I won’t bore you with a lengthy introduction because getting from Edinburgh Airport to the city is actually extremely straightforward.

So, let’s get started with this guide – there’s no need to beat around the bush

Airlink Express Bus

When I first started travelling to Edinburgh, I thought the tram was the fastest way to the city centre.

The Airlink Express bus is faster than the tram and cheaper as well.

This makes the Airlink Express bus a preferred choice for many, including myself, when considering the balance between efficiency and cost.

Located just outside the main airport terminal, the buses are easy to spot and access.

They offer comfortable seating, good space for luggage (it’s a special airport express bus so they know that the customers have a lot of suitcases), and complimentary Wi-Fi.

I’m not usually a big fan of buses, but I’ve surrendered to taking the bus from Edinburgh Airport whenever I’m travelling to the Scottish capital.

Journey time & bus times

The journey to the heart of Edinburgh takes approximately 30 minutes.

With buses departing at least every 10 minutes throughout most of the day and night, and every 30 minutes between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM, the service is tailored to accommodate passengers arriving on flights at all hours.

You can also see the timetable online here.

The route itself is thoughtfully planned to stop at key locations across Edinburgh, including Edinburgh Zoo, Murrayfield, and Haymarket Station, before reaching the city centre.

Notably, the Princes Street stop is designated for drop-offs only, making it an ideal point for those looking to immerse themselves immediately in the vibrant atmosphere of Edinburgh’s main shopping and tourist area.

• Princes Street is one of Edinburgh’s main streets

The bus also stops at South St David Street, providing further convenience for travelers.

South St David Street is also where the route from the city to the airport begins, so if you’re staying in the city centre this will be the bus stop you’ll use when leaving for the airport.

If you haven’t booked your hotel yet, check out my guide to the best areas and places to stay in Edinburgh or watch my video:

Bus tickets

A single journey costs £5.50, and a return ticket costs £8.

Tickets for the Airlink Express bus are designed with flexibility in mind.

Single tickets allow for one journey in either direction.

You can buy your tickets online at GetYourGuide here, or you can buy them when boarding the bus.

I prefer to pre-book to take out as much stress as possible from my travel days, but of course that’s totally up to you.

Furthermore, the return tickets, which do not expire, allow visitors to return to the airport anytime without pre-booking, adding an additional layer of ease for exploring Edinburgh.

Check my guide on the best things to see and do in Edinburgh.

Tram

The tram service from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre is also a nice mode of transport offering direct access but with a journey time slightly longer than the bus, largely due to its numerous stops.

Covering the distance in around 35 minutes, trams run every 7 minutes from early morning till late at night (from approximately 6:18 am to 10:48 pm), ensuring availability aligns with most arrival times.

Ticket pricing is £7 for a single trip and £9 for an open return, making the tram a slightly more expensive choice than the bus.

The tram station at the airport is only about 100 metres from the airport terminal, the tram stop is easy for passengers to find upon arrival.

You can’t buy tickets online, but there are ticket machines and staff on hand at the tram station at Edinburgh Airport.

It stops directly at key city locations like Haymarket, the West End, and Princes Street, enhancing its appeal for those who prioritize sightseeing or specific drop-off points.

The trade-off with the tram is its slower pace through the city centre due to these additional stops, where mainly locals disembark.

Unlike the express bus, which bypasses these local destinations for a quicker arrival, the tram offers a comprehensive route that might appeal more to visitors needing to access specific points.

As I mentioned earlier, the tram is a great way to get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre – but I think the bus is slightly better (and it’s cheaper)

Taxi

Taxis from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre are not too expensive as the airport is rather close to the city.

Only licensed taxis operate at the airport, so you can be sure you’ll get a reliable and scam-free experience.

These taxis must use a meter for every journey, providing transparency and peace of mind for travelers concerned about overcharging.

Typically, the fare to the city centre is around £30, making taxis a convenient choice for those traveling in groups or with significant luggage.

The journey to the city centre can vary between 20 to 30 minutes, influenced by your specific destination within Edinburgh and the current traffic conditions.

This makes taxis the fastest mode of transport compared to the tram and bus, especially during off-peak hours when the roads are clearer.

There’s no need to pre-book a taxi, as that will cost you a lot more. On the occasions when I’ve needed one, I’ve never had to wait for one at Edinburgh Airport.

Here are some of my favourite things to do in Edinburgh:

So, step off the plane confidently, knowing that this historic city’s heart is just a short journey away. Whichever option you choose, you’re on the right track to starting your Edinburgh adventure with ease.

Read all my Edinburgh travel guides here.

If you have any questions about Edinburgh Airport or the city in general, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to help.

The post How To: Edinburgh Airport to City Centre by Tram, Bus or Taxi appeared first on Destination Well Known.

In this guide, I’ll share how I planned and traveled around Scotland, where I flew into Edinburgh, rented a car, and drove to the Highlands, with overnight stays in Glencoe and the Isle of Skye.

First, I want to mention that I’ve traveled quite a bit in Scotland and lived in Edinburgh, so I believe I have a pretty good overview of the country.

I don’t hesitate to say this route is probably one of the best routes for a road trip in Scotland.

The road trip begins in Edinburgh

I adore Edinburgh and return to what was once my home several times a year.

On this trip, my travel companion and I arrived late at the airport and thus stayed overnight at an airport hotel before picking up our rental car directly from the airport the following day.

We chose Ibis, a chain of hotels found worldwide, where you’re always guaranteed a clean, decent room at a reasonable price.

See the hotel on Booking.com here.

This was also true in Edinburgh, but it’s worth noting that the hotel is a short taxi ride from the airport itself, about 5-10 minutes.

The hotel is called ibis budget Hotel Edinburgh Park, and you could get the tram from the airport one stop to Edinburgh Gateway and walk for a couple of minutes.

