Calton Hill

If you're like the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, you might enjoy the view from Calton Hill; this spot was a favorite of his. One of the most popular vantage points for photo ops, Calton Hill affords a majestic panorama of the city below -- so double and triple check that you have your camera. Located east of New Town, the hill also supports several iconic buildings and monuments, such as the Scottish Parliament Building and the Holyroodhouse Palace at its feet and the National Monument and the Dugald Stewart Monument on the ascent.