Hotels and places to stay in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and its Old Town and New Town have been a World Heritage Site since 1995. The two areas are side by side, so from almost any central hotel you can walk to the main sights. FaceTraveler lists 229 places to stay in the city, from hostels to 5-star hotels.

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Old Town. This is the medieval centre, on the castle hill, with narrow streets and the Grassmarket and Cowgate valleys. A good fit if you want to be at the heart of the sightseeing.

New Town. North of the Old Town, with wider streets and Princes Street as the shopping axis. Waverley station sits between the two, so it is convenient if you arrive by train.

Haymarket and the West End. West of the centre, with a stop on the tram line to the airport. Practical if you have an early or late flight.

Leith. The old port, north of the city. The tram links it with the centre in about 25 minutes. A good fit if you prefer an area away from the busiest tourist routes.

Getting there and around

Edinburgh Airport is in Ingliston, about 13 km from the centre. The tram line runs from the airport to Newhaven via Haymarket, Princes Street, St Andrew Square and Leith; it takes about 30 minutes from the airport to Princes Street.

The main railway station is Waverley, right in the centre. Within the city, the centre is easy to cover on foot, and the tram and the bus cover the rest.

When to go

The climate is cool all year. In January average highs are around 7 °C, although it rarely drops below 0 °C; in July average highs are about 19 °C. The Edinburgh Festival takes place in August: if you travel in those weeks, book well ahead.

Types of accommodation in Edinburgh

• 79 guesthouses, the largest group, and 18 hostels, if you want to keep costs down or a shared room.
• 65 4-star hotels and 17 5-star hotels.
• 45 3-star hotels and one 2-star hotel.
• And 3 more places to stay of other types.

Edinburgh is in Scotland. To compare with other destinations, see hotels in the United Kingdom.