[2025 Edinburgh Attraction] Travel Guide for Calton Hill (Updated Apr)

Great winter break destination! 9-day in-depth UK tour, experience British style and the unique charm of foreign culture! -------- 🎉Itinerary: DAY1️⃣: Arrive in Edinburgh and start your Scotland tour! DAY2️⃣-DAY3️⃣: Free time in Edinburgh. We recommend experiencing whisky culture and the stunning sunset on Calton Hill. You can also take a day trip to experience the unique Scottish style. DAY4️⃣: Travel from Edinburgh to London. After arriving, you'll have plenty of time to explore the city. DAY5️⃣-DAY7️⃣: Enjoy three days of free time in London. We recommend the Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes tour, the beautiful scenery along the Thames, and the academic atmosphere of London's famous universities. DAY8️⃣: Leave London and head home with lots of memories. DAY9️⃣: Arrive home and end your wonderful UK trip.🌟 -------- Must-see attractions: 🌟 Buckingham Palace 🌟🌟 Address: London SW1A 1AA, UK Opening hours: Open on some days from January 1 to March 31 Recommended visit time: 1-2 hours The Queen's office. The palace is home to countless treasures and beautiful scenery. 💒 Westminster Abbey 💒 Address: 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA Opening hours: Open on some days from January 1 to April 24 Recommended visit time: 1-2 hours The Church of England's place of worship and the burial place of many famous people. The Gothic architecture is breathtaking. 🎡 London Eye 🎡 Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB Opening hours: Open on weekdays from January 20 to February 9 Recommended visit time: 1 hour A giant Ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames. Ride it to see the whole of London at night. 🕍 St. Paul's Cathedral 🕍 Address: St. Pauls Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD Opening hours: Open on some days from January 16 to January 29 Recommended visit time: 1-3 hours The colorful dome and the stone and gold galleries are worth a visit. Experience its solemnity and beauty. 🌉 Tower Bridge 🌉 Address: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP Opening hours: Open all day Recommended visit time: 1-2 hours Walk on the suspended walkway and enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Thames. Experience the unique charm of London. -------- Packing list: 🧳UK travel essentials 📞A SIM card is essential for contacting people and searching online. 🔌Bring a plug adapter. UK sockets are different. 🪪Bring your passport and visa to ensure smooth entry and exit. 👗January is cold in the UK, so bring a thick coat and scarf. 🔋Don't forget your charger. You'll need to charge your phone and camera. Since you're going to the UK, an umbrella and raincoat are also important. The weather is changeable, so prepare in advance. Enjoy your UK trip! 🎉 Note: Before traveling, check your visa and passport validity to ensure smooth entry and exit. -------- UK tour, experience British style, and make every moment an unforgettable memory. Come and explore!

#2024mapped Being the last stop of UK trip, for a moment I thought it would not be too impressive. No, it’s arguably the prettiest city I have ever made to, and don’t think I could ever have enough. I had only a day in this city that I would have chosen to spend many more days in given a second choice. These are the places I went and enjoyed: 1) Calton Hill - such a wonderful high ground to have the panoramic perspective of the city, with barely any effort 2) Edinburgh Palace - being the icon of the city, it might not be the most photogenic when shot from near. I personally enjoyed the viewpoint from the southeast and northwest (because there were more interesting foreground to take a photo of the palace). 3. St Giles Cathedral 4. Arthur Seat - another popular place to enjoy the skyline of the ancient city. But when I was there, it was raining badly so I couldn’t tell how pretty it usually is. My guess is if not for the natural beauty/experience of hiking or the historical value of the place, Calton Hill has a higher “energy”-performance ratio. But really, the entire city is a living antique. Every corner is a good photo opportunity.

