Strolling along Edinburgh's bustling streets is great, but for a bird's eye view of the city there are a few special places you can go
The most famous viewpoint in Edinburgh is undoubtedly Arthur's Seat. Situated in Holyrood Park, this ancient volcano towers 251m above the city and offers excellent views in (almost) all weathers. Climbing from the city centre all the way to the top and back will take around 2 hours and it's quite steep and rocky in places, but there are easier low-level options if you'd prefer to take a less strenuous route while still enjoying the views.
Another excellent place for panoramic views of Edinburgh is Calton Hill, which has the added bonus of some Greek-style monuments to explore whilst you're up there.
Edinburgh Castle needs to be visited for various reasons, but one of these is definitely the views from the ramparts.
The quirky Camera Obscura offers 360-degree views from its rooftop terrace, and you can get a closer look using the telescopes (free of charge). This is well worth a visit in any case, as there are over 100 interactive exhibits spread over five floors, including light shows and optical illusions.
A rooftop tour of St Giles' Cathedral also offers unrivalled views across Edinburgh's old town, as well as giving you a chance to look at the impressive interior of the clock tower. Check their website to find out tour times and dates they are running.