To stroll through Old Town is to take a trip back in time: Streets are cobbled, certain buildings date back to the 16th century, and Edinburgh Castle, the city’s most famous landmark, looms from on high atop the volcanic Castle Rock. High Street—AKA the Royal Mile—runs through Old Town like a spine, connecting several major sights and a medieval maze of side streets. If you’re in Edinburgh for the very first time, take your time absorbing Old Town’s highlights, especially in August, when performers flood the austere streets and the town comes alive with the sights and sounds of the Edinburgh Fringe and Festival.
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