Edinburgh Photography Walking Tour

A day tour to capture the best of Edinburgh on camera

There are many walking tour routes you could take that give you the opportunity to take stunning pictures in Edinburgh's City Centre. This itinerary suggestion covers all the major attractions and is particularly suitable for those spending a short break in Edinburgh.

This walk includes suggestions for where to have lunch. All you need is a city tour map with all the streets in the City Centre.

Tour start - 9:00

Start your day tour on North Bridge, in front of the Scotsman. Walk along the bridge and look to the left, towards Edinburgh Castle and to the right towards Calton Hill and the Firth of Fort in the distance.

Take pictures of the Scott Monument, Edinburgh Castle with Ramsay Garden, the Old Town and the National Gallery as you approach the Balmoral Hotel. Turn left past the Balmoral onto Princes Street.

9:20

Walk along Princes Street and onto the green platform above Princes Mall. Look directly ahead and take pictures of the Old Town, left for pictures of North Bridge and right for pictures of the Castle from a different angle. This location is particularly good for taking pictures of Edinburgh Castle at dusk when it's floodlit.

9:40

Continue your walking tour into Princes Street Gardens. Spend at least an hour there, progressively taking pictures of Edinburgh's skyline, the castle, Scott Monument and in the Gardens.

At the end of East Princes Street gardens there's the National Gallery. The new concrete platform is one of the best viewpoints in the City Centre. At this time of the day the sun is still low enough not to obstruct your pictures.

Walk across the street known as the Mound to West Princes Street Gardens. At the end of West Princes Street Gardens there's the Ross Fountain which can be a great foreground for taking pictures of the castle.

11:00

At the end of West Princes Street Gardens there's a gate leading out into the King's Stables Road and then onto the Grassmarket, one of the finest streets in the Old Town. Take a moment to photograph the picturesque flower-decorated pubs.

Continue your tour along Victoria Street. After taking pictures of its colourful buildings and terrace, continue onto George IV Bridge. Turn right and walk to Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Take a picture of Greyfriars Bobby, the bronze statue of the faithful terrier sitting at the entrance. Take a brief tour of the churchyard and perhaps take pictures of the allegedly haunted Covenanters' Prison and Old Town buildings you can see from Greyfriars.

11:45

Walk back on George IV bridge and onto the Royal Mile. Turn left towards Edinburgh Castle. Take an hour-long tour of the castle then wait for the One o'Clock gun.

13:15

When you come out from Edinburgh Castle take a left and walk the narrow streets of Ramsay Gardens towards Assembly Hall. The views over Princes Street Gardens, Scott Monument and the National Galleries are some of this tour's highlights.

Instead of walking down the Mound go back up the Royal Mile via North Bank Street.

13:30

Walk down the Royal Mile and take pictures of its historic buildings and narrow closes and wynds. Tour highlights include St. Giles Cathedral, Heart of Midlothian and the Tron church. Before reaching the Tron, stop in one of the pubs for lunch.

15:30

Continue your tour down the Royal Mile and take a tour of Holyrood Palace. This part of Edinburgh is full of historic buildings so stop often for pictures.

17:30

Take the bus back to Princes Street. Buy a ticket for the Scott Monument and take pictures from one of Edinburgh's highest spires. Your photography tour of Edinburgh would not be complete without taking pictures from there. Take pictures from every level to get different angles.

18:30

Walk from the Scott Monument past the Balmoral Hotel towards Calton Hill. Walk up the hill and take a round tour for the different city panoramas as well as the views towards Salisbury Crags and the Firth of Forth.

End tour - 19:45

Walk back to Princes Street and from there take the bus to your accommodation.

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