When you think of Edinburgh, you immediately think of the famous Royal Mile. This is a series of narrow streets that form the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town. The Royal Mile stretches from Castle Rock, on which Edinburgh Castle stands, to Holyrood Palace. The street owes its name to this walking route, referring to the distance between the royal residences at either end of the street, which is approximately one Scottish mile.

The Royal Mile is made up of smaller streets: Castlehill, Cannongate, Lawnmarket, and High Street. It is the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, and as such, you will find many popular tourist destinations around or on the Royal Mile (in order, starting from Edinburgh Castle):

1. The Scotch Whisky Experience

At the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, you can discover the Scotch Whisky Experience. Part museum, it explains the whisky distillation process through a walk-through experience inside a whisky barrel. After the tour, during which a resident Scotsman (perhaps even a little tipsy) talks about whisky, you enter the tasting area. Your ticket determines the number of whiskies you can sample. The tour ends in a shop where you can purchase the finest Scotch whisky.

2. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

The Camera Obscura & World of Illusions museums are located in a tower that once served as an observatory. The museum is spread over six floors, and you'll learn all about optical illusions. The Camera Obscura is on the top floor, offering breathtaking views of the city.

3. Gladstone's Land

One of the oldest buildings on Edinburgh's Royal Mile is Gladstone's Land. This 17th-century residence is adorned with magnificent hand-painted Renaissance paintings and gilded statues of hunting birds. The house has been furnished and restored by the National Trust for Scotland. The property was once occupied by wealthy residents and merchants, whose scandalous lifestyle is still remembered today.

4. The Heart of Midlothian

The Heart of Midlothian is a book by Sir Walter Scott, an Edinburgh native. The Scotsman based the title of his novel on a heart-shaped mosaic in his hometown. This granite mosaic was set into the pavement near St. Giles' Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament. According to tradition, spitting on the heart brings good luck. In the past, people did this to express their displeasure with the prison, whose entrance was directly behind the mosaic.

5. St. Giles' Cathedral

Construction of St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile began in 1130, but nothing of the original structure has survived the centuries. The cathedral became particularly famous because John Knox launched the iconoclasm there, which led to the Scottish Reformation. The last major alterations to the cathedral date from the 19th century, giving the church as we know it today a Gregorian exterior (late Gregorian period) and a Victorian interior. More information about Saint Gilles