Edinburgh’s got a creative spirit, vibrant nightlife, and charm to spare. One of the most gorgeous cities in all of the United Kingdom, this hilly Scottish capital boasts impeccable views and a unique mix of modern and historic architecture.
There is so much to do and see in Edinburgh like take an underground vault tour, but let’s focus on one of the finest, most simple pleasures of discovering a new city: the local sunset. It may seem pink and orange everywhere in the world, but that’s not always the case. The light and atmosphere of a new place tend to bring a sunset view to life in the most remarkable ways.
So, this post will cover a few idyllic and stand-out spots where the sunset Edinburgh style puts its best foot forward. If you’re travelling in Scotland, these sunset destinations should definitely be added to your bucket list.#
Leith Edinburgh
Best Sunset Spots by Type
Short on time, or just want to head straight to the right spot for your mood? Here’s the list at a glance:
- Best for drinks: Cold Town House, plus Edinburgh’s newest rooftop bars
- Best hilltop views: Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill, Blackford Hill
- Best for romance: Royal Botanic Garden, Cramond Beach
- Best waterfront: Newhaven Harbour, Forth Bridge, Cramond
- Best unique experience: The Fingal, Scott Monument
Edinburgh Sunset Times by Season
It gets mighty cold and damp in Edinburgh in the cold seasons, so it’s best to plan your outings carefully if you want an ideal sunset experience. You can see how late or early the sun sets below to help you figure out what time you should have your viewing spot secured by.
- Winter (December, January, February): 3–5 PM
- Spring (March, April, May): 5–7 PM
- Summer (June, July, August): 9–11 PM
- Autumn (September, October, November): 4–6 PM
The above times are simple outlines, so it’s best to keep your eye on the weather forecast if you want to avoid getting too cold up on a hill somewhere.
A Quick Word on Timing
Here’s the thing about Edinburgh sunsets: the city faces different directions from different viewpoints, so timing matters more than you’d think. For west-facing spots like Cramond Beach and the Forth Bridge, arrive 45 minutes before actual sunset for the best light. East-facing spots like Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill are better earlier in golden hour, when the city itself catches that warm glow. And honestly? Sometimes the 20 minutes after sunset gives you the most dramatic colours, especially in autumn.
11 Places to Watch the Sunset in Edinburgh
Touring Edinburgh is a fun treat, but seeing the city from a distance will give you some memorable images of this beautiful Scottish hub. The places in this list offer breathtaking views of the city where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
1. Cold Town House
Good drinks go hand in hand with a sunset viewing, and Cold Town House has got you covered in both departments. Sip on delicious cocktails, share a stone-fired pizza and enjoy the live music on offer. Cold Town House even has cabaret shows on occasion, so keep your eye on their website for upcoming events.
cold town house edinburgh
This Grassmarket rooftop just had a £500,000 makeover, and it shows. There’s a state-of-the-art retractable roof so you can enjoy the terrace whatever the Scottish weather throws at you, a new bar with three service stations, cosy gondola seating for up to four, and two water vapour fireplaces for when the evening turns chilly. It still isn’t a panoramic view, but you get that unmistakable snapshot of Edinburgh Castle over your cocktail, now in comfort year-round.
2. Edinburgh’s Newest Rooftop Bars
Edinburgh’s rooftop scene has seriously levelled up in the last couple of years. If you want something newer than the classics, here are three worth adding to your list:
- W Deck at W Edinburgh — Twelve floors up in the heart of St James Quarter, this seasonal rooftop delivers uninterrupted 360-degree views stretching from the Castle and Calton Hill to Arthur’s Seat. All-weather dining pods mean you can still get your sunset moment even on a blustery evening.
- Lochrin Rooftop Bar — On top of the Moxy Hotel in Fountainbridge, this moody, speakeasy-style spot pairs Scottish-inspired cocktails with skyline views towards the Castle. A little further from the Old Town crowds, and all the better for it.
- Edinburgh Gin Roof Terrace Bar — Above the distillery on East Market Street, this newer terrace serves golden-hour cocktails made with gin distilled just below you, including a Rooftop Garden Gin grown on-site.
These spots have quickly become local favourites for sunset drinks, and they’re often less crowded than the long-established places.
3. Calton Hill
It’ll only take you five minutes to walk to the top of Calton Hill, and the pay-off is enormous. You’ll be able to see some of Scotland’s iconic landmarks from the 360-degree view on Calton, not to mention the gorgeous sunset settling over the horizon.
Amongst the iconic buildings in view is the National Monument, Arthur’s Seat, and the Nelson Monument, to name a few.
