Edinburgh, the hilly capital of Scotland, attracts many guests for its previous buildings and unbelievable landmarks. With winding cobblestone streets and at least 4 beautiful nationwide artwork galleries, it’s a spot we’ve got loved on a number of events.
The Scottish capital is a compact metropolis, so that you’ll have the opportunity to do loads of exploring on foot no matter the place precisely you keep. But we wished to supply enter on our favourite areas of the city and the very best accommodations in them to make it simpler for you to discover a place to keep that matches into your Edinburgh itinerary completely.
Each Edinburgh neighborhood affords one thing distinctive, from the historic Old Town to the stylish West End. Whether it’s buildings which might be greater than a thousand years previous or lush strolling paths alongside the river, there’s little doubt in my thoughts you’ll take pleasure in your journey irrespective of which resort you guide.
Where To Stay In Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a captivating metropolis with a ton of historic points of interest. It’s additionally very walkable, so that you don’t have to keep in the town heart to have the opportunity to uncover all of its finest landmarks and points of interest on foot. And when you don’t thoughts leaping on the tramway or the bus, you would save fairly a bit of cash by reserving lodging in a quieter space.
That’s not to say that the town heart is a nasty place to keep; each New Town and Old Town are a few of my favourite choices for first-time guests due to the attractive previous structure and infinite attention-grabbing sights. However, each areas are expensive and never possibility for vacationers on a tighter funds.
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Where We Stayed
We stayed at Cheval The Edinburgh Grand primarily as a result of I want flats to accommodations for longer stays. It provided the whole lot we would have liked throughout our keep, and I significantly loved the view of St. Andrew Square. And the comfortable beds! Don’t hesitate to guide The Edinburgh Grand if you’d like a extra homely place to stick with a superb location in the town heart.
Edinburgh Old Town: Our Recommendation
Edinburgh Old Town is the historic coronary heart of this Scottish metropolis and the very best one for a keep for many vacationers. Stay in the Old Town and also you’ll be inside strolling distance of the very best metropolis points of interest, outlets, eating places, and museums.
Just preserve in thoughts that such an vital a part of Edinburgh is mostly expensive, particularly for resort stays. If you’re on the lookout for mid-range and luxurious accommodations, you’ll have loads of choices in Edinburgh Old Town. But when you’re attempting to discover Scotland on a funds, you may want to search for one thing much less central.
Pros and Cons of Staying in Edinburgh Old Town
Pros
Easy strolling entry to in style landmarks
The historic heart of Edinburgh is attractive
Great bars and eating places
Lots of issues to do
Cons
The busiest a part of the town
Hotels are costly
Lots of vacationer traps
Highlights of Staying in Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh Old Town is the undisputed heart of the town, with probably the most attention-grabbing landmarks and vacationer points of interest. From historic castles to unbelievable museums, it has all the very best points of interest that can make you fall in love with the Scottish metropolis.
Edinburgh Castle is by and enormous probably the most iconic landmark in the town. The hilltop fort dates again to the eleventh century, and it’s identified for housing the Crown Jewels. It’s additionally residence to the National War Museum of Scotland and certainly my favourite historic attraction to go to in the town.
Walk the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle and see all the flamboyant outlets and eating places that line both aspect. This is the busiest road in the town and a spot you may hardly miss when leisurely strolling round Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The National Museum of Scotland is by far the very best attraction in Edinburgh for historical past buffs and museum-goers. The huge museum affords a pure historical past exhibit, in addition to a set of relics that recount the story of Scottish industrial historical past.
Princes Street Gardens is a sprawling public park just under the Edinburgh Castle. Visit it earlier than or after you tour the compound; it doesn’t matter so long as you get to stroll by means of the park and see all the gorgeous monuments and beautiful landscaping.
Cockburn Street is alleged to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, and naturally, I’ve put it on this listing. It’s lined with stunning outlets and good pubs, so there’s loads of issues to do right here aside from admire the buildings.
Best Places To Stay In Edinburgh Old Town
The heart of Edinburgh affords all kinds of lodging choices for each funds. Stay in historic buildings and sip cocktails on rooftop terraces, whereas having fun with uninterrupted views of the town’s skyline.
The Witchery by the Castle
The Witchery by the Castle is a novel keep in the center of Edinburgh. With 9 lavishly embellished suites, this boutique resort affords an expertise in contrast to another. Sleep in four-poster beds in suites which might be completely adorned with interval decorations, starting from guard uniforms to painted ceilings.
