Arthur’s Seat, the Royal Mile, and Calton Hill, just to name a few of the incredible sites in Edinburgh, Scotland.
If you’re headed to this incredible city, you’ll need an equally impressive place to stay.
Keep reading to discover where to stay in Edinburgh to be close to major attractions, restaurants, and shopping at an affordable budget.
Read More: 6 Romantic Hotels in Edinburgh for Couples [With Hot Tubs]
Table of contents
If you need cheap luggage storage for your next trip, we recommend Eelway.
What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is a fantastic service that allows you to find everything from inexpensive home stays in South America to luxury villas in Bali. From large hotel corporations to individual families, Airbnb is used by everyone as a way to find accommodation and to make money.
Be sure to pin “Where to Stay in Edinburgh, Scotland” for later.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh Comparison Chart
There’s a lot to be said for staying in a central location. Yes, it tends to be more expensive, but you’ll also not likely have to pay for transportation. Depending on your motivation, you’ll want to stay central.
If you’re hoping to see the tourist sites and don’t mind taking public transit or being somewhere right when it opens, I would opt to stay a bit further out at a lower price. When you visit Scotland during the best time of the year, a walk in the city is beautiful!
For Edinburgh, if you want to be central, I recommend staying as near to the Royal Mile as possible. You’ll find endless amounts of things to do, whether that’s an optical illusion museum, castles, or whiskey tastings.
Scroll beyond the chart for more detailed information.
| Airbnb | Best For | Budget | Price |
| Large Quirky Room | Affordable accommodation near the Royal Mile | Budget | Check on Airbnb |
| Double Central Room w/ Extras | Budget room in Leith | Budget | Check on Airbnb |
| Edinburgh Castle Suites (Where We Stayed) | Stunning flat next to Edinburgh Castle | Economy | Check on Airbnb |
| On the Royal Mile (Where We Stayed) | Room flat on the Royal Mile, next to the Baked Potato Shop | Economy | Check on Airbnb |
| Classical Loft on the Royal Mile | Indulgent flat for the book lover | Luxury | Check on Airbnb |
| Destiny Apartments (Where We Stayed) | Classy flat perfect for a couple | Luxury | Check on Airbnb |
Budget Accommodation in Edinburgh ($)
Ah, the accommodation to which Jack and I are most familiar! If you’re wondering where to stay in Edinburgh, you can’t go wrong with these budget options.`
Large Quirky Room
Sleeps: 3
Location: 10 min from Arthur’s Seat, 15 min from Royal Mile
Bed Size: 2 double beds
Promising Review: Sally is a very nice host, very amicable and eager to help. The breakfast is generous and wholesome. Near the center but away from the crowd. Good rental! 🙂
[Update: This rental is no longer available, check out this one instead]
Double Central Room w/ Extras
Sleeps: 2
Location: Leith
Bed Size: Double
[Update: This listing is no longer available. Find where to stay here]
Promising Review: “This space is a great place to stay for a quick night in Edinburgh. The room was impeccably clean and comfortable, the host was easy to get in touch with, there was great available wifi, and it was right near downtown. A wonderful room for a wonderful price.”
Economy Accommodation in Edinburgh ($$)
I’m lucky enough to have stayed in the following two Airbnbs with my mom when we were in Scotland. You can read more about everything amazing in Scotland here.
Edinburgh Castle Suites (Where We Stayed)
Sleeps: 2
Location: Near Edinburgh Castle
Bed Size: Probably Queen
My Review: I can also vouch for this Airbnb which is actually in a hotel, but it’s fully self check-in. It’s absolutely stunning and so clean that I walked around and showered without shoes (which is really saying something). They also have Netflix which is where I introduced my mother to the Great British Baking Show (a true gem). The only negative part is lugging a suitcase up many many stairs and the washing machine is a little hidden away in the basement, but the room itself is a treasure!
[Update: This rental is no longer available, check out this one instead]
On the Royal Mile (Where We Stayed)
Sleeps: 6
Location: On the Royal Mile
Bed Size: 2 doubles, one couch
My Review: This is an absolutely lovely place to stay and in a fantastic location. In fact, it’s literally right next to The Baked Potato Shop, one of my personal favorite highlights of Edinburgh. You truly can’t beat this location. It’s a short walk from Waverly Station and central to everything you’ll want to see in Edinburgh.
