How is this ranked as #8 of things to do? There is so much here to see, do..and eat, of course. Edinburgh Castle on one end; Holyrood Palace on the other....St. Giles' Cathedral in the middle, and all along the way, lots of souvenir shops, pubs, restaurants, and of course the closes (small alleys) to peek into! We went here three days in a row- there is always something new.

The Royal Mile is filled with wonderful historical sites, buildings and shops but like Times Square, and Bourbon Street, it’s a tourist trap. Venture off The Royal Mile for more authentic shopping, greater diversity and a slower pace. I’d do both just to feel the vibe.

The Royal Mile goes from The Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The street has many sights, like St. Giles cathedral, Camera Obscura and The Whisky Experience. I would recommend going from the castle to the palace, as it is going downwards. On the Royal Mile, there are also restaurants and bars.

The Royal Mile is lined with quality as well as touristy shops, restaurants and some sites. At one end is the Edinburgh Castle and the other is the Holyrood Palace with Giles Cathedral in between the two. There are also side streets that branch off where you can explore other shops and restaurants. You can easily spend the entire day, or more, in this area here depending on what you want to do.

Whiskies were laid out alphabetically and easy to see in the shop. Prices for the location were fair and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. If you are going to buy a bottle whilst in the tourist part of Edinburgh, I wouldn't go anywhere else to be honest. The positive reviews I had read about this place where accurate during our visit.

Stunning architecture and old town streets. Definite must do on a vacation. Prepare for an abundance of kitchy stores. Plenty of great opportunities to buy whisky -either full bottle or small samplers- that you really do not get when traveling the small towns of Scotland. You will get full bottles in each distillery and small town stores (with much more limited options), but not many have the smaller sample bottles…so it may be wise to grab the sampler gift packs etc while in Edinburgh (even if it is the beginning of your trip).

Lovely walk with great shops, pubs and cafes. Rain makes it a bit gloomy but stunning views, great bagpipe music. Wear comfortable shoes as cobblestone streets will kill you

An amazing experience of walking through a medieval/Victorian city from Edinburgh Castle to Hollyrood Castle. So much history and entertainment but also very touristy and a bit expensive. Get off the mile and find those smaller more removed spots for great food and to see the national museums.

Oh, sure, the Mile has plenty of touristy shops, but none are on the tacky side. Wonderful architecture, great history, good food, and fascinating museums are to be found on or very near to the Mile. Even the street entertainers are a cut above (where else are you going to find bagpipes played in full Highland dress, or opera singing, both well done btw).

What an interesting mix of crass commerce and true historically valuable neighborhoods! Coming from the US, walking through areas like this always causes me to admire the preserved buildings, streets, statuary, and "aura" of places so old and unique. Exactly everything here is many centuries older than the structures where I come from. They also remind us of how difficult life was in the face wars, disease, famine, and the influences of the often inept governing bodies and church leaders who held sway over people's lives. But you can easily overlook the tons of stores selling souvenirs, wool, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jewellery, magnets and other things you don't need - and focus on the true beauty of the carved façades and the pinnacles, the cobblestones and the carved doors, and be glad they have been preserved. It's kind of a living museum.