Where to stay in Edinburgh – 4 Great locations for first time visitors

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Edinburgh is easily our favourite city break in the UK. The city is completely unique with its gothic architecture, winding cobbled streets and eerie feel.

When you step out into Edinburgh you really do feel like you have been transported to a medieval city and the architecture and activities around the city lean into that really well.

The great thing for us is that we can jump on a plane and be there in less than an hour so we have visited Edinburgh 5 or 6 times in recent years and will always take any excuse to go back there when we get the opportunity.

Edinburgh is a reasonably small city and therefore easy to get around but it is quite hilly in places so you ideally will want to stay somewhere close to the main sites you would like to visit. With that, we typically recommend staying. in and around the Old Town, both because of it’s ease of access and the fact that we just love the character of that area.

The main alternative areas to stay in Edinburgh are New Town, where you will find lots of Edinburgh’s luxury hotels, the West End, which is a more artsy area and Stockbridge which is walking distance to some of our favourite places in Edinburgh like Dean Village.

Hotels in Edinburgh do tend to be a little bit pricier than other cities in Europe so that will also be something to consider when choosing where to stay in Edinburgh. As we now travel with two young kids we often tend to go for apartment style hotels like StayCity or Wilde Aparthotels, to give us a bit more flexibility in terms of preparing food for them etc.

Ultimately, choosing where to stay in Edinburgh will come down to your personality and the type of trip you would like to have: from upscale elegance and boutique shopping to medieval dungeons (where you might be put on the guillotine like I was), historic castles and Harry Potter inspired walking trails, or something somewhere in between.

Where to stay in Edinburgh – at a glance

• Old Town – Medieval area filled with winding cobblestoned streets, ancient castles and dungeons and Harry Potter inspiring locations. This area really feels like a step back in time. We would recommend staying at Virgin Hotels.
• New Town – Trendy area full of shops, bars and restaurants. Great for anyone wanting to enjoy the nightlife in Edinburgh and luxury hotels. We would recommend staying at Hotel Indigo.
• Stockbridge – This is a picturesque village area set along the Leith walkway. We would recommend staying at Nira Caledonia
• West End – Trendy area great for musicals and concert goers. Lots of great luxury hotels in this area. We would recommend staying at The Bonham.

Our top picks for things to do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city that is spoiled for choice in terms of things to do, with a huge variety of options depending on your interests.

The great thing about Edinburgh is that some of the best things to do there are completely free. From great views at Vennel Viewpoint, to the unique walkway of Dean Village and historic landmarks like Scott Monument and Calton Hill, these can all be visited for free.

As with any city in the UK however, the weather will not always be on your side. In fact, you can almost guarantee that it won’t be. With that, you should definitely plan some of your activities around the indoors (unless you have an incredibly robust rain jacket).

Some of our favourites include the Glenfinnan Viaduct tour, which although not centred around Edinburgh itself, is unmissable in our view and gives you a real feel for Scotland as a whole in a short space of time – one of the best tours we have taken in the UK more broadly. The tour takes you along the famous steam train route seen in the Harry Potter films, as well as giving you a peak at the Scottish Highlands, an area that is stunningly beautiful in itself.

Within the city itself, we loved this Harry Potter & Edinburgh Castle tour, which takes you through lots of the major attractions dotted around the Old Town like Victoria Street (the inspiration behind Diagon Alley); the cafe where the book was originally drafted, Greyfriars Kirkyard – the graveyard where many of the characters names were sourced and the beautiful castle itself.

If you are staying in the Old Town you will naturally find yourself in many of these places throughout your trip so having someone to guide you through them is a great way to get the full picture behind the sites and stories.

We would also recommend doing the hop on/hop off bus tour in Edinburgh, particularly if you are visiting for a couple of days. Edinburgh is not huge but it is hilly and all that walking between sites can take its toll, so the op on tour gives you a lot of flexibility (and might be a good place to escape the rain from time to time as well.

Best Areas to stay in Edinburgh

Generally speaking, if you are a first time visitor to Edinburgh you will want to stay as close to the city centre as possible, to allow easy access to the main tourist attractions.

Edinburgh is a relatively small city so you should never be too far from the centre regardless of where you choose to stay but we would recommend choosing a hotel in Old Town Edinburgh if it is your first time visiting.

Old Town (Best for sightseeing)

The Old Town is where we always choose to stay in Edinburgh whenever we visit. The area has a character and charm to it that is rarely found anywhere else in the UK.

When you stay here, you really do feel like you have been transported into a world of the past, the medieval history of the city is very apparent in the area with lots of references to it in the names of bars and restaurants.

The Old Town is also great if you are visiting Edinburgh on a budget as so many of the things to do in this area are completely free. Simply by walking around the streets here, you will uncover the inspiration behind the Harry Potter films at Victoria Street and Greyfriars Kirkyard.

You can get amazing views of Edinburgh Castle from Vennel Viewpoint and visit beautiful buildings like the Writer’s Museum and New College.

Recommended hotels in Old Town Edinburgh

For a luxury stay in Edinburgh Old Town we would recommend staying at Virgin Hotels which has beautiful views overlooking the city and all of the amenities you would need for a luxury stay in Edinburgh including a fitness centre and cocktail bar.

