This article covers the areas of Edinburgh to the east of Leith and Holyrood Park. The most relevant parts of this area for tourists are Duddingston (Village) and the beach town Portobello. It borders with Musselburgh in the east.

Get in

By bus

Lothian Buses have a comprehensive service throughout the east of the city. Many services depart Princes Street in the New Town. To get to Portobello take Lothian buses 15 or 26/X26/N26 from Princes Street. Lothian buses 42 (via Duddingston Village), 45 and 49 also go to Portobello.

By train

Local Services from Bathgate, Edinburgh Park, Haymarket and Waverley stations serve Brunstane and Newcraighall in this area.

By car

There is a Park & Ride car park next to the Newcraighall train station (for access to the city centre) which is charged at 50p per 24 hours and has 24h access.

See

The Skating Minister by Henry Raeburn

• 1 Duddingston Village (There are paths from Queen's Drive (upper level) which connect to the village. Take bus 42 from the city center and get off at Holyrood High School). Village on the eastern edge of Holyrood Park, which dates back to 1124. 
  • 2 Duddingston Loch. A wildlife reserve and also the setting for the famous Henry Raeburn painting The Skating Minister. 
  • 3 Dr Neil's (Secret) Garden, Old Church Lane, EH15 3PX. Not quite a secret but certainly an overlooked jewel. Beautiful terraced garden on the shores of the loch. Find it behind the church (Duddingston Kirk). Open daily 10am - dusk free entry, but £1 donation appreciated. The historic church is occasionally also open. 

• 4 Portobello (From Duddingston Village walk along Duddingston Road West, turn left into the Figgate park and follow the Figgate Burn, about 2.5km. Take the bus 42 from the city center and get off at Portobello Town Hall - takes about 35 min). A traditional British beach resort within the city on the shore of the Firth of Forth. Golden sand, ice-cream parlours, fish'n'chips, amusement arcades, playgrounds, paddling pools, what more do you want from the seaside? Admittedly the weather is often more suited to Bracing Walks than Cooling Dips but there's still fun to be had in "Porty". 

Do

• 1 Portobello Swim Centre, 57 The Promenade, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 669-6888. Traditional Victorian baths with fully modernised facilities. Pool, gym, sauna and the only Turkish Baths in town. 
• Cycle along the Innocent Cycle Path (a transformed railway track) from the Royal Commonwealth Pool (South) to Portobello.
• If you are in the area (for example when walking towards Portobello), then consider walking through the Figgate Park with wildlife in and around the Figgate Pond.

Buy

• 1 Fort Kinnaird. A massive out of town retail complex (supposedly the biggest of its type in the UK), next to the A1 dual carriageway as it heads out of town to the south-east. Lots of mainstream chain shops. 
• In Portobello there is a larger Scotmid in Bath Street and various smaller convenience stores along Portobello High Street to buy supplies for a picnic at the beach.

Eat

• 1 Bonoful, 13-17 Brighton Place, Portobello. Indian food. 
• 2 Reds, 254 High Street, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 669-5558. Mon-Thu 10:30-15:00; Fri-Sun 10:30-20:00. Family and children friendly bistro. Mains £6-8, special children's menu. (updated Apr 2015)
• 3 Cherry's Cafe, London Road. A small cafe serving nice Turkish food and breakfast items. (updated Mar 2015)
• 4 The Beach House Cafe, 57 Bath Street, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 657-2636. Mon-Fri 9:00-17:30; Sat, Sun 9:00-18:00. Right at the promenade along the beach with views towards the sea. Offers fresh and locally sourced sweet and savoury food. (updated Apr 2015)
• The Mouse Hole Deli, 131 Portobello High Street, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 657-1789. Deli for food and buying local products. (updated Apr 2015)

Drink

• 1 The Sheep Heid Inn, 43-45 The Causeway, Duddingston Village, ☏ +44 131 661-7974, fax: +44 131 661-6190. Open from around 11:00 till 23:00 (midnight on Fri,Sat). Food daily from around 12:00 till around 21:00. Established in 1360 if not before, this is certainly Edinburgh's oldest public house, though its claim to be the oldest in Scotland is disputed by a few others. In any case it's a lovely traditional pub, with a beer garden and skittle alley (reputedly the oldest in the world). Barbecues on summer Sundays attract the crowds from all over town. 
• 2 The Guild of Foresters (formerly Foresters Arms), 40 Portobello High Street, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 669-2750. Mon-Thu 11:00-23:00; Fri, Sat 11:00-01:00; Sun 12:00-23:00; food daily: 12:00-22:00. A nice pub with a small selection of cask ales. Locally sourced food is also available. (updated Mar 2015)
• 3 The Regent, 2 Montrose Terrace, ☏ +44 131 661-8198. Campaign for Real Ale Edinburgh and S.E. Scotland Pub of the Year 2008. They also offer a small selection of food. The Regent is unofficially a gay bar but is very straight-friendly. Free wifi available. 

Sleep

• 1 Abercorn Guest House, 1 Abercorn Terrace, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 669-6139. A family-run B&B. £25-100 per person (depending on the month). (updated Mar 2015)
• The Georgian Retreat, 36 Regent Street, Portobello, ☏ +44 131 669-5394. A privately owned apartment suitable for up to four people. Generally bookable for a minimum of 7 days only. Low season: £65, high season: up to £120. Prices are for the entire apartment per night. (updated Apr 2015)
• 2 Kings Manor Hotel (Best Western), 100 Milton Road (Close to Brunstane train station), ☏ +44 131 669-0444. (updated Apr 2015)
• 3 The Brae Guest House, 119 Willowbrae Road, ☏ +44 131 661-0170. A family-run B&B. £20-40 per person per night (depending on the season) including breakfast. (updated Apr 2015)

Connect

• 1 Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue, Portobello (Take Lothian bus no 15, 15A, 21, 26, 42, or First Bus 129), ☏ +44 131 529-5558. Mon-Wed: 10:00-20:00; Thu-Sat: 10:00-17:00; Sun: closed. Offers free Wi-Fi. (updated Apr 2015)

Go next

• East Edinburgh is surrounded by the following districts of Edinburgh:
  • Edinburgh/South
  • Edinburgh/Old Town
  • Edinburgh/New Town
  • Edinburgh/Leith
  • and by the East Lothian town of Musselburgh