Where to stay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is compact, but it is not flat. The Old Town sits on a ridge from the castle down to Holyrood, the New Town lies below it to the north, and getting from one to the other means a climb or a flight of steps. For a first visit, stay in the Old Town or the New Town and you can walk to almost everything. Choose Stockbridge for a quieter, more local evening, Leith for food by the water, and the southern neighborhoods for lower prices. Whatever you pick, check your dates: in August the Festival fills the city and prices climb.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Old Town for the castle and the Royal Mile on your doorstep, or the New Town for calmer streets and an easier walk.
- Couples
- Stockbridge for a village feel, or Dean Village for a quiet corner by the river.
- Food and the water
- Leith, the old port, with the tram to the center.
- Tight budget
- The Southside or Bruntsfield and Marchmont, a bus ride or a 20 minute walk from the center.
- Arriving by tram or train
- The West End and Haymarket, on the airport tram and the main rail line.
How we judge an area of Edinburgh: walking time to the sights, hills and noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Edinburgh's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Edinburgh Castle | Holyrood Palace | Waverley station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town | A first visit | Loud at weekends | 10 min | 20 min | 5 min | On foot; Waverley station below | €€€ |
| New Town | Calm, shops, first visits | Quiet | 10 min | 30 min | 15 min | Tram: Princes Street, St Andrew Square | €€€€ |
| Stockbridge | Couples, a village feel | Quiet | 20 min | 40 min | 25 min | Buses to the center | €€€ |
| Leith | Food, the waterfront | Lively around The Shore | 60 min | 40 min | 50 min | Tram: Foot of the Walk, Newhaven | €€ |
| Bruntsfield and Marchmont | Value, a local feel | Quiet | 20 min | 40 min | 25 min | Buses to the center | €€ |
| West End and Haymarket | Trains, the airport tram | Quiet | 15 min | 45 min | 25 min | Tram: West End, Haymarket | €€€ |
| Dean Village | Quiet, couples | Very quiet | 20 min | 45 min | 30 min | On foot; buses on the road above | €€€ |
| Southside | Value, guest houses | Busy on the main roads | 20 min | 20 min | 15 min | Buses along the main roads | €€ |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. They do not allow for hills, and Edinburgh has them: the climb from the New Town to the Old Town, or up the Royal Mile to the castle, takes longer than the figure. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
The Old Town, for a first visit
The castle, the Royal Mile and the museums on foot, and the most crowded and noisiest part of the city.
The Old Town runs along the ridge from Edinburgh Castle down the Royal Mile to Holyrood, with St Giles' Cathedral, the National Museum of Scotland and the Grassmarket all within a few minutes of each other. Staying here means you step out into the sights, and you can be at the castle gate before the tour groups arrive.
The price is paid in crowds, hills and noise. The Royal Mile is packed from mid-morning, the closes and steps are steep, and the cobbles are hard on wheeled luggage. The Cowgate and the Grassmarket fill with bars on weekend nights, and in August the whole area is at its busiest. Look for a room above the street noise, away from the Cowgate, or on the quieter side streets and closes.
Good for
- A first visit of two or three nights
- Walking to the castle, the Royal Mile and the museums
- Being out early, before the crowds
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and the room faces the Cowgate or Grassmarket at weekends
- Steep hills, steps or cobbles are hard for you
- You are coming in August, when prices and crowds peak
The New Town, for calm streets and shops
Georgian squares, wide streets and the best shops, a short climb below the Old Town.
The New Town is the planned Georgian city built north of the Old Town from the 1760s: straight streets, terraced squares and a UNESCO World Heritage listing shared with the Old Town. George Street, Queen Street and the streets around Charlotte Square are lined with hotels, restaurants and shops, and Princes Street runs along its southern edge. The area is flatter and quieter than the Old Town and easier to walk.
The sights are a short walk away rather than at your door. The castle is about fifteen minutes up from Princes Street, with a steep climb at the end. It is the most expensive part of the city for hotels, and the streets are quiet after the offices close. Princes Street itself is busy and has traffic and trams.
Good for
- A calmer first visit, with the Old Town a short walk away
- Restaurants, shops and the main hotels
- Trams along Princes Street to Leith and the airport
Think twice if
- You want to wake up on the Royal Mile
- You are on a tight budget: hotels here cost more
- You want nightlife: the streets are quiet late on weeknights
Stockbridge, for a village feel
Independent shops, cafés and a Sunday market by the Water of Leith, twenty minutes' walk from the center.
Stockbridge is a small neighborhood just north of the New Town, centered on a stone bridge over the Water of Leith. Its main street, Raeburn Place, has independent cafés, delis and bookshops, and the Stockbridge Market runs on Sundays. The Royal Botanic Garden is a short walk further on, and a path along the river leads to Dean Village.
It feels like a village inside the city, which is why couples and longer stays like it. The cost is distance and hills: Princes Street is about twenty minutes away on foot, and the way back to the New Town is a climb. There are few large hotels, mostly guest houses and apartments, and buses link it to the center.