If you’re planning to spend more time in Edinburgh (which I highly recommend!), be sure to check out my guide on where to stay in Edinburgh or watch my video guide:

Car Rental at Edinburgh Airport

I had pre-booked a car through Enterprise to try out their rental service. I’ve previously used Avis in Edinburgh but wanted to have another company in my repertoire, and it worked flawlessly.

We quickly got our car and soon went to Stirling, our first stop.

You can use Expedia Car Rental to get a good overview of car rental prices at Edinburgh Airport.

I booked our car through them and paid around £150 for a car rental from Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon.

This was for one of the better car models with automatic transmission, as I thought it would alleviate some of the stress of driving on the left side of the road.

Road trip from Edinburgh to Glencoe

Almost immediately from Edinburgh airport, you’re on the motorway, and my route recommendation takes you through the quaint town of Callander.

Callander is a charming ‘gateway to the Highlands’, where you can grab a coffee or shop in the town’s supermarket.

After Callander, the journey changes as you enter Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, and nature begins to reveal its most beautiful aspects.

Already about an hour and a half’s drive from Edinburgh, you find yourself ‘out in the country,’ surrounded by lakes and mountain slopes that make it hard to stick to the speed limit.

A Slower Drive Than Google Maps Suggests

It was my first time driving on ‘the wrong side’ (on other trips around Scotland, someone else drove), so I generally drove a bit slower on this trip than back home in Denmark, but that seems quite normal.

• I would also recommend that others take it easy and enjoy the views on their journeys through Scotland.

Glencoe is stunning

The drive is very scenic, but it becomes truly breathtaking once you reach Glencoe.

The road ascends, and suddenly, you’re on a desolate highway with a mountain range on the horizon – that’s Glencoe and The Three Sisters (also known as Bidean nam Bian), the area’s most famous landmarks.

We continue the drive for about 10 minutes to the town of Ballachulish by Loch Leven.

There, you’ll find a Co-Op (supermarket), a couple of pubs, cafes, and our hotel, the Isles of Glencoe Hotel.

Where to stay in Glencoe? This hotel is excellent

After about a 4-hour drive (we had to stop in Stirling to shop for shorts since I had managed to forget swim trunks – on a trip to Scotland, where we were staying at a hotel with a swimming pool), we drove into the driveway of the Isles of Glencoe Hotel.

I was extremely excited to experience this particular hotel, as the pictures from there looked somewhat mixed.

On one hand, it appeared as an idyllic dream with a lovely hotel right by a Scottish lake surrounded by mountains, but there were also pictures where it seemed a bit worn.

Fortunately, the dream was a reality; the Isles of Glencoe Hotel is a fantastic hotel, where, as mentioned earlier, there’s a swimming pool, a restaurant with a bar (and a cozy pub atmosphere in the evening), and a large outdoor area with benches right by Loch Leven.

We went straight into the hotel’s restaurant, where you get exactly the view you dream of when sitting at home in flat Denmark, dreaming of a trip to Scotland.

The food is good, there’s a selection of different draft beers, and there’s excellent ‘banter’ between the servers and guests.

Here, I’m truly hit by the superb atmosphere and delighted that I’ve finally embarked on this long-awaited journey to the Scottish Highlands.

We get to our room, and again, I’m pleasantly surprised; it’s large, neat, and has a view over the lake.

See more photos & book online here.

Granted, the bathroom is a bit dated, but it takes more to put you off when you’ve stayed at as many budget hotels in London as I have.

See the best hotels in the Glencoe area here.

Mountain hiking in the Glencoe area

As always, when I travel ‘for work,’ there is a very tight schedule, so there is little time for relaxation. We change into our hiking clothes and head for the nearest mountain – we agree there must be a path up.

It was a mistake and even a stupid one; I am very familiar with the decidedly brilliant website Walkhighlands, which has routes for walks throughout Scotland.

Lesson learned the hard way, and we set towards this route after a futile hike along the road, which I have found on the Walkhighlands website.

We wander a bit off the route deep in this fantastic Scottish forest, and everything is fine again, but darkness is falling, so we find our way home to the hotel.

We are a little sad that we didn’t find a ‘real’ trekking route so that we could get all the way to the top of Glencoe.

I advise driving over to Three Sisters and hiking in that area – I will do that next time I travel to Glencoe.

We eat dinner at the hotel (excellent meal) and have a good night pint before slipping into bed.

The breakfast at the hotel is an impressively large buffet with everything from ‘full Scottish breakfast’ to various yoghurts etc.

We have just time to swim in the swimming pool before heading for Fort William.

Fort William and Glenfinnan Viaduct (the Harry Potter Bridge)

It takes 20 minutes to drive from the hotel to Fort William, which can be described as the ‘big city’ in the area. I’m glad we stayed at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel, but I could have easily stayed in Fort William.

Here is a main street with several pubs, restaurants and shops (even several sports shops).

Just over 10,000 people live in Fort William, and at the same time, there are trains from Glasgow here, so even if you don’t want to drive in Scotland, you can still experience the Highlands.

In this connection, I can mention that I (when I had a travel agency) made a trip for a customer who wanted to experience both Fort William, the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and the Isle of Skye – only with the help of a bus and train journey, so it can easily be done possible.

And the customer loved the ride she got!

Back to our road trip in Scotland.

We had to see the ‘Harry Potter train’ drive over the ‘Harry Potter bridge’ – in other words, we had to see the Jacobite steam train drive over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

There is a very famous scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where Harry and Ron have stolen an invisible car and fly over the viaduct while the ‘Hogwarts Express’ drives over the bridge.

In the film, the real Jacobite steam train drives over, so now the viaduct has become an (even more) well-known sight in Scotland.

I’ve been to the Glenfinnan Viaduct before, but not while the train has passed over, so I’m looking forward to the experience.

And here it is – the Jacobite steam train heading over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

It’s an impressive sight, but you can also easily take the trip past the remarkable bridge even if you don’t see the train.

Driving to the Isle of Skye

I tell my traveling companion when we are back in the car that he can now look forward to some of the best scenery Scotland has to offer.

