Where to stay in Edinburgh: best areas and hotels

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Edinburgh city center is the ideal place to stay for first-time visitors wanting to see the city’s most famous sights. The historical Old City surrounds the Royal Mile, which stretches from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle. This neighborhood is popular for its old-world charm and its plentiful museums, as well as its historical significance. The adjacent Princes Street neighborhood is famous for its chic shops and the beautiful Princes Street Gardens, which decorate the grounds in front of the castle. The New city business district offers some of the city’s best restaurants, from the rittiest restaurant to cozy bistros. The relaxed atmosphere of the area is perfect for people watching, and independent shops provide an alternative to the chain stores of Princes Street. The Broughton & Calton neighborhood is a little more spread out, home to Calton Hill and Scotland’s National Monument.

Where to stay for luxury

Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa This is Edinburgh / photo modified

In the heart of the Old City Located in the epicenter of the city’s most historic sights, Old Town Chambers offers luxury apartments in a beautiful 15th-century building. Spacious rooms, lavish furnishings and on-site private laundry make this ideal for extended stays and families.

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, in the West End, It is conveniently located near Haymarket Station, with shops and restaurants nearby, as well as a wide range of on-site amenities such as a full-service spa, fitness center and an excellent gourmet restaurant using locally sourced ingredients. The experience is topped off by a fantastic castle and stunning views over the city from many of the rooms and from the spa’s rooftop pool.

Classic luxury meets technology at 24 Royal Terrace in the Broughton & Calton neighbourhood. Here you get the best of both worlds, spending the afternoon admiring the hotel’s private art collection and Georgian terraces, then retiring to enjoy the best in technology, including Smart TVs and Blucube speakers in every room.

Star service at The Howard New city includes a personal butler for the duration of your stay. Located nearby Princess Streetthe rooms and suites of this boutique hotel house three Georgian townhouses and each is uniquely decorated.

Where to stay for the best value

The Premier Inn Edinburgh offers reasonable rates with castle views Princes Street Gardens from its ideal location. This first-class, family-friendly hotel is convenient to historic sites, restaurants and the popular Princes Street mall. The Rutland Hotel is nearby and is also conveniently located for it city center. This boutique-style hotel is set in a Georgian house in a quiet area, close to Charlotte Square, St. Mary’s Cathedral and Ross Fountain.

As the name suggests, The Inn on the Mile is located right on the Royal Mile, in the center of the Old City. Built into a historic landmark, the 1923 former British Linen Bank, the hotel has no lifts, but the rest of the amenities are above and beyond, including an iPod docking station connected to ceiling speakers, an assortment of Scottish treats to tea and coffee station in the room and even hair straighteners in the bathroom. As a bonus, the hotel’s restaurant uses local produce and sustainably raised meat and seafood, as well as free-range and eggs.

Centrally located on St. Andrew Square New cityLocated near the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Ibis Styles Edinburgh Center St. Andrew Square has fresh, bright rooms and modern décor. All stays include an extensive continental breakfast and high-speed WiFi.

The Dunstane Hotel occupies two beautiful Victorian houses in the town West End, easily accessible by bus transport yet within a reasonable walking distance of the most popular attractions. Only the price sets this apart from a luxury hotel, with its first-class service and bright, spacious rooms. This boutique hotel is also known for its restaurant, which serves local cuisine all day long, and – of course – afternoon tea.

Where to Stay on a Budget

Cairn Hotel Edinburgh Karen Bryan / photo modified

The Travelodge Edinburgh Central Princes Street is centrally located near the intersection of the four city center districts, close Old City sights nearby Princes Street shopping and adjacent to the Royal Mile. It is located opposite Edinburgh-Waverley train station, a vibrant area in the center of the action.

Just outside the Southside & Holyrood neighborhood, Hotel Ceilidh-Donia is a family hotel with friendly staff. The rates make a short drive to downtown worthwhile, especially with breakfast and Wi-Fi included in the stay. Just outside the edge of the Broughton & Calton neighborhood, located in the theater district, the newly renovated Cairn Hotel Edinburgh is still within a 15-minute walk of the city center. Their most popular feature is a welcome basket full of snacks and goodies, replenished every day.

Where to stay for romance

Although conveniently located at the intersection of the Old City, New cityand Princes Street neighborhoods, a couple could easily be reluctant to leave the Balmoral Hotel. The building’s grandeur is magnified by an imposing clock tower, and its charm starts at the entrance, where you’ll be greeted by boiled doormen. The hotel’s fitness center offsets the inevitable indulgence of afternoon tea in Palm Court, followed by dinner in the Michelin-starred restaurant, while a day of pampering in the spa and pool is always an option.

Located in a quiet area of Edinburgh West End still within a reasonable distance of the city center, the Chester Residence earns its five stars not only as a top-class luxury accommodation, but also as the city’s premiere romantic getaway. The elegant suites are spacious and have a generously equipped kitchen, making this the perfect place for a longer stay.

A little out of town, the Prestonfield is a favorite wedding venue thanks to its perfect combination of luxury and romance. The charming grounds are home to flower gardens, free-roaming peacocks and even a herd of Highland cattle.