Free Things to Do in Edinburgh
Museums, parks and hills with no entry charge
Several of Edinburgh's city-run museums are free, and so are its parks, hills and the Water of Leith Walkway. These places have no entry charge on a normal day. Climbing a tower, joining a tour or seeing a special exhibition often costs extra, so check each place's own page.
85 places
All year When
The places
Landmark · Holyrood Scottish Parliament The home of Scottish democracy at the foot of the Royal Mile. Its own site says the building is open throughout the year.
Park · Holyrood Holyrood Park A royal park of crags, lochs and hills beside the palace, run by Historic Environment Scotland. It has a scenic walk and an audio guide on the Geotourist app.
Viewpoint · Holyrood Arthur's Seat The summit of the hill in Holyrood Park, the highest point in the park and a standard walk for views over the city and the Forth.
Viewpoint · Holyrood Salisbury Crags The cliff line on the western side of Holyrood Park, walked along its upper edge for views over the Old Town.
Landmark · Holyrood St Margaret's Loch and St Anthony's Chapel A ruined chapel above St Margaret's Loch in Holyrood Park, reached by a short climb from the loch side.
Landmark · Old Town Grassmarket A historic marketplace below the castle, now lined with independent shops, bars and restaurants, according to the official city guide.
Landmark · Old Town The Royal Mile The main street of the Old Town, running from the castle down to Holyrood. The official guide places it within a World Heritage site.
Museum · Old Town The Writers' Museum A museum in Lady Stair's House on the Lawnmarket about Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Burns' writing desk and Scott's rocking horse are among the objects.
Museum · Old Town The People's Story Museum A free museum in Canongate Tolbooth on the lives of working people in Edinburgh from the 18th century on, with recreated scenes such as a bookbinder's workshop and a wartime kitchen.
Museum · Old Town Museum of Edinburgh A free museum on the Royal Mile with permanent collections and special exhibitions on the city's history.
Museum · Old Town Museum of Childhood The first museum in the world dedicated to the history of childhood, opened in 1957. It is free to visit.
Museum · Old Town Museum on the Mound A free museum about money and banking in the Bank of Scotland's headquarters on the Mound. Its site invites you to see a million pounds and Scotland's oldest banknote.
Museum · Old Town Scottish Poetry Library Scotland's national poetry library, with free spaces for work and study. Its address is printed as Edinburgh EH8 8DT.
Museum · Old Town Stills A centre for photography with free gallery entry, open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00.
Park · Old Town Dunbars Close Garden A garden laid out in the style of a 17th-century garden, entered along a narrow cobbled close off the Canongate.
Park · New Town Princes Street Gardens The gardens in the valley between the Old Town and Princes Street, managed by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Viewpoint · Calton Hill Calton Hill A hill at the east end of Princes Street with a group of monuments and a wide view over the city. The Council lists it among its parks.
Landmark · Calton Hill National Monument of Scotland The unfinished Parthenon-style monument on Calton Hill, built as a memorial to the Scottish dead of the Napoleonic Wars.
Museum · Calton Hill Collective Gallery and City Observatory A free contemporary art centre on Calton Hill that uses the City Observatory. Its address is printed as Edinburgh EH7 5AA.
Park · Marchmont and the Meadows The Meadows A large open park south of the Old Town with the biggest play area in the city, tennis courts, a cafe and toilets, according to the Council. Bruntsfield Links adjoins it.
Park · Bruntsfield and Morningside Bruntsfield Links A green space beside the Meadows with a short-hole golf course that is free to play, a play park and seating. The Council notes it is among the earliest known locations for golf.
Park · Canonmills Inverleith Park A large park of grass and tree-lined paths with sports pitches, a play area, tennis court, allotments and a sundial garden.
Park · Leith Leith Links A large open space that began as a golf course, with a community orchard, play area, tennis courts and tree-lined walkways.
Park · Newhaven Victoria Park A Green Flag park in Trinity with two play areas, ball courts and a large circular path.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Saughton Park and Gardens A 34-acre park with a rose garden, walled garden, glasshouses, a cafe, an athletics track and the biggest skateboard park in Scotland.
