Edinburgh is a city full of wonders, both old and new. Running through the city is a road called the Royal Mile which does homage to Scotland's colorful and royal history. As such, there are many tourist attractions which are open to the public which are royal in nature or have some tie to royalty. Some of the most popular royal attractions are discussed below.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh's primary tourist attraction is Edinburgh Castle. Ancient and majestic, it sits atop a volcanic rock at one end of the Royal Mile. While there are various exhibits within the castle such as displays of the Scottish Crown Jewels, and the Stone of Desinty which was used for crowning Scottish royalty, but also there are other buildings in this area such as St. Margaret's Chapel worth visiting. St. Margaret's Chapel is the oldest complete building in Edinburgh, and according to research was built in the very early 12th century.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The second residence for royalty is without a doubt, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is the Queen's residence while in Scotland, and while she's not in residence the palace is open to tours. At the very opposite end of the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle, this palace was established as a monastery but from the 15th century has been used as the primary residence for the Kings and Queens of Scotland.
The Royal Museum of Scotland
Another royal destination not to be missed is the Royal Museum of Scotland. Situated on Chambers Street in a large Victorian building, the Royal Museum exhibits a multitude of collections from around the world. Recently renamed as one of the National Museums of Scotland, this historical treasure was originally built in 1861 and admission is free.
Royal Botanic Gardens
First founded as a physic garden in the early 17th century, these gardens have grown to over 70 acres of greenery and contain more than four separate gardens. Established as Scotland's premiere botanic gardens, the Royal Botanic Garden is recognized as a world leader in the science and education of all things plant-related. Open to the public, this is also a popular place for weddings and other events which are held year round either in the open or in one of the many greenhouses.
Edinburgh abounds with many additional royal attractions and one can spend days just making a tour of them all. There is also the Royal Observatory, the Royal Lyceum Theatre, the Royal Scottish Academy Building which is a gallery, and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
