Apartment

Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill

Photo gallery for Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill

A historic stone building with multiple chimneys, a central arched entrance, and a staircase leading to the main entrance.
A bedroom with a bed, a chair, a dresser, a mirror, and a lamp.
A view through a window with a stone wall and a building in the background.
An outdoor patio with a table and benches, overlooking a historic tower and ruins.
A modern living room with a blue sofa, a round coffee table, a dining table with chairs, a TV, and patterned wallpaper.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Princes Street

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Refrigerator
  • Bathtub
  • Non-smoking
  • Microwave

Explore the area

View in a map
Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Place, Princes Street
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Calton Hill
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Airport, Edinburgh (EDI)
    ‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony

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About the area

Edinburgh

Located in Edinburgh City Centre, a neighbourhood in Edinburgh, this apartment is in a rural area. Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Princes Street and George Street. Check out an event or a game at Edinburgh International Conference Centre, and consider making time for Edinburgh Zoo, a top attraction not to be missed.
View more Apartments in EdinburghOpens in a new window
Map
Edinburgh, Scotland

What's nearby

  • Princes Street - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Calton Hill - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • St James Quarter - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Royal Mile - 9 min walk - 0.8 km

Getting around

  • Edinburgh Waverley Station - 5 min walk
  • St Andrew Square Tram Stop - 7 min walk
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Society Bar & Kitchen - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Wingstop - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Pho Edinburgh - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪John Lewis Cafe - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill?

As of 27 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill on 29 Nov 2026 start from £283, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Observatory Apartment at Calton Hill located?

Located in Edinburgh City Centre, this apartment building is steps away from Calton Hill and Princes Street. Royal Mile and Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre are also within 10 minutes. Edinburgh Waverley Station is only a 5-minute walk and St Andrew Square Tram Stop is 7 minutes.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 9 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 9 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 9 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 9 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
This property is unique, but you need to plan to walk up the hill every night or plan your evening around when the gate closes. It was central to sight seeing and the train station.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a fantastic stay. Wonderful, unique stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for a getaway!

Extremely beautiful and peaceful place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views but be ready for a hike

Colton Hill has amazing views and the apartment had everything we needed. The welcome goodie box with coffee, tea and biscuits were much appreciated! Just be aware it is a bit of an uphill hike to get up to the house, and you may get tired of that if you are staying for an extended period. Otherwise, you can't beat the views and it was a very cozy, and wonderful place to stay.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 May 2025
Dear Lorrie, Thank you for your kind words. We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the comfort of the apartment and the stunning views from Calton Hill. It’s great to know the welcome treats were appreciated. The uphill walk certainly adds to the charm – and the reward is well worth it! We’d be happy to welcome you back anytime. Best regards, Joivy Team
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This is a stay unlike any other. We happened to book our overnights during days which the observatory was closed to the public which gave us private access to the entire observatory lawn, giving us beautiful sunset views that we didn't have to share with others. The space was quaint but had all expected amenities for breakfast, bathing, and sleeping. This lodging was easily one of our top experiences of our entire trip to the UK.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Response from Author on 10 Apr 2025
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing such a remarkable review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your stay was a one-of-a-kind experience. Having private access to the observatory lawn and witnessing those breathtaking sunset views sounds like a truly unforgettable moment. We’re also delighted to know that the space met all your needs, providing a comfortable setting for breakfast, rest, and relaxation. It’s wonderful to hear that this stay became one of the highlights of your UK journey. We would love to welcome you back anytime to create more unforgettable memories during your next visit. Best Regards, Joivy Team
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Location

Staying on Calton Hill is amazing! The sight over the city can't be beat and the place is unique and you won't find anything like it. Do keep in mind that you will have to hike up a hill each time you come back to the place. Which is a bit of a struggle with luggage, but manageable. Totally worth it to have a gorgeous views of the city.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
What an experience! We loved staying at the observatory. My main issues were: 1. The bedding was kept in a dusty closet, rubbing up against insulation. That is a very concerning practice and a health hazard. 2. The wifi didn't work. Was going in and out, though that was possibly due to the winds. 3. The gates were not locked at night, and so we had people looking into the windows late into the night. That is intolerable. 4. There are no shades on the bathroom, and while I see that it would be irresponsible for someone to scale the wall to look in, it is possible. Despite all of this, what an experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
I'm purely reviewing this as a property to stay at while in Edinburgh. Obviously, it's a cool place with great views and everything interesting is less than 20 mins away, walking. I'll start with the fact the listing should explicitly state that there is another unit above it. It speaks to it vaguely, but should be expressed properly. The upstairs is loud. Very loud. You can hear every step taken, every time the water runs, and every word spoken. We had very loud neighbors the first 3 nights and quiet ones for the remainder. Next, there's no privacy whatsoever. If you want to open the windows on a rest day, you can't or else you'll have to deal with everyone poking their head in. There's no privacy whatsoever as the other tourists on Calton Hill are right on you. There's also no security either. The front door has a latch and deadbolt and that's it. There's weak locks on the windows but no space to deter nosy people. A determined person could enter whenever. Someone could scale the wall near the bathroom and break in that way. We also couldn't get the heat to cooperate. It was basically 16/18 degrees Celsius (61/64 *F) the entire trip. And there's no airflow at all. We felt it was stuffy and claustrophobic. Lastly, I will say that the apartment was clean overall. Nothing felt dirty. But on our next to last night, we found a large growth of mushrooms in the stairwell. They'd clearly been there a while. No telling what is growing anywhere else and not taken care of.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Week in Edinburgh

Fantastic week in Edinburgh. Observatory apartment provided unique, charming accommodation with character. But at the same time has been outfitted with modern amenities (bathroom is brilliant and spa like). Didn't spend alot of time there to be honest as we were sightseeing, shopping and dining from dawn to late evening every day. Only a few minor issues with the Observatory: (1) lack of onsite parking, but they're clear about that during the reservation so not a shock; (2) ancient building so not alot of soundproofing - upstairs tenants were quite loud; (3) the location is very busy with tourists and locals to the wee hours - would have preferred a bit more of a buffer between the public and the backside of the building - anyone could have walked right up and looked in our apartment - which did happen. Didn't feel unsafe, but also didn't feel comfortable leaving the windows open in the evening.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
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