[Update: This rental is no longer available, check out this one instead]
Luxury Accommodation in Edinburgh ($$$)
As frivolous as it sounds, I would someday like to be comfortable enough in life to stay in Airbnb Plus homes when I travel. That is decadence! When I waste away all my free time, looking at fancy places to stay on Airbnb is usually where it goes! All this is to say, I spend far too much time on Airbnb.
Classical Loft on the Royal Mile
Sleeps: 2
Location: Top of the Royal Mile near Edinburgh Castle
Bed Size: 1 double bed
[Update: This listing is no longer available. Find where to stay here]
Promising Review: Calim’s place on the Royal Mile was amazing. I’ve stayed in a lot of Airbnb’s and this was hands down the best so far. He thought of everything – breakfast available, teas/coffees, guidebooks, great recommendations before we arrived, even adapters for those of us traveling from overseas. The apartment was perfect for our time in beautiful Edinburgh. Super tastefully done and felt like a home away from home. He even let us leave our luggage with him after we checked out and until our flight, such a nice gesture. We spent four nights at Calim’s place, wish we could have stayed longer and hope to be back. Book his place, you won’t regret it!
Destiny Apartments (Where We Stayed)
Sleeps: 2
Location: 10 min from Dean’s Village, 10 mins from Royal Mile
Bed Size: King
[Update: This listing is no longer available. Find where to stay here]
My Review: This apartment was absolutely lovely! The lounge is beautiful and comfy to relax in (although not very vegan friendly due to all of the leather). The bed is massive and the bathroom couldn’t be better. The location is also fantastic and it doesn’t seem to be more than a 15 minute walk to any of the major sites.
Browse Other Accommodation Options in Edinburgh
Keep Exploring Scotland
Edinburgh and Scotland are chock full of incredible things to do and sites to see. If you liked learning where to stay in Edinburgh, keep reading to discover more amazing things to do, eat, and see in Scotland.
Click on the posts below to keep reading.
More Scotland Posts
- 10 Best Destinations for Romantic Couples Breaks in Scotland
- 6 Jaw-Dropping Scotland Gift Experiences
- 10 Dreamy Scotland Romantic Getaways for Couples
- 15 INSANE Fun Facts About Scotland You Need to Know
- Puffins in Scotland: Where, When & How to See Them
- 5 Highland Tours From Edinburgh to See the BEST of Scotland
- The BEST 5 Day Scotland Tours From Edinburgh
- 10 Unusual Edinburgh Gift Experiences They’ll LOVE
- Isle of May Boat Trip: Read This BEFORE Seeing the Puffins
- Top 10 Splurge-Worthy 5 Star Hotels in Edinburgh
- 10 PERFECT Gift From Scotland
- 12 Gorgeous Bookshops in Edinburgh You NEED to Visit
- 15 STUNNING Rooftop Bars in Edinburgh
- 10 FANTASTIC Edinburgh Walking Tours
- How to Photograph Scotland: From Highlands to Cities
- 10 Quirky Edinburgh Hostels You’ll LOVE Staying In
- 10 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary for an EPIC Adventure
- Rabbies Scotland Tour Review – Black Isle
- Where to Stay in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Vegan Edinburgh & Beyond: AMAZING Restaurants You NEED to Try
- Beautiful Scotland: Photo Spots You NEED to See
- Top 10 Things To Do in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Heart of Scotland Tour Review – 3 Day Edinburgh to Isle of Skye Bus Tour
What Camera Gear Do We Use?
- Camera body: Nikon d750
- Phone: iPhone 13 Pro
- Favorite Multipurpose Travel Lens: 24-120mm f/4
- GoPro: GoPro Hero 8
- Drone: DJI Mavic Air is no longer available so we recommend the DJI Air2S
- Camera Bag: Wandrd Prvke 31L
- Tripod: ESDDI Aluminum Tripod
If you want the full list of things we keep in our camera bag, check out the complete guide or browse our photography guides.
Free Resources
And as always, you can find more sustainable travel content on Instagram @VoyagingHerbivore, Youtube, and TikTok and to get updates straight to your inbox, enter your email below.
If you found this guide helpful and want to help us keep these resources free,
please consider making your next Amazon, Expedia, Hostel World, Etsy, Trivago, and Booking.com purchase through our links (just click right on those words – you can do it right now and unless you clear your cookies before your next purchase, it will remember). It costs you no extra and gives us a small commission. Thank you!
Leave a Reply