United Kingdom · Updated 2026
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Old Town for first-timers, New Town for elegance, Leith for food and value, West End for calm and rail links
Edinburgh is compact: the medieval Old Town runs along the Royal Mile from the castle to Holyrood, and the Georgian New Town sits just north across Princes Street Gardens, with Waverley station between them. Almost everything is walkable from either. What matters most is how you feel about hills, cobbles and crowds, and whether you are visiting in August, when the Festival Fringe doubles prices and fills the centre.
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Photo: Adam Wilson / Unsplash
Quick picks
First-timers
Old Town
Castle, Royal Mile and closes on your doorstep; Waverley station and the airport tram nearby.
Couples
New Town
Elegant Georgian streets, cocktail bars and fine dining, with a short walk to everything.
Foodies
Leith
Michelin-starred restaurants and waterside bistros on the Shore, plus noticeably lower room rates.
Quiet stays
Southside
Leafy residential streets beside Arthur's Seat and the Meadows, fifteen minutes' walk from the Royal Mile.
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The 5 best areas to stay in Edinburgh
1. Old Town
UpscaleMedieval heart beneath the castle
A tangle of steep closes, stone tenements and wynds running off the Royal Mile, with the castle at the top and Holyrood at the bottom. Grassmarket and Cowgate are lively with pubs late into the night, and the area is packed with visitors in summer. Waverley station is at the foot of the hill and the airport tram stops on Princes Street.
Best for: First-timers who want to walk everywhere · Near: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Waverley station
Pros
- + Major sights within minutes on foot
- + Atmospheric streets, pubs and live music
- + Next to Waverley station
Cons
- − Steep hills, stairs and cobbles throughout
- − Crowded and noisy, especially during the Festival
Where to stay in Old Town
BudgetMotel One Edinburgh-RoyalStylish, compact rooms on Market Street, steps from Waverley and the Royal Mile.Check prices →Mid-rangeHotel du Vin EdinburghCharacterful converted asylum near Greyfriars with a great whisky snug.Check prices →LuxuryThe Witchery by the CastleOpulent, theatrical gothic suites right by the castle esplanade.Check prices →See all hotels in Old Town2. New Town
UpscaleGeorgian grandeur and polished dining
Wide, orderly streets of honey-coloured townhouses laid out in the 1700s, running from Princes Street to Queen Street and down towards Stockbridge. George Street and Multrees Walk bring designer shopping, smart bars and restaurants. It is flatter and calmer than the Old Town, with trams along Princes Street and Waverley close by.
Best for: Couples and shoppers who want style and easy walking · Near: Princes Street Gardens, Scott Monument, St Andrew Square
Pros
- + Flatter and easier to navigate
- + Excellent restaurants and cocktail bars
- + Airport tram on Princes Street
Cons
- − Some of the city's highest room rates
- − George Street gets loud on weekend nights
Where to stay in New Town
BudgetMotel One Edinburgh-PrincesUnbeatable Princes Street location; ask for castle-view rooms.Check prices →Mid-rangeHotel Indigo Edinburgh - Princes StreetModern boutique feel with easy access to trams and shopping.Check prices →LuxuryThe Balmoral HotelEdinburgh's landmark grand hotel above Waverley, with superb service and dining.Check prices →See all hotels in New Town3. Leith
Mid-range pricesPort district with the best food
Edinburgh's old port, two miles north of the centre, mixes historic warehouses along the Water of Leith with newer waterfront developments. The Shore is lined with Michelin-starred restaurants, seafood bistros and friendly pubs. The tram runs straight up Leith Walk to the city centre in about 15 minutes.
Best for: Food lovers and repeat visitors after better value · Near: The Shore, Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Terminal
Pros
- + Outstanding restaurant scene
- + Lower prices, especially in August
- + Direct tram to the centre and airport
Cons
- − Not walkable to the castle without a 35-minute trek
- − Some streets around Leith Walk feel scruffy
Where to stay in Leith
BudgetHoliday Inn Express Edinburgh WaterfrontReliable, good-value rooms beside Ocean Terminal and the tram.Check prices →Mid-rangeMalmaison EdinburghFormer seamen's mission right on the Shore, moody and characterful.Check prices →LuxuryFingalFormer lighthouse tender turned glamorous floating hotel near Britannia.Check prices →See all hotels in Leith4. West End
Mid-range pricesRefined, central and well connected
The elegant crescents and squares west of Princes Street, stretching towards Haymarket station and the Dean Village. It is quieter than the Old Town but only ten minutes' walk from the castle, with good restaurants around William Street and the Usher Hall nearby. Haymarket has trains to Glasgow and the north plus the airport tram.
Best for: Business travellers and those wanting calm near the centre · Near: Haymarket station, Dean Village, Usher Hall
Pros
- + Quiet evenings yet central
- + Haymarket rail and airport tram
- + Easy stroll to Dean Village and Stockbridge
Cons
- − Fewer sights directly on the doorstep
- − Lothian Road can be rowdy late at weekends
Where to stay in West End
BudgetHampton by Hilton Edinburgh West EndClean, modern rooms with free breakfast, close to Haymarket.Check prices →Mid-rangeThe BonhamQuietly stylish Victorian townhouse hotel on a peaceful square.Check prices →LuxuryWaldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The CaledonianGrand red-sandstone hotel with castle views at Princes Street's west end.Check prices →See all hotels in West End5. Southside
Budget-friendlyLeafy, local and near Arthur's Seat
A residential area around Newington and the university, south of the Old Town, with cafes, independent shops and student bustle. The Meadows and Holyrood Park with Arthur's Seat are on the doorstep. Frequent buses run along Nicolson Street and the Royal Mile is a 10 to 20 minute walk.
Best for: Walkers, families and travellers on a moderate budget · Near: Holyrood Park, The Meadows, National Museum of Scotland
Pros
- + Great value guesthouses
- + Easy access to Arthur's Seat and the Meadows
- + Quieter nights
Cons
- − Farther from Waverley and the airport tram
- − Fewer upscale dining options
Where to stay in Southside
Budgetibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge - Royal MileNo-frills base just a minute's walk from the Royal Mile.Check prices →Mid-rangeTen Hill Place HotelContemporary, quiet hotel run by the Royal College of Surgeons.Check prices →LuxuryPrestonfield HouseLavish baroque country-house hideaway beneath Arthur's Seat with peacocks.Check prices →See all hotels in Southside
Hotel prices in Edinburgh
Typical double room per night in high season.
- Budget
- £140
- Mid-range
- £260
- Luxury
- £550
August is the crunch month: the Fringe and International Festival push prices up two or three times, so book six to nine months ahead. Hogmanay at New Year, Six Nations rugby weekends and big concerts at Murrayfield also fill the city.
Getting around
Old Town, New Town and the West End are all walkable to each other, though the Old Town's hills and stairs are tiring with luggage. The tram links the airport with Haymarket, Princes Street and Leith, so staying near a stop makes arrivals easy; Lothian buses cover everywhere else.
Areas to think twice about
Areas around the airport and the Edinburgh Park or Gyle business districts look handy on a map but leave you 30 minutes or more from the centre with little to do in the evening. Cowgate is central but its late-night clubs make for poor sleep if your room faces the street.
FAQ
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