Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland, is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world.
If you are a tourist visiting Scotland, and in particular the capital city, there are several Edinburgh tourist attractions that you simply must see.
1.
One of the top Edinburgh tourist attractions is undeniably the Edinburgh Festival.
It is a wonderful event and just has to be seen.
It takes place in August each year and is an extravaganza of the arts (classical music, theatre, opera, dance etc) with artists from all over the world coming here to perform.
The Festival also incorporates "The Fringe Festival" which empowers absolutely anybody to present their own show, and is the birthing place of many famous, celebrated new comedy shows.
If you can, you should schedule your trip to Edinburgh in August so you can take in the sights and sounds of this wonderful festival.
It is unlike anything you will have seen before.
2.
Although it is a part of the Festival I am going to treat the Edinburgh Tattoo as a separate event in our Edinburgh tourist attractions list.
That is because thousand people flock to Edinburgh specifically to see it.
In the same way that the Festival is an extravaganza of the arts, the Tattoo is an extravaganza of military skills.
This is not warfare skills, but skills to entertain.
You will see and hear the fantastic marching bands (the best anywhere in the world), and exhibitions of military skills that are out on for your delight and employment.
It's military circus! 3.
The Edinburgh Dungeons is a great day out for all the family and is more than worthy in featuring in the "must see" Edinburgh tourist attractions.
The Dungeons portray real historic events from Edinburgh's mottled past including the great fire and the plague.
There are shows put on by live actors, sizzling special effects, and "The Extremis", a thrilling ride into hell! Make sure it's on your list of things to see.
4.
For art lovers, our Edinburgh tourist attractions list includes the National Galleries of Scotland which contain an amazing collection of works of art that you simply cannot afford to miss.
The Galleries consist of 5 different venues spread across the city, each one in its own stunning building.
Don't be fooled by the title, the works of art on display are not just Scottish; they have been gathered from every corner of the globe and include works by artists including: Matisse, Picasso, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Gainsborough.
There is also a stunning collection of Renaissance art.
Make no mistake, this is a real art lovers paradise.
5.
No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without visiting "Underground Edinburgh", an unforgettable trip into the underground passages and vaults beneath the old city.
Costumed guides are on hand to lead the tours in the candle lit caverns where they will tell of the fascinating history of this unique attraction.