Each of the 9 suites is thematically embellished, and my favorites are the guardroom and the library. The elegant suites vary in dimension from 40 m² to 72 m²; the larger suites characteristic a separate sitting room or perhaps a eating corridor. Breakfast is included in the nightly keep, and friends can select whether or not they want to have it in the room or on the resort restaurant.
The Witchery even has a sister resort exterior Edinburgh’s metropolis heart, Prestonfield House. Consider it for a luxurious stick with a terrific location in a extra serene a part of the town.
Market Street Hotel
Choose the unbelievable Market Street Hotel when you’re on the lookout for the proper location in Edinburgh Old Town. It’s located on Market Street, simply throughout the road from the Waverley Station and mere steps away from the historic Cockburn Street.
The trendy rooms are a bit on the smaller aspect, however they’re all properly embellished. Each room contains a small seating space, a TV, an ensuite lavatory, and a espresso/tea-making station. Rooms with wheelchair-accessible bogs are additionally out there at this resort.
One of the very best issues about Market Street Hotel is the rooftop lounge, the place you may take pleasure in breakfast and a few of the finest panoramic views of Edinburgh’s skyline. However, it’s additionally vital to observe that this resort lacks a health heart and a spa, so it may not be match for everybody.
CoDE Pod Hostel
The CoDE Pod Hostel is likely one of the finest reasonably priced choices in the historic heart of Edinburgh. The nightly fee begins at a bit of over $65, which is a bit of expensive for a hostel however price it for the situation. Also, this isn’t your basic hostel; all of the dorm rooms characteristic pods as a substitute of bunk beds for privateness.
Each dorm has its personal shared lavatory, which is totally spotless. The decor all through the hostel is trendy and smooth, and actually, it’s one of many better-looking lodging choices in Edinburgh. Double rooms with ensuite bogs are additionally out there right here, and so they begin at round $120 per particular person for an evening, which is likely one of the higher offers for a keep in Edinburgh Old Town.
The hostel’s shared areas embrace a kitchen and a eating/lounge space with a TV. Overall, this is likely one of the higher hostels in Edinburgh, and it’s particularly in style with solo vacationers.
Edinburgh New Town is the second-best possibility for first-time guests in the town. It’s tremendous shut to the Old Town and affords equally as many attention-grabbing points of interest. It’s simply that it’s a bit youthful than the Old Town – by at least a number of hundred years.
The New Town options considerably cheaper lodging choices, however there are simply as many high-end accommodations as in the Old Town. It’s additionally residence to a number of well-known streets which might be lined with outlets, bars, and glorious eating places. For nightlife, purchasing, and tradition, the New Town is the very best a part of the town.
Pros and Cons of Staying in Edinburgh New Town
Pros
Walking distance to Old Town landmarks
Great for purchasing and nightlife
Plenty of museums and vacationer points of interest
Cons
As expensive because the Old Town
Busy and noisy
Very few accommodations for funds vacationers
Highlights of Staying in Edinburgh New Town
The New Town is a whole bunch of years youthful than the Old Town, however that doesn’t imply it’s not crammed with attention-grabbing landmarks and sights. Plenty of in style vacationer points of interest are right here, together with fabulous artwork galleries and Edinburgh’s finest purchasing streets.
The Scott Monument is a fascinating landmark that towers over Princess Street. The Victorian monument was erected in honor of Sir Walter Scott, Edinburgh’s most famous author. Don’t simply stand on the base of the spire-like landmark; climb the 287 steps it takes to get to the highest to expertise a unbelievable panoramic vista of Edinburgh’s skyline.
Walk down George Street and also you’ll get to see the spectacular Victorian structure Edinburgh is thought for world wide.
Rose Street is New Town’s car-free avenue. It’s lined with pubs on both aspect, and it’s the hotspot for nightlife in Edinburgh.
For the very best purchasing in this Scottish metropolis, you’ll need to head to Princess Street. It’s virtually an infinite stream of retailers in each value vary and the place to be if you’d like to purchase something from books to sneakers.
Best Places To Stay In Edinburgh New Town
The New Town is a superb a part of Edinburgh, each for first-time and returning guests. It affords accommodations for each funds, though I need to say that mid-range and luxurious vacationers are extra probably to discover one thing up their alley. Accommodation in the New Town isn’t low cost, however there are just a few choices funds vacationers ought to contemplate.
