Edinburgh, the hilly capital of Scotland, attracts many guests for its previous buildings and incredible landmarks. With winding cobblestone streets and a minimum of 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 give you the chance to do quite a lot of exploring on foot no matter the place precisely you keep. But we needed to supply enter on our favourite areas of the city and the perfect motels in them to make it simpler for you to discover a place to keep that matches into your Edinburgh itinerary completely.
Each Edinburgh neighborhood provides one thing distinctive, from the historic Old Town to the fashionable West End. Whether it’s buildings which can be greater than a thousand years previous or lush strolling paths alongside the river, there’s little question in my thoughts you’ll get pleasure from your journey regardless of which lodge you e book.
Where To Stay In Edinburgh
Edinburgh is an enthralling metropolis with a ton of historic sights. It’s additionally very walkable, so that you don’t have to keep in town middle to give you the chance to uncover all of its finest landmarks and sights on foot. And for those who don’t thoughts leaping on the tramway or the bus, you possibly can save fairly a bit of cash by reserving lodging in a quieter space.
That’s not to say that town middle 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 beautiful previous structure and limitless attention-grabbing sights. However, each areas are expensive and never an excellent possibility for vacationers on a tighter price range.
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Where We Stayed
We stayed at Cheval The Edinburgh Grand primarily as a result of I choose residences to motels 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 e book The Edinburgh Grand if you need a extra homely place to stick with a superb location in town middle.
Edinburgh Old Town: Our Recommendation
Edinburgh Old Town is the historic coronary heart of this Scottish metropolis and the perfect one for a keep for many vacationers. Stay in the Old Town and also you’ll be inside strolling distance of the perfect metropolis sights, retailers, eating places, and museums.
Just maintain in thoughts that such an necessary a part of Edinburgh is mostly expensive, particularly for lodge stays. If you’re searching for mid-range and luxurious motels, you’ll have loads of choices in Edinburgh Old Town. But for those who’re attempting to discover Scotland on a price range, 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 well-liked landmarks
The historic middle of Edinburgh is beautiful
Great bars and eating places
Lots of issues to do
Cons
The busiest a part of town
Hotels are costly
Lots of vacationer traps
Highlights of Staying in Edinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh Old Town is the undisputed middle of town, with essentially the most attention-grabbing landmarks and vacationer sights. From historic castles to incredible museums, it has all the perfect sights that can make you fall in love with the Scottish metropolis.
Edinburgh Castle is by and huge essentially the most iconic landmark in 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 unquestionably my favourite historic attraction to go to in town.
Walk the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle and see all the flamboyant retailers and eating places that line both aspect. This is the busiest road in town and a spot you possibly can hardly miss when leisurely strolling round Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The National Museum of Scotland is by far the perfect attraction in Edinburgh for historical past buffs and museum-goers. The huge museum provides 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 slightly below the Edinburgh Castle. Visit it earlier than or after you tour the compound; it doesn’t matter so long as you get to stroll via the park and see all the gorgeous monuments and lovely landscaping.
Cockburn Street is alleged to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, and naturally, I’ve put it on this checklist. It’s lined with stunning retailers 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 middle of Edinburgh provides all kinds of lodging choices for each price range. Stay in historic buildings and sip cocktails on rooftop terraces, whereas having fun with uninterrupted views of town’s skyline.
The Witchery by the Castle
The Witchery by the Castle is a singular keep in the center of Edinburgh. With 9 lavishly embellished suites, this boutique lodge provides an expertise in contrast to another. Sleep in four-poster beds in suites which can 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 measurement 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 company can select whether or not they choose to have it in the room or on the lodge restaurant.
The Witchery even has a sister lodge exterior Edinburgh’s metropolis middle, Prestonfield House. Consider it for a luxurious stick with an amazing location in a extra serene a part of town.
Market Street Hotel
Choose the incredible Market Street Hotel for those who’re searching for the right 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 incorporates a small seating space, a TV, an ensuite lavatory, and a espresso/tea-making station. Rooms with wheelchair-accessible bogs are additionally accessible at this lodge.
One of the perfect issues about Market Street Hotel is the rooftop lounge, the place you possibly can get pleasure from breakfast and a number of the finest panoramic views of Edinburgh’s skyline. However, it’s additionally necessary to notice that this lodge lacks a health middle and a spa, so it won’t be an excellent match for everybody.