It’s just a couple of hours of road-tripping in generally beautiful surroundings, but then suddenly you come to a crossroads, where on the right you come to Inverness, and on the left, you drive towards the Isle of Skye.

Here, nature changes its character again and it becomes even wilder, more beautiful and more impressive.

On the drive to the Isle of Skye, you pass Eilean Donan Castle – one of Scotland’s best-known – with good reason. It is an impressive and slightly dangerous sight.

I mean it when I say you should go on a road trip to the Isle of Skye at least once.

I have yet to hear anyone say they have gone to the Isle of Skye but don’t want to go back – as soon as possible.

The Isle of Skye is a wholly unique and hugely impressive destination.

Where to stay on the Isle of Skye?

First, the Isle of Skye is world-renowned and a destination on many people’s ‘bucket lists.’ This means you have to be out in good time when planning the trip to the Isle of Skye.

I started booking our trip to Scotland in June, and we left at the beginning of September. That meant that most of the hotels on the island were booked.

However, I found an exciting place close to the town of Uig in the northern part of Skye – which, in my opinion, is the most beautiful.

When you drive over the bridge from the mainland to Skye, it takes quite a few kilometers before you hit the completely wild nature and at the northernmost tip of the island, it peaks.

So we checked into the Whitewave Outdoor Center, where we got a small cabin. I have told my traveling companion that we have to leave our comfort zone and live extremely primitively.

However, it turns out that there is everything from a fridge to running water and a gas burner in our little cabin, so we feel fortunate – for the 5 minutes we relax before we go out to fly the drone and climb a mountain.

If you are looking for a place to stay on Skye, I would recommend booking as early as possible.

See the best places to stay here.

Again we found a route on the Walkhighlands but chose to deviate from it and march directly towards the top of the nearest mountain.

Then the hardest ascent I have ever tried was waiting there – it pulled out teeth that were pulled and it simply hurt the whole body.

As always when hiking in the mountains, the reward was waiting at the top, though – and I even got the drone set up so we could film and take some cool photos.

Things to do on the Isle of Skye

There are of course a number of top sights that you just have to see when you travel to the Isle of Skye.

I think the coolest thing is to drive around and soak up nature and then stop the car when it’s extra nice.

That is also what we do when we get into the car at around 7 in the morning with a few landmarks on the route.

We drove north of Skye and quickly hit Duntulm Castle, where the beautiful morning light helped to set the scene.

At this point, we have gradually had quite a few wild nature experiences, but again, I have to pinch myself in the arm to realize that the scenario here is real. It is simply so indescribably beautiful.

And what does a travel blogger do when something is indescribable?

He must let the pictures of sights on Skye, such as Trotternish, Kilt Rock, and the Old Man of Storr, do the talking.

The Old Man of Storr was another minor climb, but here, there are stone steps and an excellent track, so it is a climb that can be done by most people who are in reasonable shape and have no injuries.

The view is completely majestic – both over Storr itself, but also over the water to the islands and the mainland.

We drive on to Portree, the ‘capital’ of Skye and a place I would recommend staying if you are otherwise out in good time.

In Portree, we have lunch and head for our last accommodation on the journey to Scotland – a small house booked via Airbnb in Broadford.

Broadford is another one of the city’s larger towns, but it is a reasonable distance ‘down’ on the island, which was why I booked the house here.

Then, we could quickly drive off towards the mainland the next day.

It has to be said that two days on the Isle of Skye is on the lower end of what I would recommend.

There is enough to see and do on Skye for at least three full days, but it is not a cheap destination and takes some time to get there.

This was our road trip route on the Isle of Skye:

Road trip from Skye to Loch Ness and Inverness to Edinburgh

The drive from the Isle of Skye to Edinburgh (if it is your final destination in Scotland) is long, and it takes place on roads where it is difficult as a Dane to keep the maximum speed.

Therefore, I recommend driving via Loch Ness and Inverness when you go ‘home’ from the Isle of Skye.

After such an active holiday in Scotland, you may be tired, and the road from Inverness to Edinburgh is, therefore, somewhat nicer to drive on as a lot of it is on a motorway.

And yes – what about Loch Ness?

As a child, I was fascinated by Loch Ness, and my spirits were high when I first visited the lake.

However, it fell quite a bit. Loch Ness is a beautiful lake, and the surrounding nature is stunning.

But Loch Lomond and Glencoe are prettier, so once you’ve been there and then come to Loch Ness, it’s hard to be super impressed, actually.

However, anyone driving this route from Skye via Loch Ness/Inverness should stop at Urquhart Castle.

It really is just down the road and (again) one of the most beautiful castle ruins in Scotland.

We had a coffee in Inverness, where we had time to stroll around a bit (we drove from Skye at 6:30 in the morning).

I had previously been to Inverness, where I had not got a particularly good impression of the city.

It got a little better, and I would say that you can easily do an overnight stay in Inverness on your trip to Scotland, but on the other hand, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get there.

The surprise of the road trip – Pitlochry

We got up again early in the morning to have plenty of time for the drive from Skye to Edinburgh, where we had to drop the car off at 4 pm before the trip home.

We did, among other things, have time to explore Inverness and, equally, any of the towns in the greater Cairngorms National Park area.

Here we drove into a few different towns, but the one that clearly left the best impression was Pitlochry.

Our last road trip route:

Here, I learned that although I have lived and traveled quite a bit in Scotland, I still have a lot of undiscovered land.

Since then, I have discovered that Pitlochry is a little gem that attracts many tourists – the British Queen Victoria visited in 1842, and the Highland Games have been held there since 1852.

Pitlochry is super cozy, and I hope to come back and explore it before long. The city is relatively close to Edinburgh, so I recommend traveling there on a day trip or for a single night – you can even take the train there.

We had lunch in a pub in Pitlochry and then headed back towards Edinburgh Airport, returned the rental car, and boarded the plane home to Copenhagen with another fantastic trip to Scotland in the luggage.

I hope you could use my travel guide for a road trip in Scotland. Feel free to ask questions about Scotland in the comments section below.

