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Sight New Town, Edinburgh

Calton Hill

A sight in New Town, Edinburgh, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Calton Hill in New Town, Edinburgh
Photo: Saffron Blaze · CC BY 3.0 · license

Why go

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

It is one of 15 curated places we feature in Edinburgh, alongside 5 sights, 2 activities and 2 bars & cafés. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with The Balmoral and Royal Mile. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
New Town
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

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

  1. 1
    The Balmoral

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

    Stay · 0.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Royal Mile

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

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Palace of Holyroodhouse

    The monarch's official Scottish residence and ruined abbey.

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    St Giles' Cathedral

    Medieval High Kirk with the ornate Thistle Chapel.

    Sight · 0.5 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Edinburgh's Christmas

    The city's Christmas market and fair, with stalls, rides and a big wheel in East Princes Street Gardens below the Scott Monument.

    Shopping · 0.5 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Victoria Street

    Curving street of colourful shopfronts that drops from George IV Bridge to the Grassmarket.

    Shopping · 0.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Calton Hill features on 2 of our curated routes, each with a day-by-day plan you can copy to your crew.

More sights to see in Edinburgh

2 more curated sights 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 Calton Hill itself, we suggest: Sunset.

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 Calton Hill, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Calton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AA, UK
Coordinates
55.95505, -3.18274
Destination
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Calton Hill: quick answers

How much time do you need at Calton Hill?

Plan on about 45 minutes at Calton Hill. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Calton Hill?

Our pick: Sunset. Insider tip: Short climb from the east end of Princes Street at sunset.

Is Calton Hill free?

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

Where is Calton Hill?

Calton Hill is at Calton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AA, UK, in New Town. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Calton Hill?

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

Add Calton Hill 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.