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If you鈥檝e ever wanted to sip a cappuccino where magic once brewed鈥攓uite literally鈥攖hen The Elephant House might just be your pilgrimage stop. Open since 1995, this unassuming caf茅 earned worldwide fame not just for its tea and coffee (which are excellent, by the way), but for serving as a launchpad for a certain bespectacled boy wizard. Yes, J.K. Rowling once holed up in the back room here, penning early chapters of Harry Potter while eyeing up the brooding silhouette of Edinburgh Castle. Talk about dramatic inspiration...

But Rowling wasn鈥檛 the only literary mind to haunt these elephant-adorned halls. Other patrons like Ian Rankin, the mastermind behind the gritty Rebus detective novels, and Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency and 44 Scotland Street fame, have also warmed the seats here. Apparently, there鈥檚 something about the mix of caffeine, castle views, and atmospheric chatter that gets the creative juices flowing.

So, whether you鈥檙e nursing dreams of becoming the next literary sensation or just need a sturdy espresso before wandering into Edinburgh鈥檚 medieval maze鈥攄rop by The Elephant House. Who knows? That scribble on your napkin might just be the next bestseller...

Edinburgh makes things easy for history buffs: just follow the soot-streaked stones of the Old Town and you鈥檒l trip over ancient buildings in no time. One such relic is Greyfriars Church鈥攁n architectural overachiever that鈥檚 been around since the early 1600s and still manages to steal the show.

Work on the church began in 1602, and by 1630, it was officially consecrated, rising from the ruins of an abandoned Franciscan monastery and becoming one of the oldest buildings in the Old Town. Its name is a fashion nod to the original residents鈥攎onks in grey robes, otherwise known as the 鈥淕rey Friars.鈥� Simple branding, eternal legacy...

In 1718, someone got the bright idea to divide the church with a wall鈥擮ld Greyfriars on one side, New Greyfriars on the other鈥攂ecause heaven forbid the Covenanters and Roman Catholics share pew space. Then, in 1845, the roof caught fire (presumably not from divine wrath), destroying much of the interior.

When the church was restored in the mid-19th century, they added stained-glass windows. Beautiful they were? Yes. Controversial? Also, yes鈥攆or it was the first time that such windows appeared in a Presbyterian church, and it caused a bit of a scandal. A little later, an organ was added, and once again the purists 鈥渃lutched their pearls.鈥� In 1929, they finally took down the dividing wall and made peace鈥� at least architecturally.

Oh, and the adjoining graveyard鈥攊t's said to be haunted by the ghost of one 鈥淏loody鈥� George Mackenzie. A Lord Advocate responsible for the persecution of the Covenanters, his reputation is as bruised as his victims. They say that if he touches you, you鈥檒l feel it鈥攑hysically!鈥攍eft with cuts and bruises... Sleep tight!

Still, nowadays, Greyfriars also doubles as an event venue and low-key fashion runway. It hosts exhibitions, lectures, and drama productions鈥攁ll performed under those once-scandalous stained glass windows. The onsite museum showcases artifacts found in the area and recounts a comprehensive history of the Covenanters.

And for the wizarding crowd鈥攋ust behind the Elephant House Caf茅 lies Greyfriars Kirkyard, where literary pilgrims flock to pay homage to tombstones that may鈥攐r may not鈥攈ave inspired J.K. Rowling. Among those are Thomas Riddell (ring a bell, Voldemort fans?), Robert Potter, William McGonagall, and even names like Elizabeth Moodie and Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn, suspiciously close to Mad-Eye Moody and Rufus Scrimgeour (the Minister of Magic in the final Harry Potter book). As of August 2019, you can buy a handy Harry Potter-themed gravestone map; the proceeds from sales go toward graveyard upkeep鈥攁nd probably a bit of Muggle curiosity management, too.

Also, visible from here is George Heriots School, reportedly the template for fictional Hogwarts...

Many a people dream of being successful authors with the riches and acclaim that go with the job. A visit to the Writer鈥檚 Museum on the Mound probably won鈥檛 help anyone on this way, but it will certainly give a great insight into some of Scotland鈥檚 most distinguished writers, so you shouldn鈥檛 miss visiting it.

You will find the museum in the Lady Stair鈥檚 House in the Close of the same name. The house was built in 1622 and was bought by the Dowager Countess of Stair in the late 18th century. Her descendants donated the property to the city of Edinburgh in 1907 on the premise that they use it for a museum of some sort.

Subsequently, they turned it into a museum dedicated to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson, showcasing mementoes of these and other Scottish writers. The house is beautifully decorated in clear colours and gives visitors the feeling of stepping back in time.

The museum's collection features primarily the personal items of these three great writers, including a plaster cast of Robert Burns鈥� skull, Sir Walter Scott鈥檚 wooden rocking horse, a book won by Robert Louis Stevenson when he was at school, and more.

You will see Scott鈥檚 dining room, taken from his house and lovingly recreated here, along with his chessboard and the original printing press where his Waverley novels were printed. There is also a scale model of the Scott Monument.

On Robert Burns鈥� writing desk, you will find manuscripts and rough copies of his works, with mistakes neatly crossed out and jottings in the margins of the pages. Also displayed here are the favourite fishing rod of Robert Stevenson and the photos of his life in Samoa.

