Scotland’s capital city continues to grow in popularity, drawing tourists from all over the world, making it the second most popular destination in the United Kingdom. Whether you are visiting one of Edinburgh’s famous festivals or coming to explore the rich history, there are many things to do in Edinburgh.
To help you decide what area to stay in Edinburgh Scotland, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular neighbourhoods for travellers and the best Edinburgh hotels.
The city is relatively compact and has an excellent bus system, plus taxi cabs are plentiful, so no matter where to stay in Edinburgh, you’ll have no trouble getting around town. By reading this guide, you can find out where to stay in Edinburgh old town or new town.
We will cover off all types of Edinburgh accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Edinburgh hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Edinburgh Scotland 2023, the best Edinburgh hotels, best places in Edinburgh to visit, the best places to stay in Edinburgh, hotels near Edinburgh attractions, Edinburgh neighborhood guide and many more.
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Old Town & The Royal Mile – Best Place to stay in Edinburgh for tourists
Old Town encompasses the Royal Mile (also known as Edinburgh city) and contains the historic area of Edinburgh. Is located in the city centre, making this an excellent choice for Edinburgh accommodations, especially if you are planning to visit the main tourist highlights.
The Royal Mile is the main street of Edinburgh, which runs from Famous Edinburgh Castle to Holyroodhouse and is where tourists stay in Edinburgh.This area has some of the best places to stay in Edinburgh at Christmas and it’s one of the safe places to stay in Edinburgh (although everywhere is fairly safe).
If this is your first trip to Edinburgh, you will likely spend a lot of time exploring the attractions along the Famous Royal Mile (which is only a few minutes walk) including a visit to the beautiful Princes Street gardens, making this a great place to stay in Edinburgh as most attractions are within walking distance.
This is likely the most expensive place to stay in Edinburgh however it is the best area to stay in Edinburgh due to its convenience of access to everything including Edinburgh Waverley train station, making it worth it.
Best place to stay in Old Town Edinburgh & The Royal Mile Edinburgh
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Old Town & The Royal Mile:
St. Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh
Kick Ass Hostel
Cowgate Tourist Hostel
Budget Backpackers
Budget Hotels in Old Town & The Royal Mile:
KM Central
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Princes Street
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Rose Street
Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre
Mid range Hotels in Old Town & The Royal Mile:
Mercure Edinburgh City – Princes Street Hotel
Stay Central Hotel
Fraser Suites Edinburgh
Family Friendly Hotels in Old Town & The Royal Mile:
Novotel Edinburgh Centre
Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh
Old Town Chambers
Residence Inn by Marriott Edinburgh
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Old Town & The Royal Mile:
The Scotsman Hotel (highly recommended)
Hilton Edinburgh Carlton
The Principal Edinburgh George Street
Tigerlily Hotel
New Town – Best Place to stay in Edinburgh with families
Wondering where to stay in Edinburgh with family? Up the hill from Old Town, New Town is new in the sense of only going back to 18th century, as opposed to the 12th century as some other areas of Edinburgh.
But, no worries, you’ll still see a lot of historic buildings and sites of interest in New Town. The center of New Town is Princes Street, another main shopping thoroughfare of Edinburgh.
Princes Street is the busiest street in Edinburgh and has a beautiful public garden with fun events in the summer. This is the best neighborhood to stay in Edinburgh for families who want to be close to the center, with easy access to green space for kids to run around.
Best place to stay in New Town
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in New Town:
CODE POD Hostel
St. Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh
Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel
High Street Hostel
Budget Hotels in New Town:
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Queen Street
Cityroomz Edinburgh
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Waterloo Place Hotel
Mid range Hotels in New Town:
Rabble Rooms
Mercure Edinburgh City – Princes Street Hotel
The Old Waverley Hotel
Frederick House Hotel
Family Friendly Hotels in New Town:
Ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Princes Street
Motel One Edinburgh-Royal
The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square
Affordable Luxury Hotels in New Town:
Nira Caledonia
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Grand
Le Monde Hotel Edinburgh
Leith – Coolest place to stay in Edinburgh
Leith is on the north side of Edinburgh, where the shipping docks are, showcasing the Royal Yacht Britannia. It’s is one of Edinburgh’s quickly gentrifying neighbourhoods, in the process of transitioning from a rough past to a trendy neighbourhood.
