Royal Mile

Walking along Edinburgh's Royal Mile was an unforgettable experience! I began right at the top, at the Castle Esplanade - where you can enjoy some good views of the city - and walked almost to the end at the entrance to Holyroodhouse. It was downhill all the way, along cobblestones that have been smoothed over, and with a wealth of fascinating history all around. There are ancient multi-storey tenements, narrow closes and hidden courtyards, historic pubs, and kirks with tall spires. St Giles Cathedral in Parliament Square is well worth a visit, and other attractions include the Camera Obscura, John Knox House, and Museum of Edinburgh. But the Royal Mile is not merely an open-air history museum. It's a bustling street with a vibrant atmosphere, enhanced by street entertainment: I encountered Scottish pipers in full regalia, buskers and a stilt walker as I strolled along. Walking tours start from here. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from, and lots of shops where you can buy Scottish gifts, clothing, confectionery and whisky. Of course this street can get crowded with tourists - it was uncomfortably crowded in the pedestrianised area close to the castle - but that's only to be expected, and it became less hectic but just as interesting the further down I walked. All in all, the Royal Mile was an experience I definitely wouldn't have missed!

Absolutely loved Edinburgh! So much to see & do within a short distance. Stayed very centrally with fab views - sea to the left & castle to the right. Bus tours are great way of seeing the city & staff very friendly. Definitely visit again as many things go didn't get a chance to do.

Exciting and historic area in old town Edinburgh. It connects Edinburgh Castle at its highest point to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other end. Great place to walk around and explore or window shop many souvenirs stores.it is about 1.8 km long. Many restaurants, bars and cafes are also available to choose from.

My Visit to the Royal Mile, Edinburgh – A Walk Through History Walking along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh was one of the most fascinating experiences of my trip. Stretching from the Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, this historic street perfectly captures the soul of the city — full of charm, culture, and centuries of history in every step. The cobblestone streets, old stone buildings, and lively street performers create a wonderful atmosphere. Every corner has something interesting — from souvenir shops, whisky tasting rooms, and cozy cafés to hidden closes and historic landmarks. I especially enjoyed browsing the small local stores selling Scottish tartans, shortbread, and handmade crafts. You can easily spend hours here exploring side alleys, visiting St. Giles’ Cathedral, and listening to bagpipers playing traditional tunes. The views of the city from the upper end near the castle are breathtaking, especially around sunset. Visitor Tips: • 🕰️ Visit early morning to enjoy quiet streets or late afternoon for a lively, festive vibe. • 📸 Don’t miss photo stops near St. Giles’ Cathedral, John Knox House, and the Castle Esplanade. • 🛍️ Try local shops for authentic souvenirs instead of the tourist stalls. • ☕ Enjoy a coffee or whisky at one of the historic pubs or cafés along the way. • 👣 Wear comfortable shoes — it’s a long, sloping walk with uneven cobblestones. The Royal Mile isn’t just a street; it’s an open-air museum where every building and stone tells a story. It’s the heartbeat of Edinburgh and a must-visit for anyone who wants to feel the true spirit of Scotland.

Everything in the city is walking distance. Absolutely worth a visit plenty to see. The surgeons and national museum are so large 2 and 3 hours respectively. The castle is beautiful and the weather was decent for November

Edinburgh is such a lovely place. I’m back here for the second time, and it truly feels like my peaceful city — my lovely city. I don’t even have the words to describe how much I love it. It feels like home, like family. Every time I’m here, I feel comfortable and warm. The people are all so friendly. Oh my God, what a beautiful city! ❤️

Walking along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip, because it felt like the very heart and soul of the city. Stretching from Edinburgh Castle at the top to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom, this historic street is packed with history, character, and energy at every step. The cobblestone streets, the narrow closes, and the centuries-old architecture give you the feeling that you are walking through living history, yet at the same time the street feels vibrant and modern with shops, restaurants, and street performers bringing it to life

Wonderful experience to see the town. A long walkway with lots of sights. Souvenirs shops everywhere for you to pick up some cashmere, or woolly scarf. Lots of restaurants along the route which can get busy at times so might need to pre-book for dinner. Entertainers scattered along the path playing bagpipes or dressed up for photos. Great experience and you should definitely see it at least once.