Park · Portobello Figgate Park A park with a burn, pond and boardwalk, used as a link between Duddingston and Portobello.
Park · Bruntsfield and Morningside Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill A local nature reserve with Hermitage House and its visitor centre, an ice house, a walled-garden doocot and woodland walks. It has held a Green Flag since 2011.
Viewpoint · Bruntsfield and Morningside Braid Hills Hills rising to 675 feet with views on all sides, two golf courses and the only park in the city where horse riding is allowed.
Park · Bruntsfield and Morningside Braidburn Valley Park A green corridor following the Braid Burn through a grassy valley, with paths for walking, cycling and jogging. It has held a Green Flag since 2007.
Park · Colinton Colinton Dell A tree-lined stretch of the Water of Leith Walkway through ancient and long-established woodland.
Viewpoint · Corstorphine Corstorphine Hill A local nature reserve of woodland and grassland whose highest point, 531 feet, has views of the city and the Forth.
Park · Craigmillar Craigmillar Castle Park A natural heritage park of woodland, grassland and old quarries that includes 40,000 trees planted in 1997 as part of the millennium forest.
Park · Cramond Cramond Foreshore A shoreline walk with views across the Forth to Fife, a cafe and a walkway that links to Cramond Island at low tide.
Park · Cramond Cramond Walled Garden A small park in an old walled garden next to Cramond Kirk Hall, with play equipment for toddlers and teenagers.
Landmark · Cramond Lauriston Castle The grounds of a 16th-century castle with a Japanese garden, an Italian garden and views over the Forth. The Council lists it as a park.
Viewpoint · Bruntsfield and Morningside Craiglockhart Hill A local nature reserve whose plateau has views of the Forth, the Pentlands and East Lothian, with a nature trail by leaflet or QR code.
Park · Cramond Cammo Estate A large estate on the north-west edge of the city with woodland, glades, grassland, a walled garden and a visitor centre.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Hailes Quarry Park A Green Flag park along the Union Canal with a play area, an outdoor gym and a 340 m pump track.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Harrison Park A 7-hectare community park on the Union Canal with pitches, two play areas and a formal garden.
Park · Leith Lochend Park A Green Flag park around a loch with waterfowl, a play area, community woodland and historical buildings, behind Meadowbank.
Park · Leith Pilrig Park A park with hard paths, two play areas, a football pitch, community woodland and allotments.
Park · Cramond Silverknowes Park A small park above Silverknowes Golf Course with a panorama of the Firth of Forth.
Park · Newhaven Starbank Park A park with floral beds and views across the Firth of Forth to Fife, good for watching ships.
Park · Stockbridge Rocheid Path A short woodland path beside the Water of Leith with history panels.
Park · Cramond River Almond Walkway A nature trail along a clifftop through woodland, marsh, ponds and meadow.
Day trip · Midlothian Pentland Hills Regional Park A regional park of about 10,000 hectares south-west of the city with ten reservoirs and 100 km of waymarked paths. It has visitor points at Harlaw House and Flotterstone Lodge.
Park · New Town Redbraes Park A small park known for its roses, with a central cycle track and a play area.
Park · Murrayfield Ravelston Woods A local nature reserve in Blackhall with a play area and ball court, known for its plant and animal variety.
Park · Cramond Gypsy Brae A grassland park for wildlife watching with views across the Forth estuary to the Forth Bridges.
Park · Colinton Spylaw Park A park on the banks of the Water of Leith known for its mix of mature trees, with a play area.
Park · Canonmills St Marks Park A small park on a bend of the Water of Leith with city views and a children's play area.
Park · Portobello Portobello Community Garden A Green Flag garden on the Portobello seafront with three Coade stone pillars and seashore-inspired planting.
Park · Portobello Joppa Quarry Park A neighbourhood park with a play area, playing fields and seating at Joppa.
Park · Craigmillar Inch Park A large park with tree-lined paths, copses and the Braid Burn along its north edge, with a play area, football, cricket and an outdoor gym.