CoDE Pod Hostel
The CoDE Pod Hostel is among the finest reasonably priced choices in the historic middle of Edinburgh. The nightly price begins at just a little over $65, which is just a little expensive for a hostel however price it for the situation. Also, this isn’t your traditional hostel; all of the dorm rooms characteristic pods as an alternative 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 modern, and actually, it’s one of many better-looking lodging choices in Edinburgh. Double rooms with ensuite bogs are additionally accessible right here, they usually begin at round $120 per individual for an evening, which is among 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 among the higher hostels in Edinburgh, and it’s particularly well-liked with solo vacationers.
Edinburgh New Town is the second-best possibility for first-time guests in town. It’s tremendous shut to the Old Town and provides equally as many attention-grabbing sights. It’s simply that it’s a bit youthful than the Old Town – by a minimum of a number of hundred years.
The New Town options considerably cheaper lodging choices, however there are simply as many high-end motels as in the Old Town. It’s additionally residence to a number of well-known streets which can be lined with retailers, bars, and glorious eating places. For nightlife, buying, and tradition, the New Town is the perfect a part of town.
Pros and Cons of Staying in Edinburgh New Town
Pros
Walking distance to Old Town landmarks
Great for buying and nightlife
Plenty of museums and vacationer sights
Cons
As expensive because the Old Town
Busy and noisy
Very few motels for price range 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 stuffed with attention-grabbing landmarks and sights. Plenty of well-liked vacationer sights are right here, together with fabulous artwork galleries and Edinburgh’s finest buying streets.
The Scott Monument is a charming 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 incredible panoramic vista of Edinburgh’s skyline.
Walk down George Street and also you’ll get to see the spectacular Victorian structure Edinburgh is understood for around the globe.
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 perfect buying in this Scottish metropolis, you’ll need to head to Princess Street. It’s nearly an limitless stream of outlets in each worth vary and the place to be if you need to purchase something from books to footwear.
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 provides motels for each price range, though I have to say that mid-range and luxurious vacationers are extra doubtless to discover one thing up their alley. Accommodation in the New Town isn’t low-cost, however there are a couple of choices price range vacationers ought to think about.
The Balmoral Hotel
With a historical past of greater than 100 years, The Balmoral Hotel is among the finest five-star motels in Edinburgh’s New Town. It is located proper subsequent to Waverley Train Station and only a brief stroll from town’s finest buying streets.
The lodge provides 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 provides two eating places, a pool, and a gymnasium, so it’s bought all of the facilities you’d anticipate from a luxurious lodge.
There’s additionally a spa and wellness middle at this grand lodge, and it features a Turkish steam room, amongst different services. The cherry on prime is the fabulous historic lodge constructing, which even has its personal clock tower. As you’d anticipate from the title, the Balmoral is among the finest and most prestigious motels Edinburgh has to supply.
ibis Styles Edinburgh
Situated on St. Andrew’s Square, ibis Styles is a pleasant three-star lodge with a central location. The nightly price is considerably excessive for an Ibis lodge, however it’s nonetheless often below $300 for 2 individuals, which is an efficient deal contemplating the situation. And for those who journey in the low season and store round for offers, you possibly can e book an evening right here for below $200.
The rooms are just a little small, however embrace a desk, a non-public lavatory, and charming Scottish decorations. The beds are comfy and roomy, which is crucial for an excellent evening’s sleep. Also, each lodge room incorporates a flat-screen TV, and breakfast is included in the nightly price.
The ibis lodge incorporates a bar and a restaurant, however sadly no spa or health middle. Overall, it’s an excellent possibility for vacationers who need lodging with a superb location that received’t break the financial institution however don’t need to keep in hostels or personal residences.
Princes Street Hostel
Princess Street Hostel is a pleasant possibility for price range vacationers. It’s shut to Waverley Station, Royal Mile, and plenty of different well-liked Edinburgh sights. The nightly price for solo vacationers begins at simply $35 for a mattress in a dorm room, which is a extremely whole lot for such a central location in Edinburgh.
Private double rooms are additionally accessible on the hostel, though they don’t embrace an ensuite lavatory. Every dormitory has a shared lavatory with a bathe, and huge teams of vacationers can lease whole dormitories and huge rooms.
All company staying on the Princess Street Hostel get entry to free WiFi and might 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 possibly can mingle with different company if you need.
