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Activity Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat

An activity in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, free to visit and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Sunrise or late afternoon.

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Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
Photo: Kim Traynor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

Extinct volcano in Holyrood Park with a 45-minute climb to city-wide views.

It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Edinburgh, alongside 6 sights, 2 bars & cafés and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Palace of Holyroodhouse, 0.7 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Activity · Adventure
Neighborhood
Holyrood Park
Price
Free
Time needed
2 hr
Best time
Sunrise or late afternoon

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Edinburgh, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Palace of Holyroodhouse

    The monarch's official Scottish residence and ruined abbey.

    Sight · 0.7 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Royal Mile

    Old Town spine of closes and wynds running from the castle to Holyrood.

    Sight · 1.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Calton Hill

    City hill with monuments and the classic view down Princes Street.

    Sight · 1.1 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    National Museum of Scotland

    Free museum from Dolly the sheep to Lewis chessmen, with a rooftop terrace.

    Sight · 1.1 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    St Giles' Cathedral

    Medieval High Kirk with the ornate Thistle Chapel.

    Sight · 1.2 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Balmoral

    Grand 1902 railway hotel at the east end of Princes Street, known for its clock tower above Waverley Station.

    Stay · 1.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Arthur's Seat features on 2 of our curated routes, each with a day-by-day plan you can copy to your crew.

More things to do in Edinburgh

Another curated activity in Edinburgh. See the full Edinburgh guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Edinburgh run from 42°F in January to 65°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For Arthur's Seat itself, we suggest: Sunrise or late afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Edinburgh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Edinburgh weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Arthur's Seat, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh EH15 3PY, UK
Coordinates
55.94408, -3.16183
Destination
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Arthur's Seat: quick answers

How much time do you need at Arthur's Seat?

Plan on about 2 hours at Arthur's Seat. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Arthur's Seat?

Our pick: Sunrise or late afternoon. Insider tip: Go up via the Radical Road side; windy at the top.

Is Arthur's Seat free?

Yes, we list Arthur's Seat as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Arthur's Seat?

Arthur's Seat is at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh EH15 3PY, UK, in Holyrood Park. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Arthur's Seat?

Arthur's Seat appears on Scotland’s Highland Rail Line and Edinburgh & the Cairngorms, curated routes you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Arthur's Seat to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Edinburgh.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.