Everyone, what are you going to do in the UK? The four-day travel guide is here! Check out all the essential attractions in one place, so you won’t have any regrets on your trip to the UK! Collect it quickly~ -- 🚩Route arrangement: Day 1: Lake Windermere Roam around Lake Windermere and enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the lake and mountains. Day 2: Urquhart Castle – Loch Ness Visit the ancient Urquhart Castle and feel the rich history; then go to Loch Ness to appreciate the natural charm of the lake and mountains. Day 3: Edinburgh Castle – Princes Street – Edinburgh Old Town – Royal Mile – Palace of Holyroodhouse – Carlton Hill Travel through the history and modernity of Edinburgh, from the majestic castle to the bustling Princes Street, then explore the ancient charm of the old city, stroll the Royal Mile, visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and finally climb Calton Hill for a panoramic view. Day 4: York Minster – York City Walls – York Shambles – River Ouse Savor the antiquity and style of York, visit the magnificent York Minster, stroll the ancient city walls, visit the characteristic butcher shop, and finally come to the banks of the River Ouse to feel the tranquility of the river. -- Must-visit attractions: - 🏰 Edinburgh Castle: a military stronghold on the cliff, a witness to Scottish history! - 🏛️ Palace of Holyroodhouse: This was once the private residence of the Queen of Scots~ - 💒 York Minster: Gothic style, the stained glass is so beautiful~ - 🌅 Lake Windermere: The lake and mountains are so picturesque, you must not miss it! -- Tips: - Food: Try the local traditional English breakfast and experience a different feast for your taste buds. - Time difference: There is a big time difference between the UK and China, ⏰Remember to adjust your schedule in advance. - Airport transportation: London Heathrow Airport has convenient transportation, 🚇subway and 🚕taxi are both good options. - Shopping: Oxford Street is a shopping paradise, 🛍Don’t forget about tax refund. - Attractions: Big Ben and the London Eye are must-visits, 📸leave you with beautiful memories. -- Want to unlock more hidden gameplay and private strategies for traveling in the UK? Follow me quickly and I will take you around Britain!

Calton Hill is one of the best viewpoints in Edinburgh, offering stunning panoramic views of the city. From the summit of Calton Hill, visitors can clearly see landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat, and the Firth of Forth. The surrounding area also features notable sites like the Nelson Monument and the National Monument of Scotland, adding to the unique atmosphere of the location. Calton Hill is also a popular spot for hosting festivals and celebrations in the city. A visit here not only provides breathtaking scenery but also allows visitors to experience local culture and various activities held in the area. Climbing Calton Hill is thus a perfect blend of Edinburgh's natural beauty and historical significance.

#100waysoftravel Fancy a picturistic view in Edinburgh? Looking for the best sunrise or sunset spot in Edinburgh? Heads to Calton Hill, Edinburgh! It's an easy and short 5 to 10mins walk through the stairs on Regent Road. Calton Hill is a volcanic hill rising beyond the eastern end of Princes Street. The hill boasts a collection of some of Edinburgh’s most important monuments and offers fantastic panoramic views of the city.

I thought London was beautiful enough! Until I went to Edinburgh The magical city of Harry Potter in Rowling's pen, the scenes that have appeared in countless movies, here hides a medieval romance - When you come to Edinburgh, don't miss these places, with photo spots Calton Hill Overlooking the panorama of Edinburgh, climb the mountain before sunset to wait for a medieval sunset, the shooting location of Jay Chou's 'Ming Ming Jiu' mv; Recommended photo location: the viewing platform at the top of the mountain, you can shoot the entire panorama of Edinburgh, the steps up the mountain can shoot the entrance road of the magical world; Princes Street Gardens Recommended photo location: Waverley Bridge, the intersection to Princes Street, this intersection can see the classic position of the top of St. Giles Cathedral; Victoria Street The prototype of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, between the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge Royal Mile The bustling old city street connecting Edinburgh Castle Town and Holyrood Palace, bustling, good for shopping and photography Elephant Cafe: Rowling's place to write Harry Potter Arthur's Seat Overlooking the position of Edinburgh, check in with Holyrood Palace Edinburgh Castle At the end of the Royal Mile Other tips: : Basically no cash is needed in the UK, just bring a little spare, it is recommended to bring 2 credit cards, generally visa is more practical; One card is universal around the world, the network is stable and fast, you can use it very conveniently by inserting the card on the ground; Transportation: London to Edinburgh can drive/train/airplane, the train is about 5 hours Passport/ID

Calton Hill is a small hill located to the east of Edinburgh's New Town. There are several iconic monuments and buildings on the top of the hill, including: Dugald Stewart Monument, National Monument and Nelson's Monument, etc. From the top of the hill you can overlook the panoramic view of Edinburgh. It is a great place to enjoy the sunset and night view! There is a large lawn on the other side of the buildings, and many people sit on the lawn to enjoy the sunset and the endless scenery. Personally, I think this is the second must-see attraction after Edinburgh Castle. The buildings on the top of Calton Hill have Greek style, coupled with a large lawn and endless scenery. It is definitely one of the best places for photography in Edinburgh. The key point is that it is free to enter here. You only need to climb a flight of stairs to reach the top of the mountain quickly. It is recommended to arrange to climb to the top of the mountain at dusk and enjoy the panoramic view of Edinburgh under the sunset. If you want to see the night view, you can stay a little later. Remember to bring warm clothes and lighting equipment, as it is very windy on the top of the mountain! Carlton Hill Address: Calton, Edinburgh EH7 5BN #OverseasTravel #Scotland #Edinburgh #CarltonHill