And remember – everyone should travel to the Isle of Skye at least once in their life!

The post Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye – My Epic Road Trip in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 appeared first on Destination Well Known.

In this guide, I’ll tell you about the best areas and places to stay in Edinburgh.

I’ve lived in Edinburgh, been a tour guide on group trips to the city, and even run my own travel agency specialising in Scotland.

I know Edinburgh well and know exactly where it’s wise to stay as a tourist who wants to experience the best of the Scottish capital.

Where to stay in Edinburgh? Let’s get started with the guide.

Best areas to stay in Edinburgh

This guide to the best areas in Edinburgh is relatively long and includes insider tips, so I’d recommend reading the entire article, but here they are for those who want the quick facts.

Here are the best areas in Edinburgh:

• Old Town – best place to stay for tourists
• New Town – best area for shopping & slightly cheaper hotels
• Stockbridge – best area for local atmosphere
• Leith – the rough area that became trendy
• Haymarket – an area with cheap hotels near the city centre

Click on the area’s name above to book the best hotels.

I’ve also made a video where I’m showing 3 of the best areas to stay in Edinburgh:

The guide on where to stay in Edinburgh continues below.

1. Old Town – best place to stay for tourists

It’s easy to point to Old Town when choosing the best place to stay in Edinburgh.

As the name suggests, this is Edinburgh’s old historical centre and home to many of the city’s best things to do and see.

Old Town is known for its cobbled streets, narrow alleys, and historic buildings that transport you back in time.

Here, you’ll find attractions such as:

• Edinburgh Castle
• St. Giles’ Cathedral
• Grassmarket,
• The National Museum,
• Victoria Street (which inspired JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter universe)
• The Royal Mile that stretches from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse by the Scottish Parliament.

See the best hotels in Old Town here.

Edinburgh is a relatively small city, so you can walk to most places if you stay in Old Town (or New Town, which is the next area on the list). There are plenty of great restaurants and pubs in Old Town.

And although the Royal Mile (in particular) is filled with tourists, there are no blatant tourist traps in Old Town, which can sometimes be found in the most touristy areas of European cities.

Instead, there are many historic pubs where locals also stop by for a pint after work.

When I lived in Edinburgh, we often ended up in Old Town, whether I had friends visiting from Denmark or was meeting up with my Scottish friends.

In other words: Old Town is the heart of Edinburgh and the best area to stay in for most tourists and first-time travellers to the Scottish capital.

It’s also undoubtedly the best area if you’re travelling to Edinburgh with children, as at times it can feel like you’re walking around an old amusement park or on a film set – it’s that beautiful!

• Central location and within walking distance to many attractions
• Historical and architectural gems
• Lively atmosphere and authentic Scottish culture
• Plenty of restaurants, pubs, and things to do
• Accommodation options for every budget
• Easy access to public transport (Edinburgh Waverley Station, the city’s central train station, is located between Old Town and New Town) and Edinburgh Airport

Places to stay in Old Town

Since Old Town is the area that all tourists want to experience, there are naturally plenty of hotels.

However, it should be noted that the area is also packed with old buildings, so it’s not like there are brand-new hotels on every street corner (which is nice – you’d rather experience a genuine city than a city filled with hotels).

Below are some of the hotels in Edinburgh’s Old Town that I stay in when I return to Edinburgh.

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is the best place to stay if you’re looking for luxurious surroundings in Old Town.

Ideally located in the heart of Edinburgh on Victoria Street, one of the city’s most beautiful streets, you’re close to all the top attractions.

The rooms are stylish and comfortable, and the service is truly top-notch.

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is the obvious choice if you want to stay in luxury in Old Town.

See more photos and book online here.

Apex Grassmarket Hotel is a good option if you want something slightly cheaper.

I’ve stayed here several times and often used it for my travellers when I tailored trips to Scotland in my travel agency.

It’s located ideally in Old Town, right on Grassmarket, one of the city’s old market squares, now filled with pubs and restaurants.

I particularly recommend eating at The Last Drop, and in the evenings, there’s often a great atmosphere and live music at the Irish pub Biddy Mulligans.

Both places are literally just across the entrance to the hotel, so it’s hard to go wrong

The rooms at the hotel are tastefully decorated and comfortable, and the service is attentive and friendly.

Besides the great location, the best thing about Apex Grassmarket Hotel is the indoor swimming pool, where you can relax and enjoy a dip after a long day of sightseeing.

An excellent and family-friendly choice for a hotel in Old Town.

See more photos and book online here.

If you’re looking for a budget hotel in Old Town, I recommend Ibis Edinburgh Centre South.

There are several Ibis hotels in Edinburgh, and I’ve stayed at them all, so I know there isn’t a big difference in the standard – there generally isn’t with Ibis hotels (that’s the whole point).

However, there is a price difference, and Ibis Edinburgh Centre South is typically the cheapest.

The location is excellent; just a few minutes walk from the National Museum and Royal Mile, you’re again close to everything in Old Town.

• As a side note, I recommend Mother India’s Café if you fancy authentic and delicious Indian food – it’s just across from the hotel.

As a 3-star hotel, there isn’t much luxury, but you get a modern, tidy and clean room at a hotel with a pretty cool bar on the ground floor.

So if you want to stay affordably, yet still in a decent and central location, I’d recommend Ibis Edinburgh Centre South.

See more photos and book online here.

A lot of the top things to do in Edinburgh are also located in the Old Town:

2. New Town – best area for shopping & cheaper accommodation

Edinburgh’s New Town is a charming and modern area planned and built between the 18th and 19th centuries in contrast to the more chaotic and cramped Old Town.

As previously mentioned, Edinburgh is a relatively small city. So Old Town is indeed the best area for tourists, but New Town is not significantly worse.

Old Town wins because the area has more classic attractions, but whether you stay in Old Town or New Town won’t determine how good your trip to Edinburgh will be.

See the best hotels in New Town here.

