Love seeing views of a city?

Edinburgh is a picturesque city whose two sides – the Old and New Towns – earned it its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here are the three best places to admire Scotland’s capital city!

1. Edinburgh Castle

About Edinburgh Castle:

Not only does a shot of Edinburgh Castle itself make an iconic photo, but the castle offers one of the best views of Edinburgh.

The town of Edinburgh grew up around this fort. In the 11^th century, a stone castle was built by King Malcolm III which was used as a residence for Scottish kings and queens. Today, the castle still possesses a military function, serving as the headquarters of two Scottish regiments.

The view:

Head to the Argyle Battery and understand why this site was chosen first as a hill fortification and then the city’s military stronghold. With its commanding views of the surrounding area, there’s no way an approaching army could sneak up on the Scots.

The best view is probably of Princes Street and the New Town, which was constructed between 1767 and 1850 in response to the overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in the Old Town.

How to visit Edinburgh Castle:

You’ll need a timed ticket to enter Edinburgh Castle.

It’s one of the city’s most popular sights, so I recommend booking your ticket in advance, especially during the busy summer months.

The Argyle Battery is near the entrance of the castle. The steps are a bit narrow, but should be accessible to most people save those with mobility issues.

Want to learn more about how to visit Edinburgh Castle? Check out my ultimate guide to visiting Edinburgh Castle here!

2. Calton Hill

About Calton Hill:

Calton Hill is known for two things: its stunning views of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth, and its weird collection of monuments.

Some of the notable monuments include the Nelson Monument, designed to look like Nelson’s telescope set in stone; the City Observatory, which was once the city’s astronomical observatory; and the National Monument, which was supposed to honor those who died in the Napoleonic Wars, but which was rumored to be unfinished as a result of lack of funds.

The view:

I had read about Calton Hill in guidebooks, but on day two into a week-long stay in Edinburgh, one of the waiters at the restaurant I was eating at told me to head to Calton Hill.

I’m glad I listened to him, because I got to see some truly beautiful views of the city and the Firth of Forth.

On a clear day (good luck with that in rainy Edinburgh!), you can even see Forth Bridge, another of Scotland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (I didn’t get a good shot of it, unfortunately.)

Another great view that no one seems to talk about? A birds eye view of Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the monarch in Scotland.

How to visit Calton Hill:

Calton Hill is free to visit.

Calton Hill is a much easier walk than Holyrood Park and the walk up to Arthur’s Seat.

That being said, I consider myself to be a reasonably fit person and even I got a little winded on the stairs up to Calton Hill.

It is relatively flat once you make it to the top.

3. Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat

About Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat:

Holyrood Park is a royal park located next to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarch’s official residence in Scotland. 650 acres in area, in former times the park was the hunting grounds of the king.

There are a number of points of interest in the park. The first is Arthur’s Seat. Named after the legendary King Arthur, it is an extinct volcano and the highest place in Edinburgh.

Another notable point of interest in the park are the picturesque ruins of St. Anhtony’s Chapel, which probably dates from the Middle Ages.

The view:

Ok, I’ll admit, I didn’t make it to the top of Arthur’s Seat. But it wasn’t for lack of effort. Partway up, I decided my fashion city sneakers weren’t up to the task of navigating the loose rocks and sometimes steep, narrow pathways, so I opted for an easier walk through the park as an alternative.

Even if you don’t make it up to Arthur’s Seat, you can still admire the views from the park, mostly notably those from St. Anthony’s Chapel (where I did make it to).

How to visit Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat:

Holyrood Park is free to visit and open 24 hours a day year-round. I would caution anyone going after dark, especially alone.

As I mentioned, I didn’t make it up to the top of Arthur’s Seat. You’ll need to wear appropriate footwear, preferably hiking shoes, to make the attempt.

If you are making the ascent to Arthur’s Seat, it will take you about 30-60 minutes to reach the top. The entire climb (there and back again) should take around 1-2 hours.

There are a few routes to the top of varying difficulties (although nothing involving actual rock climbing). Anyone of reasonable fitness can climb to Arthur’s Seat, even children. I saw several children hiking up the day I went.

The summit can be chilly, so wear layers.

And if you want to go with a guide, check out this tour!

There you have it! The three best places to view Edinburgh. Which is your favorite view? Let me know in the comments!