United Kingdom
Things to do in Edinburgh
38 places38 stories2 routes
Sightlore has 38 places to explore in Edinburgh, and 38 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Edinburgh's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a museum of Scottish history and culture.
- 2
Greyfriars Bobby
The Greyfriars Bobby Fountain is a granite fountain in Edinburgh, surmounted by a bronze life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier or Dandie Dinmont Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for supposedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner…
- 3
St Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is one of three cathedrals in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- 4
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or), also known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom in Scotland.
Read its story → - 5
Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is a tourist attraction located in Outlook Tower on the Castlehill section of the Royal Mile close to Edinburgh Castle.
- 6
Nelson Monument
The Nelson Monument is a commemorative tower dedicated in honour of British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson located in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is situated on top of the Calton Hill at the end of Princes Street.
- 7
National Monument of Scotland
The National Monument of Scotland, on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, is Scotland's national memorial to the Scottish soldiers and sailors who died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.
- 8
Writers' Museum
The Writers’ Museum, housed within Lady Stair's House in Edinburgh, presents the lives of three of the foremost Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
- 9
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age.
Read its story → - 10
Scottish Parliament Building
The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in central Edinburgh.
Discovery routes in Edinburgh
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Royal Mile: Castle to Palace
A walk through the heart of the Old Town: Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura, the Writers' Museum, St Giles' Cathedral, Greyfriars Bobby, the National Museum, the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace.
Hills of Edinburgh
From the monuments of Calton Hill to Holyrood Abbey, then up to the summit of the extinct volcano Arthur's Seat.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or), also known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom in Scotland.
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is three miles (4.8 km) south-east of the city centre, on a low hill to the south of the modern suburb of Craigmillar.
Dean Village
Dean Village (from dene, meaning 'deep valley') is a former village immediately northwest of the city centre of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School.
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage.
Museums
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age.
Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is a tourist attraction located in Outlook Tower on the Castlehill section of the Royal Mile close to Edinburgh Castle.
Writers' Museum
The Writers’ Museum, housed within Lady Stair's House in Edinburgh, presents the lives of three of the foremost Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a museum of Scottish history and culture.
Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth (originally known as Our Dynamic Earth) is a not-for-profit visitor attraction and science centre in Edinburgh, and is Scotland's largest interactive visitor attraction.
HMY Britannia
Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy.
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
National Galleries Scotland: Modern (the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art) is part of National Galleries Scotland, which is based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
National Galleries Scotland: Portrait is an art museum on Queen Street, Edinburgh. Portrait holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots.
Lauriston Castle
Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house with 19th-century extensions overlooking the Firth of Forth, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It lies on Cramond Road South, between Cramond, Davidson's Mains, and Silverknowes.
Modern Two
Modern Two, formerly the Dean Gallery, in Edinburgh, is one of the two buildings housing the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, one of Scotland's national art galleries. It is operated by National Galleries Scotland.
Scottish National Gallery
The National (formerly the Scottish National Gallery) is the national art gallery of Scotland. It is located on The Mound in central Edinburgh, close to Princes Street.
Places of worship
St Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is one of three cathedrals in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by David I of Scotland.
St Margaret's Chapel
St Margaret's Chapel, in Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, Scotland. An example of Romanesque architecture, it is a category A listed building.
Edinburgh Central Mosque
The Edinburgh Central Mosque (officially known as the King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh) is located on Potterrow near the University of Edinburgh central area and the National Museum of Scotland.
Greyfriars Kirk
Greyfriars Kirk is a parish church of the Church of Scotland, located in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is surrounded by Greyfriars Kirkyard.
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, commonly known as St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the West End of Edinburgh, Scotland; part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
St Mary's Catholic Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, also known as St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Monuments
Greyfriars Bobby
The Greyfriars Bobby Fountain is a granite fountain in Edinburgh, surmounted by a bronze life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye Terrier or Dandie Dinmont Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for supposedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner…
Scottish Parliament Building
The Scottish Parliament Building is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in central Edinburgh.
National Monument of Scotland
The National Monument of Scotland, on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, is Scotland's national memorial to the Scottish soldiers and sailors who died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.
Nelson Monument
The Nelson Monument is a commemorative tower dedicated in honour of British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson located in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is situated on top of the Calton Hill at the end of Princes Street.
Ross Fountain
Ross Fountain is a cast-iron structure located in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.
Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is the second-largest monument to a writer in the world after the José Martí monument in Havana.
Nature
Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat is an ancient extinct volcano. It is the main peak of a group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park.
Bruntsfield Links
Bruntsfield Links is 35 acres (14 ha) of open parkland in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, immediately to the south-west of the adjoining Meadows.
Calton Hill
Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo, formerly the Scottish National Zoological Park, is an 82-acre (33 ha) non-profit zoological park in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular visitor attraction.
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park is a public park in central Edinburgh, Scotland about 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) to the east of Edinburgh Castle.
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens are two adjacent public parks in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland, lying in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
The Meadows
The Meadows is a large public park in Edinburgh, Scotland, to the south of the city centre.
Other
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
The Edinburgh Festival Theatre (originally Empire Palace Theatre and later shortened to Empire Theatre) is a performing arts venue located on Nicolson Street in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Explore Edinburgh with your camera
Hear the stories on the spot, complete routes, collect badges. Sightlore is coming soon to the App Store.