Where to stay in EdinburghWhere to stay in Edinburgh, area by area.
Where to stay in Edinburgh depends on the trip you want: castle views and closes, a village by the river, a port full of food, or a beach. Here's how each neighbourhood feels, who it suits and how you get around from there.
Where to stay in Edinburgh: the short answer
Where to stay in Edinburgh depends on what you want outside the front door. If it's your first visit and you want to walk everywhere, stay in the Old Town or the New Town. If you'd rather feel like you live here for a week, try Stockbridge, Bruntsfield or Leith. If you want sand and sea air, Portobello is still in the city. And if golf, beaches or a slower pace matter more than the castle, look at Musselburgh and North Berwick on the East Lothian coast.
The good news is that Edinburgh is small. Most of the neighbourhoods in this guide are a 15 to 30 minute walk from Princes Street, and the ones that aren't are on the tram, a frequent bus route or a short train ride. You rarely make a bad choice, only one that suits some trips better than others.
The city also has hills. A flat map hides the climb from the New Town up to the Royal Mile, or from the Grassmarket up to the Castle. If anyone in your group finds steps hard, that matters more than the distance. Our guide to getting to and around Edinburgh covers hills, cobbles and step-free routes in detail.
Below, we go through each area in turn, then compare them in a table. You can browse all our homes or just the ones in Edinburgh and North Berwick once you know which part of town feels right.
One thing we won't do here is quote prices. Rates move with the season, and the calendar on each home shows the real price for your dates. If you're weighing up when to come at all, our guide to the best time to visit Edinburgh covers busy months, quiet months and the weather.
Old Town and New Town: staying in the centre
The Old Town and the New Town together make up the centre of Edinburgh, and together they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. They sit either side of Princes Street Gardens, and they feel very different.
The Old Town
The Old Town runs down the ridge from the Castle to Holyrood. The Royal Mile is its spine, with narrow closes and wynds dropping off on both sides. It also takes in the Grassmarket, Cowgate and the streets around the University's central buildings.
It suits first-time visitors, short city breaks and anyone who wants to step out of the door and be in it. The trade-off is noise and crowds, especially in August, when the Fringe fills every street. Many Old Town homes are up several flights of a shared tenement stair. If that worries you, ask before you book.
The New Town
The New Town is the Georgian grid north of Princes Street: George Street, Queen Street, the crescents and the cobbled mews lanes behind them. It's calmer than the Old Town, with wide streets, private gardens and some of the city's finest flats. Waverley station is a few minutes' walk.
It suits couples, longer stays and work trips. Our page for visiting professionals covers what matters if you need a desk and good WiFi.
Getting around from the centre
You'll walk most places. The tram runs along Princes Street towards the airport in one direction and Leith in the other, and most Lothian bus routes pass through the centre. During the Fringe, give yourself extra time; our Fringe visitor's guide explains how busy it gets.
Stockbridge, Haymarket and the West End
Stockbridge
Stockbridge feels like a village that the city grew around. It sits on the Water of Leith, about 15 minutes' walk downhill from Princes Street, with independent shops, delis and cafés on Raeburn Place and St Stephen Street. A market runs in Jubilee Gardens on Sundays. The Water of Leith Walkway passes through, so you can follow the river upstream to Dean Village and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, or downstream towards the Royal Botanic Garden.
It suits couples, families and anyone who wants a neighbourhood feel without giving up the centre. The walk back up the hill at night is the main catch. For ideas on what to do with children nearby, see Edinburgh with kids.
Haymarket and the West End
The West End starts at the western end of Princes Street and runs into Haymarket. It's a mix of handsome Victorian and Georgian streets, offices and busy main roads. Haymarket station is Edinburgh's second main station, and the tram stops there and at West End, which makes this the easiest area for getting to and from the airport.
It's also the obvious base for Murrayfield. On match days and concert nights you can walk to the stadium and back, which saves a lot of queuing. Our page on accommodation near Murrayfield has more on event weekends. Business travellers like it too; our company accommodation page explains how invoiced stays work.
Getting around from here
Walk into the centre in 10 to 20 minutes, take the tram along Princes Street, or catch one of the many buses that run along the main roads. From Haymarket, trains run west to Glasgow and north to Fife.
