Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat is an ancient volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, rising 251 meters above Holyrood Park. Free to hike.
Garden in Edinburgh
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. The Scott Monument, the Floral Clock, and the views up to the castle make the gardens one of the most pleasant free spaces in the city. Budget travelers sit on the grass, watch the trains pass through Waverley Station below, and take in the castle from a perspective that feels like a painting.
Practical
Before you go
- Address
- West Princes Street Gardens, EH2 2HG Edinburgh
- Good to know
Nearby
More in Edinburgh
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
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.
Working out what Edinburgh costs?
The whole of Edinburgh