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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Edinburgh

185 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Edinburgh, Scotland

Updated March 21, 2025

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Hidden Edinburgh

Crowds clog Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the main artery between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The road is dotted with stores selling Nessie trinkets and lined with bagpipers and street performers pulling off dazzling tricks. But look beyond the tartan tourist traps, and you’ll discover tucked-away gardens, remnants of the city’s medieval past, and much more.

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Explore Edinburgh, Scotland

185
History & Culture 34
Art 30
Architecture 26
History 25
Museums 19
Statues 15
Sculptures 14
Monuments 12

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Recent Edinburgh Activity

Stories About Edinburgh

At the University of Edinburgh’s graduation ceremony, a student is tapped with the Geneva Bonnet.

Before Harry Potter’s Sorting Hat, There Was the ‘Medieval Space Bonnet’

Legends swirl around the University of Edinburgh’s mysterious graduation bonnet.
by Sarah Thomson

Uncovering Edinburgh’s Hidden Victorian History—One Doorway at a Time

A new project delves into the stories of forgotten Edinburgh residents and the places they called home.
by Sukhada Tatke
On closer examination, the map reveals the places of residence of accused witches, here in the Greater Edinburgh area.

Explore This Map of More Than 3,000 Scottish Witches

An Edinburgh University project uses data to track the victims of Scottish "witch-prickers" in the 16th and 17th centuries.
by Frank Jacobs
Every May, an ancient Celtic festival, known as Beltane, is held atop Calton Hill in Edinburgh, where participants eat a mysterious Beltane bannock cake.

Why 18th-Century Scots Performed Mock Human Sacrifices Over Cake

This May Day, make Beltane bannock, a simple snack with a long history of superstition and divination.
by Sam O'Brien

Podcast: Library of Mistakes

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
One of Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos.

The Extraordinary Life of the Freed Slave Who Taught Darwin Taxidermy

John Edmonstone was a mentor to the budding teenage naturalist.
by Sabrina Imbler
“The Anatomist overtaken by the Watch carry’ng off Miss W in a hamper.” William Austin, 1773.

A Beginner's Guide to Body Snatching

Where to go for an education in grave robbery, the grisliest chapter in medical history.
by Molly McBride Jacobson

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