CityTour AI

City of Edinburgh self-guided walking tour

Edinburgh: Romantic Vistas and Hidden Closes

Discover the enchanting contrast between Edinburgh’s neoclassical elegance and its medieval mysteries on this comprehensive walking tour. You’ll wander through hidden 17th-century gardens, climb volcanic hills for breathtaking panoramas, and explore the legendary closes of the Royal Mile. It’s a romantic journey through the heart of Scotland’s capital, perfect for capturing iconic photos and uncovering local secrets.

Audio tourSelf-guidediOS & Android
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183minutes
6.6 kmdistance
20stops
Audio guideFormat
Edinburgh: Romantic Vistas and Hidden Closes
Stephencdickson / CC BY-SA 4.0

Stops on this route

This tour works well for first-time visitors, weekend trips, and travelers who want to explore City of Edinburgh without a fixed tour time.

Route map for Edinburgh walking tour

Map for Edinburgh walking tour with 20 stops
The static map shows the tour route with Scott Monument, North Bridge, Dugald Stewart Monument, Calton Hill, and 16 more stops.

Stops along the route

All stops on this self-guided tour at a glance.

  1. Scott Monument in City of Edinburgh
    Mike McBey / CC BY 2.0

    1Scott Monument

    Standing before this towering 'Gothic rocket,' it is easy to see why it dominates the city’s skyline

    Built: 1840 · Wikidata

  2. North Bridge in City of Edinburgh
    Benson85 at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

    2North Bridge

    Walking onto North Bridge feels like stepping onto a grand viewing platform. This Victorian iron and stone structure, completed in 1897, serves as the vital link between the medieval chaos of the Old Town and the orderly…

    Built: 1763 · Wikidata

  3. Dugald Stewart Monument in City of Edinburgh
    [Duncan] from Nottingham, UK / CC BY 2.0

    3Dugald Stewart Monument

    Perched on the edge of Calton Hill, the Dugald Stewart Monument is perhaps the most photographed structure in Scotland

    Wikidata

  4. Calton Hill in City of Edinburgh
    W. Bulach / CC BY-SA 4.0

    4Calton Hill

    Calton Hill is Edinburgh’s acropolis, a volcanic outcrop scattered with neoclassical monuments that offer a 360-degree panorama of the city, the sea, and the mountains

    Wikidata

  5. National Monument of Scotland in City of Edinburgh
    Colin / CC BY-SA 4.0

    5National Monument of Scotland

    Dominating the summit of Calton Hill is the National Monument of Scotland, a massive stone structure that looks like a ruin from ancient Greece

    Wikidata

  6. Canongate Tolbooth in City of Edinburgh
    Andrew Abbott / CC BY-SA 2.0

    6Canongate TolboothMuseum

    As you head down toward the lower end of the Royal Mile, the Canongate Tolbooth stands out with its striking clock and turreted French-style architecture

    Wikidata

  7. Dunbar’s Close Garden in City of Edinburgh
    Sir Gawain / CC BY-SA 3.0

    7Dunbar’s Close GardenPark

    Just a few steps from the busy Royal Mile, we slip into Dunbar’s Close Garden, a place that feels like a shared secret

    Wikidata

  8. Bakehouse Close in City of Edinburgh
    Brian McNeil / CC BY 3.0

    8Bakehouse CloseMonument

    Stepping into Bakehouse Close feels like walking directly onto a film set, and for fans of the show Outlander, it literally is

    Wikidata

  9. Tweeddale Court Fountain/Sculpture in City of Edinburgh
    Harry Bond / CC BY-SA 4.0

    9Tweeddale Court Fountain/SculptureMonument

    Tweeddale Court is a beautifully enclosed space that feels like a private courtyard from another century

    Wikidata

  10. Cockburn Street in City of Edinburgh
    Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0

    10Cockburn StreetSquare

    Cockburn Street is arguably the most picturesque curve in the city. Built in the 1850s, it was designed to provide a gentler link for horse-drawn carriages traveling between the High Street and the newly built Waverley S…

