Places Vrielinkie Wants to Go

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

Every birth, death, and marriage is recorded in these color-coded leather-bound books.

Remnants of the 16th-century defensive wall still stand unassumingly within Edinburgh.

A succession of eerily contemplative iron figures lead from a Scottish museum to the sea.

The tomb of one of Scotland's bloody historic villains is a magnet for bumbling desecrators.

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

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

The most loyal of little dogs, or a Victorian era publicity stunt?

The 16th-century church has the only stained glass windows that survived the Scottish Reformation intact.

Overlooked by many, the two famous Scottish warriors guard the main gate of Edinburgh Castle.

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

Summer in Scotland begins with a spectacularly wild and colorful event rooted in ancient pagan traditions.

Protecting the dead from opportunistic body snatchers.

A statue in the heart of Edinburgh honors a bear that served in the Polish military during World War II.

Formerly abandoned underground complex to keep royals safe from a nuclear war that never came.

The final resting place of soldiers' loyal canine companions.

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

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

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

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

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

A book bound in the skin of an infamous criminal, along with countless other specimens.

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

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