Edinburgh is Scotland's capital, built around the dramatic pairing of Edinburgh Castle on its rock and the Georgian streets of the New Town, with the medieval Old Town running down the spine of the Royal Mile between them. The Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city's historic sites, galleries and museums sit within a compact centre that is easy to cover on foot.
For a visitor, the practical question is where to base yourself: the Old Town and the streets around the Royal Mile put you in the middle of the historic sights, while the New Town and the areas south and north of the centre trade a short walk or bus ride for quieter streets and different price points. This guide covers the areas the sources identify as useful bases, what each suits, and how accommodation is priced across the city.
Best areas to stay in Edinburgh
1. Old Town and the Royal Mile
The Old Town runs along the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and this is the most central place to stay for the historic sights. The private, independent hostels centre around the Cowgate area and the lower Royal Mile and its side streets, so this is the natural base for budget travellers.
It suits first-time visitors who want the castle, St Giles' Cathedral and the Canongate within walking distance. Expect the busiest and most in-demand streets in the city, especially during the festival in August, around Christmas and New Year, and on rugby international weekends.
2. Newington Road and Minto Street (South side)
This is one of the two areas with a high concentration of guest houses and small hotels. It sits on the South side of the city, within a brisk 15–20 minute walk of the city centre, and has excellent round-the-clock bus services.
It suits travellers who want a guest-house base slightly away from the busiest streets. If you arrive without having booked, this is one of the two areas worth heading for to look out for "Vacancies" signs, though not during the festival or around Hogmanay.
3. Pilrig Street and Newhaven Road (Leith)
The second of the two guest-house concentrations is in Leith, on Pilrig Street and Newhaven Road. Like the South side area, it is within a brisk 15–20 minute walk of the city centre and has excellent round-the-clock bus services.
It suits the same kind of traveller as Newington and Minto Street: those who prefer a guest house or small hotel over a central hostel or large hotel, and who do not mind a short walk or bus ride to reach the sights.
4. Self-catering apartments near the main attractions
Edinburgh has a wide offer of short-term holiday apartments steps away from its main tourist attractions, booked online. This option lets you experience the city as a local rather than from a hotel.
It suits families and longer stays. For the summer months, especially August, book well in advance, as most visitors tend to make their bookings in February for this period.
5. Glasgow as a base
Because of the excellent and frequent rail links between the two cities, basing yourself in Glasgow can cut costs, with deals in mainstream chain hotels easier to come by. You also get the advantage of being able to visit both cities.
It suits travellers who are flexible on location and watching their budget. Check when your last train leaves, though hourly coaches run through the night if you stay out too long.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: cheap youth hostels, with prices from £20 upward; private independent hostels cluster around the Cowgate, the lower Royal Mile and its side streets. Scottish Youth Hostel Association hostels can be booked online and are an especially good deal in summer, when student accommodation is rented out as summer hostels, offering single rooms in the city centre for a very modest price.
- Mid-range: guest houses and small hotels dotted around almost every part of the city, with high concentrations around Newington Road and Minto Street on the South side and on Pilrig Street and Newhaven Road in Leith. Some guest houses and even hotels can be booked for as little as the hostels at certain times of year.
- Splurge: more upmarket accommodation ranging from boutique B&Bs with just a few rooms, run by a family, to world-renowned large 5-star hotels.
- Self-catering: short-term holiday apartments steps away from the main tourist attractions, bookable online, a good alternative for those who want to stay independently.
Best area for a first visit
For a first visit, base yourself in the Old Town and around the Royal Mile. It puts the castle, the cathedral and the historic spine of the city within walking distance, and it is where the independent hostels are concentrated if you are watching your budget. The trade-off is demand: during the festival, at Christmas and New Year, and on rugby weekends, accommodation here books up well in advance and a premium may be applied to the room rate.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book accommodation in Edinburgh?
If you plan to visit during the festival in August, around Christmas and New Year, or on the weekend of a Scotland home game in the Six Nations, all types of accommodation get booked up well in advance and a premium may be applied. For the summer months, especially August, book well in advance, as most visitors tend to make their bookings in February for that period.
Can I find somewhere to stay at short notice?
It is not impossible to get somewhere at short notice during the busiest times, but you will not be able to be fussy and it will probably be expensive. Outside those periods, heading to the guest-house concentrations around Newington Road and Minto Street, or Pilrig Street and Newhaven Road, and looking for "Vacancies" signs may work.
Is accommodation in Edinburgh expensive?
The average cost of hotel accommodation in Edinburgh is higher than anywhere else in Scotland. Budget hostels start from around £20 upward, and some guest houses and even hotels can be booked for as little as the hostels at certain times of year.
How do I know a short-term let is legitimate?
All short-term accommodation in Scotland must be registered, otherwise it is illegal. The law was introduced in 2022 with considerable leeway until July 2024, so proprietors can reasonably say their registration is still being processed in the meantime; be increasingly sceptical as the deadline approaches.
Compare live prices for the areas that suit you using the booking tools on this page.