill Calton Hill, to the east of Princess St. In addition to the views, in this hill we can find very important monuments, like the National Monument, in homage to the fallen, the observatory and the Nelson Monument.

In short, Edinburgh is a fascinating city that I recommend for anyone passing through the United Kingdom to visit... It will not leave you indifferent!

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