Fly from Nice to Edinburgh

The key to a successful holiday? Fill up on culture in Edinburgh and get a large dose of nature as you explore its surroundings! That’s the magic formula that works every time, whether you discover Edinburgh with that special someone, friends, or as a family. Because Scotland is a bit like Tintin: great for ages 7 to 77. Within limits, of course. Younger children will need to wait a few years before learning the art of turning water and grain into a 20 year old scotch.
But aside from this small exception, there’s no need for moderation as you discover Edinburgh and its region. Especially as this Gaelic city is full of flavour. It’s bourgeois, with its royal palace and Victorian mansions. It’s proud, with its castle atop Castle Rock and massive cannon, the One o’Clock Gun, fired each day at 1 pm. And then suddenly it's shocking, even distressing, as you tour The Real Mary King's Close, a city within the city, an underground labyrinth where the sick and wretched lived until the 17th century. The place is said to still be haunted to this day. But what in this city isn't? It’s why we love it. For that, and so much more...

• Visit the two Edinburgh homes of Queen Elisabeth II: Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Britannia, the royal yacht which is now spending its retirement at Leith Port.
• From the Palace of Holyroodhouse, walk up the Royal Mile, an area of medieval streets whose 1,814.2 metres are a reminder of a forgotten measurement: the Scottish mile.
• Make your way to the top and Castle Rock, a dormant volcano, to see Parliament, St Giles' Cathedral, and Edinburgh Castle, a thousand year old citadel that’s home to the Scottish crown jewels.
• Bring along a doll as you visit The Real Mary King's Close to give to Annie, or at least her ghost, who’s been looking for hers for centuries. All toys left for her are collected and given to the children in the city who need them most.
• Get some fresh air and sun on the impeccable lawns of Princes Street Gardens. Other things you’ll find here include the “Edinburgh Eye”, the Floral Clock and the Scott Monument, a Gothic spire built to honour Sir Walter Scott, writer of Ivanhoe.
• Go back through thousands of years of history in just a few hours when you visit the National Museum of Scotland, which is as eclectic as it is captivating. The best of Scotland!
• Linger in the streets of Dean Village, chin up, to take in the incredible houses there which date back to the 17th century. It’s a village within the city which will lead you to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, home to Picasso and Warhol.
• Take a good 2 hour hike up to Arthur's Seat, a 251 metre high green hill where, according to legend, the son of Uther Pendragon built Camelot, the castle of the Knights of the Round Table.
• Sample Scottish fudge, the biggest rival to English toffee. So many flavours to try! The undisputed expert: Fudge House on the Royal Mile.
• Go Scotch tasting. In the Scotch Whisky Experience which houses the largest collection of scotch in the world. Or in a renowned whisky bar such as Usquabae, Whiski Rooms, or Devil’s Advocate.