8 Instagrammable Spots in Old Town Edinburgh You Can’t Miss

So you want to know everything about Old Town Edinburgh? Here, I’ll take you through the must see spots of the historical Old Town Edinburgh. If you want more information on what Edinburgh has to offer, don’t miss my previous post “Everything You Need to Know about Edinburgh, Scotland” and keep an eye out for a post about New Town! But let’s get into what Old Town has to offer.

Old Town Edinburgh Sights:

Royal Mile

This street is the most popular street in Old Town. Full of touristy shops and plenty of pubs, you will have no trouble staying busy while walking on this street. The name is deceiving however! It is a bit longer than a mile. And it is uphill if you are traveling towards the castle. Looking for cashmere scarves or kilt rentals? This is the place for you!

Edinburgh Castle – the Jewel of Old Town Edinburgh

Probably the most photographed building in the entire city, the castle sits atop a hill marking the end of the Royal Mile. I highly recommend paying the entrance fee to explore inside the fort walls. Also, I’d suggest picking up an audio tour! The museum inside had tons of information, but I think having that extra source of information as we walked around would have been even better! We spent a little over two hours exploring the castle, so be prepared for gorgeous views and tons of knowledge.

St. Giles

This cathedral is a wonderful free thing to do on the Royal Mile! Take a wander through to see the stain glass and masonry work. A perfect quiet few moments on one of the most crowded streets in the city.

Whiskey Heritage Center

As you reach the top of the Royal Mile, reward yourself with a little history lesson and a taste of Scotland itself! If you are looking to try the different whiskeys of Scotland but have no idea where to start, this is your place. You’ll get to sip on each region’s distinct flavor if you go with the gold tour pass. Since there was a group of us, we did the silver tour pass which only gives you one tasting each, so we just shared between ourselves.

Victoria Street – Most Colorful Street of Old Town Edinburgh

Welcome to Diagon Alley! Well at least what the famous Harry Potter location was supposedly based off. This colorful cobblestoned street is Instagram worthy that’s for sure! And don’t miss out on the Harry Potter gift shop, Museum Context.

Grass Market

Venturing further into Old Town you will stumble upon Grass Market. A street filled with some of the best shopping in Edinburgh. As you window shop and peruse the restaurants lining the old street, make sure to look out for Armchair Books and that picture perfect location you see everyone posting from. Here is the exact location!

Greyfrair’s Kirkyard

Take a walk on the spooky side with a stroll through this ancient graveyard! If you take any sort of ghost tour while in Edinburgh, you’re sure to pass through here. There are some pretty fun scary stories about this place, so don’t miss it!

Bobby Statue

And don’t forget about little Bobby! The story behind this adorable dog is worth the walk to the kirkyard and statue. A dog who was so heartbroken over the death of his owner, that he refused to leave the gravesite of his best friend. You’ve probably also heard that rubbing the statue’s nose brings you good luck!

Where’s the Food?

Looking for some food/pub suggestions? My favorite place for haggis (vegetarian for me) was at Scran. The breakfast there was to die for. Still have dreams about it. Looking for the best milkshakes in town? Scran is also your place to go!

I recommend checking out the live Scottish music at the pub Ensign Ewart on the Royal Mile too!

Beer with a view? Book the rooftop at Cold Town House near Grassmarket.

You could easily spend a couple days exploring this area with tours and wanderings. This was definitely my favorite place to be in Edinburgh surrounded by the old buildings and old history.

This post is all about Old Town Edinburgh.