Where to stay in Edinburgh for first-timers: Old Town

Walk straight into the Royal Mile’s history; accept cobbles, climbs and late crowds around Grassmarket and Cowgate.

Getting around

9.5

On your doorstep

10.0

Hotels

7.8

Value

4.9

Axel’s verdict

8.8

Best for

first-time visitorsmuseums and culturenightlifetravelers without a car

Skip it if

You need easy, step-free walking; You want reliably quiet nights

Getting around

Walk to the main historical sights and Waverley; bus 31 crosses South Bridge. From EDI, take Airlink 100 to Waverley Bridge or a direct tram to Princes Street/St Andrew Square, then walk uphill.

After dark

Grassmarket and Cowgate attract late pub and club crowds; visitors report quieter evenings farther down Canongate.

Where to look

Royal Mile at Hunter Square. Stay here for immediate historic sightseeing and easy wandering; nearby pubs mean central does not necessarily mean quiet.Canongate. The lower Royal Mile suits history-focused stays with less evening bustle than the busiest Old Town pub streets.Victoria Street and Grassmarket. Atmospheric streets, castle views and pub evenings suit first visits; light sleepers should choose their room carefully.

Combine airport trams, strong hotels and walkable sights, with calmer streets north of Queen Street.

Getting around

9.6

On your doorstep

10.0

Hotels

8.6

Value

3.2

Axel’s verdict

9.1

Best for

first-time visitorsluxury travelersshoppingtravelers without a car

Skip it if

You want medieval streets outside your door; You want a residential atmosphere on the main shopping streets

Getting around

Princes Street and St Andrew Square have direct EDI trams; Waverley and the bus station are convenient from the eastern streets, and Old Town is walkable across The Mound or North Bridge.

After dark

Rose Street pubs and George Street bars draw evening crowds; visitors describe the residential streets farther north as quieter than Old Town.

Where to look

St Andrew Square. Choose this end for train and tram arrivals, shopping and a green square between sightseeing walks.George Street. Restaurants and cocktail bars make evenings easy; better for sociable weekends than an early, hushed night.Charlotte Square. Georgian surroundings at the western end of the shopping streets suit walkers who want restaurants nearby without staying above George Street bars.

Stay near Calton Hill, Broughton restaurants and Picardy Place trams without centering every evening on the Royal Mile.

Getting around

9.4

On your doorstep

8.6

Hotels

8.2

Value

4.6

Axel’s verdict

8.4

Best for

LGBTQ+ travelersnightlifeshoppingfood lovers

Skip it if

You need flat walking routes; You want quiet directly beside the bars

Getting around

Picardy Place has direct EDI trams and connections towards Leith; Broughton Street and Leith Street have city buses, while Waverley, Princes Street and eastern New Town are walkable.

After dark

The Playhouse brings pre- and post-show activity, while the Pink Triangle’s bars and clubs keep the top of Leith Walk lively later.

Where to look

Royal Terrace. Greenery and quieter Georgian surroundings suit couples seeking a retreat within walking reach of the center; expect slopes.Picardy Place. Stay around the tram stop for Playhouse evenings and nearby bars; this is the sociable rather than secluded option.Waterloo Place. The city-center edge of Calton Hill suits rail arrivals who want sightseeing access and a hill walk close by.

Make arrivals and rail outings simple, trading immediate medieval surroundings for neighborhood pubs and practical connections.

Getting around

9.0

On your doorstep

8.7

Hotels

8.2

Value

5.1

Axel’s verdict

8.1

Best for

business trips and conventionstravelers on a budgetsports fansluxury travelers

Skip it if

You want the Royal Mile on your doorstep; You dislike traffic around transport junctions

Getting around

Haymarket has mainline trains, direct EDI trams and Airlink 100; West End tram stop and Shandwick Place buses serve the eastern streets. Walk to the EICC and western New Town.

After dark

William Street offers pub-and-dinner evenings; Haymarket’s main roads retain traffic, with quieter residential streets nearby.

Where to look

Drumsheugh Gardens. Quieter residential streets suit couples and longer stays, with West End dining and Dean Village walks nearby.Haymarket Station and Morrison Street. Choose the station side for rail trips and airport connections; Morrison Street also puts conference visits within walking reach.William Street and Stafford Street. Small shops, pubs and restaurants give evenings a neighborhood feel without placing you among Old Town sightseeing crowds.

Choose the northern streets for university life and access towards Old Town; farther south means more walking or buses.

Getting around

7.2

On your doorstep

3.7

Hotels

8.4

Value

5.3

Axel’s verdict

7.2

Best for

travelers on a budgetfamiliesa quiet stay

Skip it if

You want a direct airport tram nearby; You want New Town shopping immediately outside

Getting around

Buses including 3, 8 and 31 serve the main streets; walk to the Meadows, university and, from the northern streets, Old Town. From EDI, take Airlink 100 to Haymarket and change to bus 31.

After dark

Student pubs and university venues keep the northern streets active; visitors seeking calm should favor residential Newington streets and account for festival activity.

Where to look

Holyrood Park Road. The park-side university setting suits walkers and campus visitors who prefer greenery to immediate city-center access.Salisbury Road. Residential Newington suits calmer evenings, with buses and the university district within reach rather than sightseeing at the door.Craigmillar Park. Farther south, larger houses and gardens suit bus-based stays; choose this for residential surroundings rather than a central address.

Stay for waterfront dinners and neighborhood life; commute to the castle.

Getting around

8.0

On your doorstep

5.7

Hotels

6.8

Value

4.9

Axel’s verdict

7.4

Best for

food loverscouples

Skip it if

You have very little sightseeing time; You want every central attraction within an easy walk

Getting around

Direct EDI trams serve Leith Walk and The Shore, continuing to Ocean Terminal; buses 16 and 49 provide useful central links. Explore locally on foot, but use transport for repeated Old Town trips.

After dark

The Shore is sociable around dinner and drinks; Leith Walk has a busier pub-and-street atmosphere than quieter residential streets nearby.

Where to look

The Shore. Waterside restaurants and relaxed drinks suit dinner-led weekends and repeat visitors happier outside the central sightseeing circuit.Ocean Drive. Choose the waterfront tram corridor for Britannia visits and port surroundings, accepting journeys into the historic center.Pilrig Street. This inland option suits travelers wanting Leith Walk’s everyday shops and cafés rather than a waterfront setting.

Choose it for rugby or the zoo, not a sightseeing-first weekend.

Getting around

4.9

On your doorstep

5.9

Hotels

7.2

Value

7.2

Axel’s verdict

5.8

Best for

sports fansa quiet stayfamilies

Skip it if

You want spontaneous central sightseeing; You want quiet on stadium-event nights

Getting around

Buses 26 and 31 link the main road with the center; Airlink 100 connects EDI directly. Murrayfield Stadium and Balgreen have airport trams, but Corstorphine village requires a bus or a longer walk to rail.

After dark

Usually residential and low-key away from main roads; rugby and concert nights bring crowds, noise and busy trams around Murrayfield.

Where to look

Corstorphine Road, Murrayfield to Zoo. Stay along this bus corridor for rugby or zoo visits; expect road traffic rather than uniformly quiet suburban nights.St John's Road. Corstorphine’s shops, pubs and nearby green spaces suit suburban stays with bus journeys into the center.McLeod Street. The Tynecastle side suits football trips and local eating, rather than historic sightseeing on foot.