Princes Street in New Town is Edinburgh’s answer to London‘s Oxford Street, so you can shop to your heart’s content – with a view of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town, which you can reach in just 2 minutes.

You’ll find countless pubs, cafes, shops and restaurants in Rose Street, and I recommend The Abbotsford, a lovely Scottish pub.

If you’d like to stay in a slightly more modern area than Old Town, consider booking a hotel in New Town.

And because Old Town is number 1 on every tourist’s list of areas to stay in Edinburgh, hotels in New Town are typically a bit cheaper, which you can enjoy

New Town is also a bit closer to the following two areas in this guide, where you might not choose to stay on your first trip to Edinburgh, but where I highly recommend visiting and spending a few hours to explore something a bit different from the classic tourist areas in Scotland’s capital.

Also, read my comprehensive guide to Edinburgh’s best things to do.

Places to stay in New Town

There are many places to stay in New Town, and many are of newer construction.

As mentioned earlier, it’s often cheaper to stay in New Town than in Old Town, so let’s take a closer look at some of my favourite hotels in New Town.

The Balmoral Hotel is a luxurious and iconic place to stay in the heart of Edinburgh: right by Princes Street in New Town, but just a 2-minute walk to Old Town.

The location couldn’t be better at Edinburgh’s most famous luxury hotel.

The hotel offers elegant rooms and suites combining modern comfort and classic charm.

The hotel has several restaurants and bars, including the Michelin-starred Number One.

• JK Rowling finished the last Harry Potter book here, and there’s even a suite named after her.

So if you’re looking for luxury, a fantastic location, and a unique Harry Potter connection, The Balmoral Hotel is the obvious choice in Edinburgh.

See more photos and book online here.

However, Balmoral is also expensive, so let’s look at some slightly cheaper accommodations in New Town.

I recently stayed at Apex Waterloo Place, which is located just a few minutes walk from Waverley Station and the bridge leading to Old Town.

So, the location here is extremely good, and you are within walking distance of most of Edinburgh.

It’s a 4-star hotel with an indoor swimming pool, which I always find exciting.

It turned out that the hotel is nearly perfect if you are looking for a place with nice rooms and generally good facilities, and the staff here were probably some of the nicest I have met on a trip.

There was just a generally great atmosphere from all the employees.

It is a lovely place to stay in Edinburgh, which can be booked surprisingly cheaply.

See more photos and book here.

I liked the hotel so much that I made a video from my stay:

The next hotel is also close to ‘everything’.

Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh is a stylish and comfortable hotel located in New Town near the border of Leith, but still only a 5-10 minute walk to Princes Street.

It’s an excellent modern hotel with spacious rooms featuring comfortable beds, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi.

Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh is a good choice for those who want to stay in a comfortable and convenient hotel in the city’s heart.

One of my favourite streets in Edinburgh is just around the corner – Broughton Street has some of the city’s best pubs, and I recommend Cask & Barrel.

See more photos and book online here.

If you’re looking for something affordable and trendy, the next place is a good bet in New Town.

Yotel Edinburgh is a modern and budget-friendly hotel in New Town – close to Stockbridge, the next area on the list (because it’s my favourite and super cosy!).

The location here is the best of both worlds: you’re close to everything good in the city centre, but you can also quickly walk to Stockbridge and experience a local atmosphere.

This hotel offers compact but functional rooms with well-utilized space, featuring adjustable SmartBeds, bathrooms with rain showers, and free high-speed Wi-Fi.

It’s truly a modern hotel that targets the modern and young audience.

The hotel also strongly focuses on technology, offering self-service check-in and check-out, which I find very convenient.

Yotel Edinburgh is an excellent choice for those who want to stay centrally at a slightly unique hotel that can be booked reasonably priced.

See more photos and book online here.

3. Stockbridge – Edinburgh’s best area with local charm

I lived in two different areas in Edinburgh, and Stockbridge was undoubtedly my favourite.

And afterwards, it’s a place I enjoy returning to – and so do those I travel with.

Here, you have what we call a small village in Edinburgh and in a genuinely cosy way.

There’s a bohemian and local vibe in Stockbridge.

Plenty of superb pubs, cocktail bars, vintage shops, and speciality stores are created for locals, so quality is emphasized.

See the best hotels in Stockbridge here.

At the same time, the architecture in Stockbridge is quite extraordinary.

You could say that about all of Edinburgh, though; the city is changeable, so you never get tired of just walking around and enjoying the different buildings.

I love sitting in Inverleith Park, grabbing a pint at The Bailie Bar or The Stockbridge Tap, and perhaps eating Thai food at Nok’s Kitchen.

Depending on where you stay in Stockbridge, it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk up to New Town, so you can easily walk into the historical centre of Edinburgh – or take a bus.

Stockbridge in Edinburgh is an excellent place to stay if you want to experience the city’s more authentic and local side.

And you can easily walk along the Water of Leith and see Dean Village, one of Edinburgh’s hidden gems close to Stockbridge.

Places to stay in Stockbridge

As mentioned, Stockbridge is a smaller area in Edinburgh, primarily inhabited by locals, and therefore there isn’t a hotel on every street corner.

However, there are a few good places to stay.

The most obvious place to stay in Stockbridge is The Raeburn, which is a hotel with a large courtyard and a restaurant/pub that I have often visited as a regular guest, just stopping by for a beer after a walk in the lovely Inverleith Park, located right next to it.

This is a charming boutique hotel set in a beautiful Georgian building.

The hotel has only 10 rooms, so booking your stay well in advance is essential, as it’s often fully booked.

The hotel has received excellent reviews from previous guests, and this place is a bit of a hidden gem in Edinburgh. If rooms are available for the dates you are in town, I recommend booking a stay at The Raeburn for a unique experience.

The Raeburn is the perfect choice for a unique and authentic stay in one of Edinburgh’s most charming neighbourhoods.

See more photos and book online here.

Nira Caledonia in Stockbridge stands out for its luxurious elegance and intimate atmosphere.

The surrounding area is perfect for those who wish to explore local markets, unique shops, and the more bohemian side of Edinburgh.

