Places anethompson Wants to Go

Protecting the dead from opportunistic body snatchers.

Anonymously sculpted and donated, these sculptures made from poetry books and pages are sprinkled around the city.

This small museum in a 17th-century building honors three iconic Scottish writers.

A library where thousands of books explain how to avoid another Great Recession.

These steps offer a breathtaking view of one of Europe's most besieged fortresses.

A secret garden in a picturesque Edinburgh village has inspired artists for centuries.

This otherwise ordinary close on the Royal Mile constituted the end of the world for Edinburgh’s poorest residents.

A sweet symbol marks the place where torturous executions were once carried out.

A labyrinthine network of chambers with a storied past hides below Edinburgh's South Bridge.

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.

This series of Scottish caves has no clear purpose other than baffling historians.

A 18th century graveyard and its astonishing cortege of macabre iconography.

Accessible only at low tide, the deserted island is dotted with World War II ruins.

There are plenty of wonderful panoramic vistas in Edinburgh, but not many are hidden smack in the middle of the Old Town.

This historic pub has maintained much of its 1906 decor, including a small sequestered room for women, where orders were slipped through a tiny window.

Come for the oysters, stay for the priceless art honoring inventors across history and Scotland's favorite outdoor sports.

A beautiful Greco-Roman structure houses a well once believed to have healing powers.

This obscure walkway links Edinburgh’s Old Town with one of the city's prime vantage points.

This allegedly haunted 16th-century tower house-turned-museum exhibits thousands of spectacular objects.

Sprawled across the Great Hall ceiling are various constellations and images relating to the zodiac.

Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.

This 16th-century house tells the city's history through old artifacts and quirky tales.

A verdant 17th-century-style garden hidden along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

The taxidermy remains of the first mammal ever cloned from an adult cell are on display in Edinburgh.