Good for
- Couples, and a quieter second visit
- Cafés, shops and the Sunday market
- A riverside walk to Dean Village
Think twice if
- You want to be on the Royal Mile or near the castle
- You need a big hotel with all the services
- You do not want a hill on the way back at night
Staying in Stockbridge: nearby sights, food and getting around
Leith, for food by the water
Edinburgh's old port: seafood, bars and the harbor, on the tram line, well outside the walking center.
Leith is Edinburgh's port, a separate burgh until 1920, and it still has its own center around The Shore, where the Water of Leith meets the harbor. The old warehouses and quayside are now restaurants, pubs and small hotels, and the area has several of the city's best-known places to eat. The tram runs along Leith Walk to the center, and the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored at Ocean Terminal.
It is not close to the sights. Waverley station is about 50 minutes on foot, and you will use the tram or a bus for most of the city, though Leith Walk is a long, busy road. The Shore and the streets around it are pleasant, but stay near them rather than choosing a room on a random street off Leith Walk. It suits a second visit, a longer stay, or anyone who puts food before sightseeing.
Good for
- Food and the waterfront
- Trams along Leith Walk and to the airport
- Better value than the center
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the castle and the Royal Mile
- You do not want to depend on a tram or a bus for sightseeing
Bruntsfield and Marchmont, for lower prices
Tenement streets on either side of the Meadows, with cafés, pubs and a walk into the Old Town.
Bruntsfield and Marchmont lie south of the Old Town, either side of the Meadows, the large park with tree-lined paths. Bruntsfield has the shops and cafés along Bruntsfield Place; Marchmont, to the east, is a grid of tall tenements shared by students, families and flats. Both are residential, with good value rooms and apartments, and plenty of local places to eat.
The Old Town is about fifteen to twenty minutes on foot across the Meadows, which is a pleasant walk in the day and a dark one late at night. Buses run into the center. There are fewer hotels and more guest houses and short-let flats, and the area is quiet in the evening apart from the pubs on the main streets.
Good for
- Lower prices than the center
- Walking across the Meadows to the Old Town
- Cafés and a local atmosphere
Think twice if
- You want hotels with a full service
- You want to be in the middle of things at night
Staying in Bruntsfield and Marchmont: nearby sights, food and getting around
The West End and Haymarket, for trains and the tram
Business hotels and Victorian terraces, on the airport tram and the Haymarket rail line.
The West End is the area around Shandwick Place and the streets behind it, at the west end of Princes Street; Haymarket is the station a little further out, where the airport tram stops and many trains from the north and west call. It has a lot of mid-range hotels in Victorian terraces, and it is about fifteen minutes on foot to the castle and the New Town.
Neither is a place people come for the atmosphere. The streets are busy with traffic by day and quiet at night, and the area suits a short stay or a trip with an early train or flight. Haymarket is about twenty-five minutes' walk from the Royal Mile, or a short ride on the tram.
Good for
- Arriving by the airport tram or a train to Haymarket
- Mid-range hotels with a reasonable price
- A quiet night close to Princes Street
Think twice if
- You want historic streets outside your door
- You want restaurants and bars a few steps away
Staying in West End and Haymarket: nearby sights, food and getting around
Dean Village, for a quiet corner
Old mill buildings in a gorge on the Water of Leith, ten minutes from Princes Street and very few places to stay.
Dean Village is a cluster of former grain mills and tenements in the valley of the Water of Leith, below the Dean Bridge and about ten minutes' walk from the West End. It looks like a village in a hollow, which is the reason people come: a footpath follows the river toward Stockbridge, and the Gallery of Modern Art is a short walk up the hill.
It is small, with few hotels and mostly holiday apartments. There are no real restaurants inside the hollow, so you walk up to the West End or the New Town for dinner, and the way back is steep. The Old Town is about 30 minutes away on foot. Choose it for quiet and views, not for convenience.
Good for
- A quiet stay close to the New Town
- Walking the Water of Leith to Stockbridge
- Photographs and early mornings
Think twice if
- You want a choice of hotels
- You want to eat out without a steep walk back
- You depend on public transport
Staying in Dean Village: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Southside, for value near the Old Town
Newington and the streets around the university, a walk from the Royal Mile and noticeably cheaper.
The Southside runs south from the Old Town along Nicolson Street, Clerk Street and Newington: the university buildings, the Festival Theatre, and a long line of guest houses and Victorian terraces. It is the traditional place for budget stays, with the Royal Mile about fifteen to twenty minutes away on foot and Arthur's Seat close to the east.
The main roads are busy and noisy with buses by day, and some stretches are worn. It gets very lively during the Festival, with venues all around. The streets behind them are calm. It works for a visit on a budget; if you are paying for atmosphere, choose elsewhere.