Leith and the Shore, Abbeyhill and Easter Road
Leith and the Shore
Leith is Edinburgh's port, and it still has its own identity. The Shore is the old harbour front along the Water of Leith, lined with stone warehouses, restaurants and bars. Further out, Ocean Terminal is home to the Royal Yacht Britannia. Leith Walk, the long road that links Leith to the city, is one of the most varied food streets in Edinburgh; our food and drink guide explains what you'll find.
The tram now runs from the city centre down Leith Walk to The Shore, Port of Leith, Ocean Terminal and Newhaven. That has made Leith a practical base rather than a trek. It suits food lovers, longer stays and repeat visitors who want somewhere more local.
Abbeyhill and Easter Road
Abbeyhill sits at the bottom of the Royal Mile, close to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Park. You can be on the slopes of Arthur's Seat within minutes. Easter Road runs north from here towards Leith, a long street of tenements, local shops and the home ground of Hibernian football club.
This part of town suits walkers, families who want space and anyone who prefers a neighbourhood to a tourist zone. Calton Hill, with one of the best views in the city, is close.
Getting around from here
From Leith, the tram is the quickest way into the centre and on to the airport. Abbeyhill and Easter Road are walkable to Waverley and well served by buses along London Road and Easter Road. Both are good bases for a Hogmanay visit, close enough to walk in and far enough to sleep afterwards.
Southside and Newington, Bruntsfield and Marchmont
Southside and Newington
The Southside begins just below the Old Town, around the University's central campus, and runs out through Newington along a main road of shops, cafés and takeaways. Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat are on the doorstep to the east. The Royal Commonwealth Pool is here too, which helps on a wet day; our rainy-day guide has more ideas.
It suits families, hill walkers, visiting parents and anyone in town for a university event. If you're coming for a ceremony, our graduation accommodation page covers the busy weeks.
Bruntsfield and Marchmont
Bruntsfield and Marchmont sit either side of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, two large green spaces that are full of people the moment the sun comes out. Bruntsfield has a long run of independent shops and places to eat. Marchmont is quieter: Victorian tenement streets, mostly residential, with a lot of students and families.
These areas suit couples, families with buggies and anyone staying a week or longer. You walk across the Meadows to the Old Town in 15 to 20 minutes, and it's mostly flat until the final climb.
Getting around from here
Plenty of buses run through Newington and Bruntsfield into the centre and on to Leith. There's no tram on this side of town, so allow for the bus if you're heading to the airport with luggage. Our guide to getting around Edinburgh covers the airport routes.
One practical point: Marchmont and Bruntsfield are almost entirely tenement flats. Many have no lift, and parking is controlled. If you're driving or carrying heavy bags, ask us which homes suit you best.
Portobello: Edinburgh by the sea
Portobello is Edinburgh's beach. It lies about three miles east of the centre but is still inside the city, with a long sandy beach and a promenade that runs along the Firth of Forth. On a clear morning, people swim, run, walk dogs and paddleboard.
The high street runs parallel to the beach, with local shops, cafés and food places. Away from the front, the streets are quiet and residential, with a mix of Victorian villas, terraces and tenement flats. In summer the promenade gets busy on warm weekends; the rest of the year, it's a calm place to stay.
Who Portobello suits
- Families who want sand and space for children. Our guide to Edinburgh with kids covers more beach and park days.
- Repeat visitors who've done the centre and want a slower stay.
- Anyone who'd rather wake up to sea air than street noise.
Getting around from Portobello
Several Lothian bus routes run between Portobello and the city centre, and the journey takes around half an hour depending on traffic. The tram doesn't come out this far, so the bus is the everyday way in. If you'll be out late in town, check the NightBus times before you go, or plan on a taxi back.
Portobello is part of the City of Edinburgh, so the Visitor Levy applies here just as it does in the centre. Our page on the Edinburgh Visitor Levy explains how it works. For a day further along the coast, our guide to day trips from Edinburgh has ideas.
Musselburgh and North Berwick: staying in East Lothian
Musselburgh and North Berwick are in East Lothian, not the City of Edinburgh. That changes how a stay feels and what you pay.
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is a small town at the mouth of the River Esk, with a harbour at Fisherrow, a racecourse and a historic links golf course. It's about seven minutes by train from Edinburgh Waverley. That makes it a quiet base that's still close to the city, and a good choice when the centre is full and busy in August or around Hogmanay.