Just 15 minutes from central Edinburgh, Leith offers affordable accommodation options that are still convenient to everything in town.
If you like to stay in a place with a bit of an edge, Leith is a great choice. It’s ideally where to stay near Edinburgh. Leith is also the best places to stay in Edinburgh for couples, its a chilled out neighbourhood.
Best place to stay in Leith
Budget Hotels in Leith:
Cairn Hotel Edinburgh
Regent House Hotel
Playfair House Hotel
Mid range Hotels in Leith:
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh – Leith Waterfront
Victoria Park Hotel
Malmaison Hotel
Family Friendly Hotels in Leith:
A-Haven Townhouse Hotel
Merith House Hotel
Abbey Hotel
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Leith:
Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh
No. 11 Brunswick Street
Crowne Plaza Edinburgh – Royal Terrace
Broughton – Best Place to stay in Edinburgh on a budget
For a local feel like Leith, but a little less grit, consider staying in Broughton. It’s adjacent to New Town and has many bars, restaurants, cafes and boutiques, but it’s just far enough off the tourist path that you’ll see more locals and have a more authentic Edinburgh experience.
Broughton is a great neighbourhood if you’re looking to rent a flat, as there are more private homes than commercial hotels in this neighbourhood, offering cheap hotels Edinburgh.
Best place to stay in Broughton
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Broughton:
Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel
Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel
Safestay Edinburgh
High Street Hostel
Budget Hotels in Broughton:
Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (York Place)
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Princes Street
Travelodge Edinburgh Central Waterloo Place Hotel
Travelodge Edinburgh Central
Mid range Hotels in Broughton:
Regent House Hotel
Hotel Indigo Edinburgh
Ballantrae Albany Hotel
Twelve Picardy Place
Family Friendly Hotels in Broughton:
Holyrood apartHOTEL
Ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel
Fountain Court Apartments Royal Garden
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Broughton:
The Glasshouse, Autograph Collection
24 Royal Terrace
The Principal Edinburgh George Street
The Balmoral Hotel
Grassmarket – Where to stay in Edinburgh for nightlife
Originally a livestock marketplace dating back to 1477, the Grassmarket neighborhood of Edinburgh is a lively place filled with history.
Today, the cobblestone streets are lined with boutiques and design stores. Some Edinburgh’s best restaurants are found in Grassmarket.
Some of the most popular nightclubs are also in Grassmarket, so it can get a bit rowdy at night. Wondering where to stay in Edinburgh city centre, this is the best area!
Best place to stay in Grassmarket
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Grassmarket:
Argyle Backpackers
Kingsview City Centre Hostel
Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel
St. Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh
Budget Hotels in Grassmarket:
Haymarket Hub Hotel
Ritz Edinburgh
Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket
Hub by Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre
Mid range Hotels in Grassmarket:
Novotel Edinburgh Centre
Grassmarket Hotel
Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel
Family Friendly Hotels in Grassmarket:
Mercure Edinburgh Haymarket
Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh
Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh
Residence Inn by Marriott Edinburgh
Affordable Luxury Hotels in Grassmarket:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh City Centre
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
Fraser Suites Edinburgh
West End – Best Place to stay in Edinburgh for Celebrity sightings
Edinburgh’s West End includes the areas of Dean Village and Stockbridge. Again, the entire area is in walking distance of the city center, but has a totally different feel than Edinburgh’s other neighborhoods.
Dean Village is just northwest of the city center, and used to be called the “Water of Leith” village since it sits on the banks of the river.
Thanks to the river, nearly a dozen mills once sat here, but it’s now an upscale residential neighborhood. Stockbridge, on the other hand, is a haven for bohemians and artists.
Each neighborhood has a different vibe, but are excellent choices for your Edinburgh home base, especially if you prefer to rent a flat and get the local feel, offering the coolest places to stay in Edinburgh.
Best place to stay in the West End
Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in the West End:
Budget Backpackers
Kingsview City Centre Hostel
The Hostel
Budget Hotels in the West End:
Haymarket Hub Hotel
Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh
Cityroomz Edinburgh
Mid range Hotels in the West End:
Angels Share Hotel
Edinburgh Thistle Hotel
The Bonham Hotel
The Rutland Hotel
Family Friendly Hotels in the West End:
The Edinburgh Residence
Fountain Court Apartments – EQ2
Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End
Affordable Luxury Hotels in the West End:
The Chester Residence
The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa
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