In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Two views cost nothing: Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat (251 m), in a park open 24 hours a day. The paid ones are the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill (a ticketed climb, 10.00 to 15.30 daily, closed without notice for maintenance), the Scott Monument (221 steps, children under 5 not admitted), the Camera Obscura roof terrace (£24.95 in 2026) and the castle’s Half Moon Battery, which comes with the £23.50 castle ticket. Calton Hill is reached by steps or a roadway; Arthur’s Seat is a hill walk. The Radical Road under Salisbury Crags is closed. Or go with a guide: GetYourGuide’s Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill hikead (3 hours) is from £26.
The views compared
| View | Cost | Hours | Closed or limited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calton Hill | Free | No ticket | Steps from Waterloo Place, or a gated pedestrian roadway |
| Arthur’s Seat | Free | Holyrood Park is open 24 hours | The Radical Road and the climbing areas are closed |
| Nelson Monument | Ticketed | Daily 10.00 to 15.30 | Closes at short notice for maintenance |
| Scott Monument | Ticketed, bought at the kiosk, card only | Not bookable in advance | 221 steps, no lift. Under-5s not admitted |
| Camera Obscura roof terrace | £24.95 in 2026, £25.95 in 2027 | Opening hours vary through the year | Stairs only. See Camera Obscura tickets |
| Edinburgh Castle, Half Moon Battery | £23.50 online, £26 at the gate | 9.30 to 18.00 (last entry 17.00) in summer, 9.30 to 17.00 (last entry 16.00) in winter | Closed 25 and 26 December. See Edinburgh Castle tickets |
Calton Hill
Free
Calton Hill is part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site. Its monuments include the National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens. Steps lead up from the junction of Waterloo Place and Regent Road, and a gated pedestrian roadway runs up the hill.
The Dugald Stewart Monument on Calton Hill, with the city skyline beyond. Photo: Suicasmo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Nelson Monument was built between 1807 and 1815 to mark Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, and a time ball was added in 1853. The ball is lowered every day as the One O’Clock Gun is fired from the castle, so be on the hill before 1pm to see the two together. The viewing platform looks over the city; on a clear day the Culture Edinburgh page lists the Queensferry Crossing to the west, Berwick Law and the Bass Rock to the east, Fife to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south. Inside, an exhibition covers Charles Piazzi Smyth, the originator of the One O’Clock Gun and the Time Ball.
Arthur’s Seat
Free · the park is open 24 hours
At 251 m, Arthur’s Seat is the highest point in Holyrood Park, and the summit has a trig point and views over the city and along the coast to the Bass Rock. The shortest way up is from Dunsapie Loch on the east side, and the full loop from Holyrood over Salisbury Crags takes 2 to 2.5 hours. Arthur’s Seat hike has the routes and the closed paths.
The Scott Monument
Ticketed · 221 steps
The Scott Monument stands in Princes Street Gardens and is one of the largest monuments to a writer anywhere in the world, the Culture Edinburgh page says. Visitors climb 221 steps to the third level, past a museum room on Sir Walter Scott. There is no lift and no ramp, and children under 5 are not admitted. Tickets are bought at the kiosk, card only.
The Scott Monument above Princes Street Gardens. Photo: Carlos Delgado, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The Camera Obscura roof terrace
From £24.95 · stairs only
The rooftop terrace is on Floor 6 of the Camera Obscura at the top of the Royal Mile, a short walk from the castle. It is included in the ticket for the whole attraction. The attraction says the best time is first thing in the morning or later in the evening, and the £4 Early Bird and Night Owl slots fall at those times.
The castle ramparts
£23.50 online · £26 at the gate
The Half Moon Battery on the eastern side of Edinburgh Castle overlooks the main entrance and the city, and it is part of the castle visit. The castle sells timed tickets, and once online tickets sell out nothing is sold at the gate.
Tours worth paying for
A guide gets you up a hill you might not climb alone. Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” prices, per person.
Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill hike
From £26 · 3 hours · 93 reviews
Edinburgh: Picturesque Hike to Arthur’s Seat & Calton Hillad leads up Arthur’s Seat by the most picturesque route and includes Calton Hill.
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
From £18 · 7,875 reviews
Edinburgh: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tourad is a hop-on hop-off bus route round the centre.
What to skip: the paid towers in poor weather. The Nelson Monument can close at short notice, and the free hills have no ticket to lose.
Which to choose
- A free view with little effort: Calton Hill, by the steps from Waterloo Place.
- A hill walk: Arthur’s Seat, with the Dunsapie Loch route the shortest way up.
- Bad weather: the Camera Obscura, which shows a film of the view from the tower when it is dark or the weather is poor.
- A day the Palace is shut: the views are open every day; Holyroodhouse is shut on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 17 September to 20 May.
The Royal Mile walk passes the castle and the Camera Obscura, and free things to do in Edinburgh covers the rest of what costs nothing. What to book before you go to Edinburgh has the closed days for every sight. To stay near the hills, see hotels near the Royal Mile.
Common questions
What is the best free view in Edinburgh?
Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat are both free. Arthur's Seat (251 m) is in Holyrood Park, which is open 24 hours a day; Calton Hill is reached by steps from Waterloo Place or a gated pedestrian roadway.
How much does it cost to climb the Nelson Monument?
It is a ticketed climb, open every day from 10.00 to 15.30, and it can close without notice for maintenance. The hill around it is free.
How many steps are there in the Scott Monument?
221 steps to the third level. There is no lift and no ramp, and children under 5 are not admitted.
Can I see the view from Edinburgh Castle without a ticket?
No. The Half Moon Battery and the ramparts are inside the castle, on the £23.50 ticket booked online. The free alternatives are Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat.
What is the best time for Edinburgh's views?
The Camera Obscura says first thing in the morning or later in the evening, when it is quietest. Holyrood Park, where Arthur's Seat stands, is open 24 hours a day.
What can I see from the Nelson Monument?
On a clear day the Queensferry Crossing to the west, Berwick Law and the Bass Rock to the east, the Kingdom of Fife to the north, and the Pentland Hills and Scottish Borders to the south.