Good for
- Lower prices within walking distance of the Old Town
- Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park nearby
- Plenty of guest houses and mid-range rooms
Think twice if
- You are sensitive to traffic and bus noise on the main roads
- You want quiet nights during the Festival
Staying in Southside: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Edinburgh, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Edinburgh. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- The Royal Mile in August, if you want a quiet room
The Festival fills the street with crowds, performers and flyers from morning until late. Book a room on a side street or a close, or stay in the New Town or Stockbridge and walk in.
- A room above the Cowgate or the Grassmarket at the weekend
Both are lined with bars and are loud late into the night. Ask for a room at the back, or stay higher up the Royal Mile.
- A room on Princes Street or Leith Walk, if you notice traffic
Trams, buses and delivery vehicles run along both. Choose a side street a block or two away.
- A hotel by the airport, for a city break
The rate looks cheap until you add the tram or bus each way, and the airport is about 35 minutes from the center. Stay in the city unless you have a very early flight.
- A lower-price room in the hills, without checking the walk
A listing that says 'near the Royal Mile' can mean a long climb with luggage. Check the street on the map, and note the steps and cobbles.
Which neighborhood suits you
Couples
Stockbridge or Dean Village, a short walk from the center.
Families with children
The New Town, flatter and quieter than the Old Town, or Marchmont, with the Meadows to play in.
A tight budget
The Southside or Bruntsfield and Marchmont.
Food
Leith for seafood and the waterfront, the New Town for classic restaurants.
Nightlife
The Old Town, around the Grassmarket and the Cowgate, if you do not mind noise.
Peace and quiet
Arriving by train or tram
The West End and Haymarket, or the Old Town, a few minutes from Waverley.
Before you book a room in Edinburgh
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Edinburgh makes a good stay.
- The visitor levySince 24 July 2026 Edinburgh charges a visitor levy of 5% of the accommodation cost, before VAT, on the first five nights of a stay. It applies to hotels, guest houses, hostels, self-catering and short lets, and food, parking and extras are not included. Stays booked and paid for, in part or in full, before 1 October 2025 are exempt. It is usually added to the room price, so check whether the total you see includes it.
- August and the FestivalThe Fringe and the other festivals fill the city for most of August, and hotels sell out and rise sharply in price. Book three to six months ahead, and expect the Old Town, the Southside and the city center to be the busiest. If you can choose, come in May, June or September.
- From Edinburgh AirportThe tram runs from the airport to the center in about 35 minutes (to St Andrew Square), with a single fare of £7.90, and continues to Leith and Newhaven. The Airlink 100 bus takes about 30 minutes to Waverley Bridge, with a single fare of £6.00, and runs all day and through the night. Both accept contactless payment.
- Hills and cobblesThe Old Town is built on a steep ridge, with cobbles, closes and steps between the levels. If you have wheeled luggage, limited mobility or a pushchair, check the street and the access before you book.
- Trams and busesTrams run along Princes Street and between the airport, the center and Leith. Lothian Buses cover the rest of the city, and you can pay by contactless card on board. The center is easy to walk, and you only need public transport from Stockbridge, Leith and the outer areas.
- Hogmanay and the winter weekendsNew Year's Eve fills the city, and prices rise. Check the dates, and book early if you plan to be here over the New Year.
Where to stay in Edinburgh: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Edinburgh for a first visit?
The Old Town, if you want the castle, the Royal Mile and the museums on foot, and can live with crowds and noise. The New Town is the calmer choice: a short walk below, with more restaurants and easier streets.
Is it better to stay in the Old Town or the New Town?
The Old Town for atmosphere and the sights at your door. The New Town for quiet, wider streets and the best shops. They are about ten to fifteen minutes apart on foot, though the way up to the Old Town is steep.
Is Leith a good place to stay?
For food, the water and lower prices, yes. The Shore and the streets around it are the pleasant part. It is not close to the sights: Waverley station is about 50 minutes away on foot, so you will use the tram or a bus.
Where should I stay in Edinburgh during the Festival?
Book months ahead and expect to pay more. The Old Town is busiest and loudest. Stockbridge, the New Town and the West End are calmer, and the Southside and Marchmont are lively but cheaper.
Can you walk around Edinburgh?
Yes, the center is compact. The Old Town and the New Town are about ten to fifteen minutes apart, and most sights are within twenty minutes of each other. The hills make it harder than the map suggests.
Is the Old Town safe at night?
Generally yes, though the Grassmarket and the Cowgate are busy and loud at weekends, and the closes are dark. Keep to the main streets late at night and watch your bag in crowds.
How do I get from Edinburgh Airport to the center?
By tram to the New Town (about 35 minutes, £7.90) or by the Airlink 100 bus to Waverley Bridge (about 30 minutes, £6.00). The tram suits the New Town, the West End and Leith; the bus suits the Old Town.
Is there a tourist tax in Edinburgh?
Yes. A visitor levy of 5% of the accommodation cost, before VAT, applies to the first five nights of a stay in paid accommodation, from 24 July 2026. It is added by your host, and you pay it with your bill.