It’s located in Stockbridge but at the “end” close to New Town. So, I think the location is perfect in Edinburgh, as you get the best of both worlds (local area + city centre).

Past guests particularly highlight the tranquil and romantic ambience of the hotel, with many describing it as a “home away from home.”

Its location makes it ideal for those who want to experience a more local side of the city while still close to the centre.

See more photos and book here.

See more places to stay in Stockbridge here (there are many holiday apartments with a kitchen and multiple rooms).

4. Leith – the rough area that became trendy

I thought for a long time about whether to include Leith in this guide.

For most people who have tuned in to read about where to stay in Edinburgh, they won’t look towards Leith when choosing an area.

However, I would still recommend the area to adventurous people who may have been to Edinburgh a few times.

But for first-time travellers and those travelling to Edinburgh with children, I would choose to stay in either Old Town, New Town, or Stockbridge.

Leith was a rough area in the ’80s and ’90s, and if you’ve seen Trainspotting, the main character Mark lived here and was a fan of the local football team, Hibernian Football Club, which plays in the top Scottish league.

That time is long gone, and although Leith can still be a bit rough around the edges, it is no longer an area where you can’t roam.

I lived here for half of my time in Edinburgh and found it exciting!

See the best hotels in Leith here.

Especially the area around Leith Shore is genuinely cosy and a place I often recommend tourists take the bus to if they have a few days in Edinburgh and want to see something other than the tourist centre.

In Leith, you will find a more relaxed and authentic atmosphere.

The area is now known for its trendy bars, cafes, and restaurants, attracting the city’s hipsters and foodies. You’ll come across everything from microbreweries and cocktail bars to renowned restaurants like The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart.

Leith also offers a rich history and culture, and there are actually some significant attractions such as the Scottish Painting and sculpture centre, The Scottish Gallery, and Royal Yacht Britannia.

The waterfront is another highlight in Leith, where you can enjoy a beautiful walk along the Water of Leith down to Stockbridge and Dean Village.

If you’ve already been to Edinburgh a few times and want to experience the city from a new angle, or if you’re looking for some trendy bars and eateries where the city’s hipsters hang out, Leith is the perfect place to stay.

Places to stay in Leith

There are several excellent hotels in Leith, and there are also quite a few unique accommodation options. Let me recommend a couple of good places to stay in Leith here.

We’ll start with a suggestion for those who want to try staying on a ship converted into a luxury hotel.

Fingal – A Luxury Floating Hotel is a unique and luxurious hotel experience in Leith, situated on a beautifully renovated former lighthouse ship.

The hotel is located at Alexandra Dock in the northern part of Leith by the sea and offers guests an exclusive and memorable stay in Edinburgh.

Fingal is a floating hotel, so you’ll get a completely different experience than a traditional hotel stay. The rooms are elegantly decorated with nautical details and modern amenities.

The hotel also has a first-class restaurant and bar where you can enjoy delicious dishes and drinks in a unique atmosphere.

A stay at Fingal is excellent for those seeking luxurious and unusual accommodation in Edinburgh.

See more photos and book online here.

If you’d like to stay on a boat in Leith, it can also be done more affordably at Ocean Mist Leith, which is relatively luxurious but costs significantly less than the ultimate luxury experience.

See more photos and book online here.

And now, let’s take a closer look at a more classic hotel in Leith

Malmaison Edinburgh is a good hotel in Leith, right by the highly cosy Leith Shore area, with plenty of great pubs and restaurants.

The stylish boutique hotel is housed in a beautifully converted Victorian building, and there is generally a cool and classy vibe.

The rooms at Malmaison Edinburgh are nicely decorated with modern amenities and comfortable furnishings.

The hotel’s restaurant and bar are known for serving delicious dishes and drinks in an atmospheric setting, and they also offer a popular Sunday brunch.

And the location is perfect in Leith – I recommend trying The King’s Wark and Teuchters Landing if you’d like to eat traditional and delicious pub food.

The pub Malt & Hops (which doesn’t serve food), also just a stone’s throw from the hotel, is one of the best pubs in Edinburgh!

So, this is an excellent place to stay in Leith.

See more photos and book online here.

5. Haymarket – an area with cheap hotels near the city centre

Haymarket is an ideal area to stay for those seeking a balanced mix of access to Edinburgh’s bustling centre and a more relaxed, local atmosphere.

Haymarket borders Edinburgh’s West End – honestly, I’ve never quite understood where the boundary is, and I think Haymarket and the West End have essentially merged

Here you’ll also find a range of good hotels cheaper than those in the centre.

The transport options are another clear advantage. With Haymarket Station as a central hub, it’s easy to travel to other parts of Scotland or the city centre if you want to avoid walking.

Trams and buses also run regularly, but you’ll also find that the main attractions are within comfortable walking distance, including the charming Dean Village, a 10-15 minute walk away.

It also only takes about 10 minutes to walk from Haymarket to Princes Street in New Town – and if you don’t want to walk, you can hop on the tram.

See the best hotels in Haymarket here.

Another notable advantage of staying in Haymarket is that you’ll likely feel closer to local life in Edinburgh.

While the central areas are often filled with tourists, Haymarket offers a more authentic, locally-driven atmosphere where you can experience the city differently.

Dine in local pubs, shop in smaller stores, and enjoy an evening stroll along quieter streets. 

Especially if you head a bit north into the cosy West End area.

Summary of Haymarket:

• Excellent choice for travellers seeking a balance between hustle and bustle
• Affordable yet quality-conscious hotels
• Excellent transport links via Haymarket Station
• Walking distance to Dean Village and Princes Street
• A more local and authentic experience of Edinburgh

Places to Stay in Haymarket

Due to its prime location close to the centre of Edinburgh and Haymarket Station, where it’s easy to travel to Glasgow or other major cities in Scotland, the Haymarket area has always hosted a variety of hotels.

I used to know the area as one solely offering cheap and somewhat inferior hotels, but that’s no longer the case.

