Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, a compact city of about half a million people built across a chain of extinct volcanic hills. Its Old Town and New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Edinburgh Castle on its rock at one end of the Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other. Visitors come for the medieval closes, the Georgian crescents, free national museums, Arthur's Seat, Scottish seafood and whisky, and the festivals that fill the city every August.
Accommodation overview
Where to stay in Edinburgh depends on the trip: the Old Town puts the Castle, Royal Mile and festival venues on the doorstep; the New Town and West End offer shopping, trams and quieter streets; Leith suits food lovers; and the Southside and Stockbridge give a residential feel with good bus links. Edinburgh Airport has its own hotels and a tram line to the city centre that takes about 35 minutes. Price figures in this guide use a fixed rate of £1 = $1.34.
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge - Royal Mile
Straightforward chain hotel on South Bridge, near the University and Royal Mile.
Check rates on Booking.comibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile - Hunter Square
Chain hotel at Hunter Square beside the Tron Kirk and the Royal Mile.
Check rates on Booking.comPremier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Princes Street)
Princes Street chain hotel with views of the Castle from some rooms, a short walk to the Mound and Waverley station.
Check rates on Booking.comPremier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Haymarket)
Chain hotel about 200 yards from Haymarket station and the tram, convenient for the airport tram and Glasgow trains.
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Chain hotel on York Place a few minutes from the bus station and St Andrew Square.
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Design-led budget hotel at the east end of Princes Street opposite the Scott Monument, with a bar and compact rooms.
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Design-led budget hotel on Market Street between Waverley station and the Royal Mile, with a bar.
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Hostel just off the Royal Mile with dorms, private rooms and a bar.
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Hostel directly beneath the Castle, handy for the Royal Mile and Grassmarket, with dorms and kitchens.
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Basic hostel on the Cowgate with dorms and private rooms, close to the Grassmarket and Royal Mile.
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Hostel on Cockburn Street between Waverley station and the Royal Mile.
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Hostel off the Royal Mile for guests aged 18 and over, with dorms and a communal kitchen.
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Scottish Youth Hostels Association hostel at the top of Leith Walk, with dorms, private rooms and a bus link to the Old Town.
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Hotel du Vin Edinburgh
Bistro-led boutique hotel in the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary nurses' building near the University and Greyfriars Bobby, with a whisky snug.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Bonham
Design-led Victorian townhouse hotel with a well-regarded restaurant, in a quiet West End garden square beside the Dean Village walk.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Dunstane Houses
Two Victorian villas in the Haymarket area with a bar and restaurant, ten minutes on foot from Haymarket station and the West End.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Chester Residence
Georgian townhouse apartments and suites close to Charlotte Square and the West End, suited to longer stays and families.
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Fashionable George Street boutique hotel with a lively cocktail bar and restaurant at the centre of the New Town.
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Hotel built behind the retained facade of a former church at the top of Leith Walk, with a rooftop garden and views of Calton Hill.
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Grand former bank building on George Street near St Andrew Square with a restaurant and bar, close to the tram and bus hubs.
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Boutique hotel on York Place near Picardy Place and the bus station, with in-house restaurant and bar.
Check rates on Booking.comChannings
Edwardian townhouses in leafy Stockbridge, a short bus or walk from the New Town, with a conservatory-style brasserie.
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Grassmarket hotel beneath the Castle with rooms looking up to the rock; a spa with pool and restaurant on site.
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Contemporary hotel at the west end of the Grassmarket with a spa, steps from Victoria Street and the Castle.
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Hotel next to Calton Hill and the Old Calton cemetery, a few minutes from Waverley station and Princes Street.
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Former Northern Lighthouse Board ship moored in Leith Docks, converted into a floating hotel with cabin rooms, close to the Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminal.
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Converted 1900 seamen's mission on the quayside at Leith, with a brasserie and bar, 30 minutes by bus or tram from the Old Town.
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Georgian mansion on the main Dalkeith Road bus route, close to Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat.
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Contemporary hotel with a leisure club and pool on Holyrood Road, near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Dynamic Earth and the Scottish Parliament.
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Hotel on North Bridge at the Royal Mile junction with leisure club and pool and a Scottish restaurant.
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Hotel between Haymarket station and the West End with a restaurant, bar and gym, 10 minutes on foot to Princes Street.
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Modern city-centre hotel in the Exchange/Lothian Road business district, a short walk from the Castle, with restaurant, bar and gym.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Rutland Hotel
Independent hotel at the west end of Princes Street with a Scottish cafe and rooftop bar, close to Haymarket and the tram stop.
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Airport-site hotel a short walk from the terminal, with an airport tram stop for the 35-minute ride to the city centre.
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Good-value hotel behind Waverley station on Jeffrey Street, near the Royal Mile.
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Hotel owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, near Surgeons' Hall Museums and the University, with a Scottish restaurant.
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Small hotel directly on the Royal Mile near St Giles' Cathedral.
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Compact hotel in the Grassmarket with a pub-style restaurant, below the Castle.
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Budget-friendly chain hotel at the lower end of the Royal Mile with breakfast included.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury
The Balmoral
Landmark 1902 clock-tower hotel above Waverley station, with direct access to the station and a short walk to the Royal Mile. Home of the Palm Court afternoon tea and a spa.
Check rates on Booking.comWaldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian
Red sandstone railway hotel at the west end of Princes Street, a few minutes on foot from Haymarket and Princes Street Gardens. Castle-view rooms and a Guerlain spa.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Scotsman Hotel
Converted Edwardian newspaper headquarters on North Bridge between Old Town and New Town, with marble interiors and a basement pool and spa.
Check rates on Booking.comGleneagles Townhouse
City-centre townhouse of the Gleneagles group in a former bank building on St Andrew Square, with a rooftop bar and Scottish-sourced restaurant.
Check rates on Booking.comPrestonfield House
17th-century country-house hotel in parkland below Arthur's Seat, about 2.5 miles from the Royal Mile, with opulent interiors and resident Highland cattle.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Witchery by the Castle
Nine gothic-themed suites at the top of the Royal Mile beside the Castle esplanade, in a 16th-century merchant house with a celebrated restaurant. Book months ahead.
Check rates on Booking.comKimpton Charlotte Square Hotel
Georgian townhouses on Charlotte Square designed by Robert Adam, a short walk from Princes Street and George Street, with a restaurant and bar.
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Large modern hotel beside the Usher Hall and Lothian Road with the One Spa thermal suite and pool, about 10 minutes on foot to the Castle.
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Three linked Georgian townhouses in the northern New Town with butler service, a restaurant and a short walk to Stockbridge and George Street.
Check rates on Booking.comNira Caledonia
Georgian townhouse hotel with apartment-style suites and a contemporary look, in the quiet northwest New Town, 10 minutes from Princes Street.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
The Balmoral
Landmark 1902 clock-tower hotel above Waverley station, with direct access to the station and a short walk to the Royal Mile. Home of the Palm Court afternoon tea and a spa.
Check rates on Booking.comWaldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian
Red sandstone railway hotel at the west end of Princes Street, a few minutes on foot from Haymarket and Princes Street Gardens. Castle-view rooms and a Guerlain spa.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Scotsman Hotel
Converted Edwardian newspaper headquarters on North Bridge between Old Town and New Town, with marble interiors and a basement pool and spa.
Check rates on Booking.comGleneagles Townhouse
City-centre townhouse of the Gleneagles group in a former bank building on St Andrew Square, with a rooftop bar and Scottish-sourced restaurant.
Check rates on Booking.comPrestonfield House
17th-century country-house hotel in parkland below Arthur's Seat, about 2.5 miles from the Royal Mile, with opulent interiors and resident Highland cattle.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Witchery by the Castle
Nine gothic-themed suites at the top of the Royal Mile beside the Castle esplanade, in a 16th-century merchant house with a celebrated restaurant. Book months ahead.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Book 4-6 months ahead for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and International Festival (August) and for Hogmanay (late December to 1 January); rates can double or triple and minimum stays of two to four nights apply.
Lowest prices are usually January to March (excluding Six Nations rugby weekends) and November; April to June and September are shoulder season with moderate rates.
Edinburgh has introduced a visitor levy of 5% on accommodation charges (applied to up to 5 consecutive nights) for stays from 24 July 2026; check whether the quoted rate includes it and confirm current rules on edinburgh.gov.uk.
Old Town hotels are close to everything but involve steep stairs and cobbles; guests with mobility needs should request lift access and ground-floor rooms when booking.
Hotels around Haymarket, the West End and Leith are usually cheaper and sit on or near the tram line between the airport and the city centre.
Cancellation terms for August and Hogmanay are often stricter; read the policy and consider free-cancellation rates, then rebook if the price falls.
Arrive by train at Waverley (city centre) or Haymarket; luggage storage is available at Waverley station if check-in is later than arrival.
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.