Soaked in Celtic and medieval history, Edinburgh is a cultural tapestry that’s largely visually defined by hills, cathedrals, and the bold stone towers of Edinburgh Castle. The city is very festive where people like to celebrate everything from art, music, and food to theater, sports and comedy.

One of the most touristic activities in the city is tracing Edinburgh’s historical links, discovering its hidden gems and experiencing its authentic Scottish culture. There are a beautiful variety of activities to do, and we selected the most visited attractions in the city:

Scottish Parliament: Head to Holyrood where the Scottish Parliament is located and take a moment to view its modern architecture. You should take a one hour tour and get to know the country better, there is a beautiful art gallery, and a history tour that will take you back in time with photos and sculptures of the country’s history.

Scott Monument: This is one of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks in the heart of Princes Street. The Scott Monument was constructed in 1846 to commemorate Edinburgh born writer Sir Walter Scott, renowned for his historical novels. Rising sharply, the views from its summit overlooking the capital and surrounding countryside are tremendous and well worth the climb — albeit, not for the faint hearted. At 200 ft, there are 287 steps to be climbed.

Edinburgh Castle: This castle dominates the city skyline from the peak of an extinct volcano; this made it the most popular and famous tourist attraction in the whole city. The castle is basically an ancient stronghold that has been home to royalty for hundreds of years including Queen Margaret, Mary Queen of Scots and James VI. The Crown Jewels, Stone of Destiny and an opportunity to explore the castle’s ancient dungeons are a must see.

The National Galleries of Scotland: It is located on The Mound in central Edinburgh, in a neoclassical building designed by William Henry Playfair in 1859. The building comprises the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland. It is home to the artworks of many old masters, they feature Titian, Da Vinci, Raphael and Vermeer, as well as other pre-eminent artists such as Monet, Degas, Constable, Turner and Cezanne.

National Museum of Scotland: The museum is the home of the Scottish culture, history and people. This gives you a great opportunity to explore the beautiful Scottish history from the primeval age right up to the modern era, and the 360-degree views of Edinburgh from the roof garden are spectacular. You can take a guided tour that will take you on a journey through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature, world cultures and the excitement of science and discovery — all under one roof. In recent years it has been modernized and can truly be called a 21st century museum. There are exhibits on diverse subjects to interest almost all.

Greyfriars Bobby: Located directly across the street from the National Museum of Scotland, this small statue commemorating one of Edinburgh’s best loved residents, a little Skye terrier known as Greyfriars Bobby. Made famous by numerous books and a Disney film, Bobby faithfully guarded over his owner’s grave in the nearby Greyfriars Kirkyard for fourteen years. Make sure to make enough time for a quick selfie with Bobby.

George Street: This is one of the famous streets in Edinburgh, it is home to some of Edinburgh’s trendiest, shops and restaurants, George Street is the perfect spot to indulge in shopping and small coffee shops and restaurants that allows you to relax for coffee, dinner or a light bite. This street is where the rich and famous hang out, thanks to fashionistas’ favorite Harvey Nichols in St. Andrew Square and designer shops such as Cruise and Phase Eight, to star studded jewelers such as Hamilton & Inches and Laings, George Street has it all.

Jenners Department Store: It was the oldest independent department store in Scotland until its acquisition by House of Fraser in 2005. It was first founded in 1838 and situated across from the Scott Monument; it provides an upmarket shopping experience selling a wide variety of goods from fine fragrances to high fashion and even has an impressive food hall. Many say it’s the Harrods of Edinburgh where you will find everything you need under one roof.

Multrees Walk: It is another shopping destination located on the side of St. Andrew Square. Multrees Walk plays host to top fashion labels such as Mulberry, Armani and Louis Vuitton. It’s also home to Scotland’s only Harvey Nichols store featuring five floors of luxury supporting the latest trends in clothing, accessories, beauty products, not to mention a food store filled with decadent treats. It also holds a number of restaurants, brasserie and a roof terrace where you can take a rest from shopping and relax with a light meal overlooking the square.

Edinburgh Zoo: It is formally known as the Scottish National Zoological Park. It is an 82-acre non-profit zoological park situated three miles to the west of Edinburgh city center. Apart from getting close to over 1,000 rare and endangered animals, there are many different ways to enjoy your day out. The mission statement of Edinburgh Zoo is “To excite and inspire our visitors with the wonder of living animals, and so to promote the conservation of threatened species and habitats.”

Arthur’s Seat: It is the main peak of the group of hills in Scotland which forms most of Holyrood Park, described by Robert Louis Stevenson as “a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design”. This 251m high extinct volcanic summit is an easy 30-minute climb from Dunsapie Loch but can be accessed by bicycle or car for a quick tour around the vertical hillside. A superb location to watch the sun rise but be sure to wrap up warm to make the most of this experience.

Princes Street Gardens: It is a public park in the center of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Located right by the Edinburgh Castle this marvelous public park divides the old town and the new town. Enjoy every minute by exploring the gardens, monuments and statues and seasonal flowers. It is a perfect place to take the whole family to relax and play especially in the summer where many take their dogs and picnic with their loved ones. There are also small cafes where you can enjoy a quite cup of coffee away from the noise of the city.

The Edinburgh Playhouse: It is a former cinema in Edinburgh, which now hosts touring musicals and music concerts. Its capacity is 3,059, making it the UK’s largest working non-sporting theater in terms of audience capacity.