Edinburgh has a special charm that makes it one of our favorite European cities to visit. There’s so much history and beautiful architecture around every corner. As you can imagine this fascinating city is very photogenic and has boatloads of fantastic and Instagrammable photo spots. From Old Town classics like Victoria Street, Edinburgh Castle, and Greyfriars Kirkyard, to cute neighbourhoods like Dean Village and Stockbridge (Circus Lane), there’s definitely something for everyone. To help you get a quick idea of the various photogenic attractions in the city, we put together our Best Edinburgh Viewpoints and (Instagram) Photo Spots Guide. We will start with our Top 5 favorite spots, followed by a lengthy list of honorable mentions.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Day Trips From Edinburgh
Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh
Best Stops and Attractions Between Skye and Glasgow
Best Things to See and Do in St Andrews
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
For more complete information on visiting Edinburgh, we’ve put together two additional travel guides:
1. Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh. There is a lot of overlap in terms of the sites and attractions presented, but you’ll find a lot more detailed information in that guide. In particular, the opening times and ticket prices of most attractions are presented, and larger attractions such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle are described in far greater detail.
2. How to Spend a Day in Edinburgh. This guide focuses on how to plan your day and what to prioritize if you only have one day in Edinburgh.
How to Get to Edinburgh
If you are arriving by train, you will likely disembark at Edinburgh Waverly Station, which is ideally located between the Old Town and the New Town. Edinburgh’s main bus station is located just a few blocks north of the train station in the New Town.
If you are flying into Edinburgh, the airport is roughly 8 miles (12 km) from the city center. A variety of options exist to reach the city center, including a direct bus, the train, and the tram, all of which typically take between 30 and 45 minutes. For more detailed information on how to best get to the city center, you can consult the airport website.
You can also pre-book an airport bus or private transfer. We regularly use Welcome Pickups, but there are other alternatives available in Edinburgh:
If you plan on renting a vehicle, know that it won’t be of much use in Edinburgh – but it can definitely come in handy for day trips or when exploring the Scottish Highlands. If your choice of accommodation in Edinburgh doesn’t come with an inexpensive parking option, it might be best to wait until you are departing Edinburgh for the car rental pickup (or to drop it off when arriving in Edinburgh if you ending your trip here).
For advice and tips on how to drive in Scotland, check out our Scotland Roadtrip Driving Guide.
If you haven’t booked your rental vehicle yet, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Scotland.
How to Get Around Edinburgh
Edinburgh is easy to navigate on foot. Most of the attractions listed below are located within a 1.5-mile by 1.5-mile square, including all sites in the Old Town (and the Royal Mile), the New Town, the Princes Street Gardens, Dean Village, Stockbridge and Calton Hill.
The main sites described below that are located outside of this 1.5-1.5 square are the Royal Botanic Garden (north of Stockbridge), Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park (southeast of the Old Town), and the National Galleries of Scotland (west of Dean Village). Even then, all of these are still just a short walk outside of the city center.
By Group Tour: Another great way to visit Edinburgh is to join one of several great organized group tours that are available.
The Top 5 Photo Spots
Victoria Street
Victoria Street was probably our favorite photographic spot in Edinburgh, it’s just such a photogenic and aesthetically pleasing street. It’s a short but beautiful curved cobblestone road filled with bright colourful storefront facades. The street was built between 1829 and 1834 and is the masterpiece of Thomas Hamilton, the architect behind many of Edinburgh’s works of neo-classical architecture. It is said that Victoria Street was the location that inspired J.K. Rowling for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books.
Dean Village
We know we said that Victoria Street was our favourite photo spot, but Dean Village was as close as a runner-up could be. We know that for many others, Dean Village is probably their favorite spot. Honestly, it’s kind of a coin flip between the two. This lovely area used to be a thriving industrial center with more than ten working graining mills built along the river to harness its power.
You won’t need long to visit this small neighbourhood, but you might want to linger as you will no doubt be charmed by Dean Village’s fairytale-like atmosphere. Dean Village is a short walk from Edinburgh New Town and feels a world away from the bustling streets of the historic center. It wasn’t until the 1970s, after having been abandoned for quite some time that important restoration work was carried out to convert the crumbling mills into beautiful residential homes.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a volcanic hill rising beyond the eastern end of Princes Street and is home to several Greek-inspired historical monuments and landmarks. One such monument is known as “Edinburgh’s Folly” or “Edinburgh’s Shame.” The National Monument was modelled after the Parthenon in Athens, but funding for the build ran out and it was never completed. Calton Hill is one of the best places to enjoy panoramic views of the city and a great spot to watch the sunset or sunrise.
Circle Lane
Circus Lane is a picture-perfect street if there ever was one. What used to be a hidden gem lying roughly at the intersection of Stockbridge and the New Town is now fairly well-known thanks to Instagram and social media. This lovely cobblestone street filled with Georgian mews houses and beautiful floral displays is perfectly backdropped by St Stephen’s church tower. The homes here were originally built in the 19th century as horse stables and accommodations for servants, and as such the street was a back alley designed for the care of the horses and carriages of the wealthy residents of the nearby Royal Circus Street.
Ross Fountain (Princes Street Gardens)
Princes Street Gardens separates the Old Town and the New Town and is one of the most important urban parks in the heart of Edinburg. It’s a great place to escape some of the hustle and bustle of the city and to sit back and enjoy the views of the city and of the impressive Edinburgh Castle, which towers over everything else. One of our favorite places to photograph the castle is around the Ross Fountain, towards the western end of the park.