Considering that it is a 5* luxury hotel in the heart of Edinburgh, you can actually get rooms at a reasonable price during off peak dates, with room sometimes available for under $200 per night.

For a strong option on a budget we would recommend staying at CODE, which is only a few minutes from Edinburgh Castle and has an on site bar. You can often find rooms here for less than €100 per night.

For a mid range option our favourite place to stay in this area is Wilde Aparthotels, which is just a couple of minutes walk from both Vennel Viewpoint and Victoria Street and has some kitchen facilities as well, making it a great option for families.

The disadvantage of staying in the Old Town is that it is quite hilly so you will find yourself doing quite a bit of walking. Equally, because everyone wants to stay in Old Town, that does tend to inflate hotel prices in this area.

New Town (Best for nightlife and luxury stays)

On the other side of the bridge you will find New Town. This is where we would recommend staying if you’re looking for great shopping, luxury hotels and trendy cocktail bars. This is effectively the modern side of Edinburgh.

While the area is very contrasting to Old Town Edinburgh, it is not short of great things to do and in particular, great bars, restaurants and hotels to help you enjoy a relaxing stay. New Town is not without its charm either, with the key feature here being the striking Georgian townhouses lining the streets.

You will naturally spend a lot of time in Old Town Edinburgh, meaning a stay in New Town may actually be a great option to detach yourself from the crowds that gather in Old Town throughout the day. A stay in New Town, while exploring old town gives you a nice blend of the modern and traditional elements of Edinburgh.

Equally, some of the best things to do in Edinburgh can. be found in New Town, where you will find Scott Monument, Calton Hill & Prince Street Gardens, which is a beautiful area to walk around in Spring/Summer and has an amazing view of Edinburgh Castle from Ross Fountain.

Also along Prince Street is where you will find most of the cities High Street shops so this is a great area to stay in if you like a bit of retail therapy on your city breaks.

For places to eat in New Town we would recommend trying out The Dome for a fine dining style experience or else The Spanish Butcher for a great steak.

Recommended hotels in Edinburgh New Town

Our top pick for a luxury hotel in Edinburgh New Town would be The Edinburgh Grand, which is right beside Waverley Station and Princes Street. The interiors of this hotel are stunning and they have paid so much attention to detail throughout. The hotel also has a Hawksmoor restaurant on site so you definitely won’t go hungry here.

For a mid-range hotel in New Town, we love Hotel Indigo, which is right on Princes Street and has beautiful views overlooking Edinburgh Castle. The hotel is beautifully styled and has a great bar & restaurant attached.

If you are visiting Edinburgh on a budget we would recommend Royal Scots Club, a traditional Scottish country club style hotel within walking distance of Prince Street Gardens.

Stockbridge (For trendy budget friendly stays)

Not far from New Town Edinburgh you will find Stockbridge, which offers a bit of a blend of Old and New in Edinburgh. The area has a little bit of a Cotswold style feel with cute cottages and cobbled streets running through it.

Stockbridge is also where two of our favourite places in Edinburgh and we would highly recommend adding them to your itinerary: Circus Lane and Dean Village.

Circus Lane is one of the most picturesque places in Edinburgh. It’s a cobbled residential street with low rise cottage terraces running a long it and St. Stephen’s Church perched over it giving you a beautiful backdrop for a photo.

If you are taking a walk along Circus Lane there is a nice brunch spot just around the corner called The Pantry that we would recommend trying out along your walking trail.

Not far from there we would recommend taking a walk around Dean Village, which is only a 10 minute walk from Princes Street along the Leith walkway. The area was an old milling community as recently as the 19th Century and really embodies Edinburgh’s industrial past.

Equally though, it is a beautiful place to get some photos from your trip but we would always encourage you to be mindful of the fact that this is still a residential area so do be respectful of the locals when visiting.

The main disadvantage of staying here is that there are very few choices in terms of accommodation so that will be somewhat limiting.

Recommended hotels in Stockbridge

The Raeburn – The Raeburn is probably the best choice for a hotel in Stockbridge. The hotel has a classic Scottish design with tartan interiors and there is an on site bar available to relax at in the evenings.

Nira Caledonia – This is a great alternative and has a more luxury feel to it, with stylish interiors. The hotel is set in a Georgian townhouse so really creates a local feel to it and has a range of Scotch whiskies and local delicacies in the bar & restaurant.

The West End/Haymarket (Best place to stay for families)

Our final suggestion is the family friendly area of the West End. The West End is great for any concert goers or for those wanting to see musical theatre.

One of the other advantages to staying in the West End is that it is situated in between Dean Village & Haymarket (though it can be difficult to tell where the West End starts and Haymarket ends), so you can easily walk between the two from your hotel.

Some of Edinburgh’s most luxurious hotels can be found in the West End so this area is perfect for anyone looking for a luxury stay in Edinburgh.

Recommended hotels in The West End

The Bonham – This is the best luxury hotel in Edinburgh’s West End in our view. the Bonham. This Victorian Style Townhouse has great views overlooking the city and is within walking distance of the main sights. It has a beautiful design and offers everything you need for a luxury stay in Edinburgh.

The Resident – This is our favourite hotel in Edinburgh’s West End – it is not as expensive as the high end luxury hotels in the area but still gives a luxurious feel. The rooms are stylishly designed and the hotel is well located near the main attractions in the centre.