The city is basically split into two main districts - the Old Town and the New Town - with Princes Street Gardens separating them. The surrounding areas offer a wealth of places to visit.
Edinburgh Old Town
This is the largely medieval heart of Edinburgh in which most of its leading historical monuments can be found, including Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse Palace (the Royal Scottish residence) and also St Giles' Cathedral.
The Royal Mile is the historical artery of the Old Town, linking together Edinburgh's two royal strongholds: Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood. Running the length of four streets - Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate it's a vibrant, buzzing location. This is especially so throughout the Edinburgh Festival, when the Old Town is filled with street performers and also people thrusting flyers into the hands of passers-by, all within the hope of drumming up larger audiences for their shows. It's also something of a tourist trap and, as a result, souvenir shops have sprung up in droves. However, the vitality as well as historical significance of this part of town makes it an essential stop on any visitor's checklist.
The Cowgate along with Grassmarket areas are in the southern end of the Old Town. This bustling area is brimming with clubs, pubs, music venues and second-hand clothes shops. It's a pretty cool place in which to be seen as well as for the locals it's their first port of call on a night out. When the sun shines the Grassmarket has the feel of a continental town; relaxed al fresco coffee drinking, little traffic along with authentic, colourful shop-fronts make this one of Europe's premier haunts.
Edinburgh Princess Street Gardens
These gardens fill the valley among Old Town and also New Town, with Princes Street itself lining the northern side. Through the Christmas along with New Year period there is an ice-rink set up here under the gaze of a crystallised Edinburgh Castle. There is a decidedly festive atmosphere at the park at this time with stalls selling Christmas trees and seasonal ornaments. During the summer months the park acts being a Mecca for visitors in search of panoramic views of the city; for tourists who wish to climb the Scott Monument; for workers lunching in the open; for children who want to play a round of mini-golf; as well as for just about anyone who needs to relax. In Princes Street Park you never escape the atmospheric sound of the bagpipes, though you can escape the hustle and bustle of Princes Street itself.
The Mound is bang in the middle of Princes Street Gardens. It is called The Mound because it is, quite literally, the mound of earth that was left over from dredging the Loch on the foot of the castle. It's the site of the Royal Scottish Academy along with the National Gallery of Scotland. Within the summer it attracts several festival performers and craft stalls.
Edinburgh New Town
Whilst the Old Town marks the historical part of the city, the New Town is more a celebration of business, order as well as classical Georgian architecture. This is the terrain of the shops, offices along with banks, which are laid out in gridded streets that emanate precision and symmetry.
George Street is the centrepiece of the New Town. It is an up-and-coming area and also currently boasts high quality shops as well as restaurants including Browns, Space NK Apothecary, Jones and also various others. Flanked by Queen Street and also Princes Street, which run in parallel, it is a wide as well as elegant street with remarkable squares at both ends. In the western end lies Charlotte Square, designed by Robert Adam in 1791 as well as home of St George's church (now West Register House). The other end finds St Andrew Square - home of the Melville Monument as well as the Royal Bank of Scotland. It also marks the financial area of the New Town.
Princes Street, just below George Street, is the main shopping area of Edinburgh and also the most famous part of the New Town. A very busy spot, its views of the Castle as well as proximity to the park happily makes up for the crowds of shoppers. The most spectacular building is General Register House, around the northeastern end of the street. Also at this end is Waverley market, just near the station. This shopping centre is a popular venue for performers throughout the Festival. Whilst Princes Street offers shoppers department stores along with high street chains, Rose Street, just behind it, is a captivating pedestrian area with small shops and cafes.
Stockbridge & Dean are around the western part of the New Town, and also are known for being bohemian and less structured. Funky, trendy little shops along with boutiques sit alongside various eating-places along with bars. Places like Randolph Crescent and Moray Place give the area a more curvaceous look with classical Georgian fronts. Dean village is a captivating old milling community, whilst Stockbridge is a great place to browse through antique and also ethnic shops.
Edinburgh Calton
At the east of the city, this hill is a well-known spot for watching the Festival fireworks. The views of Edinburgh Castle and also Arthur's Seat are remarkable and also if you like, you can climb the Nelson Monument to increase the panorama. The Royal City Observatory and Old Royal High School are located in this area.
Edinburgh Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat
This area is just behind the Holyroodhouse Palace. Well-known as Arthur's Seat (from the Gaelic "ard-Na-Said" - meaning "height of arms"), this extinct volcano - it hasn't erupted in 350 million years - towers over of Holyrood Park. Originally a hunting ground, the public can now stroll through the park's 650 acres as well as walk over lava flows to get a great view of the city. Additionally, there are a number of swans and also ducks to feed in St. Mary's loch. The best way to climb is from the east by Dunsapie Loch.
Edinburgh Duddingston
Located in the northeast end of Dunsapie Loch, this area features a tranquil as well as villagey feel.
Edinburgh Bruntsfield, Marchmont and also Morningside
These southern suburbs offer large open spaces including The Meadows and also Bruntsfield Links. It also is the site of the medieval Burgh Muir (town heath) - used to isolate dying victims of plagues and also for training armies. Marchmont is a well-known student area.
Edinburgh Leith
A docklands area, Leith feels quite separate from the rest of the city - people here often prefer to say they're from Leith rather than from Edinburgh. It has its have financial centre, waterway (the water of Leith) as well as shopping/eating areas. A source of inspiration for Irvine Welsh's "Trainspotting", it is currently the scene of a booming café society. Leith Links, the park where the rules of golf were originally formulated, is a lovely place to stroll. The sport has been prohibited on this ground, however, since 1907.