edinburgh : scotland's capital city

Edinburgh , said the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, is what Paris ought to be. Its magnificent architecture shifts from the lofty buildings of its medieval Old Town, as they tumble down the spine of the Royal Mile, to the grace of the Georgian New Town. Above it all, in its towering splendour, stands Edinburgh Castle.

Every step is a revelation - an alleyway which reveals an ancient courtyard, or a wynd which opens up a new panorama. And yet within this sweeping elegance is a compact city, a bustling city, above all a city which rewards every visitor.

If it's happening, it's happening here - and don't just take our word for it. It's not long since Britain's Observer newspaper found that Edinburgh was one of the very few cities in the country which could really claim to be alive for 24 hours a day.

There's so much to choose between, from mountain biking or more leisurely countryside pursuits, to the thrills of the city. You can pick where to eat and what to do at almost any time of day - from a fantastic selection of venues covering the arts and music and all the touristy things you could ever want to do, to clubs and pubs and cafes, open from the early hours until, well, the early hours!