Presenting a rather Gothic cityscape as it spreads out below its ancient Castle, reaching out to the port of Leith, Edinburgh is far from dour. The canny Scots have crafted a capital that is crammed with culture, filled with fun and festivity, veneered with sophistication but reeking of history and mystery.

It's a heady combination that never fails to charm visitors to this city, built on a set of extinct volcanoes on the Firth of Forth, an inlet from the North Sea, just north of the border between Scotland and England.

The first thing that catches the eye is the looming battlements of the castle, sitting atop sheer granite cliffs that can only be accessed from one steep ridge. Today the castle heads up the Royal Mile and a linear set of streets making up the 'New Town', created when Edinburgh was re-designed in the 1700s, after the Act of Union with Britain. Tourists eagerly wander up and down the main street, Princes Street, all year round, browsing in the top quality stores and photographing the vista of the castle and the old town. When it comes to sightseeing, Edinburgh's attractions are largely based on historic stories and legends, from the churchyard where Greyfriar's Bobby, the terrier, refused to leave his master's grave, to the grand royal apartments of Holyrood House, where Mary Queen of Scots watched her husband kill her lover back in the 16th century.

Edinburgh oozes atmosphere, but never more so than during the summer months, when the vibrant Edinburgh Festival fills the city with drama, creativity and colourful visitors from around the world. Another occasion when Edinburgh pulls out all its stops is during the traditional Hogmanay New Year festival, when the jolly festivities are warmed by a great imbibing of Scottish malt whisky and ales pulled in the many local pubs.

Edinburgh is perhaps best summed up by one of its famous sons, the novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, who described it as 'a profusion of eccentricities; a dream in masonry and living rock'. Just remember that if you want to endear yourself to the locals, pronounce the city's name as 'Edinbruh' and not 'Edinberg'!

Edinburgh Castle

Address: Castlehill Edinburgh

Admission: £14 (adults), £8.20(children 5-15 years). Other concessions available. Daily (except 25-26 December) from 9:30am to 6pm, with early closing at 5pm in winter (1 October to 31 March). Last entry 45 minutes before closing time. Opening times vary during the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Telephone: (0)131 225 9846

Palace of Holyrood House

Address: Canongate, Royal Mile Edinburgh

Admission: £10.50(adults), £8.50 (children 5-16), Concessions available. Daily 9:30am-6pm (except December 25-26th and during Royal visits). Daily 9:30am-4:30pm in winter (November to February). Closes 2:30pm March 17th.

Telephone: (0)131 556 5100

Royal Botanic Garden

Address: 20a Inverleith Row Edinburgh

Admission: General admission is free. Glasshouses: £4 (adults), £1 (children) Daily 10am-4pm (November to January), 10am-6pm (February to October), 10am-7pm (April to September). Closed 25 December and 1 January

Telephone: (0)131 552 7171

National Gallery of Scotland

Address: The Mound, Princes Street Edinburgh

Admission: Free, thought there may be a charge for special exhibitions. Daily 10am-5pm (until 7pm on Thursdays)

Telephone: (0)131 624 6200 or 332 2266 (recorded information)

St Andrews

Address: Edinburgh

Admission: Museum: £6 (adults), £5 (concessions) Museum: daily 9:30am-5:30pm (March to October); daily 10am-4pm (November to March).

Telephone: (0)1334 460 046

Museum of Edinburgh

Address: 142 Canongate, Royal Mile Edinburgh

Admission: Free, donations welcome. Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm; Sundays during August 12pm-5pm

Telephone: (0)131 529 4143

Scotch Whisky Experience

Address: 354 Castlehill, Royal Mile Edinburgh

Admission: £12 (adults), £6.25 (children 5-17). Other concessions available Daily 10am-6:30pm (June to August), 10am-6pm (September to May). Last tours depart an hour before closing time. Closed 25 December.

