Hidden gems in Edinburgh
Skip the tourist circuit. These Edinburgh spots are the ones locals actually send their out-of-town friends to.
Top spots in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle
CultureCastle Rock
Stone of Destiny, Honours of Scotland and the 1 o'clock gun.
Arthur's Seat
OutdoorsHolyrood Park
251 m extinct volcano with 360° city views — 45-min climb from the palace.
Royal Mile
CultureOld Town
Cobbled mile of closes, whisky shops and the Real Mary King's Close vaults.
National Museum of Scotland
CultureChambers Street
Dolly the Sheep, Lewis Chessmen and a Victorian Grand Gallery — free.
Dean Village
OutdoorsWater of Leith
Hidden ex-mill village 5 min from Princes Street — Insta gold.
Where to eat
The Kitchin
$$$$Modern Scottish · Leith
Tom Kitchin's Michelin-starred 'nature-to-plate' tasting menu.
Timberyard
$$$Modern Scottish · Lady Lawson Street
Cosy warehouse, fire-pit cooking and a serious cocktail list.
Mary's Milk Bar
$Ice Cream · Grassmarket
Daily-changing gelato and hot chocolate — under-the-castle queues.
Ondine
$$$Seafood · George IV Bridge
Sustainable Scottish shellfish — oysters and lobster thermidor.
Frequently asked
- Locals' under-the-radar picks include Edinburgh Castle, Arthur's Seat, Royal Mile. These are the places that don't show up on the first page of mainstream travel guides.