Attraction name: Calton Hill Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom Calton Hill is a hilltop located just at the top of Princes street. Climbing the hill takes five minutes and you are treated to grand pillars, a canon, a column and an observatory. The views from the top are beautiful at sunset. You can see the famous Edinburgh castle from the top. Superb! #timetotravel #edinburgh #caltonhill

Calton Hill is a prominent landmark in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. It’s situated towards the eastern side of the city center & offers breathtaking panoramic views of the capital & its surrounding area. The hill is around 106m tall & provide an excellent vantage point of the skyline. The hill is also known for its collection of monuments & structures, making it popular among tourists & locals. One of the prominent feature of Calton Hill is Nelson Monument, which is dedicated to Admiral Lord Nelson. Calton Hill is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site! You can easily walk to Calton Hill from the city center, as it’s just located east of Princess Street. #wecreate #edinburgh #uk #darwintravel

Edinburgh is a very good place to go , We went to Calton hill which is like a mountain. Is easy to get up there , enjoying night view , I will suggest come when sunset , it is so beautiful and make to city much more enjoyable. There are lots of small building or I called it famous attraction.Starting from the bottom of Carlton hill is about 5-10 minutes walk is pretty fast , Stairs are provided. When you arrive the top, I spend about 1 hour to walk over every single corner and toke a lot of pictures and chilling . So it is a must go place.#愛丁堡 #英國景點

Getting There - Train to Edinburgh Waverley Attractions - Calton hill Hotels - N/A Food & Restaurants - Oink, Mary’s Milk bar Shopping - Old town Calton hill is a wee hill located in city centre. Just 15 mins walk from the train station, and 15 min more to get to the top. The stairs are quiet steep but it’s not hard to get to the top. It’s suitable for family trip or individuals. I would recommend the gelato bar nearby, it was tasty and affordable!

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland in the UK. One of the most picturesque cities in Europe with architecture wonder all around. Climb to the top of Calton Hill for the best view of the city. Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. #caltonhill #edinburgh

Calton Hill is just a short 5 min walk from Edinburgh’s main train station - Waverley Station. It is 100m in elevation so It is a great place to see the city’s skyline. It is sometimes referred to as the Acropolis of Edinburgh because of the Parthenon inspired National Monument. However, it was never completed so there are only twelve columns as it stands today. The panoramic view on this hilltop is striking at any time of the day, but I thought it was particularly beautiful at sunset. #Edinburgh #urbanexplorer #scotland #unescoheritage

Carlton Hill Not far from Prince Street, 10 minutes walk A small hill with a view of the whole of Edinburgh Location: EH7 5BN #BritishAttractions #Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials. Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh is renowned for its heritage, culture, and festivals. Take a long walk around the center to explore the World Heritage Sites of the Old Town and New Town, as well as all the area’s museums and galleries. Pause to fortify yourself with tea and scones at the city’s charming tea rooms or duck into a traditional pub. Then head out to take in one of Edinburgh’s many events—including the famous summer festivals of culture, or the Winter Festivals of music, light, and ceilidhs.

This is a very suitable mountain for lazy people to walk, because it only takes 5 minutes to walk up and down the mountain😆. The scenery above is nice, with ancient Roman architectural features.

#ediinsider #citybreak #edinburgh #scotland #bucketlistreboot #tripblazers #mountainview #stunning #spectacular #amazingview The views from Calton Hill are just amazing. If you happen to be there on a sunny day, you would know exactly what I mean. From the hill, you get proper 360 degrees views of Edinburgh - from the amazing city centre and historic buildings, Edinburgh Castle and the seaside. You see old buildings and new developments next to each other. You can just stay there and enjoy your day with a cup of coffee and the spectacular views that open up in front of you. Have been to Edinburgh twice and love this place.#caltonhill

