Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle simply dominates its surroundings. You can't go too far in the city without looking up and seeing it on top of a hill/mountain, with its walls extending into the sky. The Castle is always there, always protecting everything within sight.

There's been a castle on the rock since the 1000s, and royalty lived there until 1633. St. Margaret's Chapel has been around since the 12th century. After the royals moved out, its role changed, as it's been a garrison, mint, an archive and a prison. As you'd expect, there's a ton of history connected to the various buildings. You can explore that area on your own. 

Now it mostly belongs to the public. Edinburgh Castle is the second-most popular tourist attraction in the United Kingdom. The entrance, shown here, is very impressive, as it sits at the high end of the Royal Mile. The views from there of the city are photo-worthy. 

The annual Royal Military Tattoo is held on the plaza, and it has to be an overwhelming musical performance. Once inside, visitors are introduced to a variety of buildings. The biggest line to get in is probably the one with the Royal Jewels. 

And don't forget the cannon. Each day at 1 p.m, it is used to indicate the time to rest of the city. I watched it from the gift shop (you could see the confetti fly around after the boom), as the crowds crowded around it on the street.  

I'm not sure you are allowed to go to Edinburgh as a tourist without stopping here. Even so, you'll want to go there. Here's a look from above.