The main districts of Edinburgh are the Georgian New Town, the medieval Old Town and the Port of Leith. The castle dominates the urban landscape, marking the centre of the city and overlooking Princes Street, Edinburgh's main thoroughfare, which has been described as one of the most beautiful streets in the world.

The Royal Mile, which Daniel Defoe once also declared the most beautiful street he had ever seen, links Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse and was the main artery of the medieval city. Careful preservation in the 20th century has maintained its distinctive character.

To the north, along the Firth of Forth, the Leith docks have recently been regenerated with stylish waterfront hotels, restaurants, pubs and wine bars and this renaissance is gradually expanding east and west along the coastline with a flurry of development. Outside the centre, the islands of the Firth of Forth, the Pentland Hills and charming nearby coastal towns all await.

The Edinburgh and Scotland Information Centre
3 Princes Street
Tel: 0845 225 5121.
Website: www.edinburgh.org  
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1000-1700; open later in summer.

There are also city centre representatives (roaming tourist officers) who offer advice and assistance. You can find them around the Royal Mile, Princes Street and Waverley station.

The excellent value Edinburgh Pass (website: www.edinburgh.org/pass) offers free access to 30 tourist attractions, a guidebook on the city, free transfers to and from the airport and unlimited use of local and regional buses as well as shopping discounts. The pass comes in one-day, two-day and three-day permutations. The pass is available from the tourist office in Princes Street, at the airport and in advance online.