Sights · Our pick in Edinburgh
Calton Hill
The monuments
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Colin · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Chris Morgan · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
About Calton Hill
Calton Hill rises at the east end of Princes Street, crowned by the National Monument, the Nelson Monument (which Culture Edinburgh opens daily to climb) and the City Observatory, now home to Collective.
Why it's on our list
- Sunset view
- Nelson Monument
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Calton Hill before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Calton Hill, as the crow flies.
- W Edinburgh400 m5 min walk
- The Balmoral500 m6 min walk
- Cheval The Edinburgh Grand550 m7 min walk
- Gleneagles Townhouse550 m7 min walk
- The Scotsman Hotel550 m7 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Calton Hill are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest tram stops and railway stations
- Picardy PlaceTram300 m4 min walk
- McDonald RoadTram600 m7 min walk
- Edinburgh WaverleyRail600 m8 min walk
Key sights
- Holyroodhouse750 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- St Giles’ Cathedral800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- National Museum1.0 kmWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Edinburgh Castle1.3 kmWalk 16 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Arthur’s Seat1.8 kmWalk 23 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Royal Botanic Garden2.0 kmWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Britannia3.0 kmWalk 38 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Edinburgh Airport11 kmCar or taxi 35 min
Main railway stations
- Edinburgh Waverley600 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Haymarket2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 12 min