Edinburgh's main attraction is the city itself — a small, walkable capital where almost every street is a sight. Three days is the bare minimum for the headline acts: the castle, the Royal Mile down to Holyrood, the Georgian set-pieces of the New Town, and a hike up Arthur's Seat. Add a fourth for the museums (the National Museum of Scotland is free and excellent), and a fifth to wander Stockbridge and Leith without a list. The city is steep and the weather is honest about it; bring proper shoes and a windproof.