The Royal Mile and its closes
The spine of the Old Town from the castle to Holyrood, with hidden closes off both sides.
Walk it once end to end, then walk it again ducking into the closes: Advocate's Close for the view, Mary King's Close for the tour, Dunbar's Close for the secret garden. It is busy in the daytime and atmospheric at night, when the ghost tours set off from the Mercat Cross. Free, obviously, and steep in places.
When it works
Outdoors: pick a dry day. Best morning, afternoon, evening, night.
Good for a first visit, a date, groups and kids.
On these lists
- Things to do in Edinburgh when the sun is out
- Free things to do in Edinburgh
- Things to do in Edinburgh with kids
- Things to do in Edinburgh tonight
- Date ideas in Edinburgh
- Things to do in Edinburgh this weekend
- Plan an afternoon in Edinburgh around it
Opening hours and prices change; the official site has the current ones. See everything in Edinburgh ranked for right now.