If this is your first visit to Scotland then the beauty of Edinburgh will hit you in the face.

There is so much to take in here that it’s actually surprising how much the city differs from cities in England.

The first thing you’ll see as you enter the city, is Edinburgh castle: Scotland’s leading tourist attraction. It really is a piece of history that will catch your eye in more ways than one. Whilst it might tell its own historical story which you can learn about by paying a visit to the place; It might also look familiar if you’re aware of a little well known author named J.K.Rowling..

If you like the Harry Potter books, you might find yourself in The Elephant House. According to them, J.K.Rowling used to write the novels whilst sat at the back of this cafe and looking up at Edinburgh Castle. Believe me, once you know this trivia, it’s very easy to see the similarities when you compare the two. It’s all I could imagine every time I looked at Edinburgh Castle after that.

If you’ve walked down to The Elephant House you may as well head on over to The National Museum of Scotland. This is a great museum with free entry and plenty of Scottish history to learn about within its walls. It’s located right by this cafe and within walking distance from all the city center stores.

Edinburgh offers all the amenities you need; with museums, shopping centres, cinemas and plenty of restaurants. Just like any large city but with one difference: almost every building catches your eye.  What I loved about Edinburgh was that within the city center there was so much to admire. Many interesting-looking cathedrals and buildings look so old they almost tell you a story with their age. It really made me feel like I was no longer in the United Kingdom but somewhere like Italy instead.

Whilst just walking around the streets of Edinburgh may entertain the culture fan, there are also plenty of attractions to visit here: one of them being Edinburgh Zoo. This zoo is the only place in the United Kingdom where you can see Giant Panda’s. So, if you’re into your animals you should take advantage of this opportunity.

I can’t recommend Edinburgh enough. If you’re a fan of cultural cities with a lot of history to them then this is the place to visit. Not only is there plenty to see within the city; everything you might need is within walking distance, the streets are clean and the people are friendly. Most importantly, the city felt very safe; even after dark. If you’re a solo backpacker planning to visit Scotland then Edinburgh could be a good place to start.

Visited: February 2013