The Balmoral Hotel
With a historical past of greater than 100 years, The Balmoral Hotel is likely one of the finest five-star accommodations in Edinburgh’s New Town. It is located proper subsequent to Waverley Train Station and only a quick stroll from the town’s finest purchasing streets.
The resort affords cozy double rooms with elegant furnishings. Every room options an Italian marble lavatory, in addition to a seating space and a desk. The Balmoral Hotel affords two eating places, a pool, and a fitness center, so it’s acquired all of the facilities you’d count on from a luxurious resort.
There’s additionally a spa and wellness heart at this grand resort, and it features a Turkish steam room, amongst different amenities. The cherry on prime is the fabulous historic resort constructing, which even has its personal clock tower. As you’d count on from the identify, the Balmoral is likely one of the finest and most prestigious accommodations Edinburgh has to supply.
ibis Styles Edinburgh
Situated on St. Andrew’s Square, ibis Styles is a pleasant three-star resort with a central location. The nightly fee is considerably excessive for an Ibis resort, nevertheless it’s nonetheless normally beneath $300 for 2 folks, which is an effective deal contemplating the situation. And when you journey in the low season and store round for offers, you may guide an evening right here for beneath $200.
The rooms are a bit of small, however embrace a desk, a personal lavatory, and charming Scottish decorations. The beds are comfy and roomy, which is crucial for evening’s sleep. Also, each resort room contains a flat-screen TV, and breakfast is included in the nightly fee.
The ibis resort contains a bar and a restaurant, however sadly no spa or health heart. Overall, it’s possibility for vacationers who need lodging with a superb location that gained’t break the financial institution however don’t need to keep in hostels or personal flats.
Princes Street Hostel
Princess Street Hostel is a pleasant possibility for funds vacationers. It’s shut to Waverley Station, Royal Mile, and lots of different in style Edinburgh points of interest. The nightly fee for solo vacationers begins at simply $35 for a mattress in a dorm room, which is a very whole lot for such a central location in Edinburgh.
Private double rooms are additionally out there on the hostel, though they don’t embrace an ensuite lavatory. Every dormitory has a shared lavatory with a bathe, and enormous teams of vacationers can lease total dormitories and enormous rooms.
All friends staying on the Princess Street Hostel get entry to free WiFi and may make use of the shared lounge. There’s additionally a spacious and well-equipped kitchen, in addition to a roomy eating space the place you may mingle with different friends if you’d like.
West End: Best For Budget Travelers
West End is a classy Edinburgh neighborhood identified for elegant mansions, cobbled streets, and indie boutiques. It’s the very best neighborhood in Edinburgh for vacationers on a tighter funds as a result of the accommodations are considerably extra reasonably priced than these in the Old Town and New Town.
On prime of that, the West End has loads of its personal points of interest and affords straightforward strolling entry to in style landmarks in the historic metropolis heart. Book a resort close to the border with Edinburgh metropolis heart, and also you’ll get a superb fee however be not more than a 15-minute stroll from the historic landmarks.
Pros And Cons of Staying in West End
Pros
Cheaper accommodations and eating places
Not as busy as the town heart
Walking distance to the town heart
Cons
Few landmarks
Not as many resort choices
Highlights of Staying in West End
Edinburgh’s West End is a quaint residential neighborhood with rows of townhouses and glorious pubs. It’s acquired fairly just a few points of interest of its personal, and there are causes to come right here, even when you guide a resort smack dab in the center of the Old Town.
Dean Village is a pleasing a part of Edinburgh’s West End, identified for Nineteenth-century houses, museums, and cobbled streets. Come right here to get misplaced in the pure great thing about the town and benefit from the view of previous buildings surrounded by lush greenery.
There are 4 National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, and two are in the West End. Both boast gorgeous collections of recent artwork, so don’t miss out when you’re an artwork lover.
Stroll alongside the Water of Leith Walkway. The strolling path follows the river for 12 miles, providing picturesque views of cascades, timber, and Edinburgh’s signature buildings.
Best Places To Stay in West End
West End is a good space to keep in as a result of you may pay so much much less for accommodations which might be equal in high quality to these in the town heart. And it’s a captivating neighborhood inside strolling distance of all the favored points of interest,
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh is a unbelievable five-star resort simply 10 minutes from Edinburgh Castle. It’s set on the border of West End with New Town and Old Town, so when you select this luxurious resort, you’ll nonetheless be inside strolling distance of in style vacationer points of interest.
This resort affords an indoor swimming pool, a health heart, and three eating places. The rooms are medium-sized and elegantly embellished, with refined Scottish accents. Every resort room on the Waldorf Astoria contains a flat-screen TV, an ensuite lavatory, a seating space, and a Nespresso espresso machine.
