Parks · Our pick in Edinburgh
Princes Street Gardens
Below the castle
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens fill the valley between the Old and New Towns, below Edinburgh Castle; West Princes Street Gardens hold the Ross Fountain, and East Princes Street Gardens the Scott Monument.
Why it's on our list
- Ross Fountain
- Castle views
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Princes Street Gardens before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Princes Street Gardens, as the crow flies.
- The Witchery by the Castle250 m3 min walk
- Kimpton Charlotte Square450 m6 min walk
- The Caledonian, Curio Collection by Hilton500 m6 min walk
- Market Street Hotel600 m8 min walk
- Malmaison Edinburgh City650 m8 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Princes Street Gardens 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
- Princes StreetTram250 m3 min walk
- Edinburgh WaverleyRail600 m7 min walk
- St Andrew SquareTram700 m9 min walk
Key sights
- Edinburgh Castle150 mWalk 2 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 5 min
- St Giles’ Cathedral500 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- National Museum650 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Holyroodhouse1.7 kmWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Royal Botanic Garden1.8 kmWalk 23 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Arthur’s Seat2.4 kmWalk 30 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Britannia3.9 kmCycle 17 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Edinburgh Airport10 kmCycle 43 minCar or taxi 32 min
Main railway stations
- Edinburgh Waverley600 mWalk 7 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Haymarket1.3 kmWalk 17 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min