    Named after: Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn · Wikidata

  11. St Giles' Cathedral in City of Edinburgh
    Allie_Caulfield / CC BY 2.0

    11St Giles' CathedralChurch

    Standing before St Giles' Cathedral, you’re looking at the spiritual heart of Edinburgh

    Built: 1400 · Style: Gothic architecture · Named after: Giles · Wikidata

  12. Advocates Close in City of Edinburgh
    Alf van Beem / CC0

    12Advocates Close

    Advocate's Close offers one of those 'stop-in-your-tracks' views that Edinburgh does so well

    Wikidata

  13. Ramsay Garden in City of Edinburgh
    David Monniaux / CC BY-SA 3.0

    13Ramsay GardenBuilding

    You’re standing in front of one of the most photographed spots in the city, and it’s easy to see why

    Built: 1893 · Architect: Stewart Henbest Capper · Wikidata

  14. Edinburgh Castle in City of Edinburgh
    Stephencdickson / CC BY-SA 4.0

    14Edinburgh Castle

    Perched on the plug of an extinct volcano, this fortress has dominated the skyline for over a thousand years

    Built: 1200 · Wikidata

  15. Grassmarket in City of Edinburgh
    Kim Traynor / CC BY-SA 3.0

    15GrassmarketSquare

    Down here in the hollow of the city, the atmosphere shifts from royal to rowdy. The Grassmarket has been a place of trade and gathering since the 14th century, but it also holds a darker, more legendary reputation as the…

    Wikidata

  16. Greyfriars Bobby Fountain in City of Edinburgh
    Rock drum / CC BY-SA 3.0

    16Greyfriars Bobby FountainMonument

    Just a short walk from the Grassmarket, you’ll find a monument that captures the very soul of Edinburgh’s softer side

    Wikidata

  17. Greyfriars Kirkyard in City of Edinburgh
    Kim Traynor / CC BY-SA 3.0

    17Greyfriars KirkyardMonument

    Step through the gates and you’ll find one of the most atmospheric graveyards in the world

    Wikidata

  18. Lady Stair's Close in City of Edinburgh
    Alan Murray-Rust / CC BY-SA 2.0

    18Lady Stair's CloseBuilding

    Tucked away behind the busy Royal Mile is this quiet, stone-flagged courtyard that feels like a secret portal to the past

    Wikidata

  19. The Mound in City of Edinburgh
    Kim Traynor / CC BY-SA 3.0

    19The MoundBuilding

    As you walk down from the Old Town, you are standing on a massive engineering feat known as The Mound

    Built: 1781 · Wikidata

  20. Princes Street Gardens in City of Edinburgh
    Mike McBey / CC BY 2.0

    20Princes Street GardensPark

    Princes Street Gardens offers a lush, romantic escape in the heart of the city, but this valley has a much darker past

    Wikidata

Unlock the full tour

This public page shows a preview. The full route, all content, and navigation are available in CityTour AI.

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Frequently asked questions

The key answers before you start.

Is this a self-guided audio tour?

Yes. In the CityTour AI app (iOS and Android), this is a self-guided audio tour for City of Edinburgh — start anytime, at your own pace, with map, stops, and audio narration.

What will you see on this tour?

On this tour you'll see, among others, Scott Monument, North Bridge, Dugald Stewart Monument, Calton Hill, National Monument of Scotland, Canongate Tolbooth and more sights.

Where does the tour start?

The route starts at Scott Monument and ends at Princes Street Gardens. You can start anytime — the app guides you to the first stop.

How long does the tour take?

About 183 minutes for 20 stops — at your own pace, with breaks whenever you like.

How much does the tour cost?

This tour costs 30 credits. The exact price depends on the pack you buy and your country — roughly $10.

Is it an outdoor tour — are entry tickets included?

Yes, it's an outdoor tour: the sights are viewed from the outside. Entry tickets are not included, and step-free access cannot be guaranteed.

Is the audio guide available in my language?

The tour and audio guide are available in English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano and 7 more languages. You pick your language in the app.

Can I use the tour offline?

Yes. Tours can be used offline.

Can I ask the AI questions along the way?

Yes. At every stop you can ask the AI directly if you want to know more or didn't understand something.

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