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Conwy Suspension Bridge
Conwy Suspension Bridge
The blue spruce on the right symbolizes the spirit of John Denver.
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All United Kingdom Scotland Edinburgh

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Edinburgh

178 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

Updated November 5, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Edinburgh

A street in the close.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Mary King's Close

17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.
The fountain.

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witches' Well

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.
(Flickr/Wojtek Gurak)

Edinburgh, Scotland

Holyrood Abbey Ruins

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Edinburgh's oldest purpose built visitor attraction, The Camera Obscura on the Royal Mile

Edinburgh, Scotland

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

360° views of the city plus five floors of optical illusions and hands-on science.
The Palm house

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh

One of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, containing more than 13,302 plant species in its core collection.
Gilmerton Cove

Edinburgh, Scotland

Gilmerton Cove

This series of Scottish caves has no clear purpose other than baffling historians.
The Witchery

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.
A collection of 8 coffins with their lids and carved figures, found in a rocky niche on the north-eastern slopes of Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, in June 1836. © National Museums Scotland (used with permission)

Edinburgh, Scotland

Burke & Hare Murder Dolls

Tiny effigies of the victims of Edinburgh's famous Anatomy Murders.
See All 178 Things To Do in Edinburgh

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Edinburgh

The Witchery

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witchery

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.
The bar, with the window to the snug.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Bennets Bar

This historic pub has maintained much of its 1906 decor, including a small sequestered room for women, where orders were slipped through a tiny window.
The stained glass over the restaurant's bar.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Cafe Royal

Come for the oysters, stay for the priceless art honoring inventors across history and Scotland's favorite outdoor sports.
Tolbooth Tavern

Edinburgh, Scotland

Tolbooth Tavern

Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.
See all 5 Places to Eat in Edinburgh
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NEW - Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

View Itinerary
Look closely and wander widely: Parliament Square is full of charm.

Explore Edinburgh, Scotland

History & Culture 34
Art 29
Architecture 25
History 24
Museums 19
Statues 15
Sculptures 14
Monuments 12
Animals 10
Churches 9
Plaques 9
Outsider Art 9
Unique Restaurants & Bars 4
Places To Stay 2

Edinburgh Leaderboard

Places Added

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    86
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    linkogecko
    18
  3. R
    Rachel Gould
    9
  4. Avatar image for Annetta Black
    Annetta Black
    5
  5. Avatar image for ssm67alba
    ssm67alba
    2

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for SEANETTA
    SEANETTA
    168
  2. Avatar image for rbenn250
    rbenn250
    103
  3. Avatar image for linkogecko
    linkogecko
    50
  4. Avatar image for hrnick
    hrnick
    26
  5. Avatar image for Collector of Experiences
    Collector of Experiences
    25

Places Visited

  1. Avatar image for SEANETTA
    SEANETTA
    175
  2. Avatar image for grahamstewartwalker
    grahamstewartwalker
    164
  3. Avatar image for linkogecko
    linkogecko
    160
  4. S
    Silvette1980
    158
  5. Avatar image for hrnick
    hrnick
    153

Recent Edinburgh Activity

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to Arthur's Seat

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to The Meadows Mural

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to Craigentinny Marbles

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to Coade Stone Columns

  • P

    PurpleSkies

    has been to War Poets' Collection

Stories About Edinburgh

At the University of Edinburgh's graduation ceremony, a student is tapped with the Geneva Bonnet.

Before Harry Potter’s Sorting Hat, There Was the ‘Medieval Space Bonnet’

Legends swirl around the University of Edinburgh’s mysterious graduation bonnet.
by Sarah Thomson
May 16, 2024

Uncovering Edinburgh’s Hidden Victorian History—One Doorway at a Time

A new project delves into the stories of forgotten Edinburgh residents and the places they called home.
by Sukhada Tatke
September 6, 2023
On closer examination, the map reveals the places of residence of accused witches, here in the Greater Edinburgh area.

Explore This Map of More Than 3,000 Scottish Witches

An Edinburgh University project uses data to track the victims of Scottish "witch-prickers" in the 16th and 17th centuries.
by Frank Jacobs
May 5, 2023
Every May, an ancient Celtic festival, known as Beltane, is held atop Calton Hill in Edinburgh, where participants eat a mysterious Beltane bannock cake.

Why 18th-Century Scots Performed Mock Human Sacrifices Over Cake

This May Day, make Beltane bannock, a simple snack with a long history of superstition and divination.
by Sam O'Brien
May 1, 2023

Podcast: Library of Mistakes

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
May 26, 2021
One of Darwin's finches in the Galapagos.

The Extraordinary Life of the Freed Slave Who Taught Darwin Taxidermy

John Edmonstone was a mentor to the budding teenage naturalist.
by Sabrina Imbler
March 25, 2019
"The Anatomist overtaken by the Watch carry'ng off Miss W in a hamper." William Austin, 1773.

A Beginner's Guide to Body Snatching

Where to go for an education in grave robbery, the grisliest chapter in medical history.
by Molly McBride Jacobson
January 26, 2017

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