Telephone: (0)131 220 0441

Royal Yacht Brittania

Address: Ocean Terminal, Leith Edinburgh

Admission: £11 (adults), £7 (children 5-17). Other concessions available. Daily from 10am-4:30pm (April-June and October), 9:30am-4:30pm (July to September) and 10am-3:30pm in the remaining winter months. Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Telephone: (0)131 555 5566 (for pre-booking)

Rosslyn Chapel

Address: Rosilin, Midlothian Edinburgh

Admission: £7.70 (adults), children less than 17 years are free. Concessions available. Monday to Saturday 9:30am-6pm (1 April to 30 September), 9:30am-5pm (1 October to 31 March); Sundays all year round from 12pm-4:45pm.

Telephone: (0)131 440 2159

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Address: Nicolson Street Edinburgh

Royal Mile

Address: Edinburgh Old Town Edinburgh

Edinburgh Dungeon

Address: 31 Market Street Edinburgh

Admission: £15.84 (adults); £11.76 (children); discounts available if booked through the website. Open daily, hours vary but generally 10am-5pm. Closed Christmas Day

Telephone: 0131 240 1001

Edinburgh Zoo

Address: 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh Edinburgh

Admission: £15.50 (adults); £11 (children) Open daily. April through September, 9am–6pm; October through March, 9am–5pm; November through February, 9am–4:30pm

Telephone: 0131 334 9171

Deep Sea World Aquarium

Address: Battery Quarry, North Queensferry, Fife Edinburgh

Admission: £12.50 (adults); £8.25 (children) Open Monday to Friday 10am–5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am–6pm

Telephone: 01383 411 880

The Museum of Childhood

Address: 42 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh Edinburgh

Admission: Free, donations welcome. Open Monday to Saturday from 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm.

Telephone: 0131 529 4142

Our Dynamic Earth

Address: Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh Edinburgh

Admission: £11.90 (adults); £7.95 (children) Open daily from 10am–5:30pm (closes 6pm July and August)

Telephone: 0131 550 7800

Arthurs Seat

Address: Edinburgh

Stirling Castle

Address: Castle Wynd, Stirling Edinburgh

Admission: Guided tours are free; specialised group tours are available 9:30am-5pm, closes 6pm April through September. Closed December 25-26th, open 11am-5pm January 1st.

Telephone: +44 (0)1786 431306

Edinburgh Festival

Where: The Hub, Castle Hill,Edinburgh

When: 12 August to 4 September 2011

Hogmanay

Where: The Hub, Castle Hill,Edinburgh

When: New Year's Eve

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Where: Various,Edinburgh

When: 5 - 29 August 2011

Edinburgh International Science Festival

Where: Various,Edinburgh

When: 9 - 22 April 2011

Edinburgh Mela

Where: Leith Links,Edinburgh

When: 2 - 4 September 2011

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Where: Charlotte Square Gardens,Edinburgh

When: 13 - 29 August 2011

Scottish International Storytelling Festival

Where: ,Edinburgh

When: 21 - 30 October 2011

T in the Park

Where: Balado,Edinburgh

When: 8 - 10 July 2011

Abstract

Address: 33-35 Castle Terrace Edinburgh

Food Type: French

Britannia Spice

Address: 150 Commercial Street, Ocean Drive Edinburgh

Food Type: Indian

Witchery by the Castle

Address: Castlehill, Royal Mile Edinburgh

Food Type: Local

La Bruschetta

Address: 13 Clifton Terrace, Haymarket Edinburgh

Food Type: Italian

Clam Shell Fish and Chip Shop

Address: 148 High Street Edinburgh

Food Type: Fish

Susie's Wholefood Diner

Address: 51/53 West Nicholson Street Edinburgh

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Tower Restaurant and Terrace

Address: National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street Edinburgh

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Izzi

Address: 119 Lothian Road Edinburgh

Food Type: Oriental

Centotre

Address: 103 George Street Edinburgh

Food Type: Italian