Attraction
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh's fortress on an extinct volcanic plug, home to the Honours of Scotland, St Margaret's Chapel, Mons Meg and the daily One O'Clock Gun.
Calton Hill
A 103-metre hill at the east end of Princes Street crowned by the unfinished National Monument, the Nelson Monument and the City Observatory.
At a glance
- Type
- Hill, viewpoint and monuments
- Area
- Calton, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Official site
- collective-edinburgh.art
Good to know
- Free entry
- Contemporary art gallery
- Cafés
- Accessible toilets
Why we recommend it
Calton Hill rises 103 metres at the eastern end of Princes Street and is one of the easiest viewpoints to reach in central Edinburgh. It lies within the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site, and views of and from the hill appear in countless photographs and paintings. From the top you can look along Princes Street to the castle, across to Arthur's Seat and Holyrood, and north over Leith to the Firth of Forth.
The hill is crowded with monuments. The National Monument, a partial replica of the Parthenon begun in 1826, was never finished and remains a row of columns. The Nelson Monument and the Dugald Stewart Monument stand nearby. The Political Martyrs' Monument stands in the Old Calton Burial Ground nearby, and the Robert Burns Monument and the old Royal High School sit on the southern slope.
On the summit, the City Observatory complex has been restored and reopened as Collective, a contemporary art centre at 38 Calton Hill. Its galleries open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm and are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Collective Gallery Coffee serves drinks from Wednesday to Sunday, and Café Calton is open daily. The complex also has accessible toilets on request.
The hill is free and open to walkers at any time. The usual approach is up the steps from Waterloo Place, at the hill's south-western entrance near Regent Bridge, which takes only a few minutes from the east end of Princes Street. Vehicles are generally not allowed, but disabled visitors can drive up, and taxis can drop off and pick up via the access road. Allow 30 minutes for the views, or an hour or more if you visit the galleries. The hilltop is exposed, so bring a windproof layer, and take care on the paths and steps after rain or in the dark, as the surfaces can be uneven.
Calton Hill suits photographers, couples and anyone with limited time. Sunrise and sunset are the most popular times, and the hill is busy on summer evenings. It is a short walk from Waverley station, and you can continue down to Leith Walk, or along Regent Road towards Holyrood and the foot of the Royal Mile.
Calton Hill FAQs
Is Calton Hill free?
Yes, the hill and its monuments are free to walk around.
How do you get up Calton Hill?
The usual route is up the steps from Waterloo Place at the east end of Princes Street, a climb of a few minutes.
What monuments are on Calton Hill?
They include the unfinished National Monument, the Nelson Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument and the City Observatory, now Collective.
When is Collective open?
Collective's galleries open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00 and are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Is there a café?
Café Calton is open daily and Collective Gallery Coffee opens Wednesday to Sunday.
Is Calton Hill accessible?
Vehicles are generally not allowed, but disabled visitors can drive up and taxis can use the access road.
When is the best time to visit?
Sunrise and sunset give the best light, though summer evenings are busy.