Calton Hill rises at the east end of Princes Street, a little over 100 metres above the sea. It takes about five minutes to climb, and for that modest effort you get the view that appears on most of the city’s postcards: the Dugald Stewart Monument in the foreground, and behind it the Balmoral clock tower, the spires of the Old Town and the castle.
The hill is also an open-air museum of the early 19th century, when Edinburgh styled itself the “Athens of the North” and began furnishing this summit with Greek temples.
What to see and do: Calton Hill
The National Monument
Intended as a copy of the Parthenon to commemorate the dead of the Napoleonic Wars, it was begun in 1826 and abandoned three years later when the money ran out, with twelve columns standing. Long mocked as “Edinburgh’s Disgrace”, it is now a much-loved landmark. People climb on to its base to sit in the sun.
The Nelson Monument
A tower shaped like an upturned telescope, finished in 1816. For a small charge you can climb its 143 steps to the highest viewpoint on the hill. The time ball on top drops at one o’clock, in step with the castle’s gun.
The Dugald Stewart Monument
The little circular temple on the west side, modelled on an Athenian original, honours a philosopher few visitors have heard of. It is the foreground of the famous view; come at sunset.
The City Observatory and Collective
The walled observatory complex has been restored as Collective, a contemporary art gallery with free entry, a shop and a restaurant with a panoramic terrace.
Views to the east and north
Walk round the top. To the south-east is the best view of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags, with Holyrood Palace below; to the north, Leith, the Firth of Forth and the hills of Fife.
How to get to Calton Hill
- From the east end of Princes Street, continue along Waterloo Place for five minutes; a flight of steps on the left leads up.
- A gentler tarmac path, suitable for pushchairs, starts a little further on from Regent Road.
- Waverley station is ten minutes’ walk away. Buses along Leith Street and Regent Road stop near the foot of the hill.
Insider tips
- Sunset is the popular time; sunrise is just as good and you may have it to yourself.
- It is windy on top in every season. Hold on to your hat.
- The hill is unlit away from the main path. It is fine at dusk when others are about, but use common sense late at night.
- On 30 April the hill hosts the Beltane Fire Festival, a ticketed night of fire and drums, and it is a prime (and busy) spot for the Hogmanay fireworks.
Best tours & tickets for Calton Hill
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Calton Hill:
Bus tour from €21 Edinburgh: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
A loop of the Old and New Towns on an open-top bus, with commentary and the freedom to get off at any stop. Useful on a first day, for saving your legs on the hills, and for the long downhill-then-uphill haul to Holyrood.
- Open-top double-decker
- Stops at the castle, Royal Mile and Holyrood
- Audio commentary in several languages
Guided hike from €28 Edinburgh: Guided Hike to Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park
A two-hour guided walk from Holyrood through the park to the top of the city’s extinct volcano and back, with the story of the hill and the view explained. Highly rated, and one of the lowest-priced guided hikes in Edinburgh.
- The 251 m summit of Arthur’s Seat
- Geology, history and legends explained
- Small group
Walking tour from €21 Edinburgh: Old Town History and Tales Walking Tour
Two hours on foot through the medieval Old Town with a local guide: the Royal Mile, hidden closes, the Grassmarket, Greyfriars and the stories of the people who lived here. An inexpensive, well-reviewed way to get your bearings on your first day.
- The Royal Mile, closes and courtyards
- Greyfriars and the Grassmarket
- Low price, high rating
