The 7 Best Views in Edinburgh

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is one of the most popular cities to visit in the UK. Known for its charming Old Town, which has remained relatively unchanged in the last 300 years, to its historic castle, bustling shopping areas on Princes Street and huge swathes of green spaces, it is easily one of the most picturesque cities in Scotland, and arguably in the world. Edinburgh is also said to have been built on seven hills originally, and some of these feature in the article below.

With so much to see in the city, observing it from an alternative angle is always a great idea to gain a whole new perspective of the place. These are the 7 best views in Edinburgh.

See the City Differently: 7 Stunning Views in Edinburgh

1. Arthur’s Seat

Some of the best views of Scotland’s capital can be seen directly from one of its most iconic landmarks: Arthur’s Seat.

The ‘seat’ is actually an ancient (and thankfully inactive) volcano, and it rises 251 metres above the city from its base in Holyrood Park. While the climb to get to the top can be fairly challenging – especially in wintry conditions – the views are more than rewarding, they are simply immense.

In fact, it’s often voted as one of the best places to visit in Edinburgh, so if you fancy burning off some of the deep-fried Mars Bars, haggis and Irn Bru, then a good hike up to the top of Arthur’s Seat should do the job just fine!

The view from the top offers an excellent panorama of the whole city, from the winding, narrow roads of the Old Town, to the mighty castle which sits proudly atop its own hill, as well as views of the sprawling suburbs of the Scottish capital. Arthur’s Seat is a must-visit for anyone wanting to see Edinburgh from a totally different perspective.

2. Edinburgh Castle

Another iconic landmark in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh Castle has watched over the city since the 11th century, and from its perfect location on top of a steep hill, it has proved almost impregnable throughout its 1,000-year history.

Not only are the views of the Old Town and parts of the new town spectacular from the castle, but it’s also a great place to go and learn about the history of Scotland – entry to the castle costs, but you can still walk up to the entrance of the castle and be rewarded with fantastic views over the whole city.

In addition, for those who do wish to explore the castle itself, you can walk up some of the castle’s towers, and gain an even better view of the city, one which offers 360° views of the city, right across the North Sea to the east, and the Scottish countryside to the west.

If you wish to learn about Scotland’s rich history while also being rewarded with some of the best views in Edinburgh, then we highly recommend paying a visit to Edinburgh Castle.

3. Calton Hill

It is little surprise that so many epic views of Edinburgh come from on top of its many hills, and Calton Hill is no exception.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Calton Hill is also home to some of Scotland’s most important political centres. For instance, at the bottom of the hill lies the Scottish Parliament Building and Holyrood Palace, while several important monuments are dotted around the top of the hill, including the National Monument of Scotland, the City Observatory and the Nelson Monument.

Calton Hill is also a favoured location of artists and photographers – both past and present – thanks to the stunning views across the city that it offers. It is also arguably the most popular location where paintings of Edinburgh are seen – many artists choose Calton Hill for its idyllic location, easy accessibility and rewarding views.

If you want a taste of Scotland’s history combined with incredible views of the city, then you simply must take a walk up Calton Hill.

4. Blackford Hill

Another beautiful hill in Edinburgh which has beautiful views of Edinburgh is Blackford Hill. Not as urban as the others on this list, Blackford Hill has its own unique charm about it, because viewers can see the city from a totally different perspective.

While Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat are in central Edinburgh, Blackford Hill is on the borders of the city, and part of this 164m hill is part of the Blackford Nature Reserve.

This means that viewers can experience the wildlife and nature of Edinburgh in a peaceful setting away from the never-ending beeping of horns and traffic jams in the city centre.

A peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre is just what’s needed sometimes, and being able to look over the whole city while surrounded by the tweeting of birds and gentle hum of insects makes you feel a world away from the modern city centre. 

5. Corstophine Hill

The final hill in this article is Corstophine Hill, which is found in western Edinburgh. The hill is perhaps most famous for being the home of Edinburgh Zoo, and anybody who has visited it before can testify to the immense views of the city from almost anywhere in the zoo.

However, the rest of Corstophine Hill also offers incredible views of Edinburgh, and similarly to Blackford Hill, Corstophine Hill is also largely a nature reserve, offering a quiet getaway from bustling city life, without actually having to leave the city.

The zoo is based on the hill’s southern slopes, so for those wanting even better views of the city, we suggest using one of the many hiking trails up and around the hill, and when you get to the top you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in Edinburgh.

6. Edinburgh Town Walls

Like most medieval cities, Edinburgh also has surviving elements of its town walls, which were mainly erected in the 15th and 16th centuries, around the Old Town area of the city.

These town walls are situated around the Grassmarket, Cowgate and Royal Mile areas of the city, and offer a glimpse into life in medieval Edinburgh. 

While the walls were originally intended as a defence of the Old Town, they are now mostly accessible for tourists – especially the stretch known as Flodden Wall which runs from near to the train station to Edinburgh Castle.

Not only can you walk in between these magnificent structures, but you can actually walk on top of them – and this is how you gain fascinating views of the city below.

While the views are not as extensive as those from locations such as Arthur’s Seat, you get a much more close-up view of the Old Town, and can really appreciate the architecture and hidden gems that you might otherwise have missed.

7. The Scott Monument

Finally, one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks is the Scott Monument. 

Named after and built to preserve the memory of Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, who wrote works including Rob Roy and Ivanhoe in the 19th century, this monument is the second-largest monument dedicated to an author in the world.

Found in Princes Street Gardens in the centre of the city, between the modern new town and the historic Old Town, the Scott Monument is a marvel to look at.

However, what makes this one of the best views in the city is that you can climb one of the spiel staircases installed in the monument, and reach the top for stunning panoramic views over Edinburgh.

At 61m high, and situated in central Edinburgh, few views in the city can rival those that you can see from the top of the Scott Monument.