Several well-known, quality hotel chains have invested in renovating buildings, and brand-new hotels have also sprung up in Haymarket. Allow me to introduce a few of my favourites.

Four Points by Sheraton is one of those modern gems that offer comfortable and up-to-date amenities. 

The hotel is ideally located near Haymarket Station, making it convenient to get around Edinburgh and its surrounding areas. 

It’s an excellent choice for those who don’t necessarily want to spend their entire budget on accommodation but still desire a touch of luxury. 

Previous guests praise the hotel’s modern design, clean rooms, and easy access to public transport.

See more photos and book here.

voco Edinburgh is another modern and comfortable option for travellers looking to combine affordability with high quality. 

Like Four Points, voco is close to Haymarket Station, which ensures good transport links and also makes it convenient to get to and from Edinburgh Airport. 

The hotel is known for its spacious, stylish rooms and its quieter location, allowing guests to experience a more local side of Edinburgh. 

Previous guests particularly highlight the hotel’s modern amenities and convenient location, providing easy access to both the centre and quieter areas like Dean Village and the streets of the West End.

See more photos and book here.

Still unsure where to stay in Edinburgh?

Let me summarize if you still need to figure out where to stay on your trip to Scotland’s enchanting capital.

Old Town is the historic heart of the city and the best place to stay for those who want to experience the city’s top attractions and remain within walking distance of everything.

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Apex Grassmarket Hotel are luxurious options in this area.

New Town is a beautiful and elegant part of the city characterised by Georgian architecture.

It’s also a great place to stay for tourists and offers luxury hotels like The Balmoral Hotel and budget-friendly choices like Yotel Edinburgh and Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh.

Stockbridge is a charming and cosy neighbourhood that provides an authentic experience of the local side of the city.

Here, you can stay at the lovely boutique hotel The Raeburn, a unique and original choice in Edinburgh.

Leith is an exciting and culturally diverse waterfront area that offers a more unconventional and local experience. It’s a great place to stay for those who want to explore the city’s trendy bars and eateries.

Fingal – A Luxury Floating Hotel and Malmaison Edinburgh are luxurious choices in this area.

Haymarket is perfect for travellers who want to stay on a budget but still be close to the city centre. This is the place to stay in Edinburgh if you don’t want to spend all your holiday budget on accommodation but still want to stay near the main spots in town.

I hope you found this guide to the best areas and hotels in Edinburgh helpful.

I genuinely love the city and want all travellers to have the best experience possible, so if you have any questions about your accommodation or Edinburgh in general, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Read all travel blog posts about Edinburgh here.

Frequently asked questions:

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In this guide, I will share some of the best things to do in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a relatively small city, so it is ideal for an extended weekend trip. You can easily see the most important sights and at the same time have a relaxed holiday instead of rushing around to a lot of different things.

It’s also worth noting that you can reach incredible nature in just a couple of hours.

For instance, this mountain in Glencoe I got to on a one-day trip from Edinburgh (it’s #11 on this list):

Let’s get straight to the guide on the best things to do in Edinburgh.

1. Edinburgh Castle – the city’s main attraction

Edinburgh Castle (in the background in the photo above) can be seen from all over the city and is, therefore, worth a visit.

The castle rises above the entire city centre, so it is only possible to be drawn by the impressive building.

The castle dates back to the 12th century and has been one of Scotland’s most important fortresses for several hundred years. Its importance to the military has been enormous, and there remains a war museum (and much more) behind the walls.

You can “make do” by walking up to the esplanade in front of the castle, where you get an excellent view of Edinburgh’s new and old parts.

If you book your ticket online, you get a skip-the-queue ticket, which can prove useful – this is one of Scotland’s best-known sights, so it can be well-visited in the high season.

Buy tickets for Edinburgh Castle here.

Check out my video where I’m showing 10 of the best things to do in Edinburgh:

2. The Royal Mile – unites the two royal buildings

It is not without reason that I write about The Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which comes further down on my list here.

The Royal Mile is the road from the castle down to the Holyrood Palace.

In other words, it is the most famous street in the whole of Scotland and is packed with tourist shops, where you can buy whiskey, kilts, all-in-wool clothes and all kinds of tourist bras

All tourists come here at least once, and most will probably end up here several times on their trip to Edinburgh, as there are many sights and experiences on and around the Royal Mile.

Check out my guide on where to stay in Edinburgh or my video where I’m showing quite a few of the main touristy things to do in Edinburgh too:

3. St Giles’ Cathedral

On the Royal Mile, you can, among other things, have a look inside St Giles Cathedral, which is free to visit and is simply stunning.

Remember to also explore the side streets, called a ‘close’, where a cosy pub or a staircase down to another street may be waiting.

Almost up by the Castle, you will find, among other things, a cosy pub in a close called Jolly Judge.

4. Palace of Holyroodhouse

Holyrood Palace is at the bottom of the Royal Mile, opposite the Scottish Parliament. I have to admit that I have never been inside, but I have passed by and shown family and friends the place from the outside.

So I only have a little insider knowledge about what it looks like inside, but even though it’s a royal palace, you can get a tour inside…

Get more info and tickets here.

5. Arthur’s Seat – climb Edinburgh’s volcano

Next to Holyrood Palace is Holyrood Park, whose highest point you cannot overlook when in Edinburgh. While Edinburgh Castle is undoubtedly located high up, Arthur’s Seat (as the volcanic peak inside the park is called) is the city’s overriding highest point.

And, of course, you can hike up there, which I highly recommend if you are in reasonable shape.

It’s not a challenging climb if you take it down from the Royal Mile end, but in wet conditions, it may require some good shoes, and you have to expect mud to get on them.

6. Calton Hill – viewpoint in the city centre

Where it takes about 45 minutes to go up to the top of Arthur’s Seat, it is more manageable to slip up to the top of Calton Hill, located at the end of Edinburgh’s answer to London’s well-known Oxford Street, Princes Street.

