Old Town
First-timersThe Royal Mile, from the castle to Holyrood.
Edinburgh city guide
Things To Do In Edinburgh
A castle on a volcanic rock, a medieval old town and a Georgian new town facing each other across a valley, and the world's biggest arts festival every August.
26
Hostels in the city
8.1
Average, from 118,263 reviews
1995
Old and New Towns join UNESCO
251 m
Arthur's Seat
3,000+
Fringe shows in August
Old town, new town and an extinct volcano
Edinburgh is built on hills around the plug of an extinct volcano, with the castle on top. The medieval Old Town runs down the Royal Mile from the castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a spine of tall stone tenements and narrow closes. Across the valley, the Georgian New Town is a planned grid of elegant streets. Both are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the middle of the city, Arthur's Seat rises out of Holyrood Park, a real hill you can climb in under an hour.
In August, the Fringe, the International Festival and the Tattoo take over the city and prices triple. The rest of the year it is compact, walkable and friendly. Three days is right.
Where to stay
The centre is compact. Stay in the Old Town, the New Town, or Leith for the bars.
New Town
A calmer stayThe Georgian grid north of Princes Street.
Leith
Food and barsThe old port, on the water.
Southside
ValueNear the university and the Meadows.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle, on its rock, holds the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny; book online to skip the queue. Walk down the Royal Mile, ducking into the closes, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King's official Scottish residence.
Climb Arthur's Seat for the view over the city and the Firth of Forth, and Calton Hill for the classic sunset view of the castle.
The National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery are free. Greyfriars Kirkyard, the Real Mary King's Close under the Royal Mile, and the Camera Obscura are the other classics.
Walk down the Water of Leith to Dean Village and Stockbridge, and on to Leith, the old port, for the waterfront and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
More on things to do in Edinburgh
Free things
Free things to do in Edinburgh
Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill and Princes Street Gardens are free.
The National Museum of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art are free.
The Royal Mile, the closes and the Water of Leith walk cost nothing. In August, hundreds of Fringe shows are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Edinburgh
Haggis, neeps and tatties is the dish to try, and it is better than its reputation; vegetarian versions are everywhere. Cullen skink, smoked haddock soup, is the other classic.
Leith has the best restaurants in the city. Whisky bars in the Old Town have hundreds of bottles, and staff happy to guide you.
A pub meal is £12 to £18.
More on food and drink in Edinburgh
Nightlife
Going out in Edinburgh
The Cowgate and the Grassmarket, under the Old Town, are the busy, student-heavy centre of the nightlife. Leith has better bars and a more local crowd.
In August the whole city becomes one late-night festival.
A pint is £5 to £6.50.
More on nightlife in Edinburgh
Getting around
Getting around Edinburgh
The centre is walkable, and Lothian buses cover the rest; a day ticket is good value. The tram runs from the airport through the centre to Leith and Newhaven.
From the airport, the tram takes about thirty-five minutes, and the Airlink 100 bus is a little quicker.
Trains reach Glasgow in under an hour, Stirling in about fifty minutes and Inverness in about three and a half hours.
Costs
What Edinburgh costs
Edinburgh is expensive by Scottish standards. Dorms start around £25, and triple during the August festivals. A careful day is £50 to £70.
Since 24 July 2026, a 5% visitor levy is added to accommodation for the first five nights.
The currency is the pound sterling, and Scottish banknotes are legal tender. Cards work almost everywhere, including contactless on buses.
Safety
Staying safe in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is safe.
Arthur's Seat has steep, slippery sections; wear proper shoes in the wet. The Cowgate is rowdy late at weekends.
Emergency number is 999 or 112; for mountain rescue, call 999 and ask for police, then mountain rescue.
Day trips from Edinburgh
Castles, coast and the Highlands on a day tour.
Stirling
Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.
Forth Bridges
Three bridges over the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry.
North Berwick
A seaside town with seabird boat trips to the Bass Rock.
Rosslyn Chapel
A fifteenth-century chapel covered in carvings.
Highlands day tour
Glencoe and Loch Ness in a long day.
Day trips from Edinburgh
What's on
What is on while you are there
In August, three festivals run at once.
Staff pick
2–11 October
Edinburgh Cocktail Week
Edinburgh Cocktail Week is a celebrated festival that transforms the city into a haven for cocktail lovers, featuring over 100 participating bars offering exclusive…
Staff pick
3 October
Kane Brown
Kane Allen Brown is a singer and songwriter from the United States. Brown was originally brought to the public's attention through social media. In…
Staff pick
8–10 October
Edinburgh Oktoberfest
Edinburgh Oktoberfest is an annual Bavarian-themed beer festival, featuring authentic German brews and hearty specialties like bratwurst and schnitzel, all enjoyed at long communal…
Staff pick
21–31 October
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival transforms Edinburgh into a global gathering place for tales, voices, and traditions. As the world’s largest celebration of storytelling,…
Staff pick
31 October
Samhuinn Fire Festival
The Samhuinn Fire Festival in Edinburgh is a striking celebration that reimagines ancient Celtic traditions, marking the shift from summer’s warmth to the depths…
Staff pick
3 November
Van Morrison
Van Morrison is a Northern Irish record producer and instrumentalist. He is a multiple award winner who rose to prominence in the '60s as…
Staff pick
30 November
St. Andrew's Day
St. Andrew’s Day in Edinburgh is a spirited celebration of Scottish heritage, inviting locals and visitors alike to experience the best of the nation’s…
Staff pick
29 Dec – 1 Jan
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the world’s most famous New Year celebrations, drawing visitors from across the globe to ring in the New Year…
Hostels
Where to stay in Edinburgh
The top-rated places to stay in Edinburgh right now, live from Hostelworld.
Castle Rock Hostel
Dorms from £23 a night
See dates and book
CODE - The Court
Dorms from £25 a night
See dates and book
Princes Street Hostel
Dorms from £19 a night
See dates and book
Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel
Dorms from £27 a night
See dates and book
High Street Hostel
Dorms from £25 a night
See dates and book
CODE - The Loft
Dorms from £28 a night
See dates and book
Summer Stays at The University of Edinburgh
See dates and book
Royal Mile Backpackers
Dorms from £27 a night
See dates and book
Haystack Hostel
Dorms from £28 a night
See dates and book
Edinburgh Backpackers
Dorms from £11 a night
See dates and book
Kick Ass Greyfriars
Dorms from £10 a night
See dates and book
Kick Ass Grassmarket
Dorms from £12 a night
See dates and book
When to go
May, June and September are best. August is the festival and the price spike.
Jan
Cold and quiet
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Beltane
May
Good
Jun
Long days
Jul
Busy
Aug
Festivals
Sep
Good
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Dark
Dec
Hogmanay
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. It rains in every month.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in pounds.
August prices run far above these figures.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Edinburgh travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
Three, with a day trip if you like.
When is the Fringe?
Throughout August. Prices triple and beds sell out months ahead.
Is there a tourist tax in Edinburgh?
Yes. Since 24 July 2026, a 5% visitor levy applies to the first five nights.
How do I get from the airport?
By tram, about thirty-five minutes, or the Airlink 100 bus.
Can I climb Arthur's Seat?
Yes, in under an hour, for free.
Are Edinburgh's museums free?
The national museums and galleries are.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September.
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