Edinburgh
Where to Stay in Edinburgh: Areas Compared
Edinburgh is compact enough to walk almost everywhere, so the choice of base is really a choice of century: the medieval closes of the Old Town, the Georgian terraces of the New Town, or the village streets beyond them. The one variable that outweighs all of it is timing — in August, festival season rewrites every price in the city.
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Where to stay in Edinburgh
Old Town & the Royal Mile
The castle, the closes and the postcard. Sleeping here means stone staircases, atmospheric lanes and tourist crowds outside your door — thrilling for a first visit, noisy on the Mile itself. A room one close back from the main street is the trick.
See stays hereNew Town
Georgian squares, doorsteps with columns and the smartest shopping on George Street. Five minutes' walk from the Old Town but a different world: orderly, quieter at night, and home to many of the city's best-value elegant hotels.
See stays hereStockbridge
A village inside the city — Sunday market, independent shops and the Water of Leith walkway starting at the door. Fifteen minutes' walk to Princes Street, with a neighbourhood feel the centre can't offer. Suits longer stays and repeat visitors.
See stays hereWest End & Haymarket
Victorian terraces around the second rail station, with the tram from the airport stopping on the doorstep. Practical, calm and slightly cheaper than the centre — a sensible base that trades buzz for convenience.
See stays hereSouthside & Newington
Student-flavoured streets south of the Meadows, with guesthouses and B&Bs at the city's fairest prices. A 20-minute walk to the Royal Mile — and the closest thing Edinburgh has to a budget quarter that still feels local.
See stays hereLeith
The port, reinvented: Michelin-starred restaurants, waterfront bars and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Trams now run direct to Princes Street in 20 minutes, and the money saved on the room funds a very good dinner on the Shore.
See stays herePlaces to stay in Edinburgh
Browse all staysPer-night prices for a sample 3-night stay — enter your dates for real ones
Hotel · 2 guests · 1 bd · 1 ba
6 Market Street, Edinburgh GB, EH11DE
4 guests · 2 bd · 1 ba
12 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EE, United Kingdom
Hotel · 5 guests · 2 bd · 1 ba
1 India Buildings, Edinburgh GB, EH12EX
Apartment · 4 guests · 2 bd · 2 ba
17 Market St, Edinburgh GB, EH11DE
Apartment · 2 guests · 1 bd · 1 ba
Chambers Street, Edinburgh GB, EH11HU
Apartment · 5 guests · 2 bd · 2 ba
17 BLACKFRIARS STREET, Edinburgh GB, EH11NB
Good to know
- August is the Festival and Fringe: the greatest show on earth and the most expensive month by far — rooms triple and sell out months out. Book by early spring, or aim for a different month entirely.
- The tram runs from the airport to Princes Street in about 35 minutes and beats the bus in comfort; a taxi saves little time for several times the price.
- This is a hill city with cobbles and staircases — the map hides serious gradients, especially between the Old and New Towns. Pack accordingly and allow for it with luggage.
- Hogmanay (New Year) is the other price spike: the street party needs tickets and the city books out. If you're not coming for it, avoid the dates; if you are, plan like it's August.
- Weather changes by the hour in every season — a waterproof layer serves you better than an umbrella, which the wind on the bridges will eat.
When to visit
May, June and September are the sweet spot — long daylight, gardens in bloom and sane prices. August is extraordinary if the festivals are the point and punishing if they're not. Winter days are short but the city does cosy exceptionally well; December is festive and busy around the markets, while January and February are the cheapest months.
Getting around
The tram runs from the airport to St Andrew Square in about thirty-five minutes, and the Airlink bus takes a similar time for less. After that you probably won't need transport at all — the Old and New Towns are twenty minutes apart on foot, though that includes climbing out of the valley between them. Lothian buses are excellent and exact-change only unless you tap contactless. During the Festival, walking beats everything.
Read our Edinburgh guideFrequently Asked Questions
Practical answers to the things people ask before booking a stay in Edinburgh.
Browse all staysOld Town or New Town — which side should I pick?
Old Town for atmosphere and proximity to the castle and the Mile; New Town for calm nights, Georgian elegance and better value. They are five minutes apart on foot, so this is about what you want outside the window, not about access.
How badly do prices rise in August?
Two to three times normal rates is typical, and the best-located rooms sell out by spring. If your dates are flexible, moving a week either side of the festivals saves serious money; if they're not, book as far ahead as you possibly can.
Is Leith too far from the sights?
No — the tram reaches Princes Street in about 20 minutes, and Leith's own food scene is a reason to stay rather than a compromise. It suits second visits and travellers who prefer eating well to being mid-crowd.
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