01
45 min
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a public open space above the east end of Princes Street, known for its concentration of monuments and broad city views.
- Must see
- Nature site
City guide · United Kingdom
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is built around a dramatic ridge-and-valley centre, with the Old Town and New Town facing each other across Princes Street Gardens. Most major central sights are walkable, but steep streets, closes and cobbles slow the route. Buses and trams connect the centre with Leith, the airport and outer districts. Plan uphill and downhill sections deliberately rather than treating the map as flat.
Practical information
Practical information
- Language spoken
- English; Welsh is official in Wales
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +44
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type G · 230 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Safe from the mains
- Public water suppliers regulate mains drinking water; use cold mains taps
Turn this list into a plan
Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Planning a visit
- Suggested stay
- 2-3 days
- Getting around
- Walking, bus and tram
- January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- March: good time to visit
- April: best time to visit
- May: best time to visit
- June: best time to visit
- July: best time to visit
- August: good time to visit
- September: good time to visit — current month
- October: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- December: viable with meaningful trade-offs
- Best time
- Good time
- Viable with trade-offs
- Difficult conditions
Sources
- worldweather.wmo.int Checked 2026-08-28
- www.visitscotland.com Checked 2026-08-28
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
20 places match
20 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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02 1 hourPrinces Street Gardens
West Princes Street Gardens
West Princes Street Gardens forms the western portion of Princes Street Gardens, a public park in Edinburgh's city centre.
- Must see
- Nature site
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03 1 hourHolyrood Park
Holyrood Park is a royal park in Edinburgh, Scotland, associated with the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It covers a substantial area of open landscape including hills, lochs, and rocky outcrops.
- Must see
- Nature site
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04 1 hourPortobello Beach
Portobello Beach is a coastal suburb and sandy beach located to the east of Edinburgh city centre, along the Firth of Forth.
- Must see
- Nature site
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05 1 hourDuddingston Loch
Duddingston Loch is a freshwater loch situated in Edinburgh, Scotland. It forms part of Holyrood Park and lies near the village of Duddingston. The loch is a notable natural feature within Scotland's capital city, offering a habitat for various wildlife.
- Must see
- Nature site
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06 1 hourThe Meadows
The Meadows is a large public park in Edinburgh, Scotland, situated south of the city centre. This open green space serves as a recreational area for residents and visitors alike.
- Must see
- Nature site
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07 1 hourInverleith Park
Inverleith Park is a broad public green space in Edinburgh’s Inverleith district, north of the city centre.
- High
- Nature site
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08 1 hourLeith Links
Leith Links is a large public park in Edinburgh’s Leith district. Its open grassland carries an important sporting history: the area is associated with golf played in the sixteenth century and with the early development of the game.
- High
- Nature site
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09 1 hourNewhailes House, Musselburgh
Newhailes House & Gardens
Newhailes House & Gardens is a historic Palladian villa near Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh. Built in the late 17th century, it was home to the Dalrymple family for nearly 300 years.
- High
- Nature site
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10 1 hourRoslin Glen Country Park
Roslin Glen Country Park is a wooded river valley situated south of Edinburgh, following the North Esk River through a steep gorge. The park encompasses ancient woodland, historical ruins, and significant geological features.
- High
- Nature site
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11 1 hourDalkeith Country Park
Dalkeith Country Park is an extensive estate landscape near Edinburgh in Midlothian. It gives travellers a day outdoors among woodland, open parkland, and the River North Esk, with the atmosphere of a historic Scottish country estate.
- High
- Nature site
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12 1 hourCraigmillar Castle Park
Craigmillar Castle Park is a public park in Edinburgh, Scotland, centred on the historic Craigmillar Castle. The park encompasses the castle grounds and surrounding green space in the south-east of the city.
- High
- Nature site
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13 1 hourDunbar’s Close Garden
Dunbar's Close Garden
Dunbar's Close Garden is a hidden walled garden in Edinburgh's Old Town, situated on the Royal Mile near Canongate. It occupies the site of a former tenement close, recreated as a 17th-century-style garden.
- High
- Nature site
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14 1 hourDean Gardens, Edinburgh
Dean Gardens
Dean Gardens is a private garden space located in Edinburgh's Stockbridge area, situated near the Water of Leith. The gardens occupy a sloping site descending toward the river gorge.
- High
- Nature site
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15 1 hourBruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links is a large open parkland area in Edinburgh, situated south of the city centre. It forms part of the larger Meadows and Links chain of green spaces.
- Notable
- Nature site
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16 1 hourCharlotte Square
Charlotte Square Gardens
Charlotte Square is a Georgian square at the western end of George Street in Edinburgh's New Town.
- Notable
- Nature site
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Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells 17 1 hourColinton and Craiglockhart Dells
Colinton and Craiglockhart Dells form a wooded river corridor along the Water of Leith in southwest Edinburgh. Colinton Dell and Craiglockhart Dell sit beside one another, creating a continuous green route through an urban area.
- Notable
- Nature site
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Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve 18 1 hourCorstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve
Corstorphine Hill Local Nature Reserve is a protected natural area in Edinburgh, Scotland. It encompasses a prominent hill that rises above the western suburbs of the city, offering elevated terrain within an otherwise relatively flat coastal region.
- Notable
- Nature site
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19 1 hourCramond Foreshore
Cramond Foreshore is an outdoor coastal area in northwest Edinburgh, where the River Almond reaches the Firth of Forth. It is suited to shoreline walks, estuary views and time beside the water.
- Notable
- Nature site
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20 1 hourGeorge Square
George Square Gardens
George Square Gardens is the planted garden area within George Square, a prominent public space in Edinburgh's Southside. The gardens sit beside the University of Edinburgh's central campus and provide a green pause among academic, residential and civic buildings.
- Notable
- Nature site
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
How the city is laid out
The Old Town follows the Royal Mile ridge from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood, with closes descending sharply on both sides. Across the valley, the Georgian New Town extends north from Princes Street. Calton Hill stands east of the central station, while the Meadows and university districts spread south. Leith forms a separate waterfront centre to the northeast, and Portobello lies farther east on the coast. Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park need their own weather-dependent block.
Checked 2026-08-26
Getting around
Walk between the Old Town and New Town, allowing extra time for slopes and cobbled surfaces. Lothian buses cover the city and surrounding districts, while the tram links the airport, city centre, Leith and Newhaven corridor. Contactless payment is available on the principal bus network, and official journey tools show current services. Use transit for Leith, Portobello and outer attractions rather than extending an already steep central walking day.
Checked 2026-08-26
Common questions
How many days does Edinburgh need?
Two to three days suit a first visit. One day can follow the Old Town ridge, another can cover the New Town and museums, and a third allows Leith or a weather-dependent outdoor route.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May through September offers longer daylight for viewpoints and neighbourhood walks. Festival periods can change availability and crowd levels, so confirm dates before choosing accommodation.
Is Edinburgh easy to explore on foot?
The central sights are close enough to walk, but steep gradients, steps and cobbles make distances feel longer. Group the Old Town ridge and New Town separately instead of repeatedly crossing the valley.
How do visitors reach Leith?
Use the tram or city buses from central Edinburgh. Leith is a separate waterfront district, so it works better as a coherent half-day than as a quick detour between Old Town sights.
Can visitors use contactless payment on buses?
The principal Lothian bus network accepts contactless payment and applies its current fare rules through the operator system. Use the same card or device consistently and review current visitor guidance before boarding.