Edinburgh is one smart city. It has two World Heritage Sites. It's the first-ever World City of Literature. Its annual diary is bursting at the seams with festivals, events, concerts, West End shows and exhibitions from one January 1st to the next. Do the smart thing and book into Edinburgh's only five-star quality youth hostel, smart city hostel to be right where the action is! Find out what's not to miss when you are here. Check out what else is out there in the rest of Scotland to explore from your smart city hostel base in our Scotland Hot List.

Mary King's Ghost Fest, 9 - 18 May 2008
 

This unusual and extremely popular 10 day, city-wide ghost festival is not to be missed if the supernatural and paranormal spark your imagination.

Edinburgh's Top Ten Hot List

1. Edinburgh Castle
History, mystery, Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the best views in the city - what more could you ask for?!
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

2. Palace of Holyroodhouse
Some right royal goings-on happened here in the past. Nowadays it's officially where the Queen calls home in Scotland.
www.royal.gov.uk/output/page559.asp

3. Royal Yacht Britannia
Follow in the footsteps of royalty, presidents and world leaders above (and below) decks for a taste of royal life at sea.
www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

4. Museum of Scotland
Everything you ever wanted to know about Scotland and its people in one easy visit - now there's an offer!
www.nms.ac.uk

5. National Gallery of Scotland
Not just home to Scottish works, but also major European collections and regular blockbuster crowd-pullers like Rembrandt and Monet.
www.nationalgalleries.org

6. Rosslyn Chapel
The Da Vinci Code - read the book? Seen the film? Now visit the chapel! Regular tours or a Lothian bus 15 will get you there.
www.rosslynchapel.org.uk

7. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
If you're more Pollock than Poussin, this is the place to go. Even the lawn here is a work of art.
www.nationalgalleries.org

8. Dynamic Earth
Get the lowdown on Planet Earth from the Big Bang to the Futuredome in lots of hands-on, interactive ways.
www.dynamicearth.co.uk

9. Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
Malts and blends, nips and drams - they're all explained in entertaining fashion here with a wee sample to round things off.
www.whisky-heritage.co.uk

10. Museum of Flight
Travel 20 miles east of Edinburgh to get up close and personal with all manner of flying machines, including Concorde
www.nms.ac.uk/flight