Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat is an ancient volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, rising 251 meters above Holyrood Park. Free to hike.
City in United Kingdom
Edinburgh
19 things to see
Edinburgh packs an enormous amount of free into a compact, walkable centre, which makes it one of Europe’s best-value cities for travellers watching their budget. Climb Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, for the best panorama in town at zero cost, then stroll Calton Hill for another sweeping view of the skyline. The National Museum of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland are free to enter, and walking the Royal Mile between the Old and New Towns costs nothing at all. During the August Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, hundreds of free and pay-what-you-can shows turn the whole city into a stage. Spring and autumn bring cheaper beds and thinner crowds than the August peak, with the dramatic scenery just as good, and Edinburgh pairs naturally with budget side trips to Glasgow and onward by train to London.
What to see
Things to do in Edinburgh
What each one costs, where the cost is known.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a low hill at the east end of Princes Street with classical monuments, a city observatory, and views over the New Town, the castle, Arthur's Seat, and the Firth of Forth. Free.
Dean Village
Dean Village is a former milling village hidden in a steep valley of the Water of Leith, a 10-minute walk from the West End. Free.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most visited paid attraction, a fortress on the Castle Rock that has been occupied for over 3,000 years. Entry is paid.
Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
The Esplanade is the broad open forecourt in front of Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile. Free to stand on.
Grassmarket
The Grassmarket is a wide, sunken square below Edinburgh Castle, historically the site of public executions and cattle markets, now a lively strip of pubs, restaurants, and independent shops. Free to enjoy.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Greyfriars Kirkyard is a 16th-century cemetery in Edinburgh's Old Town, famous for the loyal dog Bobby, connections to Harry Potter (Tom Riddell's grave), and the Covenanters' Prison. Free to enter.
Heart of Midlothian
Heart-shaped mosaic set into the pavement of the Royal Mile, marking the entrance to the old Tolbooth prison. Locals traditionally spit on the heart for good luck.
Mercat Cross
Historic market cross near St. Giles' Cathedral where royal proclamations are still read aloud.
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is a free museum on Chambers Street covering Scottish history, science, technology, and world cultures under one roof. The Grand Gallery with its soaring Victorian ironwork is a highlight in itself.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Entry is paid.
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens are a public park in the valley between the Old Town and the New Town, running beneath the castle rock. Free.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the world's leading botanic gardens, a 70-acre green space north of the New Town with glasshouses, a Chinese garden, a rock garden, and mature specimen trees. Free (glasshouse entry is paid).
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile runs downhill from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a succession of medieval closes, kirks, and stone tenements. Free to walk.
Scottish National Gallery
The Scottish National Gallery is a neoclassical building on the Mound between the Old and New Towns, housing a free collection of European art from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism. Free.
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is a free museum in two buildings (Modern One and Modern Two) set in parkland west of the city center, connected by the Water of Leith Walkway. Free.
St Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral is the principal church of Edinburgh, standing on the Royal Mile between the castle and Holyrood. Free to enter (donations encouraged).
Victoria Street
Victoria Street is a curving, steeply descending street connecting the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket, lined with colorful shop fronts in blues, reds, and yellows. Free to walk.
Writers' Museum
The Writers' Museum is a free museum in Lady Stair's Close off the Royal Mile, dedicated to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Free.
On foot
Walks and free tours in Edinburgh
Tip-based tours and self-guided routes, which is usually the cheapest orientation there is.
Edinburgh Free Tour
The SANDEMANs Free Tour of Edinburgh walks the Royal Mile from the Castle Esplanade down through St Giles' Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Grassmarket, and the closes along the way. It is the history-focused orientation walk for budget travelers in the Old Town.
Edinburgh Water of Leith Walk
The Water of Leith Walkway follows the river from the center of Edinburgh through Dean Village, past the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, and onward to Stockbridge. Free. A wooded valley walk that feels impossibly rural for a capital city.
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