Nearby Attractions

A fortress on an extinct volcanic plug that has been besieged more than any other castle in Britain. Inside are the Honours of Scotland (the country's crown jewels), the Stone of Destiny used in royal coronations, and Mons Meg, a 15th-century siege cannon that could fire a 150kg stone ball nearly two miles.

Closed: Open daily except 25-26 December

Around £19.50 online for adults (2024-era pricing; almost certainly higher by 2026 — verify on edinburghcastle.scot), with a family ticket option. Online booking is cheaper than paying at the gate, and tickets often sell out in summer, so book ahead.

The King's official residence in Scotland, sitting at the foot of the Royal Mile against the backdrop of Arthur's Seat. Mary, Queen of Scots lived here, and her private chambers — where her secretary David Rizzio was murdered in front of her by conspirators including her own husband — are the most-visited rooms.

Closed: Closed at short notice during royal visits; check rct.uk before travelling

Around £19.50 for adults including a multimedia guide, similar in structure to Buckingham Palace's ticketing (Royal Collection Trust runs both). Closed to visitors at short notice when the King or other royals are in official residence.

The mile-long medieval street connecting the Castle to Holyroodhouse, lined with 'closes' (narrow alleys) that hide entire hidden courtyards. St Giles', with its distinctive crown-shaped spire, has been Edinburgh's principal church since the 12th century and was John Knox's pulpit during the Scottish Reformation.

Walking the Royal Mile is free. St Giles' asks for a suggested donation of a few pounds rather than charging admission; access to the Thistle Chapel inside may require a small separate fee.

A Victorian glass-and-iron gallery merged with a modern extension, covering everything from Scottish history and world cultures to natural science and technology. Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal, is stuffed and on permanent display.

Closed: Open daily except 25 December

Free for the permanent galleries. Ticketed special exhibitions run separately, typically £10-16.

An extinct volcano rising 251 metres directly behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse, its summit reachable by a steep but non-technical walk of roughly 45-60 minutes. On a clear day the view takes in the Firth of Forth, the Pentland Hills and the whole of the Old and New Towns.

Free and open at all times. Wear proper shoes — the path is rocky and can be slippery and windy even in summer, and there is no shelter near the summit.

Scotland's oldest purpose-built tourist attraction, opened in 1853 around a Victorian camera obscura that projects a live rotating image of the city onto a viewing table. Five further floors of holograms, mirror mazes and other optical illusions were added later.

Closed: Open daily

Around £19.50 for adults online. A novelty attraction best suited to families with children or a rainy afternoon rather than a must-see, given the price relative to time spent inside.

A Greek Revival building on the Mound holding Scotland's national collection of Western art from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, including works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Scottish Colourists, plus a Turner watercolour display each January.

Closed: Open daily except 25 December and 1 January

Free for the permanent collection; special exhibitions are ticketed separately, typically £14-20.

A soaring 61-metre Gothic spire in Princes Street Gardens built to honour novelist Sir Walter Scott, said to be the largest monument in the world dedicated to a writer. 287 narrow, spiralling steps lead to a viewing platform looking straight down Princes Street.

Closed: Open daily, weather permitting; may close in high winds

Around £8 for adults to climb; the surrounding Princes Street Gardens are free. The stairwell narrows considerably near the top and is not suitable for claustrophobia or larger frames.