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When Americans think of a trip to Europe, they usually think of places such as Paris and the architecture of the Grand Haussmann era, the picturesque channels of Amsterdam, or London, with its red telephone boxes, iconic double-cover bus and orientation packs of dike.
These are indeed iconic destinations, but often, They don’t offer that compelling experience Many crave the planning of a transatlantic outing: you know, no matter how old it is, it is not as if London’s skyline of London gives exactly ‘medieval’.
If they are fairy tale castles and almost unchanged 15th-century cityscape You dream of, perhaps this is where you should go down instead:
Hello, London … Hello, Magical Edinburgh
North of the United Kingdom, about 331 miles from London, is Edinburgh de Hilly capital of ScotlandSitting on the banks of the Firth of Forth, which flows directly to the North Sea, and as you can see from the photos, something from a whimsical dream.
According to Resonancea consultancy that arranges 100 European cities on the basis of liveability, ‘Liefability’ and prosperity, Edinburgh is number 18For proven city breaks such as Hamburg in Germany, Dublin in Ireland and Istanbul in Turkey.
It is particularly praised for its architecture, abundance of museums and world-famous Fringe Festival, the largest in the Performance Arts category, which returns in August-as you love experimental plays and discovers emerging comedians, you know where they are.
Yet you may wonder what the ‘Auld Reekie’ has to offer, and How it scores exactly so high On the list of resonance?
Edinburgh is one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities
Since it is a national capital, Edinburgh is pretty compact and surprisingly idyllic, without clear ‘business’ districts in sight, none of his southern counterparty London buzzing traffic and higher levels of walkability.
If you like to explore on foot, especially around historic places that feel like an open -air museum, you will love Edinburgh:
It is mainly divided between a medieval old city, distinguished by its dark sandstone buildings, conical roofs and rising church piriers, and the imposition of Edinburgh Castle, and a ‘new’ city of the Georgian era, strewn with palace buildings and lush gardens.
We have to add that ‘new’ is quite old according to American standards: most buildings in the new city, lying at the foot of the hill on which the original city was built, date from the 18th century.
If you go back and forth between the two areas, make sure you get the Royal Mile, A paved walk Through the heart of the old Edinburgh, connecting the modernist Scottish parliament with the castle of Edinburgh, and covered with beautiful mansions.
So This Is what the capital of Scotland makes a great city break
One of the best cheap food in the city is in fact in fact on the miles: if you ever go to generously filled pork sandwiches (garnished with crispy pork skin), pay Oet (by Canongate) a visit.
Other must-see spots are St. Giles, a beautiful 12th-century cathedral, garnished with what looks like a stone crown, Edinburgh Castle itself, One of the most impressive strongholds of Great BritainThe home base of the Stone of Destiny, previously used in the coronation of Scottish rulers, and the museum of the writers:
Housed in Lady Stair’s House, a 133-year structure, it celebrates the lives and contributions of three Scottish writers, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Speaking of writers, if you ever read Harry Potter as a child, you probably know that JK Rowling attracted a lot of her inspiration for Hogsmeade and other Wizarding World Fantasy locations, that of Edinburgh timeless Moyenâgeux aesthetics.
Maybe this is our designation to tell you that as an avid fan you can even go for coffee and a classic scone with clotted cream and jam at the Elephant houseThe cozy café where Rowling wrote the first books in the franchise.
What about the new city?
While you go to the new city, via the winding stone lane flanked by colorful shop fronts, Victoria Street, your gaze will probably be diverted to the Balmoral.
A milestone five -star hotel opened in 1902, it is A Scottish baronial icon With detailed stonework and a clock tower of 58 meters. The tower is looming about the adjacent Edinburgh Waverley, the most important train station in the city and Princes Street Gardens.
While the old city feels about 500 years in time, the new city is relatively livelier and more modern. It has wider streets that offer cars, a busy tram and a higher concentration of commercial buildings.
Don’t miss the Scott Monument, a single, Victorian Gothic structure, directly opposite the Balmoral, George Street, An elegant passage The best known for its high-end shops and restaurants, and for sunset, go to Calton Hill, where a breathtaking panorama of Edinburgh awaits.
Our favorite hidden places in Edinburgh away from the crowds
Away from both the old and the new city, there are numerous hidden places to escape the crowds and to experience a more relaxed side of Edinburgh.
Dean’s Village is one of our favorites. A quiet neighborhood that was originally located as a village of MillerIt runs along the water of Leith, a watercourse that flows through Central Edinburgh. With its mansions on the river and picturesque promenade, it is really something from a storybook scene.
For a taste of one RealGrittier Edinburgh, however, the one with authentic pubs who serve traditional Scottish grub and traditional beers, the Edgy Urban Art Scene and a creative atmosphere, take a local bus further from the historic center to Leith, a lively working-class area.
Can’t get enough of the medieval charm of Edinburgh? Craigmillar Castle is A less well -known medieval fortOne of the best preserved Scotland. Built in the 14th century, It has very few visitors compared to Edinburgh Castle.
It is also a short walk of 2.5 miles to Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that rises 823 feet above sea level, easily accessible through various tourist -friendly hiking trails, with different difficulty:
The simplest path to climb is Definitely the Dunsapie Loch route. These soft climbs Great view of the lush green hillsEdinburgh and the North Sea in the distance. The starting point is From Queen’s Drive, close to Holyrood Park.
How to get to Edinburgh from America
The best thing is that Americans can fly non -stop to Edinburgh (EDI) from no fewer than 8 American cities!
You can find the full list of available flights, their frequency and average duration and how many return tickets costs roughly when it is booked in advance:
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This article originally appeared on Traveloffpath.com
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