Old Town
In the city centre
Edinburgh Old Town oozes mystery. Its cobbled “wynds” (narrow alleyways) entice and delight with unexpected nooks and crannies that urge you to explore. In the town that spawned Stevenson’s “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”, let Grassmarket’s cosy pubs bring out the bard in you. To unravel the ghostly tales behind Old Town’s hidden gems, join a guided tour.
Places to stay from £23 per night
New Town
0.5 miles from city centre
Don’t be fooled by the name – New Town’s not that new. But its open spaces and elegant Georgian façades stand in stark contrast to the scrunched mediaeval maze of Old Town. Hidden behind neo-classical columns, New Town’s flats are among the city’s most sought after. If you fancy going the full Scottish, pick up a bespoke kilt from 21st Century Kilts.
Places to stay from £33 per night
West End
0.9 miles from city centre
West End’s all about performance. This district’s chock-full of theatres, cinemas and concert venues. It really comes into its own during August’s Fringe Festival, when you can barely walk for grinning street comics or touts thrusting flyers into your hand. Need a break from the theatricality? Slip into Caley Sample Rooms for an off-stage brew.
Places to stay from £32 per night
Haymarket
0.9 miles from city centre
Hay ho, let’s go! Commuters zoom in and out of Edinburgh’s central business district in a whirl of brogues and briefcases. On match days, you’ll see (and hear) rugby fans bustle their way to iconic Murrayfield Stadium. There’s plenty to please foodies, too – from First Coast’s Scottish fare to Lovecrumbs’ exceedingly good cakes.
Places to stay from £16 per night
Bruntsfield
0.9 miles from city centre
Bruntsfield’s a leafy district where students eat, drink and sleep. On sunny days, grab a corner-shop beer and join the fresh-faced crowds in The Meadows Park, where you’ll find picnics, frisbees and sun cream galore. Head to funky gastro-pub Blackbird for Sunday brunch, before stopping off at Cameo Cinema’s cosy bar for a pre-film pint.
Places to stay from £45 per night
Compact, hilly and filled with innumerable attractions, Edinburgh delights visitors with its medieval old town and vibrant personality. Dominating the skyline is Edinburgh Castle, where Scotland’s crown jewels are displayed and centuries of national history unravel. Take a free guided tour of this mighty citadel to hear stories of its fascinating past, and pause at the Argyle Battery for sweeping city views.
From the castle, the legendary Royal Mile leads down to Holyrood Palace in a jumble of museums and gift shops selling everything from kilts to vintage whisky. Some of the city’s best eats can be found here too – if the salty smell of fish and chips doesn’t tempt you, then perhaps a pub lunch of ‘haggis, neeps and tatties’ will.
Burn it all off with a walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano that overlooks the city in nearby Holyrood Park, and admire the natural landscape that stretches for miles around.
A wonderful time is guaranteed in Edinburgh, no matter the time of year. In winter there’s Hogmanay, a three-day festival of spectacular events and street parties to celebrate the new year. Summer brings balmier weather, before rounding up with the world’s biggest arts festival: The Fringe. Lasting an entire month, this all-out celebration packs stand-up comedy, magic shows and dramatic theatre into its busy schedule, creating a buzz that draws bigger crowds to the Scottish capital year after year.
Tonight
From £311 per night
This weekend
From £969 per night
Next weekend
From £474 per night
Most popular time to visit | October–December |
Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
Local currency | GBP |
Language | English |
Average weekend price | £217 per night |
Average weekday price | £222 per night |
Typical stay | 2 nights |
Edinburgh Castle
0.2 miles from city centre
Grassmarket
0.1 miles from city centre
Edinburgh Playhouse
0.7 miles from city centre
Usher Hall
0.5 miles from city centre
The Georgian House
0.7 miles from city centre
Arthurs Seat
1.2 miles from city centre
Royal Botanic Garden
1.3 miles from city centre
Royal Yacht Britannia
2.4 miles from city centre
Royal Mile
0.1 miles from city centre
Queen's Hall
0.6 miles from city centre
Destination inspiration: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Take a scenic walk through Edinburgh’s legend-laden history.
What to read and watch before visiting Edinburgh
Lose yourself in cult classics and historic tales inspired by the Scottish capital.
a super city to visit but like London it has become very...
1 October 2023
a super city to visit but like London it has become very expensive over the years.. the zoo is no longer the place to go visit the 5 sisters zoo in west Calder is the place to go a cracking good day out. Do the castle once and leave it £34.00 a head is just pushing it. parking is a nightmare castle place carpark near the floral gardens and clock £29.95 for 4 hours.........
Beautiful, elegant city.
30 September 2023
Beautiful, elegant city. This was my first visit for a conference so I didn't have much chance to explore. I will definitely be returning, there is so much to see. Public transport is very convenient, regular buses, trains and trams. Visited the zoo and Botanic gardens, both are awesome.
Didn't get to see enough of the sights.
29 September 2023
Didn't get to see enough of the sights. Would have loved to have stayed longer to visit more of the neighborhoods, and not just the main tourist attractions. The Royal Mile was still teeming with tourists, even in September. Transit was excellent (bus drivers were very helpful) and the tram was a no-brainer as a tourist visiting the main attractions such as Brittannia. Would avoid Grass Market; tourist trap. If you can, buy tickets at the Traverse Theatre for a play, pie and a pint. We didn't jump on this option during our time in Edinburgh, and we regret not seeing a 55 minute play for £17.50, with the abovementioned perks. Surprisingly, the Red Cafe at Edinburgh Castle was one of the more reasonably-priced eateries for an afternoon bite. Sit at the back of the cafe, where there are more tables, and a great view of the city. The scones were very tasty, even though the charge for the cream was exorbitant and not even close to the taste of real clotted cream.
Fantastic city with so much to do!
29 September 2023
Fantastic city with so much to do!! We crammed in so much in our few days but would love to have had longer. Hop on hop off buses were a godsend, as Edinburgh is very hilly. The castle tour was really good, informative and fun!
Edinburgh was a beautiful city, lots of historical content,...
29 September 2023
Edinburgh was a beautiful city, lots of historical content, friendly helpful people anywhere we visited, good value for money. A lot of options for to suit anyone visiting. The bus and tram service was excellent. There was a great choice of cuisine to be had at any level. Downside was there was a lot of building sites in the new town side. But overall I think Edinburgh is underrated, it's a definitely somewhere not to miss out on....
Although we stayed in Edinburgh sadly we did not get to see...
28 September 2023
Although we stayed in Edinburgh sadly we did not get to see much of it, hence why I would like to come back. As we only stayed from Monday-Friday, we wanted to see as much as possible so pre booked 3 coach tours for our 3 days which were great. We went to Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Loch Ness ( where we went on a boat trip ), scottish highlands, Stirling Castle, Kelpies. The views of scotland are breath-taking, so beautiful. The people were very friendly and helpful. Although we did not visit Edinburgh Castle we walked up past it every day to get our coach. We also walked down the Royal Mile and had a scottish breakfast. The weather was great. Its a great place for walking, eating, shopping and visiting the sites. Will definately be returning.
Old Town, Edinburgh
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