This is THE vibrant main commercial street in Edinburgh and equivalent to Chicago's Magnificent Mile, or Manhattan's 5th Ave, or New Orleans' Bourbon St. Unlike those US main drags though, the commercial activity here is about 600 years old. The formal street name of the main street it runs along is Canongate and it runs east-west in the Old Town with Holyrood Palace on its east end and Edinburgh Castle on its west end. The mile is lined with shops, restaurants, public houses, and attractions, and any major Scottish retailer and a bunch of others will be found along the route. There are several shortish perpendicular streets that intersect it along the way, and those streets are also considered part of the Royal Mile, so it's all really a shopping district. If you're an Edinburgh tourist, you will end up walking along the Royal Mile sooner or later!

The Royal Mile -- what can I say? You'll end up there because it leads to the castle. It's very touristy and, in my opinion, a bit tacky, but it's worth walking to take in the surrounding streets and views -- those are much nicer. There are some great spots in the area to explore, so take a stroll, enjoy the atmosphere, but don't linger too long. Saluti

The Royal Mile is a trip. Wake up at 8am, it's absolutely empty. Thursday night, a little busy. Weekends, jam packed!! You can tell this area isn't just for the tourist. On the weekends, the locals are crowding the pubs alongside all of us out of towners! What makes the Royal Mile stand out is the beauty of the architecture. It's stunning! The gothic design is present in all of the building and churches along the way. You can also tell it wasn't built for cars back in the day as the hills will get you! Restaurants in the area are a bit pricier than those off the beaten path but there are also many great gems worth exploring along the way.

This the main stretch in Edinburgh and a must visit when you are here. It does get packed so be ready for throngs of people. There is so much to see and do here including the Edinburgh Castle on one end and scores of other historic sites all the way through. It was fun to watch the street performers doing their thang here as well.

Like Bourbon street in Nola or Beale street in Memphis. Home of distilleries, cafes, shops, restaurants, and tons of bagpipe playing. Grab a coffee and walk. Definitely stop for a whisky (spelled without an E here).

The Royal Mile is an open corridor through part of Edinburgh lined with sites such as historical landmarks and buildings, shops, restaurants, and depending on the time of day and year street musicians. I walked through the mile a few times towards the beginning of my heritage travel trip to Scotland in July 2019 and found it quiet in the morning (6 July) and the evening (5 July). When I came full circle back to Edinburgh on 18 July, traffic was picking up - entering the thick of peak season. I utilized a handful of different businesses, watched bagpipers play, and observed some of the landmarks such as the telephone boxes/booths and the City Chambers. Fun place to go with specific tasks in mind or just meandering.

We stayed at one end of the Royal Mile by the Palace of Holyrood House. It was pretty nice to be able to walk to a lot of the things we wanted to do whilst in Edinburgh via this road. Now, do know that going east towards Edinburgh Castle is a slight uphill trek, but there are a lot of things to see and do while walking. It is a working street so watch out for cars and such. We saw too many tourists not caring about where they walk and deliver vans seeming to not care there are people in the streets. There is a lot to do on this street and most of it is suuuper touristy but it's an experience.

Edinburgh's Royal Mile is one of the most famous streets in the world and a must see for all when in Edinburgh. Established in 1500, its name comes from its tradition as a processional route for kings and queens for the last 500 years. The street is actually a little over a mile, but connects Edinburgh Castle at the very top end and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom. It is in Old Town, the historic heart of the city, and is best explored on foot. The Royal Mile is home to many restaurants, bars, and shops, and a number of attractions. Many historic buildings remain including Gladstone's Land, The Writers' Museum, and the Museum of Edinburgh. You'll find St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile as well. You can easily spend a whole day here exploring the main street as well as the closes that connect other streets to the Royal Mile. I highly recommend joining a walking tour or even a bus tour to get your bearings on the city and learn it's deep, rich history!