There are many temporary exhibitions displaying the works of contemporary Scottish writers, plus a terrific gift shop where you can buy copies of the writers鈥� books.

Makars' Court is the courtyard next to the Writers' Museum. It forms part of Lady Stair's Close, which connects the Lawnmarket with The Mound to the North. Described as an "evolving national literary monument", the courtyard incorporates quotations from Scottish literature inscribed onto paving slabs. The quotations represent works in the languages used by Scots past and present: Gaelic, Scots, English, and Latin.

Sir Walter Scott鈥擲cotland鈥檚 literary darling, national treasure, and master of the pen鈥攚as so loved by the country that they figured one statue for him wasn't enough. Instead, they built him a giant Gothic spire right in Princes Street Gardens鈥攖he Scott Monument. Because, indeed, what better way to honour a writer than with a stone rocket aimed at the heavens?

When Scott passed away in 1832, the city held a grand design competition for his monument. Out of the great many prestigious architects who entered, the winning design came from... a draughtsman with zero architectural credentials. George Meikle Kemp, feeling cheeky, submitted his entry under the pseudonym 鈥淛ohn Morvo,鈥� borrowing the name of a 15th-century stonemason to boost his street cred. And it worked.

Now, if you鈥檙e up for a challenge, you can tackle the 61-metre-tall monument that has several viewing platforms accessed by narrow winding stairways. The highest of them is only 287 steps away. Yes, 287. But rest assured鈥攊f your legs don鈥檛 give out en route to the top, you鈥檒l be rewarded with sweeping city views and an actual certificate for surviving the climb. Bragging rights included.

The whole structure is made of Binny Sandstone, a material with a peculiar talent: it is so oily that it attracts dirt almost immediately. Just one year after its completion, the monument looked like it had been standing there for centuries. American writer Bill Bryson once lovingly described it as a 鈥淕othic rocket-ship鈥濃�攚hich, honestly, is spot-on.

Inside the base, you鈥檒l find a marble statue of Sir Walter himself, complete with quill, paper, and his loyal dog Maida. Scattered across the monument are 64 statues of characters from his novels, plus a healthy dose of grotesques鈥攖hose wonderfully creepy Gothic faces that the architect deliberately added to his design to make the monument look more 鈥渁ncient鈥� and moodier than it is.

For the ease of it, you can admire the monument casually from the safety of the grass. Otherwise, go full adventurer and climb for a 360-degree panoramic view鈥攋ust don鈥檛 expect a lift鈥攁nd note a fee attached to that.

Tip:
The staircase gets narrow and twisty, and yes, you鈥檒l likely meet people coming down as you're going up. Not particularly recommended for the fainthearted... or the claustrophobic.

During his relatively brief life, spanning from November 13, 1850, to December 3, 1894, Robert Louis Stevenson (originally named Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson) achieved a significant place in history as a renowned Scottish writer. He excelled in various literary genres, including novels, poetry, and travel writing. His notable works such as "Treasure Island," "Kidnapped," "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "A Child's Garden of Verses" earned him widespread acclaim.

While Stevenson enjoyed recognition during his lifetime, his critical reception became somewhat mixed after his death. However, in contemporary times, his works continue to be well-regarded, solidifying his position as the 26th most translated author globally.

Stevenson was born and educated in Edinburgh, where he endured persistent bronchial illness from a young age. His health issues began at the age of one, as he inherited a predisposition to coughs and fevers. These health challenges persisted even after his family relocated to a damper and colder place at 1 Inverleith Terrace in 1851. It wasn't until he turned 11 that his health improved, despite the family's subsequent move to the sunnier 17 Heriot Row when Stevenson was six.

As an only child with a unique appearance and personality, Stevenson faced difficulties fitting in at a nearby school he attended from age six. At 11, he switched to the Edinburgh Academy due to frequent illnesses that kept him away from his initial school, resulting in extended periods of private tutoring. Stevenson learned to read relatively late, around age seven or eight. Nevertheless, even before acquiring this skill, he would dictate stories to his mother and nurse, displaying a strong passion for storytelling throughout his childhood.

Today, Stevenson's childhood home in Edinburgh, now owned by John and Felicitas Macfie, still retains much of its original architectural charm. It serves as a venue for hosting receptions, dinners, and conferences.

Sitting on the corner of York Place, conveniently close to many of the city鈥檚 iconic attractions, such as the Edinburgh Playhouse and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, is a public house named after the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This traditional pub is just a short walk from Conan Doyle's original residence on Picardy Place, in which he was born on 22 May 1859.

This part of the city has been populated since 1685, first by the French refugees who fled the province of Picardy following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV which outlawed Protestantism; they built a 鈥渉ome away from home鈥�, called the Picardy village.

Inside, The Conan Doyle celebrates the life of its legendary namesake with an array portraits and paraphernalia inspired by the esteemed crime writer's famous works. Other than that, however, the place is well known for its wide range of traditional quality Scottish pub food available all day long, as well as a drinks menu focusing on fine real cask ales and scotch whiskies, served up in a relaxing, Victorian-style surroundings. In addition to the spacious bar and restaurant, there is a mezzanine capable of holding up to 40 guests.

Visitors can pay homage to Conan Doyle outside the pub just as well, at a larger than life commemorative bronze statue of Sherlock Holmes, portrayed as if in meditation on the death of his author, which stands watch over the area, just across the street.