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Travel advice for Scotland
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting Scotland
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written by
Olivia Rawes
updated 26.08.2024
Whether you plan on exploring Edinburgh Castle, scaling Arthur’s Seat or hunkering down in an old pub with a wee dram of whisky, this is a city where you’ll want to stay a while. Luckily, Edinburgh has more places to stay than anywhere else in the UK aside from London, with something for every budget. Here's our pick of where to stay in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s well-worn thoroughfare from the Castle to Holyrood Palace is central to any visitor’s itinerary. Subdivided into four streets – Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate – The Royal Mile is where to stay in Edinburgh for museums, churches, pubs and restaurants. Yes, it’s a magnet for tartan-stuffed souvenir stores but this is also Edinburgh at its most fascinating.
Radiating off The Royal Mile is an atmospheric warren of narrow closes, steep lanes and hidden vaults. The architecture is a topsy-turvy blend of blackened sandstone facades, rubblestone tenements and merchant houses.
For a better insight into Edinburgh's nightlife, explore our guide to the best pubs in Edinburgh.
Tips from Jane
Scotland Travel Expert
If you're keen on sightseeing, The Royal Mile is your spot. It's anchored by the majestic St Giles' Cathedral, sporting its distinctive crown spire from the 14th century. Down at the other end, you'll find the Scottish Parliament building, a showcase of contemporary Scottish architecture.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in the Royal Mile at any budget.
Once the site of Edinburgh’s public gallows, the Grassmarket was the city’s rather sordid hub, home to brothels and drinking dens. A wave of gentrification has changed there area in a lot of ways in recent years. Today it’s a lively place where bars and restaurants – many set in the shadow of the castle – spill out onto the pavements.
Quirky, independent boutique shops cluster along the pastel-coloured swerve of Victoria Street. Come evening the area pulsates as the younger crowd – and often a gaggle of stag and hen parties – descend on the area’s pubs and clubs.
Tips from William
Scotland Travel Expert
Besides its lively atmosphere, Grassmarket hosts a weekly market every Saturday featuring local goods and crafts. Plus, it's home to historic pubs like The White Hart Inn, which claims to be Edinburgh's oldest pub, dating way back to 1516.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in Grassmarket at any budget.
Something of a misnomer, Edinburgh’s New Town is actually well over two hundred years old. Confidence and elegance radiate from its broad, straight streets and graceful Georgian architecture. For a dose of culture, you can visit the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. However, the main lure here is the top-rate shopping.
Gleaming designer stores stretch along George Street, popular chains dominate Princes Street and independent shops dot Thistle and Rose streets. And of course, after a hard day’s shopping the area comes alive with sleek restaurants and chic cocktail bars.
When planning a trip to Edinburgh, take a look at our guide to iconic Edinburgh sights that are even better during the festivals, which may have some useful ideas for your holiday.
Tips from Stephen
Scotland Travel Expert
If shopping's your thing, New Town's got you covered. Charlotte Square here houses Bute House, where the First Minister of Scotland resides. You'll also spot the impressive Scott Monument, a Victorian Gothic tribute to Sir Walter Scott.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in New Town at any budget.
Edgy and local, Leith is where to stay in Edinburgh away from the tourist hustle. Here there’s an inescapably nautical air: seagulls whirl and screech through the air, low stone bridges criss-cross the Water of Leith and small boats bob at the opening of the harbour.
Food and drink are the unmissable draws here. There's haute cuisine – the area is home to two Michelin-starred restaurants – and cool concept bars, time-worn pubs and organic-focused cafés that line the cobbled pavement of The Shore, Leith’s main waterside drag.
Tips from Marcela
Scotland Travel Expert
Leith is where you'll find top-tier dining with two Michelin-starred restaurants: The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart. And don't miss the Royal Yacht Britannia, once the floating palace of Queen Elizabeth II and now a must-see attraction.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in Leith at any budget.
Set astride the gurgling Water of Leith ford, Stockbridge was a little hamlet until the expansion of Edinburgh’s New Town gobbled it up. However, the area has managed to keep its self-contained village feel appealing independent spirit. A popular home for young professionals, it’s a charming hub of activity from the Sunday farmer’s market to the string of independent boutique shops, cafés and restaurants.
Head out to browse the stores along Raeburn Place – Stockbridge’s sweeping main street – and St Stephen’s Street, once one of Edinburgh’s worst slums and now a sleek, off-beat side street.
Tips from Jane
Scotland Travel Expert
I love Stockbridge for the gorgeous Botanic Gardens, founded back in 1670 and boasting over 13,000 plant species. It's also a treasure trove for charity shops, perfect for scoring unique second-hand finds.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in Stockbridge at any budget.
Less than half a mile (0.8km) from the western end of Princes Street is Dean Village, which straddles the ribbon-thin Water of Leith, whose narrow valley drops steeply here. Dean Bridge carries the main road over the Water. It was designed and built by Thomas Telford, one of Scotland’s greatest civil engineers.
Dean was an industrial village, its economy depending on numerous small mills that have now completely disappeared. A walk beside the water offers the most interesting views, so don’t cross the bridge. Instead, take the cobbled alley of Bells Brae to Hawthornbank Road down into the valley. You’ll find great views of the rear of the Georgian houses of the New Town as well as the small cottages of Dean Village itself.
Tips from Marcela
Scotland Travel Expert
For breathtaking views, Dean Village is my favorite. Admire Well Court, a charming 19th-century housing complex designed for local workers. And nearby, you'll discover the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, housed in stunning neoclassical buildings.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in Dean Village at any budget.
Morningside and Bruntsfield are two contiguous areas in Edinburgh. Both are located to the south of the city centre and are highly popular residential areas with Victorian and Georgian architecture. Morningside is renowned for its upscale shops, cafes and restaurants and has a name for itself as a more established area.
Bruntsfield, on the opposite, is where to stay in Edinburgh for the bohemian vibe and is famous for its independent shops and fancy cafes. It is the location of Bruntsfield Links Public Park, which is a popular place for recreation and sporting activities for locals. The area is also home to the famous Royal Theatre, which holds performances and events all year round.
Tips from William
Scotland Travel Expert
For a mix of upscale and bohemian vibes, I’d head to Morningside and Bruntsfield. Morningside is famous as the fictional home of Miss Jean Brodie from Muriel Spark’s novel, and Bruntsfield has one of the oldest golf courses in the world, perfect for a leisurely day.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in Bruntsfield at any budget.
The West End is a very popular and affluent area of the capital, located to the west of the city centre. It is home to many of the main tourist attractions from Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens to the Scottish National Gallery.
The West End is where to stay in Edinburgh for its fabulous architecture with many historic buildings and impressive Georgian townhouses. The area is a centre for luxury retail, with many high-end designer shops and boutiques located along Princes Street.
Tips from Jane
Scotland Travel Expert
If you want to be close to the main attractions, I’d stay in the West End. You can catch a show at the renowned Usher Hall, Edinburgh's premier concert venue since 1914. And don't miss the iconic Caledonian Hotel, a former Victorian railway hotel now operated by the Waldorf Astoria.
Or browse hundreds of accommodations in the West End at any budget.
Ready for a trip to Edinburgh? Check out the snapshot The Mini Rough Guide to Edinburgh or The Rough Guide to Scotland.
If you prefer to plan and book your trip to Edinburgh without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.
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written by
Olivia Rawes
updated 26.08.2024
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