Last time in Edinburgh we came here for a walk. Loved it. So naturally we came back this time around. There was a festival going on in town. And the streets were packed. And the Royal Mile so much that there really wasn't a chance to walk. People squeezing, pushing, rushing. No fun at all. Shop entrances blocked with people standing in the streets. There was just no way to enjoy any of it or to do a little shopping. Of course, the Royal Mile is a must-do for visitors. Especially for first timers. And with less people we would have stayed and enjoyed it as well. As we did before a few years ago. But this time we just stayed a few minutes and left due to the overcrowded streets. Surely some spots worth checking out if you arrive on a quiet day: Castlehill and Edinburgh Castle, the Scotch Whisky Experience, Tolbooth Kirk or the mighty St. Giles Cathedral. We'll check the Royal Mile again next time in Edinburgh of course. Maybe we get lucky.

Very nice & historical. There are plenty of shops & restaurants, along with there being a short walk between the Edinburgh Castle & Holyrood Palace.

Perhaps one of the most famous streets in Edinburgh, The Royal Mile is the heart of the old town, stretching from Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, all the way up to Edinburgh Castle, with St Giles' Cathedral on the way, the 1.81 km walk along the Royal Mile is certainly one of the most touristy things to do while in the Scottish capital, and actually works out just over a mile. The buildings along the mile, make me think I'm not even in the UK anymore, it's a traditional old town-style street, you don't see much of here anymore, and it's just a relatively nice atmosphere. It can get quite steep and hilly at its peak, so you may want to take a couple of breaks along the way, there are some shops and cafes along the Royal Mile, including a Starbucks, with more being located along side streets. It can get very busy during major events or tourist season, so might not always be the most comfortable or magical walk that it could be, but a must-do on a trip to Scotland. 4*

Oh my... when I booked a hotel in Old Town Edinburgh, I had no idea that the place dated back 10 centuries and preserved historic buildings, cobblestone streets in the form of the Royal Mile. We just felt like we were in another world. We walked for 5 hours just taking it in.

This famous stretch of road is a marvelous mashup of the traditional and the touristy - the majestic and the mainstream. Bookended by a castle and a palace, this street offers places to eat, shop, and to spend hours immersed in local history. Even the tourist shops have class, though - the vendors there to sell, not to push their products on you. The restaurants and pubs have to be competitive in order to stay open, so even the okay ones are pretty good. Come here and get some steps in. Wear comfortable shoes as the streets are old and a lot of cobblestone is present. Get ready to see one of the nicest stretches of street you will ever walk on.

This may be one of the most gorgeous stretches of road in the entire world. A mile of walkable cobblestone extends from the gate of Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Abbey, at the base of Arthur's Seat, a rocky promontory on the eastern fringes of the city. In between, you will marvel at the breath-taking gothic architecture, an uncountable number of museums, galleries, cafés, pubs, restaurants and shops, purveying the entire spectrum of goods for which Scotland is best known: tartan plaids, whiskey, bagpipes, swords, heraldic iconography, cashmere clothing and accessories, and more. Oh, and you'll find several other hidden, historical landmarks, oddities and other interesting little secrets, if you dare to venture into the various alleys, tunnels and cloisters along the way down. This is the reason you came to Edinburgh in the first place, and the memories of your experience here will be those that will stick with you the longest. History, heritage, pride: it's all here, on display, enshrined in the glory and majesty of its authenticity. Alba gu bràth!

It's cool. All it does is it sells alcohol. And I'm not going to hate on it for doing what's it made for. However, it only sells highly expensive alcohol and it doesn't even taste good. I don't like it, but don't hate it either.

Great place to visit. Walk safely down this area where some of it does not have vehicles. Watch your step, though. The cobble stones can be dangerous if not paying attention. The shops and street entertainment along with the wonderful scenery is truly a great place to be. This is in the same area of the entrance to the Edinburgh castle.