There are stairs up here, so you can get (very) high up into the centre of Edinburgh and be rewarded with a fantastic view in minutes.

It would be a shame to travel to Edinburgh and not take a trip to the top of Calton Hill.

And it’s a free thing to do in Edinburgh which is always nice

7. The National Museum – free and exciting for children and adults

The National Museum in Edinburgh is a free experience, and there is plenty to see for both children and adults.

Located in the Old Town, a few hundred meters from, among other things, Royal Mile, Victoria Street and the Grassmarket, it’s an excellent place to have in the back of your hand for a day when the weather might not cooperate.

It’s Scotland, after all, so there’s a good chance the sun won’t shine during your city break in Edinburgh.

At the National Museum, you can, among other things, experience Dolly The Sheep – the first cloned mammal in the world.

I recommend finding your way to the top of the building, where there is an outdoor open terrace where you get an excellent view of Edinburgh and can see down to the Pentland Hills.

8. Victoria Street – Diagonal Alley from Harry Potter

JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books (at least the first one) when she lived in Edinburgh. This means many places from the book are inspired by real places in Edinburgh.

One of the most well-known is Victoria Street, which is located a few meters from Rowling’s permanent writing cafe in Edinburgh – and you immediately see that this is where she got the inspiration for Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter universe.

On Victoria Street, there are several cafes, indie shops and one of the city’s best pubs, The Bow Bar.

9. Harry Potter Tour in Edinburgh

Suppose you are (also) a huge Harry Potter fan. In that case, you can take advantage of a 2-hour dedicated Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh.

The tour is cheap, has excellent reviews, and passes some of Edinburgh’s most important Harry Potter-related sights.

Read more about the tour and get tickets here.

10. Real Mary King’s Close – experience the old, underground Edinburgh

One of Edinburgh’s most famous sights, or perhaps more precisely, experiences, is the Real Mary King’s Close.

It’s so popular that if you come on the day, there are rarely ‘times’ for tours – I had to admit that a few months ago when I was in Edinburgh and wanted to take a tour of Mary King’s Close with some friends.

We were there just after opening time at 10 am, but could only get time late in the evening.

So I recommend booking this experience in Edinburgh online in advance!

Buy tickets and read more here.

11. Day trip to the Highlands

Okay, so a day trip to the Highlands is not an Edinburgh attraction. Still, anyone with more than a few days in Edinburgh should strongly consider taking a day trip out of the city.

It only takes 1-hour drive before you reach the Scottish Highlands, where the landscape changes dramatically. Then you feel like you’re driving through a movie set.

The Highlands of Scotland are one of the places I always dream of returning to. Even though I have been on countless bus tours from Edinburgh, either as a guide or on my own, I can never get enough.

There are many different tours, but I recommend always taking one that takes you to Glencoe.

It could be this trip from Edinburgh to Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands.

In my eyes, Glencoe is one of the most beautiful things to be found in Scotland – unless you go over to the Isle of Skye, which is too far for a day trip from Edinburgh.

So: take a day trip from Edinburgh to Glencoe – I bet you won’t regret it.

Suppose you want to experience the Glenfinnan Viaduct (“the Harry Potter bridge“). In that case, you must book a tour that goes specifically there.

You can even book a day trip from Edinburgh, where you can ride the “Hogwarts Express” – see more about this trip here.

12. Gin or Whisky tasting

Scotland is world-renowned for its renowned whisky, and many travellers come from all over the world to visit a whisky distillery in Scotland.

Many of the best-known distilleries are located in the Scottish Highlands or outside Edinburgh in the Lowlands. Still, you can also come for a whisky tasting in Edinburgh.

Consider this whisky tasting, one of Edinburgh’s best-reviewed whisky tastings.

If you’re more into gin, check out this gin tasting in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Gin is also a decidedly excellent gin, which can be obtained in all the pubs if you want to do something other than a definite tasting.

13. Dean Village

Dean Village is, as the name suggests, a small village located in the middle of Edinburgh.

Dean Village is probably one of the areas of Edinburgh that is the most Instagrammable – but even if you are not constantly looking for the best shot for your social media, it is recommended to make your way past this cosy area of Edinburgh.

I have made a map showing one of Edinburgh’s most excellent walking tours from Dean Village to Stockbridge:

The short walk ends at one of the city’s best pubs (The Bailie Bar), where only a few tourists go.

I lived in the Stockbridge area, which is highly underrated by tourists, so stop by here if you want to experience the real Edinburgh

14. Royal Botanic Gardens

Just north of Stockbridge, we find the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

It is free to “enter” the gardens, where there is both a huge outdoor area and indoor greenhouses with all kinds of budding flowers and plants.

It’s not that I’m personally that interested in flowers and plants, but I still enjoyed coming here and just walking around in the peaceful surroundings.

15. Ghost Tour in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and, in many ways, reminds us a little of Prague with its dramatic, almost Gothic churches and buildings.

So, of course, there are also plenty of ghost tours in Edinburgh.

I don’t dare do that, but I can read that the tours are top-rated and get excellent reviews.

So if you’re into spooky stories, consider going on a Dark Secrets Ghost Walking Tour in Edinburgh.

16. Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Edinburgh is a relatively small city, where you can easily walk around to all the city’s sights in the New Town and Old Town, but be aware that there are a lot of ups and downs in Edinburgh.

That’s why I have the opportunity to take one of the popular Hop On Hop Off sightseeing buses in this guide to Edinburgh’s best sights.

I recommend it to those of you who may be a bit older, have walking difficulties or are travelling to Edinburgh with children.

Here, a sightseeing bus tour will be a great way to get an overview of the city and then either get off at the sights you want to see – or drive around and then choose which places you want to return to.

See more about the bus and buy tickets here.

If you have any questions about your trip to Edinburgh or Scotland in general, please leave a comment below.

As previously mentioned, I have lived in Edinburgh, worked as a tour guide in the city and run my own travel agency tailoring trips to Scotland, so I know a little bit about the place

Frequently asked questions about Edinburgh

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