For couples · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Romantic things to do in Edinburgh
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Edinburgh's romance comes from its silhouette — the floodlit castle above Princes Street Gardens, misty closes and hilltop sunsets — and from candlelit restaurants and whisky by the fire. Winter, with early dark and festive lights, is as atmospheric as summer. Couples tend to stay in Old Town.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 2
- Area for couples
- Old Town
- Best months
- May and September
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset on Calton Hill
Watch the sun set behind the castle from the Dugald Stewart Monument, then walk down into the New Town for dinner.
2.Arthur's Seat at dawn
Climb early from Dunsapie Loch to watch the sun rise over the Firth of Forth while the city is still asleep.
3.Dean Village to Stockbridge
Follow the Water of Leith walkway past the old mills to Stockbridge's cafés and the painted doors of Circus Lane.
4.Whisky by the fire
Several Old Town and New Town pubs light open fires in winter; settle in with a dram or a tasting flight.
5.Dinner on the Shore in Leith
Book a waterfront table in Leith for seafood, followed by a walk along the old quays.
6.Christmas in Princes Street Gardens
In December, the Christmas market and big wheel in the gardens usually give a view across to the floodlit castle.
Sights couples love
Viewpoint · New Town
Calton Hill
Go at sunset or sunrise; the steps up from Regent Road take about five minutes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Iconic
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Neighbourhood · Stockbridge
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
Where couples should stay
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife
Old Town
The Old Town follows the volcanic ridge of the Royal Mile, with narrow closes dropping away on either side, the Grassmarket below the castle rock and the curving shopfronts of Victoria Street. It is the most atmospheric base and walkable to almost everything, but rooms are expensive, streets are steep and cobbled, and the Royal Mile is crowded in summer and packed in August.
- Good
- On the doorstep of the main sights; Historic pubs and closes; Lively evenings
- Watch out
- Expensive, especially in August; Steep and cobbled; Late-night noise around the Cowgate
- Nearby
- Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, Grassmarket, Victoria Street
Romantic day trips
- Rosslyn Chapel (About 45 minutes by bus) — This 15th-century chapel in Roslin village is covered in extraordinarily dense stone carving, including the Apprentice Pillar and scores of 'green men', and drew worldwide attention after appearing in The Da Vinci Code.
- South Queensferry and the Forth Bridges (About 15 minutes by train) — Three bridges from three centuries span the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, including the red cantilever Forth Bridge of 1890, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- St Andrews (About 1.5 hours by train and bus) — The home of golf has the Old Course, Scotland's oldest university, the ruins of a vast medieval cathedral and a clifftop castle, and the long West Sands beach used in Chariots of Fire.
- North Berwick (About 35 minutes by train) — A seaside town with sandy beaches either side of its harbour, a short climb up North Berwick Law for views, and boat trips from the Scottish Seabird Centre around the Bass Rock, home to a huge gannet colony.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Haggis, neeps and tatties, Cullen skink and Smoked salmon. Check whether a service charge has been added before tipping, especially for larger groups.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Edinburgh romantic?
Edinburgh's romance comes from its silhouette — the floodlit castle above Princes Street Gardens, misty closes and hilltop sunsets — and from candlelit restaurants and whisky by the fire. Winter, with early dark and festive lights, is as atmospheric as summer.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Edinburgh?
Sunset on Calton Hill: Watch the sun set behind the castle from the Dugald Stewart Monument, then walk down into the New Town for dinner.
+Where should couples stay in Edinburgh?
Old Town: Medieval closes and wynds along the Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood.