Where to stay in Edinburgh

Edinburgh splits along a geological fault that shaped its streets, and the accommodation map follows the same divide. The Old Town stacks itself on the volcanic ridge from the Castle down to Holyrood, narrow closes and steep stairs leading to hostels and boutique hotels wedged into medieval footprints. The New Town spreads north across the valley on a Georgian grid, where wide streets and symmetrical facades house the city's densest cluster of mid-range and luxury rooms. West of Princes Street the West End quiets into Victorian crescents. South and east, university halls and residential flats open up budget options for travelers willing to ride a bus. Beyond the city boundary, Queensferry sits on the Firth of Forth shoreline, Corstorphine straddles the airport corridor, and Currie anchors the southwestern edge where prices drop and pub-inns replace hotel chains. The neighborhoods below run from the highest hotel density in the New Town core to the thinnest inventory at the rural fringe. Edinburgh rewards choosing your area before your hotel; the walk from a Royal Mile hostel to a New Town townhouse is short but lands you in a different city.

1. 1

   New Town, Edinburgh

   Georgian grid north of Princes Street, between Queen Street Gardens and Waverley Station

   The densest hotel cluster in the city, spanning budget pods to a landmark luxury tower on a walkable Georgian grid.

   Pale sandstone catches the light along George Street each morning, and the New Town's Georgian grid makes every hotel here a short walk from Princes Street. The Balmoral sits above Waverley Station with a 9.6 and rooms from $769 a night, setting the ceiling. Skip the tourist restaurants on Princes Street itself; one block north on Rose Street the food is better at half the markup. Mid-range travelers do well here: Heeton Concept on Queen Street holds an 8.7 at about $170, close enough to the Scottish National Gallery to walk before breakfast. Budget beds exist too; CODE The Loft scores 9.3 at $49, proof this is not exclusively a luxury address. The tram runs along Princes Street, buses converge at St Andrew Square, and Waverley Station gives direct rail south. Stay in the New Town for the tightest walking radius to transport, shopping, and galleries in the city.

   1. Budget

      CODE The Loft - Edinburgh

      The Loft is really central in the city and the beds were comfortable. We traveled with 4 people and had the whole room for us. The best part is the cooperation with The Court and that you can particip

      9.3/10 rating ~$49/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Heeton Concept Aparthotel Edinburgh Queen Street

      I just wanted to follow up regarding the situation we encountered when we arrived. We had booked three double rooms for two nights so that our group could stay together. Unfortunately, we were informe

      8.7/10 rating ~$170/night
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   3. Luxury

      The Balmoral Hotel

      This is a classic British-style hotel in Edinburgh, highly recommended by a friend. Due to a change in our itinerary, Ctrip was very responsible in communicating with us, but the hotel refused to adju

      9.6/10 rating ~$769/night
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2. 2

   Edinburgh Old Town, Edinburgh

   Royal Mile ridge from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood Palace

   Medieval closes and the Royal Mile on your doorstep, from backpacker pods to boutique luxury.

   Foot traffic on the Royal Mile hums from dawn until the last pub closes, and Edinburgh Old Town keeps its medieval street plan intact from the Castle down to Holyrood Palace. Code Pod, beside the church on the Royal Mile, scores a 9.4 at just $38 a night; for that price you sleep on the most visited half-mile in Scotland. The luxury end sits nearby: Virgin Hotels Edinburgh holds a 9.3 at $309, polished rooms set against cobblestone closes. Skip the tartan-and-shortbread gift shops clustered near the Castle; they exist for coach tours, not for anyone staying more than a night. The Cowgate and Grassmarket sit below the ridge for late-night bars, while the quieter closes off the High Street go silent early. Expect stairs; this neighborhood was built on a volcanic spine and the lifts are few. It suits walkers who want history underfoot and restaurants in every close.

   1. Budget

      Code Pod – the Court - Edinburgh

      I visited at the end of March, and Edinburgh was still quite cold, especially with the strong winds. The hostel's location is excellent, right by the church on the Royal Mile, making it easy to walk t

      9.4/10 rating ~$38/night
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   2. Luxury

      Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

      Lovely hotel, exquisite rooms. Great friendly service from all the staff. Wish there were more Virgin hotels around based on my experience here.

      9.3/10 rating ~$309/night
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3. 3

   West End, Edinburgh

   Victorian crescents west of Princes Street, around Haymarket Station

   Quiet Victorian streets within walking distance of the center, anchored by Haymarket Station's airport tram link.

   The West End's Victorian crescents drift west from Princes Street into residential quiet within a few blocks. The Bonham holds a 9.3 at $328 a night on a curving terrace near Haymarket, where the rooms sit inside a converted townhouse rather than a purpose-built tower. Mid-range travelers land well at the Hampton by Hilton, scoring 8.9 at about $167, with Haymarket Station and its airport tram link right outside. Avoid the chain hotels near the conference center at the western edge; those blocks trade character for parking and add nothing to a leisure stay. Stockbridge borders the north with its Sunday market, and Tollcross sits to the south with late-night curry houses. The West End suits couples and business travelers who want a quiet street at night and a short walk east to the galleries on Queensferry Street. It is a neighborhood for sleeping well and walking into the action, not for being in the middle of it.

   1. Mid-Range

      Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End

      An extremely comfortable and pleasant room to stay. What I liked most: a big bed, carpeting, long couch, many sockets, tea set, many towels and hygiene supplies, thermostat, big windows. However, ther

      8.9/10 rating ~$167/night
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   2. Luxury

      The Bonham

      I can only say that I love and hate this hotel. I had a bad stay experience. Can you believe I spent 2,700 yuan to book a room in the basement? ! The pictures of the hotel room are seriously inconsis

      9.3/10 rating ~$328/night
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4. 4

   Edinburgh

   Residential ring south and east of the city center, near Holyrood and Slateford

   University halls and residential apartments offering space and quiet at the city's lowest rates.

   Arthur's Seat dominates the skyline east of Holyrood, and the accommodations labeled broadly as Edinburgh cluster in the residential ring south and east of the Old Town. Summer Stays at The University of Edinburgh scores an 8.9 at $65 a night, a base near Holyrood with breakfast included and the park trails close by. The mid-range Slateford House Apartment holds a 9.0 at $148, a ground-floor flat in the Slateford corridor west of the center. These outer pockets are where residents sleep, not where visitors wander; that is the trade-off. You gain space, quiet, and lower rates. You lose the walk-out-the-door convenience of the Royal Mile. Bus routes connect both areas to Princes Street reliably, but the last services thin out before midnight. This zone suits budget-conscious travelers and families who prefer a kitchen and a park over a hotel bar.

   1. Budget

      Summer Stays at The University of Edinburgh

      25 mins walk from the city, Holyrood distillery nearby, you can also hike up to Arthur seat in 30 mins. Can get to supermarket in 15 mins. Breakfast included and you can order breakfast box if you hav

      8.9/10 rating ~$65/night
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   2. Mid-Range

      Slateford House Apartment Ground Floor Main Door

      9.0/10 rating ~$148/night
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5. 5

   Edinburgh Old Town

   Grassmarket square beneath Edinburgh Castle's southern cliff

   Edinburgh's cheapest beds in its liveliest square, with the Castle overhead and nightlife at the door.

   At $24 a night, Kick Ass Grassmarket sits at the floor of Edinburgh's price range and drops you into the Grassmarket square, where the Castle looms directly above the pub tables. The hostel holds an 8.9, which is high for a bed at this price in a city that gouges visitors during festival season. Skip the overpriced dorm chains near Waverley; down here in the Grassmarket the crowd is younger, the bars are louder, and the cobblestones stay busy past midnight. Victoria Street climbs steeply to the Royal Mile from the square's east end, putting the upper ridge within a short walk. The Grassmarket pocket is for solo travelers and backpackers who want nightlife at the door and history overhead, not for light sleepers or anyone who needs quiet before eleven. Breakfast is a roll from the bakeries on the square, not a hotel buffet.

   1. Budget

      Kick Ass Grassmarket (18+)

      It's a good hostel, right in the center, a couple of minutes' walk from all the sights. I liked everything, but there was one downside: I was cold in the evening. At first, I thought someone had opene

      8.9/10 rating ~$24/night
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6. 6

   Queensferry

   Firth of Forth harbour town beneath the Forth Rail Bridge, northwest of Edinburgh

   A harbour town facing three bridges, for travelers who trade city access for waterfront calm.

   The Forth Rail Bridge spans the water at Queensferry, and the small High Street drops steeply to a harbour that faces three bridges instead of a city skyline. Orocco Pier holds a 9.0 at $136 a night, a waterfront hotel where most rooms look directly at the cantilever spans. Don't bother with Queensferry if your trip centers on Edinburgh's Old Town; the town sits northwest of the city by bus or car, and the last service back runs early. It functions as a day-trip destination rather than a base, but that distance is the appeal for travelers who want quiet evenings and coastal air. The High Street has a handful of pubs and fish-and-chip shops, not a restaurant scene. Stay here to walk the coastal path, photograph the bridges at dawn, or decompress after a week in the city center. It suits drivers and anyone who treats Edinburgh as a day trip rather than a doorstep.

   1. Mid-Range

      Orocco Pier

      Great place to stay plenty around to do and great location with a sea and view of the forth rail bridge

      9.0/10 rating ~$136/night
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7. 7

   Broughton

   Independent quarter north of the St James Quarter, top of Leith Walk

   Independent cafes and nightlife on a characterful high street at budget prices.

   Independent cafes and vintage shops line Broughton Street north of the St James Quarter, and the neighborhood holds Edinburgh's most visible LGBTQ+ scene. Edinburgh Central Accommodation scores an 8.0 at $37 a night, a budget hostel on the residential side streets where the noise drops off sharply past the main drag. Skip the generic hostels stacked near the bus station to the west; Broughton's own strip has more character per block. The area borders the top of Leith Walk, which runs downhill to the port and its restaurant row, giving Broughton a second dining zone within walking distance. It is a neighborhood that wakes up late and stays lively through the evening, better for bar-hoppers and cafe-sitters than early risers. Buses run frequently from the foot of Broughton Street to Princes Street, and the walk takes less effort than the steep climbs in the Old Town. The inventory here is thin; book early or look next door at the New Town.

   1. Budget

      Edinburgh Central Accommodation

      Another night staying at this hostel. We stayed in a six-person female dorm. Except that the drainage is quite bad at the shower room, and the bunk bed is noisy when i move, everything is good and cle

      8.0/10 rating ~$37/night
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8. 8

   Broughton, Edinburgh

   Picardy Place roundabout and tram interchange, southern Broughton

   A tram-connected transit hub linking the airport to the city center at mid-range rates.

   At $159 a night, the Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre anchors Picardy Place roundabout at the southern edge of Broughton, Edinburgh, where the tram from the airport stops outside. The hotel holds an 8.6, a solid mid-range score for a location this well connected. Skip this stretch for dinner; better restaurants sit a few blocks north along Broughton Street or south toward the St James Quarter. Avoid the overpriced sandwich chains ringing the roundabout and walk in any direction for something honest. This pocket works for business travelers and airport arrivals who want a bed near the tram without paying New Town prices. The Playhouse Theatre sits across the road, and Calton Hill is a short climb east for the best free viewpoint in the city. It is not a neighborhood with character of its own, but it connects to every neighborhood that has one.

   1. Mid-Range

      Holiday Inn Express EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE by IHG

      Clean & spacious room. Good breakfast. Located in the city center. Easy access to public transport. I took a tram from the airport & just got off in front of the hotel. It was very convenient for you.

      8.6/10 rating ~$159/night
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9. 9

   Corstorphine, Edinburgh

   Suburban corridor between Edinburgh Zoo and the airport on the A8

   A suburban base near the airport and the zoo, priced below the center for practical stays.

   Morning traffic on the A8 drifts past Corstorphine's stone villas toward the airport, and the neighborhood sits in the suburban corridor between Edinburgh Zoo and the runway. Holiday Inn Edinburgh holds an 8.5 at $121 a night, a functional base where the rate reflects the distance from the city center, not the room quality. Better than the anonymous airport hotels clustered at the terminal, Corstorphine at least has a high street with pubs, a pharmacy, and a shop for supplies. The zoo sits at the western end of the main road, and the Airlink bus to Princes Street runs frequently along the same route. This is the area for travelers catching early flights or arriving late, not for anyone who wants to walk to dinner in the Old Town. The residential streets behind the high street go quiet after dark, and the last bus back from the city runs late enough to cover most evenings out. Pack for function, not for atmosphere.

   1. Mid-Range

      Holiday Inn EDINBURGH by IHG

      Absolutely amazing. We arrived very late due to heavy snow- they checked us in and organised an extra bed literally within 2 minutes of arriving. The service is efficient and rapid. The gentleman who

      8.5/10 rating ~$121/night
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10. 10

    Currie

    Water of Leith village on Edinburgh's southwestern fringe, near Heriot-Watt University

    A village pub-inn on Edinburgh's rural fringe for drivers and university visitors.

    The Water of Leith runs through Currie's western edge, and the village sits far enough from Edinburgh's center to feel like a separate settlement. Riccarton Inn scores an 8.5 at $58 a night, a traditional pub-inn where the rooms sit behind the bar and the staff knows most guests by the second evening. Don't bother with Currie if you plan to spend every day in the Old Town; the bus ride into the center is long enough to feel like a commute, and taxis after midnight cost more than the room. This is countryside, not suburb. Heriot-Watt University campus borders the village to the east, and the Union Canal towpath offers flat walking toward the Pentland Hills. It suits drivers with a car parked outside, conference visitors at Heriot-Watt, or travelers who prefer a pub dinner and an early night over a city-center crawl. The inventory is one inn; when it books out, Currie has nothing else.

    1. Budget

       Riccarton Inn

       We stayed twice at the Riccarton Inn. It's traditional with a pub up front and rooms at the back. Very clean and the staff was helpful and friendly. This is not a hotel chain but an individual inn.

       8.5/10 rating ~$58/night
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