But when you’re going to keep at this resort, I urge you to guide a room with a view of Edinburgh Castle. It’s marvelous to get up to views of such an iconic landmark, and it’ll make your keep in the town much more immersive.
The Bonham
The Bonham is a boutique resort in West End set inside a Victorian townhouse, only a ten-minute stroll from Princess Street. It’s a five-star resort with a surprisingly reasonably priced nightly fee that’s decrease than that of mid-range accommodations in the Old Town. So, select this resort if you’d like unbelievable service and a sublime room with a stunning metropolis view.
The visitor rooms aren’t too massive, however they’re very good and cozy. The beds are massive, the ensuite bogs are pristine, and there’s a seating space even in the smallest rooms. Every visitor room additionally comes with a TV and low machine. Bigger rooms and suites are additionally out there at The Bonham.
The resort additionally boasts a bar and a restaurant, nevertheless it’s missing in further facilities. There’s no fitness center, spa heart, or pool, so preserve that in thoughts when deciding on a resort in Edinburgh’s West End.
Destiny Scotland Distillers House
West End is a good neighborhood for residence stays, and Destiny Scotland affords a wide range of choices at an reasonably priced value. Starting at just below $200 per evening, you may get a studio residence with a spacious lavatory, a kitchen, and separate bedrooms and residing areas.
That comes out to round $100 per particular person, which is cheaper than a hostel in the Old Town. You might select to keep at a hostel in the West End, and it might be tremendous low cost (round $30 per evening), however I wished to provide the possibility of lodging that’s reasonably priced, elegant, and doesn’t embrace sharing a rest room with strangers.
The residence is only a 10-minute stroll from Princess Street, so very shut to New Town. Tramway and bus stops are additionally simply a few minutes from the constructing, so that you could be in the center of Edinburgh in no time.
Where To Stay In Edinburgh FAQs
Which a part of Edinburgh is finest to keep?
The Old Town is the very best a part of Edinburgh for a resort keep, each for first-time and returning guests. The historic city space is greater than a thousand years previous and affords probably the most attention-grabbing landmarks and vacationer points of interest.
Is it higher to keep in Old or New Town in Edinburgh?
Old Town is mostly higher for vacationers in Edinburgh, particularly for these in historic landmarks. New Town can be a superb place to keep, particularly for purchasing and artwork gallery excursions.
What is the preferred space of Edinburgh?
The Old Town is the preferred space of Edinburgh. The metropolis’s historic heart is residence to all the very best landmarks and points of interest, from in style museums to iconic sights like Cockburn Street.
What is probably the most walkable space of Edinburgh?
Old Town, New Town, and even West End are all very walkable areas of Edinburgh. All the highest points of interest in the town heart are straightforward to entry on foot as a result of Edinburgh is one in every of Scotland’s most walkable cities.
Where Not To Stay In Edinburgh
There are just a few areas you need to keep away from in Edinburgh, however not essentially as a result of they’re unsafe or something like that. It’s just because they’re fairly removed from the town heart and supply only a few issues to do, so that they’re typically dangerous for vacationers. While these areas may supply cheaper lodging, it’s unlikely you’ll save an excessive amount of cash since you’ll have to pay for public transport, perhaps even taxis, and spend approach an excessive amount of time driving round.
The areas that I don’t advocate for vacationers in Edinburgh are Canonmills, Stockbridge, Marchmont, and Northfield. And it’s solely as a result of they’re nowhere close to the town heart and also you’d simply waste treasured time on the bus when you would as a substitute be strolling down George Street.
In phrases of common security and crime charges, Edinburgh is a really protected city for vacationers. Pickpockets are the one factor you need to be looking out for, however the identical could be stated of any main metropolis in Europe. And it’s normally a lot worse in the capitals on the mainland, lots of which I’ve traveled to with out experiencing any issues.
Edinburgh is a vivacious metropolis, which effortlessly blends and celebrates its colourful historical past with trendy forward-facing innovation. It continues to encourage artists of every kind, in addition to being an financial heavyweight. Locals are pleasant and comfortable to give instructions or recommendations on their favourite locations to eat/drink/social gathering/go to – Edinburgers like to speak!
Whether you’re visiting on the top of summer season, in shoulder season with the gorgeous foliage of spring and autumn, or braving the winter for Christmas markets and Hogmanay, you might be certain to have a grand previous time.