This small-group walking tour lets you discover Edinburgh in a single day, visiting the New Town, the Scottish National Gallery, the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle, with entry included. Along the way, you will learn about the history, culture and heritage of the Scottish capital, and there will be free time for lunch in the Old Town.
The tour starts in Edinburgh's West End with an introduction to the city and its neighborhoods. In Charlotte Square, you will see some of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture and learn why Edinburgh is known as the "Athens of the North". During the tour, you will also visit a historic house (Gladstone's Land or The Georgian House, depending on the season) to discover what everyday life was like in Edinburgh in past centuries. The route then crosses Princes Street Gardens, one of the city's main parks, with stops at the Ross Fountain and other public artworks, and views of the castle and the rock on which it stands.
At the Scottish National Gallery, you will discover works by some of Scotland's best-known artists, such as Sir Henry Raeburn, Alexander Nasmyth and the Glasgow Boys. The tour then continues towards the Royal Mile, where there is free time for lunch in an area known for its pubs and restaurants.
The walk continues along the Royal Mile: the Mercat Cross, once used for public announcements and punishments and topped by a unicorn; St Giles' Cathedral, Scotland's most important church, where you will learn about its architecture and the history of the Presbyterian religion; and West Parliament Square, where the Act of Union is explained. Along the street, you will discover its closes, the old medieval cobbled lanes, as well as the city's cultural life, including its festivals.
Via George IV Bridge, you will reach the statue of Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh's most famous and loyal dog, and Greyfriars Kirkyard, where you will learn what mortsafes were and the connection between the Covenanters and the George Mackenzie Mausoleum. From there, the route heads down to the Grassmarket, famous for its pubs and dark past, and up Victoria Street, one of the most picturesque and colorful streets in the city. Back on the Royal Mile, at Makars' Court, with the Writers' Museum as a backdrop, you will hear about Scotland's great writers, such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
The tour ends with a visit to Edinburgh Castle. From the Castle Esplanade, where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city before entering the castle to learn about its history and the kings, queens, battles and sieges that shaped its past. After the guided visit, you can explore the inside of the castle at your own pace.