Scotsman Steps, Edinburgh
In the very heart of Edinburgh, right next to the prestigious Scotsman Hotel and the city's main railway station, Edinburgh Waverley, you will find one of the most unusual and photogenic spots in the city – the Scotsman Steps.
In the very heart of Edinburgh, right next to the prestigious Scotsman Hotel and the city's main railway station, Edinburgh Waverley, you will find one of the most unusual and photogenic spots in the city – the Scotsman Steps. These spiral, winding steps connect Market Street with North Bridge and are much more than just a passage. This public artwork, titled "Work No. 1059", created by the well-known British artist Martin Creed, stands out because each of the 104 steps is made from a different type of marble sourced from various parts of the world.
Why visit the Scotsman Steps?
- Location: Right by Edinburgh's main attractions – an ideal spot for a quick stop.
- Uniqueness: 104 different marbles from 27 countries – the only stairs of their kind in the world.
- Public art: Completed in 2011 as a project that combines functionality with artistic depth.
- Instagram-friendly: The colorful, varied steps make an excellent backdrop for photos.
Complete list of the 104 Scotsman Steps
Below is the full list of the marbles used to create each step – along with their country of origin. The list starts at the bottom (Market Street) and leads up to North Bridge:
- Black Forest Gold – Pakistan
- Bianco Gioia – Italy
- Pierre Bleu – Belgium
- Picasso Green Light – India
- Fior di Pesco Carnico – Italy
- Rosso Alicante – Spain
- Arabescato Carrara – Italy
- Pietra del Cardoso – Italy
- Crema Valencia – Spain
- Lipica Unito – Slovenia
- Calacatta Oro Vagli – Italy
- Rosso Verona – Italy
- Verde Jasmine – India
- Giallo Siena – Italy
- Brown Fossil – Morocco
- Breccia Sarda – Italy
- Nero Belgio – Belgium
- Rosa Norvegia – Norway
- Grafite – Iran
- Giallo D’Oriente – Turkey
- Grigio Tao – Tunisia
- Rosso Daniel – Spain
- Fior di Pesco Fantastico – Italy
- Crema Marfil – Spain
- Sivec – North Macedonia
- Verde Issorie – India
- Breccia Aurora – Italy
- Grey Fossil – Morocco
- Rosso Francia – France
- Grigio Carnico – Italy
- Rosa Tea – Iran
- Giallo Atlantide – Egypt
- Bianco Perlino – Italy
- Verde Guatemala – India
- Azul Bahia – Brazil
- Rosso Asiago – Italy
- Giallo Veneziano – Brazil
- Verde Alpi – Italy
- Bianco Carrara CD – Italy
- Bianco Sivec – North Macedonia
- Rosa Aurora – Portugal
- Nero Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe
- Rosa Perlino – Italy
- Verde Cipollino – Greece
- Botticino Classico – Italy
- Travertino Noce – Italy
- Bianco P – Greece
- Azul Macaubas – Brazil
- Bianco Cristallino – Greece
- Rosa Zarci – Spain
- Giallo Antico – Tunisia
- Verde Antigua – Greece
- Nero Marquina – Spain
- Bianco Michelangelo – Italy
- Gris Pulpis – Spain
- Bianco Lasa – Italy
- Giallo Reale – Egypt
- Grigio Billiemi – Italy
- Bianco Venato – Italy
- Verde Spluga – Italy
- Rosa Portugal – Portugal
- Bianco Rosa – Iran
- Travertino Giallo – Iran
- Giallo Cleopatra – Egypt
- Bianco Neve – Greece
- Verde Marina – India
- Verde Imperiale – India
- Travertino Romano Classico – Italy
- Breccia Oniciata – Italy
- Bianco C – Italy
- Serizzo Antigorio – Italy
- Bianco Luna – Italy
- Verde Cipollino Ondulato – Greece
- Rosa Sabrina – Iran
- Emperador Dark – Spain
- Perlato Svevo – Italy
- Giallo California – Egypt
- Grigio Argento – Italy
- Travertino Rosso – Iran
- Breccia Pernice – Italy
- Grigio Chiaro – Italy
- Rosso Laguna – Iran
- Giallo Egiziano – Egypt
- Verde Malachite – Pakistan
- Giallo Siena Antico – Italy
- Verde Rajastan – India
- Rosso Fossile – Morocco
- Grigio Alpi – Italy
- Bianco Cristallo – Italy
- Verde Alga – Pakistan
- Bianco Thassos – Greece
- Grigio Perla – Italy
- Grigio Persia – Iran
- Rosso Levanto – Italy
- Verde Bamboo – China
- Perlato Olimpo – Italy
- Grigio Carnico Chiaro – Italy
- Giallo Atlantide Scuro – Egypt
- Breccia Aurora Classica – Italy
- Rosso Asiago – Italy
- Bianco Carrara C – Italy
- Verde Guatemala – India
- Silvia Oro – Egypt
- Azul Macaubas – Brazil
Scotsman Steps is not only a passage in the centre of Edinburgh – it's a symbolic journey across continents, contained in 104 steps. Each of them tells a different story, brings colour, texture and the spirit of the place it comes from. It's a place worth visiting, experiencing and pausing for a moment to look down at your feet and… see the whole world.
