Old & New Towns of Edinburgh

The New and Old Towns of Edinburgh embody everything, which makes the city world-renowned. Incorporated into a landscape of crags, dips and rolling hills, Edinburgh offers a constantly changing range of perspectives. From the turreted skyline of the medieval Old Town with its towering tenements to the neat and ordered grid of the neoclassical New Town, a new discovery is waiting to be made each way you turn.

The city’s unique built heritage, from the labyrinthine closes and vennels of the Old Town to the elegant boulevards and grand symmetry of the New Town, continues to serve as a spellbinding backdrop to a vibrant cultural scene.

There are many ways to get around Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns and the wider city, but the most eco-friendly and best way to explore is on foot. There are also plenty of buses and well as a tram system. For those that prefer to get around on two wheels, there are several bike hire schemes with hire stations located across the city.

It’s worth venturing beyond the city centre and discover Edinburgh’s many unique neighbourhoods too, for a different perspective of the city and its locals. Try Stockbridge in the city’s West End or why not explore Marchmont near the university? There’s also the refined residential community of Morningside to the south and vibrant Leith in the north, which is now one of the city's trendiest areas.

Find out more about getting to and around Edinburgh