Honorable Mentions
National Galleries of Scotland (Princes Street Gardens)
The Princes Street Gardens are also where you will find the stunning Scottish National Gallery, an art gallery housed in an elegant neo-classical building that features both Scottish and international works of art from the Renaissance and Post-Impressionism periods. The building was designed in a neoclassical style by William Henry Playfair and first opened to the public in 1859.
Scottish Storytelling Centre (John Knox House; Royal Mile)
The John Knox House, which now houses the Scottish Storytelling Centre, dates back to 1470, making it (along with the attached Moubray House), the oldest original medieval building on the Royal Mile. The house is associated with one of the most dramatic and turbulent times in Scottish history, the Scottish Reformation. Although John Knox only stayed in this house, it was his association with it that saved it from demolition in the 1840s. It’s definitely one of the more unique buildings found along the Royal Mile and was one of our favourites to photograph.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British Monarch in Edinburgh, located at the eastern end of the Royal Mile. Photography inside is not permitted, so you might as well make the most of your opportunities outside! There’s also a partially ruined abbey (Holyrood Abbey) attached to the Palace and lovely gardens to stroll through behind it.
Hanover Street (New Town)
As you head towards the southern end of Hanover Street in the New Town, there’s a point where you just get a fantastic view of the Old Town across the Princes Street Gardens.
Canongate Tolbooth (Royal Mile)
The Canongate Tolbooth, located along the Royal Mile, is a historic landmark built in 1591 as a tollbooth of the then separate burgh of the Canongate, which was outside the Edinburgh town walls. A unique building design feature is the ornamental clock, dated 1884 and suspended over the Royal Mile by wrought iron brackets. We found it to be one of Royal Mile’s most photogenic buildings along with the John Knox House.
Edinburgh Castle (views of the city)
Edinburgh Castle is a fascinating place to visit with a rich and diverse history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress, and is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. It also has been besieged more than any other castle in Europe, with the Scots and English struggling over its control during the Wars of Independence. A great thing to do when visiting the castle is to admire the fantastic panoramic views of the city from the various castle walls and ramparts.
St Giles Cathedral (Royal Mile)
St Giles Cathedral is one of Scotland’s most important medieval parish church buildings and is one of the most impressive and imposing buildings along the Royal Mile. The outside architecture is just stunning (though the inside is definitely also worth a visit). The current version of the church building was initially built in the 14th century and extended in the early 16th century. The church exterior, except for the tower, dates almost entirely from William Burn’s restoration during the early 19th century.
Tolbooth Kirk (Royal Mile)
This tall neo-gothic church just catches the eye with its dark red panelling that contrasts with the blackened stone. Constructed between 1842 and 1845, it was originally designed as a meeting hall for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. From 1929 the building was used as a church until the mid-1980s. Today it is the home of the Edinburgh International Festival and is used as a ticket office, information centre and performance venue with a capacity of 420. It’s also home to the Hub Café, and its spire is the highest point in Edinburgh, standing at 72m high.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
When you stroll through this graveyard, you might recognize some familiar names. Indeed, JK Rowling used some of the tombstone names in this graveyard as inspiration for character names. It’s also a great place from which to admire distant views of Edinburgh Castle.
Red Telephone Booths (Royal Mile)
In this specific spot of the Royal Mile, you’ll find the rare occurrence of three consecutive red phone booths, a great spot for a unique photoshoot!
Arthurs Seat
Arthur’s seat is the highest point of Holyrood Park, on the eastern edge of the old town. It’s the main peak of a group of hills in Edinburgh that once formed an ancient (and extinct) volcano. It’s a fantastic place from which to watch the sunset as the location provides panoramic views of the city and beyond.
Colorful Boutique Shops (Stockbridge)
Stockbridge has a lovely main street that is lined with cute cafés, welcoming pubs, trendy restaurants and local boutique shops. It has a great ambiance without the crowds of the Old Town.
St Bernard’s Well
St Bernard’s Well is a beautiful Greco-Roman structure that houses a well once believed to have healing powers. The temple-like structure was built in the 18th century and designed by Scottish painter Alexander Nasmyth. Notice the Doric columns, the dome topped with a golden pineapple, and the statue of Hygieia, the Greek and Roman goddess of health. It’s located along the Water of Leith Walkway, which connects Dean Village and Stockbridge.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
We can recommend staying in one of three Edinburgh neighbourhoods: the Old Town, the New Town and Stockbridge. We particularly enjoyed staying in Stockbridge which is quieter, less expensive, and still within walking distance of the Old Town and New Town attractions. Stockbridge has managed to keep its self-contained village feel, with shops, restaurants and pubs to keep you entertained without the crowds of the city center.
These are some of the best mid-range accommodation options across town:
Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel (Old Town)
Wilde Aparthotels Edinburgh Grassmarket (Old Town)
Market Street Hotel (Old Town)
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel (New Town)
Sonder Royal Garden Apartments (New Town)
Nira Caledonia (Stockbridge)
Preparing a trip to Edinburgh and the lowlands?
You might be interested in these pages:
Best Day Trips From Edinburgh
Best Things to See and Do in Edinburgh
Best Stops and Attractions Between Skye and Glasgow
Best Things to See and Do in St Andrews
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Preparing a trip to Scotland?
You might be interested in these Scotland pages:
10-Day Scotland Roadtrip Itinerary (Edinburgh and Highlands)
Scotland Driving Guide and Tips
7 of the Best Castles to Visit in Scotland
Best Things to See in the Scottish Highlands
Best Hikes to do in the Scottish Highlands
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Scotland
Lonely Planet Scotland’s Highlands
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Best Edinburgh Viewpoints and (Instagram) Photo Spots Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your trip to the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
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You might also be interested in these related pages:
