City of Edinburgh district, Scotland, United Kingdom

Places to visit near Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city in City of Edinburgh district, Scotland, United Kingdom, home to about 464,990 people. Within 50 km by road there are 209 places to visit — 88 forts & heritage, 51 churches, 19 hill stations & viewpoints and 19 museums. The must-see places are Adam Black Memorial (1 km), Scott Monument (1 km) and New Town Church (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Edinburgh on the map

Edinburgh at a glance

Location
City of Edinburgh district, Scotland, United Kingdom
Population
about 464,990
Coordinates
55.9521° N, 3.1965° W
Places within 50 km
209 (209 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Edinburgh

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Edinburgh: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Edinburgh

Things to see near Edinburgh, by type

Forts & heritage near Edinburgh

122 forts & heritage within 100 km of Edinburgh. The closest is Adam Black Memorial (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Churches near Edinburgh

71 churches within 100 km of Edinburgh. The closest is New Town Church (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Edinburgh

40 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Edinburgh. The closest is Blackford Hill (4 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Scotland →

Museums near Edinburgh

23 museums within 100 km of Edinburgh. The closest is Museum on the Mound (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Parks near Edinburgh

15 parks within 100 km of Edinburgh. The closest is West Princes Street Gardens (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Beaches & coast near Edinburgh

7 beaches & coast within 100 km of Edinburgh. The closest is Inchkeith Lighthouse (12 km). Best time: october to march.

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A one-day trip from Edinburgh

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 5 km on the road.

  1. Start in Edinburgh
  2. 1 km Writers' Museum · museum, City of Edinburgh
  3. 1 km Museum on the Mound · museum, City of Edinburgh
  4. 1 km Scott Monument · monument, City of Edinburgh
  5. 1 km Adam Black Memorial · monument, City of Edinburgh
  6. 1 km New Town Church · church, City of Edinburgh
  7. 0 km Back to Edinburgh

Plan a longer trip from Edinburgh — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Edinburgh

No traveller has reported from around Edinburgh yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Edinburgh

    All places near Edinburgh by distance

    Within 15 km of Edinburgh

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Edinburgh by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage88122Adam Black Memorial (1 km)
    Churches5171New Town Church (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints1940Blackford Hill (4 km)
    Museums1923Museum on the Mound (1 km)
    Parks1415West Princes Street Gardens (1 km)
    Beaches & coast67Inchkeith Lighthouse (12 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens35Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (2 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs45Duddingston Loch (4 km)
    Treks34The Royal Mile (1 km)
    Mosques & dargahs11Edinburgh Central Mosque (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11St Serf's Island (35 km)
    Other attractions01Isle of May Lighthouse (59 km)
    Waterfalls01Falls of Clyde (61 km)

    Edinburgh: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Edinburgh?

    Adam Black Memorial (monument, about 1 km), Scott Monument (monument, about 1 km), New Town Church (church, about 1 km), Museum on the Mound (museum, about 1 km), Writers' Museum (museum, about 1 km), West Princes Street Gardens (garden, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Edinburgh?

    209 places on Spotwander: 88 forts & heritage, 51 churches, 19 hill stations & viewpoints, 19 museums, 14 parks.

    Which is the nearest fort to Edinburgh?

    Adam Black Memorial, about 1 km by road; Scott Monument (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Edinburgh?

    New Town Church, about 1 km by road; St Margaret's Chapel (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Edinburgh?

    Blackford Hill, about 4 km by road; Easter Craiglockhart Hill (5 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Edinburgh?

    Start in Edinburgh, visit Writers' Museum, then Museum on the Mound, then Scott Monument, then Adam Black Memorial, then New Town Church, and drive back — about 5 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Edinburgh?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Edinburgh

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Edinburgh’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.