It suits families, golfers, racegoers and people who want to explore both the city and the coast.
North Berwick
North Berwick is a seaside town about 35 minutes by train from Waverley. It has two sandy beaches, a busy little harbour and the volcanic hill of North Berwick Law behind the town. The Scottish Seabird Centre sits by the harbour, and out at sea the Bass Rock is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. Golf is everywhere here. Our page on golf holidays in East Lothian has more for golfers.
North Berwick suits families, couples, golfers and anyone who wants a seaside holiday with the option of a day in Edinburgh. Browse our homes in North Berwick to see what's available.
No Edinburgh Visitor Levy
The Edinburgh Visitor Levy is 5% of the accommodation cost on the first five nights of a stay in the City of Edinburgh. Musselburgh and North Berwick are outside the city, so the Edinburgh levy does not apply to stays there. Our Visitor Levy page has the details.
Getting around from East Lothian
Trains run from both towns to Waverley, and buses run along the coast. You don't need a car to reach Edinburgh. See our guide to getting to and around Edinburgh for the train line.
Best area to stay in Edinburgh, compared
Here's a side-by-side summary of Edinburgh neighbourhoods and the East Lothian coast. Walking times to Princes Street are rough guides for a steady pace and don't allow for the hills.
| Area | Feels like | Best for | Getting into town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town | Historic, busy, steep | First visits, short breaks | You're in it |
| New Town | Georgian, elegant, calmer | Couples, work trips | Walk, a few minutes |
| Stockbridge | Village feel by the river | Couples, families | Walk, about 15 minutes uphill |
| Haymarket and West End | Busy, well connected | Murrayfield, business, airport | Walk or tram |
| Leith and the Shore | Port, food, local life | Food lovers, repeat visits | Tram |
| Abbeyhill and Easter Road | Residential, near the park | Walkers, groups | Walk or bus |
| Southside and Newington | Lively, near Arthur's Seat | Families, university visits | Walk or bus |
| Bruntsfield and Marchmont | Leafy, by the Meadows | Longer stays, families | Walk across the Meadows or bus |
| Portobello | Beach, slower pace | Families, sea lovers | Bus, around 30 minutes |
| Musselburgh | Small coastal town | Golf, racing, quieter stays | Train, about 7 minutes |
| North Berwick | Seaside holiday town | Beaches, golf, families | Train, about 35 minutes |
If you can only pick one
- First visit, two or three nights: the Old Town or New Town.
- A week, and you want to feel local: Stockbridge, Bruntsfield or Leith.
- Travelling with children: Portobello, the Southside or North Berwick.
- Here for a match or a concert: Haymarket and the West End.
- Here for golf: Musselburgh or North Berwick.
- Here in August: close enough to walk to venues, but not on the Royal Mile itself, unless you like noise.
Performers and crews have different needs again. Our page on Fringe accommodation for performers covers group stays, and the Edinburgh visitor guides link everything together.
Where to stay in Edinburgh: questions to ask before you book
How many stairs?
Most central Edinburgh homes are tenement flats on shared stairs, and many tenements have no lift. A top-floor flat might be four or five flights up. Lovely, until you're carrying two suitcases. Each listing should tell you the floor. If it doesn't, ask us before you book. Our guide to getting around Edinburgh has tips for luggage on tenement stairs.
How quiet do you need it?
Shared stairs mean neighbours who live there all year. In our homes, quiet hours on shared stairs start at 10pm. If you're a light sleeper, avoid the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket in August.
Do you need parking?
Much of central Edinburgh has controlled parking, and spaces are hard to find. If you're driving, check whether the home has parking before you book, or plan to leave the car somewhere and use the tram or bus.
Is the home licensed?
Every short let in Scotland needs a licence from the local council. Every home we look after is licensed. Our guest guide explains what to expect from check-in to check-out, including verifying your ID before you receive your access code.
Arriving early or leaving late?
You can ask for early check-in or late check-out in the app up to 24 hours before. It's confirmed once accepted and paid. Not every date allows it, especially in busy weeks.
If you'd like a second opinion on where to stay, get in touch and tell us what kind of trip you're planning. You can also read what other guests said on our reviews page.
By the Stays In team, Edinburgh. Checked 1 October 2026: times, prices and programmes change, so check before you go.
