Portobello Beach
Three miles to the east of Edinburgh’s city centre, there’s a beautiful beach resort along the coast of the Firth of Forth. Originally known as Figgate Muir, it was used as pasture by the monks of Holyrood Abbey. By the 18th Century, it had been a main hub for sailors and smugglers. Its name derives from a cottage built by a seaman who served in the 1739 campaign at Puerto Bello in Panama. It later became a fashionable bathing resort with a promenade opening onto the wide, sandy beach. Nelson's Monument
Nelson's Monument situated on top of Calton Hill was built between 1807 and 1815 to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who led the victory over French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The statue was designed by Robert Burn to look like an upturned telescope. On top of the tower, there’s a mast which served as a time-keeper for the ships in Edinburgh's port before the invention of accurate clocks. The time ball can still be seen today. Edinburgh Castle
This tremendous ancient fortress situated on the top of Castle Rock dominates Edinburgh’s skyline and is one of the most-visited landmarks in Scotland. Since the 16th Century, it has been a centre of military activity, and still has a military garrison for ceremonial purposes and serves as the official headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. At the top of the Royal Mile, in front of the castle, there’s a long sloping forecourt called the Esplanade. From the Esplanade, you can admire the Half Moon Battery, which along with David's Tower is a dominant feature of this city. Scottish Parliament
The Parliament House is located in the Old Town, just off the Royal Mile beside St. Giles Cathedral, was home to the pre-1707 Parliament of Scotland and now houses the Supreme Courts of Scotland. It consists of the two highest Scottish courts, the High Court of Justiciary for criminal cases and the Court of Session for civil cases. There’s also the Advocates' Library, founded in 1682, and the private Signet Library, funded by members of The Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet, who are generally practising solicitors.