Calton Hill is included in Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is certainly not a difficult hike compared to Arthur’s Seat, but do come here to admire the city’s view. It is not merely a viewpoint, but also the seat to some of the iconic Scottish monuments such as the National Monument, Dugald Stewart Monument, Nelson’s Monument, Robert Burns Monument and the City Observatory. The National Monument is the national memorial to the Scottish soldiers and sailors that died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars and it certainly resembles the famous Parthenon of Athens. If you are interested, do research more about it and you will be fascinated. #ediinsider #scotland

Calton Hill is 500 metres 8 minutes walk from Edinburg Waverley train station. The panoramic views are wonderful and inspired visitors for centuries. It is also famous for its collection of historic monuments, which make up one of the most important landmarks in the city. National monuments inspired by the Parthenon of Athens, also look out for Nelson monuments shaped like an up-turned telescope. Calton Hill also the favorite places with locals for enjoying the Hogmanay fireworks and many of the August festival events take place here.

#BritishTravel #Scenic Spots #The night view here is super beautiful Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh's main hills, is located beyond the east end of Princes Street. It takes about five minutes to reach the top of the mountain, whether from Regent Road on the south side or the stairs of Royal Terrace on the north side. You can reach the top effortlessly. Carlton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to several very notable #historicmonuments and Edinburgh's Old and New Observatories. The National Monument, Nelson Monument and Dugald Stewart Memorial Pavilion seen from a distance each have their own unique momentum standing on the skyline, vying for the attention of tourists👀. When you come here, you can challenge yourself to climb up the National Monument with huge stone steps, which is very interesting😆😆! Climb up #CarltonHill and you can see almost all of Edinburgh's most popular #famousattractions. When you stand on the top and look into the distance, you can see the blue Firth of Forth, the majestic castle, the charming Arthur's Seat, the undulating Holyrood Park, the towering Melville Monument, the sharp Scott Memorial, the St.James Quarter with its interesting architectural design...all of them are in sight. At sunset, when the sky is cloudless, you can enjoy Edinburgh enveloped by the endless orange-red sky. This romantic and charming panoramic photo is the #mostbeautifulscenery🥰🥰 of Edinburgh. This is also the best place to watch the brilliant fireworks, so its charm always attracts countless tourists to climb the mountain and #photograph and check in all year round 📸📸 #travel #touristattractions #touristattractionrecommendations #touristattractions #touristcheckin #sightseeingattractions #sightseeingsacredplace #sightseeinglandmark #localattractions #attractions #hotspots #goodplacestocheckin #must-goto #must-goto #goodoutdoorplaces #popularattractions #check-inattractions #beautifulviewcheckin #check-inattractions #overseastravel

everyone who knew I was in Edinburgh asked me to visit this place! it’s a hill - not a very steep or long climb - fairly close to the old town. there are many monuments on the hill but generally people go there for the views. was really so pretty because you can look out to the sea or the city. can get very windy and chilly though, so make sure you’re properly bundled up. was 10 degrees celcius but felt like 6 degrees with windchill in late May. you can also climb up the national monument of Scotland - it’s the pillared structure that looks like the ruins in Athens but there aren’t any steps or ladders so be prepared to scale and jump! 👍🏼😀

Introducing Calton Hill, a famous landmark in Edinburgh, Scotland! Calton Hill is a famous hill with a neoclassical monument and you can see the wide city skyline and Edinburgh Castle and the North Sea ocean view is amazingㅎㅎ #oceanview #scotlandtravel #edinburghtravel

It’s “just a hill” but it’s so much more than that. Calton Hill watches over Edinburgh and offers you an amazing view of the town in every season. I highly recommend to go and watch the sun set and if you’re early birds even the sun rise over the town. If you get a chance, come for the 30th of April for the Beltrane Festival. An amazing Scottish pagan festivity celebratate for centuries. The death of the green man and the winter and the arrival of the spring and the summer. #travelinspiration #momentsmission

1. Calton Hill Address - East of the city, it is like a low hill that you can walk up to see the view of Edinburgh in almost 360 degrees easily. It is a very impressive view. Highlight - Calton Hill Park corner, which is a viewpoint of the city of Edinburgh. You can see the whole city. Both in the morning and evening, the atmosphere is beautiful. Score - 9