It's called the Royal Mile for a reason as it's over a mile stretch of some of the most awesome views, historical sites, fabulous restaurants, and everything that you ever want in a major city and you can experience it all from the palace to the castle.

If in Edinburgh, you have to walk the Royal Mile which begins at the castle gate and goes downhill from there. Yes, its a street full of cheesy tourist shops and a few cafes, but where else could you find the essential Scottish souvenir of ancestor's clan tartan and symbols on every form of key chain, decal, kilt, hat, t-shirt, and other? If you come at peak tour times, just be ready for crowds.

Walk a mile? Of course! This is a must do whilst in Edinburgh. We started at the opposite end and walked towards the castle in the evening, plenty of cool photo ops along the way and at the end, the castle is lit up and always a sight to behold. During the day you cannot hep but fixated upon the historic fortress high atop the city. During the night you are still drawn to it as the lights shine upon the amazing Edinburgh Castle. Think of all the people throughout history who have done this over the centuries the castle has been here. The cobblestone roads to Castle rock, which has been here since the IRON AGE! Tip: walk slow and take plenty of pics and almost every step there are things to see and behold.

History at its best. I love walking the Royal Mile and taking in the surroundings. The alleys and closes take me back to what might have been hundreds and hundreds of years ago. The culture is rich and the architecture grand. Going to the castle at sunset gives some amazing photographs your friends are sure to envy. Don't forget to see the Palace as well. Just a great stretch of splendor, love you, Edinburgh's Royal Mile!

The Royal Mile is a 1.6 km stretch in Edinburgh which runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. There is a bit of slope 4.1% from it's peak of 358' to 138 " at Holyrood Palace. There are ally ways come into the Royal Mile that are extremely steep from the north side. J.K. Rowlings sat in cafes on the Royal Mile and penned part of her Harry Potter novels. The Royal Mile is divided into 5 sections and there are important landmarks to look for in each section. Castle Hill & Castle Esplanade - this is the oldest part of the city . Edinburgh castle is located here. The castle sits at the highest point of the Royal Mile. The esplanade in front of the castle is where the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place. Also look for the Cannonball House on your right as you leave the esplanade area. Lawnmarket - Before the 18th century this is where merchants sold their goods which consisted mostly of textiles. Today the area has many restaurants, cafes and pubs to choose from. The Gladstone's Land (17th century) is a house museum located at #477b. High Street- St. Giles church and Parliamentary Square are highlights of this area. The John Knox House is also something to keep an eye out for. The Great Edinburgh fire of 1824 devastated this area as well. Canongate- was a separate burgh until 1856. At Jeffrey street there are brass cobbles marking the division. Look for the Canongate Church and World's End Pub which is one of the oldest pubs in Edinburgh. Abby Strand- connects the end of Canongate where Parliament Square is located to the Palace of Holyrood. The Queen's Gallery is very close to Holyrood and has one of the best art collections in Scotland. TIP: There are many shops selling tweeds and cashmere on the Royal Mile. Tartan scarves and other apparel are also for sale. Check the labels carefully as much is made in China.

Yes, it is super crowded and super touristy. But definitely a great place to shop for a little tourist items to bring home. The prices were actually better than they were if I looked otherwhere. I went shopping here two days in a row. I found nice little gifts to bring home for my family and friends then they weren't too expensive.

Extremely touristy, but if it's your first time then it's worth it. Spend a couple of hours, like me, and walk along High street. All in the old buildings and monuments and check out a couple of shops as well. You'll never know what you might stumble on. For instance, There's a comedy club hidden just off the main strip. Oh, and go check out a pub......or 5. Ask them about the national drink and have a few drams.

A definite must-see while here in Edinburgh! As it's right in the heart of all the action, you'd be hard pressed to avoid it anyway lol. So many things to see and do alone the mile! Not to mention all the shopping and food and drink! And lots of neat little "closes" which are just tiny little covered alleyways leading into quaint courtyards, some even all decorated for the holidays! We even saw a bagpipe performance and some falconry people with 2 adorable owls!

