Edinburgh
Edinburgh Old Town
About
Edinburgh Old Town
With centuries-old buildings, narrow alleys, and a vibrant atmosphere, Edinburgh’s Old Town is perhaps the city’s most recognisable area. At its heart Edinburgh Castle, houses Scotland’s royal jewels and is perched on an extinct volcano. From the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse - The King’s official Scottish residence, the Royal Mile is lined with tiny museums, casual eateries, souvenir shops, and traditional pubs. Along the walk you may also pot St Gile’s Cathedral. At Hopscotch Travel, we have a number of tours which incorporate Edinburgh Old, ranging from day tours from Edinburgh , and day tours from Glasgow .
Things to see & do
FAQs
The Old Town runs about a mile along the Royal Mile, from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and covers roughly 150 acres. That includes the web of closes, wynds and courtyards branching off the main spine.
The Royal Mile is the famous central spine of the Old Town, running from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It's actually a sequence of streets: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate.
They complement each other, so most visitors do both in a day. The Old Town gives you medieval history, dramatic architecture and atmospheric closes; the New Town offers Georgian elegance, good shopping and one of Europe's finest examples of planned urban design.
It's generally safe and busy in the evenings, especially along the Royal Mile and Grassmarket. Take the usual city precautions, particularly during the Edinburgh Festival in August when the area gets very crowded.
Book a private tour and explore
Edinburgh Old Town
with a local expert guide.
Tours visiting this attraction
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