Park · Stockbridge Water of Leith Walkway A riverside route through the city run with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust, with an audio trail and plaques along the way.
Landmark · Stockbridge Stockbridge Colonies A set of historic terraced cottage rows in Stockbridge, listed in the official city guide's Stockbridge page.
Landmark · Stockbridge St Bernard's Well A small classical temple over a mineral well beside the Water of Leith.
Landmark · Dean Village Dean Village A former milling village in the valley of the Water of Leith, a short walk from Princes Street.
Landmark · Leith The Shore The waterfront in Leith where the Water of Leith meets the Forth, with the neighbourhood's bars and restaurants.
Landmark · Leith Leith Walk The long street from the top of the city centre down to Leith, which the official guide ties into the neighbourhood's multicultural character.
Landmark · Newhaven Newhaven Harbour The old fishing harbour on the Forth, part of the Leith and Newhaven area promoted by the official city guide.
Park · Portobello Portobello Beach Edinburgh's seaside, with a promenade that the Council has a project to improve. The official guide calls Portobello the city's year-round seaside resort.
Park · Fountainbridge Union Canal The canal that runs from Edinburgh Quay west across the city, managed by Scottish Canals.
Day trip · Cramond Cramond Island A tidal island in the Forth reached by a causeway from Cramond Foreshore at low tide.
Landmark · Cramond Cramond Village A village on the Forth at the mouth of the River Almond, where the foreshore walk starts.
Museum · South Queensferry Queensferry Museum A free museum on the history and traditions of South Queensferry, run by Culture Edinburgh.
Landmark · South Queensferry Forth Bridge The cantilever rail bridge over the Forth, seen from South Queensferry. The official guide lists South Queensferry's wildlife and stately homes alongside the bridge.
Park · Southside Nicolson Square Small gardens on the southern edge of the World Heritage Site, with seating and a monument.
Park · Calton Hill London Road Gardens A designed open space within the World Heritage Site, with mature trees, spring flower displays and interpretation panels.
Park · Calton Hill Hillside Crescent Gardens Gardens laid out by William Playfair that continue the greenery of Calton Hill across London Road.
Park · New Town Gayfield Square A community park among New Town buildings at the top of Leith Walk, with seating and outdoor gym equipment.
Park · New Town Bellevue Crescent Gardens Half-moon gardens lined with mature deciduous trees between Bellevue Crescent and Bellevue.
Park · West End Coates Crescent Gardens A Georgian crescent's gardens at the west end of Princes Street, with floral displays and a monument.
Park · Portobello Brighton Park A quiet garden park in Portobello with shrubs, roses, spring bulbs and a monument.
Park · Portobello Sir Harry Lauder Garden A memorial garden opened in 2001 in the grounds of Portobello Town Hall.
Viewpoint · Holyrood Dunsapie Loch A small loch below Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park.
Landmark · Duddingston Duddingston Loch The loch on the south side of Holyrood Park beside Duddingston village.
Day trip · Stirling and the Trossachs Cambuskenneth Abbey The ruined abbey where King James III and Queen Margaret are buried, in view of Stirling Castle.
Day trip · Stirling and the Trossachs Stirling Old Bridge One of the best medieval bridges still standing in Scotland.
Day trip · West Lothian and Falkirk Antonine Wall at Rough Castle The best-preserved fort on the Antonine Wall. The page says it is open all year.
Day trip · West Lothian and Falkirk The Kelpies The world's largest equine sculptures, the centrepiece of The Helix park, a 350-hectare park in Falkirk.
Day trip · Fife Dunfermline Abbey and Palace The resting place of kings including Robert the Bruce and St Margaret. The abbey is free to visit, donations welcome, and the palace was closed on the check date.
Day trip · Fife Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum A museum in Dunfermline on the life and legacy of Andrew Carnegie. It is free, with donations going to its operation.
Park · Southside Deaconess Gardens A small Southside garden with cherry trees, rose and flower beds and children's seating.
Park · Southside St Patrick Square A small garden on the edge of the World Heritage Site, with flower beds and seating among tenements and local shops.