We walked it from Holyrood Palace up to Edinburgh Castle. It's actually a bit less than a mile. It's a gradual uphill walk and it gets busier and more crowded with people and tourist shops and eateries the closer you get to the castle. It's worth a walk if only to say you've done it once and know what it's about. There are a few places of historic significance along the mile that a good guide or guidebook could point out to you. We're glad we walked it but don't plan to do it again.

Well, not sure why this is on Yelp since it's basically THE destination for all of Edinburgh, but it's getting lively around here rn as things reopen, and lots of lovely musicians, artists, shops, and people to meet on the Royal Mile. Lots of historic closes (small alleyways), and historical markers to explore.

Something for sure to do, even if you don't plan to go into the castle. I went with a group of 4 of us, 2 went into the castle and my husband and i didn't because we wanted to save some money. The royal mile was a cool walk so you can see a lot of the city as well as get to the top by the castle - it's a pretty view of the city! There are a lot of fun shops in town to look at and get souvenirs!

What a wonderful combination of history, culinary delights, beautiful architecture, tasty cocktails and friendly people. It's what I thought old world Europe would look like. End at the Edinburgh Castle and take the tour, it's awesome!

Nice Spot, full of shops. Touristy. Downside of the place is that it is super touristy and full of people on a daily basis. The upside is that it's full of really nice shops and eateries. Wear your walking shoes.

Excellent exercise route with plenty of stops for a break. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Plenty of stops along the way.

The Royal Mile is a must visit when in Edinburgh - Beautiful, Historic and Quaint! An amazing place to witness the Historic Scottish Architecture. The place is lined with Restaurants, Cashmere and Lamb Wool Garment Shops, Scottish Souvenir and Gift Shops.

Great vibe, great shops and good food. It can get crowded but this is the place to be when visiting Edinburgh!

If you're in Edinburgh, you almost have to TRY to not stroll along The Royal Mile. My first recommendation for those thinking of a trip to Edinburgh: Go in August! Sure, it's busy, but that's when the good stuff is happening, in particular the Fringe Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo! It was amazing being in the large procession of people as we took The Royal Mile to the Tattoo arena at Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile is where the action is: The Hub (a one-time Victorian Church that has a cafe ... the Edinburgh International Festival throughout August); the Scotch Whisky Experience (another must-do); statues (Adam Smith, David Hume, King Charles II, the Duke of Buccleuch, etc); St. Giles Cathedral; Parliament Square; the Heart of Midlothian (in front of the Tollbooth Prison); the Castle Esplanade ... and, of course, Edinburgh Castle. You'll also find some great shopping. I recommend going to the Woollen Mill and Marchbrae (gotta get some cashmere in Edinburgh!), the Fudge Kitchen, the Geoffrey Kiltmaker, and the zillion whiskey and cigar shops on the Mile. And food? Yes, there are pubs and little restaurants. While not technically on the Royal Mile, we ate at Ecco Vino ... and it was amazing. It's a beautiful area. Like me, I hope you'll go back again and again.

While I might skip most of the shopping along the Royal Mile, it's still a wonderful street filled with history, surprises, and beauty. I think the best way to experience it is to have your time at the castle, and then walk down, popping into some of the different closes even though you have no idea where they'll take you. Stop at the Gladstone House, owned and operated by the Scotland National Trust, check out the busker playing the bagpipes, and perhaps pop into The World's End for a drink. Take a quick detour down St. Mary's for a stop into Pinnies and Poppyseeds for some of the best shortbread you'll ever taste. Check out The People's Museum in the Canongate - and maybe the Edinburgh Museum directly across the street. Stop into Parliament when you reach the bottom, and head upstairs to listen to a few minutes of debate if you're lucky with your timing. Finally, head into Holyrood Palace. Not many other roads in the world offer this much history, this many pubs, or this much good eating! Enjoy it while you're there - just don't spend your hard earned £s on a cheap kilt. Enjoy!

