Outdoors · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
7 best outdoor things to do in Edinburgh
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Maccoinnich~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright c, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument, Arthur's Seat and Dean Village. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 13–17 hours across 7 areas; 6 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 6
- Time to see them all
- 13–17 hours
- Areas
- New Town, Holyrood Park and Stockbridge
Outdoors in Edinburgh
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Garden · New Town
1.Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument
The monument's spiral stairs become very narrow near the top; skip the climb if you dislike tight spaces.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
Nature · Holyrood Park
2.Arthur's Seat
Take the gentler route from Dunsapie Loch with children or if short on time, and avoid the summit rocks in strong wind or wet weather.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
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Neighbourhood · Stockbridge
3.Dean Village
Walk from Dean Village to Stockbridge along the river path, then return via Circus Lane, a curving mews of painted doors.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Garden · Inverleith
4.Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Enter by the West Gate on Arboretum Place for the café and the best skyline view from the lawn by Inverleith House.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Gallery · Dean Village
5.Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Walk there along the Water of Leith from Dean Village; steps lead up from the riverside path to the gallery grounds.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Island · Cramond
6.Cramond Island
Check the tide times posted at the causeway and leave the island well before the crossing closes; people are regularly cut off by the rising tide.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
- Active
Zoo · Corstorphine
7.Edinburgh Zoo
Arrive early and wear good shoes; the zoo climbs a steep hill.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| New Town | Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument | 1 hour |
| Holyrood Park | Arthur's Seat | 2 hours |
| Stockbridge | Dean Village | 1–2 hours |
| Inverleith | Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh | 1.5–2 hours |
| Dean Village | Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art | 1.5 hours |
| Cramond | Cramond Island | Half a day |
| Corstorphine | Edinburgh Zoo | 3–4 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 6 free, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Cramond Island; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (New Town, Holyrood Park and Stockbridge): Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument → Arthur's Seat → Dean Village, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Inverleith and Dean Village): Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh → Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Cramond): Cramond Island, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Corstorphine): Edinburgh Zoo, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 9 rainy days, busy crowds. The longest days, with light until after 10pm; a pleasant month before the August rush.
- July: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Mild by Scottish standards and busy with visitors; book ahead as the festival season approaches.
- August: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 10 rainy days, very busy crowds. Festival month: the population swells, the streets fill with performers and hotel prices reach their annual peak.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- New Town — Georgian crescents, Princes Street shopping and elegant squares
- Stockbridge — A village of independent shops, cafés and a Sunday market by the Water of Leith
- West End and Haymarket — Victorian terraces, concert halls and the road to Murrayfield
More of Edinburgh
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Edinburgh?
Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument. Laid out in the drained valley of the Nor Loch, Princes Street Gardens separate the Old and New Towns, with the floral clock, the Ross Fountain and views up to the castle.
+Which of these are free in Edinburgh?
Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument, Arthur's Seat, Dean Village, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Cramond Island.