For arts, folklore, ghost stories, and great whiskey (or whisky, as the Scots spell it), Edinburgh is wonderful year-round, particularly when hosting one of its many festivals, such as Edinburgh Fringe. Its city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with many well-preserved examples of medieval architecture in Old Town. Much of the rest of the city is split into little "villages," like up-and-coming Leith and bustling Stockbridge down the city's New Town area.

Edinburgh Castle, the National Galleries of Scotland, and Museum of Edinburgh each provide a different glimpse at Scotland's heritage—and that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you'd like to see the city in the company of a guide, and you have the time for a themed tour, there's a choice of ghost tours, literary tours, motorcycle tours, or yes, whisky tours.