Timeline
19:03
Start with coffee and a light bite at The Elephant House. It is a favourite of university and creative types, and JK Rowling wrote much of the first Harry Potter book here. Go early to avoid the Potter circus crowds.
19:48
Walk up Calton Hill. It is a short stroll up the stubby crag just east of Princes Street. The National Monument, a memorial to Scots killed in the Napoleonic Wars, stands at the top. The view commands great vistas over the city.
20:18
Watch the sunset. On 15 April the sun sets toward the WNW at 20:18. The golden light starts about 19:28, giving you plenty of time to find your spot on the crag.
21:03
End the evening with a drink or meal at The Dome. This bar and grill is in a former bank headquarters with a grand exterior and impressive interior. It stays open until midnight.
Local tip
The Elephant House can get busy with tourists. If you prefer a quieter start, The Oxford Bar is a trad drouthy Scottish pub often featured in Ian Rankin novels, open from noon.
Check before you go
- The Elephant House is open Mo-Th 08:00-22:00, Fr 08:00-23:00, Sa 09:00-23:00, Su 09:00-22:00.
- The Dome is open Mo-Su 10:00-24:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).