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 perfect neighborhood in Edinburgh for vacationers on a tighter price range as a result of the motels 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 sights and provides straightforward strolling entry to well-liked landmarks in the historic metropolis middle. Book a lodge close to the border with Edinburgh metropolis middle, and also you’ll get a superb price however be not more than a 15-minute stroll from the historic landmarks.
Pros And Cons of Staying in West End
Pros
Cheaper motels and eating places
Not as busy as town middle
Walking distance to town middle
Cons
Few landmarks
Not as many lodge 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 bought fairly a couple of sights of its personal, and there are causes to come right here, even for those who e book a lodge smack dab in the center of the Old Town.
Dean Village is a nice a part of Edinburgh’s West End, identified for Nineteenth-century properties, museums, and cobbled streets. Come right here to get misplaced in the pure great thing about 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 for those who’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, bushes, and Edinburgh’s signature buildings.
Best Places To Stay in West End
West End is a superb space to keep in as a result of you possibly can pay rather a lot much less for motels which can be equal in high quality to these in town middle. And it’s an enthralling neighborhood inside strolling distance of all the favored sights,
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh is a incredible five-star lodge simply 10 minutes from Edinburgh Castle. It’s set on the border of West End with New Town and Old Town, so for those who select this luxurious lodge, you’ll nonetheless be inside strolling distance of well-liked vacationer sights.
This lodge provides an indoor swimming pool, a health middle, and three eating places. The rooms are medium-sized and elegantly embellished, with delicate Scottish accents. Every lodge room on the Waldorf Astoria incorporates a flat-screen TV, an ensuite lavatory, a seating space, and a Nespresso espresso machine.
But for those who’re going to keep at this lodge, I urge you to e book 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 town much more immersive.
The Bonham
The Bonham is a boutique lodge in West End set inside a Victorian townhouse, only a ten-minute stroll from Princess Street. It’s a five-star lodge with a surprisingly reasonably priced nightly price that’s decrease than that of mid-range motels in the Old Town. So, select this lodge if you need incredible service and a chic room with a stunning metropolis view.
The visitor rooms aren’t too huge, however they’re very good and cozy. The beds are giant, 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 accessible at The Bonham.
The lodge additionally boasts a bar and a restaurant, however it’s missing in further facilities. There’s no gymnasium, spa middle, or pool, so maintain that in thoughts when deciding on a lodge in Edinburgh’s West End.
Destiny Scotland Distillers House
West End is a superb neighborhood for residence stays, and Destiny Scotland provides a wide range of choices at an reasonably priced worth. Starting at slightly 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 individual, which is cheaper than a hostel in the Old Town. You may select to keep at a hostel in the West End, and it will be tremendous low-cost (round $30 per evening), however I needed 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 might 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 perfect a part of Edinburgh for a lodge keep, each for first-time and returning guests. The historic city space is greater than a thousand years previous and provides essentially the most attention-grabbing landmarks and vacationer sights.
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 also be a superb place to keep, particularly for buying and artwork gallery excursions.
What is the preferred space of Edinburgh?
The Old Town is the preferred space of Edinburgh. The metropolis’s historic middle is residence to all the perfect landmarks and sights, from well-liked museums to iconic sights like Cockburn Street.
What is essentially the most walkable space of Edinburgh?
Old Town, New Town, and even West End are all very walkable areas of Edinburgh. All the highest sights in town middle are straightforward to entry on foot as a result of Edinburgh is one in all Scotland’s most walkable cities.
Where Not To Stay In Edinburgh
There are a couple of areas it is best 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 town middle and supply only a few issues to do, in order that they’re usually dangerous for vacationers. While these areas would possibly supply cheaper lodging, it’s unlikely you’ll save an excessive amount of cash since you’ll have to pay for public transport, possibly even taxis, and spend means an excessive amount of time using 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 town middle and also you’d simply waste valuable time on the bus when you possibly can as an alternative be strolling down George Street.
In phrases of basic security and crime charges, Edinburgh is a really secure city for vacationers. Pickpockets are the one factor you need to be looking out for, however the identical might be stated of any main metropolis in Europe. And it’s often 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 all types, in addition to being an financial heavyweight. Locals are pleasant and pleased to give instructions or recommendations on their favourite locations to eat/drink/get together/go to – Edinburgers like to speak!
Whether you’re visiting on the peak 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.