Truly incredible. I love how Edinburgh, despite being a large city, also has an ancient feel to it. Bring good walking shoes. You'll need them!

As regal and Kingly as ever! If this walk doesn't inspire you to travel, explore, eat, talk and dance - I don't know what would. In the shadows of castles, churches, shops: 100s and 100s of years of history, heart ache and pains of Scotland. It is the steeled backbone of Edinburgh! Cold, hard, weather beaten rocks with cafes, tailors, hat makers, music shops and rugged, salt of the earth Scottish food! Unsurpassed, monolithic gem of walkway. Rebel review: 5 star power

I think the royal mile has a lot to offer, yes you get the usual tourist traps but where doesn't these days. The royal mile offers beautiful architecture and some pretty decent attractions along the way. I haven't experienced the restaurants, they looked pretty standard. One of my favourite outdoor spaces - the Princess Street Gardens, perfect for a picnic with views of the castle on the hill and lots of greenery and flowers. There is so much seating here it's brilliant. Most public spaces tend to suck on offering enough seating but it's benches galore here. There's a little bar and ice cream café on site too, and a park for kids. A winner.

Oldest area of Edinburgh is a must see, so much history, brick streets., buildings dated from 1600's! Of course tons of tourist shops, but that's not important, you are walking thyroid living history.

Walking the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle is less daunting than it sounds, especially if you don't start at the very bottom. I loved the historic buildings, the churches and cathedrals (especially St. Giles), discovering a Close, which are little alleyways running between larger streets, statues of notable historic figures, pubs, restaurants, street buskers and of course the shopping, including more than a few souvenir shops geared toward visitors. You can even enjoy a Scotch tasting. There are also several attractions toward the lower end, including Holyrood Palace and the John Knox Home. You can easily make a fun and entertaining day out of visiting Edinburgh Castle and walking the Royal Mile.

The Royal Mile is a must visit place for anyone going through Edinburgh. We ended up exploring a bit of it while on a tour that took us to quite a few places around the area, even though it was a fairly short tour. I feel like a ton of tours go through here, but it's also worth a look once your tour is done, too. Filled with museums, restaurants, shops, beautiful architecture, wynds and closes, cafes, churches, quaint cobblestones, and of course entertainers; there really is something for everyone here. Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood House are here, too. While we were here, there was a bagpipe player, in full highlander regalia. Made up of four connected street (Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate), it's what is called a 'Scots mile.' Which means it's about 5950 feet instead of 5280 English feet, which just amuses me. A huge part of Edinburgh history, it's worth a visit for its bustling atmosphere, rich history, and fascinating array of shops, pubs, and other places of interest.

Cashmere scarves!!!!!! Everywhere! Seriously, Royal Mile has lots of shopping, food, tons of souvenirs, and a great way to get from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace with a nice long walk. Make sure you allow enough time to walk the whole thing. And don't worry, if you forget the first time, you'll have 1000 more chances to buy that cashmere scarf!

There are some places in this world everyone MUST visit. This is one of them. The Royal Mile is simply the quintessence of Scottish culture and history. You will walk down that street and will feel goosebumps caused by this wonderful architecture, its dynamic life and simply, its beauty. Finding myself there, in the middle of everything, I felt as if in a movie or something of this kind. It felt so special. The Edinburgh castle, Sir Walter Scott's monument, the numerous little cozy souvenir shops filled with Scottish motives , the wonderful Gothic architecture... everything is worth visiting. And at the end of the day you can chill in one of those small bars and have some scotch. Isn't it wonderful? Never miss such an opportunity as to go to Scotland, you will definitely like it!