Calton Hill is in central Edinburgh and super easy to get to. If you’re not up for a stroll, you can also drive to the top and park your car as the sun begins to set.
4. Holyrood Park
With over six hundred acres of flourishing nature, Holyrood Park would be the perfect place for a late afternoon picnic. Also known as Queen’s Park or King’s Park, Holyrood is dotted with glens, hills, and ridges just east of Edinburgh Castle. Salisbury Crags offers one of the best viewpoints in the park for watching the Edinburgh sunset.
The park is open to the public, and you can enjoy the scenery here 24 hours a day, all year round. There’s plenty of parking behind Holyrood for the measly price of £1, and it’s only a two-minute drive from the city centre.
5. Arthur’s Seat
Arthur’s Seat is a stunning mountain and the highest point in Holyrood Park. Believe it or not, this lush hill was a volcano once upon a time but is now extinct. The mountain sits over two hundred metres above sea level, offering spectacular views of Edinburgh from its summit.
Technically, this spot isn’t one hill but many, formed out of the remains of the volcano. Besides its intriguing history, Arthur’s Seat offers astonishing views come sundown.
There are five different routes up the hill to choose from, so you can choose exactly what level of difficulty will suit you best.
6. Royal Botanic Garden
The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh is super romantic and a lovely place to take a stroll. Once you step inside, it’ll be easy to see why the garden is one of the most visited places in all of Scotland. You’ll see loads of colourful flowers, pristinely manicured lawns, magnificent greenhouses, and a nursery on the property.
Entry to the Garden itself is free and no booking is needed — simply turn up any time between 10am and 5.15pm (10am–4pm November to January). Only the Glasshouses charge admission, and these are currently closed for a major restoration project, so this is one for a stroll and a sunset rather than a greenhouse visit for now.
7. Blackford Hill
Another high hill in Edinburgh, this sunset spot is located in Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve and stands at 164 metres tall. You’ll find an obscure-looking fort at the top of the hill, which is actually an ancient historical monument.
You can see Edinburgh to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south from Blackford Hill once you reach its height. There are plenty of established paths you can choose from, and this is a popular spot amongst joggers.
Want to escape the crowds at Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat? The Braid Hills on Edinburgh’s south side offer equally stunning sunset views with a fraction of the people. The walk up is gentle, parking is easy, and you’ll mostly have the view to yourself unless it’s a perfect summer evening. Corstorphine Hill on the west side is another local secret — the views aren’t quite as dramatic, but you can actually hear yourself think.
8. Forth Bridge
This bridge is famous in Scotland and a well-liked attraction amongst tourists and locals alike. The bridge crosses over the River Forth, and the sunlight hitting the water makes for an astonishing view.
9. Cramond
Cramond is a picturesque suburb on the south shores of the River Forth. You can head out to Cramond Beach if you want to immerse yourself in the quaint fishing village vibe. Plus, there’s nothing better than sunset on the beach.
There’s also a pub and coffee shop nearby where you can cosy up once the sun goes down.
10. Scott Monument
This Victorian Gothic monument was erected in honour of Sir Walter Scott, a famous novelist and Edinburgh native. The Scott Monument is a looming spire structure just over sixty metres high, and the views from the top are sensational.
After 287 steps up the tower, you’ll be greeted with one of the best sunset views in Edinburgh.
11. Newhaven Harbour
You just can’t beat the combination of sunset, boats, and the ocean. Check out Newhaven Harbour for a stunning sunset shot and a romantic stroll along the docks. When the sun finally sets, and harbour lights come on, you’ll be glad you ventured out to this blissful spot.
⇒ Heading to Scotland? Check out my Scotland Itinerary 10 Days, Scotland Itinerary 7 Days, Glasgow Tours, Edinburgh vaults tour, things to do in Dumfries and Galloway, things to do in Ayrshire, my guide to Climbing Ben Nevis, 11 Best Spots to See the Sunset in Glasgow, 18 Beautiful Places in Scotland and 9 great Spa Breaks Scotland.
Top Tip: Visit Edinburgh During Some of Its Key Events
Edinburgh has some brilliant events. The Edinburgh Festival is one of the biggest arts festivals in the world and is held every August. Although it has a whole range of artists and events, it is perhaps best known for its fantastic comedy talent.
I highly recommend booking some shows as well as checking the schedule, as many comedians often do free late-night sets during the festival.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs at the same time as the Edinburgh Festival and I can’t recommend this more highly. When I went, I didn’t really expect much but I was blown away. The sights and sounds are just fantastic and the atmosphere is electric.
And Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the biggest celebrations of New Year’s Eve in the world.
Getting to Edinburgh
A quick and cheap way to get from the airport to the centre of Edinburgh is to take the Edinburgh Airport to City Centre Bus Transfer.
The Best Place to Stay – and Eat – in Edinburgh
Have you ever stayed at a 5 star hotel that was actually a ship? Me neither, until I arrived at Leith Harbour in Edinburgh and boarded The Fingal.
The Fingal was commissioned by the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1963 and was stationed in Oban for 30 years. The Fingal took supplies and people to and from the lighthouses on the islands of Scotland. It retired from service in 2000.
The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust acquired the boat and brought it to Leith Harbour in 2014. A £5 million refurbishment followed and The Fingal opened to guests in January 2019.
Guests are greeted by a literal red carpet when arriving at The Fingal (it was a soggy red carpet when I arrived thanks to Scottish weather!). The boat’s 23 luxurious cabins are over two floors. I adored my cabin! It was luxurious but comfortable and spacious yet cosy. This is a high-end fit out and the investment can be seen from the leather-bound closets to the giant fluffy towels to the soft furnishings.
The throw on my large and comfortable bed was adorned with the soft shades of violet and green of the official Fingal tartan (which can be purchased in the gift shop). I loved the attention to detail in the cabin, like the design on the ceiling and the soft suede bed head.
The bathroom in the cabin was decked out with sparkly green tiles and the wonderful Noble Isle products. I am all about my hotel toiletries, so I was delighted to see that there were two different options for both the body wash and the body lotion (these can also be purchased in the gift shop, as well as the fantastic diffusers).
Bathrobes and slippers are supplied and the slippers were some of the softest and squishiest I have ever experienced at a hotel. There are coffee and tea making facilities in the room as well as a great mini bar with loads of enticing local treats plus the classics like Moet.
My cabin had two smallish windows and a second door that took me out onto the deck. From that door it is possible to walk to the top tip of The Fingal, where there is an outdoor area for reclining and relaxing.
The bar and restaurant are located on the second floor of The Fingal. The room has a wonderful sparkly roof that adds to the general feeling on The Fingal of being somewhere quite special. The seating area for the bar is split, with some tables near the entrance and others at the top of the ship near the windows.
The bar at The Fingal is known for its cocktails. I am much more a wine drinker, so I was delighted to find a large selection of wines available by the glass.
The menu at The Fingal is heavy on local produce and modern European in style. I started with scallops from Orkney. They were large, plump and juicy and accompanied by a blood orange sauce and segments which complemented them beautifully.
For main, I stayed Scottish with local halibut. Often I find halibut can be quite a thin fillet, but this one was as plump and juicy as a salmon fillet. The halibut sat on top of a delicious broth that was chock full of more local seafood, all conveniently shelled – crayfish, mussels and more. This seafood stew sat on a bed of spaghetti and it was absolutely delicious.
Alas, all that amazing Scottish seafood (plus the spaghetti!) meant dessert wasn’t on the cards for me. But I was presented with some salted caramel truffles and macarons. I am never too full for a salted caramel truffle, and these were amazing.
I had a wonderfully comfortable and solid sleep and then it was time to head up to the second floor again for breakfast. A continental selection was available buffet style with high quality fresh pastries, local yoghurt, fresh fruit etc, plus a very long list of selections for a hot breakfast.
And don’t miss heading below deck to the engine room. There is a spectacular glass walkway that allows visitors to see all of the workings in detail.
As you may have guessed, I really enjoyed my stay on The Fingal. I am lucky enough to stay in many lovely hotels, but this 5 star boat felt really special. It would be a perfect way to celebrate a special event, and I think the rates are very good value. Even if you don’t stay the night on The Fingal, I would highly recommend coming for drinks and dinner while you’re in Edinburgh.
Enjoy a Special Edinburgh Sunset
Edinburgh is filled with unique activities and attractions, and sunset-hopping is undoubtedly a fun excuse to visit some of the best of the city’s observation spots. If you’re looking for more cool travel inspiration, you can check out this post on beautiful places in Scotland.
Hopefully, you’ll get to experience as many of the pretty places on this list as possible during your Edinburgh adventure. Be it in a park, a castle, or on a bridge, you’re bound to see some memorable sunsets in this enticing city.
I covered all of the costs in writing this post apart from my stay and dinner on The Fingal. This Edinburgh sunset post includes affiliate links. That means if you click through and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.