Edinburgh Airport 9 min
National Museum of Scotland (32 min)
Bright modern museum housing Scottish industrial history relics, natural history displays and cafe. Scott Monument (35 min)
Spirelike Victorian memorial in honour of the writer Sir Walter Scott, with 287 steps to the top. Arthur's Seat (49 min)
Mountain offering hikes from moderate to advanced, plus panoramic city & Firth of Forth views. Calton Hill (36 min)
Prominent hill with neoclassical monuments & sweeping views of the city skyline & Edinburgh Castle. Palace of Holyroodhouse (35 min)
The 16th-century palace of the Stuarts, with tours of royal reception rooms, antiques and relics. Blackness Castle (14 min)
15th-century fortress noted for its shiplike form & rampart views over the Firth of Forth. Edinburgh Castle (33 min)
An 11th-century castle and barracks housing the Crown Jewels and National War Museum of Scotland. The Real Mary King's Close (32 min)
Hidden streets from the 1600s below the Royal Mile, accompanied by tales from costumed guides. Midhope Castle (9 min)
The exterior of this 15th-century castle on a working farm is featured on the TV series Outlander. St Giles' Cathedral (32 min)
Grand, Gothic medieval building and Presbyterian place of worship where John Knox used to preach. Royal Mile (32 min) Linlithgow Palace (12 min)
The ruins of the elegant medieval birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, set within parkland by a loch. Edinburgh Zoo (20 min)
Large parkland zoo offering keeper talks, hands-on animal encounters and free hilltop safari rides. Forth Bridge (16 min)
1.5-mile long, twin-towered railway bridge, opened in 1890 & crossing the Forth estuary. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (26 min)
Manicured 70-acre gardens with palm house and temporary exhibitions, kids' events, tours and cafes. | 
