Top 5 historical monuments in Edinburgh

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The Royal Mile

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the United Kingdom, and some say that it is the most spectacular city in Scotland, while others say that it is the same dirty Auld Reekie like in the past century (Auld Reekie is Scots for Old Smokie).

Fact is that Edinburgh brings together some beautiful medieval relics with impressive Georgian architecture. A lengthy tour of the city on foot will be sure to satisfy your craving or history and culture. And afterward you can hit the nightclubs or traditional clubs in the Old Centre.

St Giles’ Cathedral

Also called the HIgh Kirk of Edinburgh, the spires of this church are probably the most recognizable features on Edinburgh’s skyline. The stained glass windows of the cathedral are incredible, especially if you catch a rare sunny day.

The Thistle Chapel is another one of the church’s most prized features, with its beautifully carved stalls for the Knights of the Order of the Thistle. The sheer size of the buildings, its exquisite decorations and the fact that it is luckily located on the Royal Mile, make the cathedral one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

Greyfriars Kirkyard

The Greyfriars Kirkyard is infamous for supposedly being the most haunted place in Scotland. There are several vaults in the graveyard that are tied to some rather gruesome legends, and while the Scots might or  might not believe these stories, they certainly know how to make profit out of them.

There’s an interesting midnight tour in Edinburgh which can take you to the most haunted places in the city, and the walk ends with a short visit to the McKenzie crypt and its poltergeist. The graveyard has some interesting historic tombstones, and also the statue of Bobby, the dog who died on his master’s grave.

Mary King’s Close

Mary King’s Close is one of the oldest closes in the city, which was sealed from the outside during the Black Death. Some legends say that the plague victims were walled up and let to die in the close, but archaeologists don’t agree. It is not quite as creepy as it might sound, despite a few statues that look like Halloween props. Even those who are not particularly interested in 17-18th century history will enjoy a walk through the close, if only to see what an underground city looked like.

Edinburgh Castle

The castle, dominating the entire city from its perch on Castle Rock hill, is the most spectacular sight in Edinburgh, no questiona about it. This huge structure dates back to the 12th century, and has served as a residence of kings and royalty well into the 17th century. The Historic Scotland society maintains several exhibitions in the castle, and an educational center hosts regular reenactments of various famous historical events. The ghost of a headless drummer is said to haunt the castle.

Scott Monument

The graceful spire of the Scott Monument rises about the bustle of Princess Street and the Pricess Street Gardens, and it celebrates the life and works of Sir Walter Scott. At the top of the monument there is a viewing deck from where you can see the center of the city (but you have to climb 287 steps in order to reach the top).

The tower looks a bit dirty (de to all the soot that stuck to the stone), and it recalls the atmosphere of Victorian times. Best selling American travel writer Bill Bryson described it as a “gothic rocket ship”.

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Luxury Edinburgh vacation under $2000 | The Travel Enthusiast wrote on January 20, 2014:

[…] includes daily breakfast, ticket to the amazing Edinburgh Military Tattoo and taxes as well! Visit the most amazing historical attractions in Edinburgh, sink into the city’s nightlife and breath in the culture while you pick up some of that hot […]

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