Running from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile is the central vein of Edinburgh Old Town. As the name suggests, Edinburgh Old Town is where you will find most of the historic landmarks of the city. It is also home to the Literary Museum and National Library of Scotland. The Old Town is filled small, independent shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants. There are certainly a number of gift stores catering specifically to tourists, but other chain retailers are remarkably absent, allowing the area to retain its old-fashioned charm. While you could easily spend your entire trip exploring along the Mile, don't forget to take a look at some of the charmingly quaint streets that make up the rest of the Old Town.