[Edinburgh City at a Glance] In Scotland in winter, Edinburgh has short days, so it gets dark by 4 p.m. That’s why I recommend going up to Calton Hill around 3 p.m. to enjoy the ever-changing view of Edinburgh’s city center! You know that watching the sunset is a must, right?🧡 The view of the sea behind the clock tower is so pretty, so be sure to take a leisurely stroll around the back. Come to think of it, I went up to Calton Hill every day while I was in Edinburgh. Haha! And I went up early and enjoyed the sunset and night view while eating pizza I got from the Christmas market.🍕 It would be good to bring a warm drink and some light food with you.! 🥶 By the way, it’s really cold and windy, so I recommend wearing a hat, scarf, gloves, and other warm clothing!! ⭐️ In the next post, I'll show you a timelapse of the view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill!! #EdinburghTravel #ScotlandTravel #EnglandTravel #EuropeTravel #Edinburgh #Scotland #England #CaltonHill #edinburgh #scotland #caltonhill #LifeShotPlace#YearEndTravel#WinterTravel

Want to visit Calton Hill? If you are a fan of Jay Chou, you must go there, as the MV of one of his songs was filmed here. What impressed me most on the mountain was the tall and majestic building, which was made entirely of stone. Although the base did not look high, it still took a lot of effort to climb up. Looking east, you can see the Atlantic Ocean and white sailboats on the Firth of Forth. At sunset, the whole Edinburgh is shrouded in the beautiful sunset. I also took a lot of beautiful photos, let’s take a look together.

In the evening, naturally go to see the sunset. Going east along Princes Street, you will come to the lush Carlton Hill. It is famous because all the promotional maps and postcards you have seen about Edinburgh can basically find a picture taken from this angle on the mountain. Standing on the top of the hill, Edinburgh Castle stands tall and guards the quiet little town, the scenery is very beautiful. There are two monuments, one to commemorate the death of the Napoleonic war, and the imitation of the Parthenon temple in Athens. The monument was not completed due to insufficient budget, but the incompleteness does not affect its grandeur. It is absolutely on the whole mountaintop. The first landmark to attract attention. The other is the Nelson Monument, built to commemorate Admiral Nelson. When the Edinburgh Castle fires at 1 pm every day, the small ball at the tip of the Nelson Monument will descend. When the sun sets, the golden afterglow spills over the building, and the whole building is shrouded in a sacred atmosphere.

After traveling from York to Edinburgh, even though it was almost dusk, I decided to head straight to Calton Hill. There's no other reason than that Calton Hill, along with Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat, forms a perfect triangle on the city's skyline. Even though it's only 103m above sea level, you can get a glimpse of the entire city. Many classic photos of Edinburgh come from here, and even the movies Cloud Atlas and One Day were filmed here, as well as Jay Chou's music video "Ming Ming Jiu". Calton Hill itself is also part of the World Heritage Site "Edinburgh New and Old Town". The name comes from the Gaelic word "choille-dun", which means "wooded hill", which is not surprising, since it used to be part of the royal hunting grounds. The small hill is not difficult to climb and can be reached in 10 minutes. It has to be said that Calton Hill is an excellent 360-degree viewing platform: ⬅️West: Panoramic view of Edinburgh Castle + Royal Mile ⬆️North: Georgian architecture of the New Town ➡️East: View of the Firth of Forth + best spot to watch the sunrise ⬇️South: Arthur's Seat + Holyrood Palace If you think Calton Hill is just a viewing platform, you're wrong, because the neoclassical buildings on the hill are also very interesting and are known as the "Athens of the North". The two most famous buildings are: ✅Dugald Stewart Monument: Built to commemorate the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, it is said to be inspired by the Monument of Lysicrates in Athens and has become a symbol of Edinburgh. It is also the place with the highest appearance rate on Edinburgh postcards! In the sunset, the golden sunlight shines on the monument and the city background, and you can take a great picture with a casual shot. ✅National Monument: Built in 1822 to commemorate the soldiers who died in the Napoleonic Wars, it was originally planned to be built as a Parthenon-style building, but due to lack of funds, it became an "eternal unfinished product", which instead created a unique beauty. Standing between the pillars, you can take photos with very expressive compositions, and the light and shadow effects are especially stunning at sunset. 💡 Useful tips The light is most beautiful at sunrise and sunset on Calton Hill! 6–8am is the best time to photograph Edinburgh + the morning mist, and this is when there are the fewest tourists; before sunset is the best time to photograph the light and shadow on Calton Hill, but if you want the blue hour, it is about 30 minutes after sunset, when the city lights gradually come on and the sky is a dreamy blue.