Get the app

Sight Old Town, Edinburgh

Royal Mile

A sight in Old Town, Edinburgh, free to visit and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

Open in Google Maps Apple Maps
Royal Mile in Old Town, Edinburgh
Photo: Kim Traynor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · license

Why go

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

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 St Giles' Cathedral and The Balmoral.

Type
Sight
Neighborhood
Old Town
Price
Free
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

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

  1. 1
    St Giles' Cathedral

    Medieval High Kirk with the ornate Thistle Chapel.

    Sight · 0.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    The Balmoral

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

    Stay · 0.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    National Museum of Scotland

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

    Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Victoria Street

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

    Shopping · 0.2 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Oink

    Hog-roast rolls carved from a whole pig in the window.

    Food · 0.3 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Bow Bar

    Traditional pub on Victoria Street with cask ales and a deep whisky list.

    Drinks · 0.3 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Royal Mile 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

3 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 Royal Mile itself, we suggest: Morning.

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 Royal Mile, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK
Coordinates
55.95011, -3.18802
Destination
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Royal Mile: quick answers

How much time do you need at Royal Mile?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Royal Mile. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Royal Mile?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Duck into Advocate's Close for a skyline view.

Is Royal Mile free?

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

Where is Royal Mile?

Royal Mile is at Edinburgh EH1 1QS, UK, in Old Town. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Royal Mile?

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

Add Royal Mile 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.

Get TripsCircle

Plan Edinburgh

Lists & regions

Also in Edinburgh

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