Square in Edinburgh
The Esplanade is the broad open forecourt in front of Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile. Free to stand on. The castle interior is paid, but the Esplanade itself offers views over the New Town and the Firth of Forth. During the Edinburgh Festival in August, the Military Tattoo takes over the Esplanade (ticketed), but for the rest of the year it is a free public viewpoint. Budget travelers who skip the castle ticket still get the view from here.
Practical
On foot
Free and low-cost routes that stop at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
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.
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Arthur's Seat is an ancient volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, rising 251 meters above Holyrood Park. Free to hike.
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 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 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.
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 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.
Working out what Edinburgh costs?
The whole of Edinburgh