What's not to love about the Royal Mile (aside from the tourists)? It's beautiful, it's still got all the charm and character of the Old Town, it's easy to get to and there's always something going on. My favourite stretch is the end up by the castle, as most tourists don't tend to hang around in this part of it in comparison to the area around Hunter Square and the Tron. Yes, ok, so the restaurants/cafés/bars are all overpriced just because they're on the Royal Mile, but even after living here for 4 years I still love just moseying up and down it if I'm passing and have nothing better to do. The backstreets, or closes, are where most of the hidden gems are. If you venture down them you'll emerge into huge courtyards flanked by things like The Real Mary King's Close, or patio restaurants like Thai Orchid. Venture further down, towards the Holyrood Palace end, and you'll find yourself at my favourite shop on the whole street. The prices almost make you laugh they're so steep, but The Fudge Kitchen will drag you in with it's gorgeous smells. If you don't mind spending £18 on a box of four smallish slabs, then great. If you're a penniless student like me, they always have some cut up for you to have a taste of, and if you time it right it'll still be warm. I'd personally recommend the Peanut Butter flavoured variety. You should definitely do one of the ghost tours if you haven't already. They're so variable in quality, but I'd highly recommend the Auld Reekie's one. They have a big billboard outside the Tron Kirk (church, to you and me) where you all meet. Going at night is the best. One word of warning... avoid drinking or eating here during the Festival or on Hogmanay, as a pint of lager will costs you around £10.

Beautiful setting starting from the Edinburgh Castle and continuing down a quaint road full of beautiful architecture, St. Giles Cathedral (free entry) and tons of tweed and cashmere shops, homemade shortbread and small and cozy restaurants. Side streets also have nice shopping and restaurants.

Sure it's touristy, sure things are likely more expensive here due to that fact, but really, the architecture and the history of the place is what I enjoyed more than anything else. I was able to find some good souvenir deals due to a shop going out of business although normally I'd stay away from the touristy areas for any purchase. There were some local folks giving ghost tours and the bag piper standing next to one of the many monuments - again, it's a touristy spot. That's what us tourists come to see. I didn't think it was bad so far as touristy areas go though - I've seen much much worse - and I'd certainly go back again for the gorgeous buildings and great historic views.

The Royal Mile is sort of the tourist hot spot of Edinburgh. With the Castle at the top and Holyrood at the bottom, its a must do if you are in Edinburgh. With charming cobbles and beautiful architecture, it is perfect for a long walk to admire your surroundings. The Royal Mile misses out on the full five stars due to the hoards of tacky tourists outlets. Why oh why Edinburgh needs so many shops selling cheap tartan goods while blasting bag pipe music is beyond me. It really lowers the tone of an otherwise classy city. If you avoid the shops, then you will have an enjoyable walk. During the Festival there are various street performers and snippets of shows which are a must see, you can spend the whole afternoon seeing a variety of good and bad acts. It does get very busy though, so be prepared. The Royal Mile really is worth a visit. There is no other street in the world quite like it. There is so much history originating from this one street, it truly is remarkable. However it is sad that it has become so commercialized.

We are centrally locates here. Lots of places to eat at, shop at, visit landmarks and museums. Always ask a local waiter what their favorite spots are to eat at. So helpful. You do not want to do the tourist traps!!!

The Royal Mile was kinda painful for me. Yeah... after all the walking, the climbing up the stairs, down the stairs.... walking all over Edinburgh castle... We decided to walk the Royal Mile to close out our first day in Edinburgh during our recent UK trip. But hey, it was a fun mile though, with so many shops, pubs, performers, people watching, etc.... Now at the end of the Royal Mile, walking back to our hotel at the Grassmarket... that was really painful. We should've taken a cab....

Leading uphill to Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile is a street filled with character, beauty and interest. The epitome of all that is Scottish can be found here amongst bustling tourists; bagpipes play, tartan scarves blow in the wind, whiskey's sold, medieval buildings rise and a multitude of narrow cobbled closes wind downhill. There's a wealth of tours, restaurants, cafes and bars too. The overwhelming feeling is one of history, magic and mystery - little wonder J. K. Rowling penned her Harry Potter books nearby..