Edinburgh travel guideEdinburgh visitor guides, from people who live here.
Our Edinburgh travel guide brings together ten guides for guests: where to stay, getting around, rainy days, kids, the Fringe, Hogmanay, day trips, food and the best time to come. Pick your kind of trip and start there.
Edinburgh travel guide: how these guides fit together
This Edinburgh travel guide is the front door to everything we've written for guests. We look after licensed homes across the city and on the East Lothian coast, and our guest team answers questions every day. The same questions come up again and again: where to stay, how to get in from the airport, what to do when it rains, and how busy August really is. So we wrote the answers down.
There are ten guides. Each one covers a single subject and links to the others where they overlap.
- Your guest guide: check-in, house rules, the Visitor Levy and checking out.
- Where to stay in Edinburgh: the Old Town, New Town, Leith, Stockbridge, the Southside, the coast and more.
- Getting to and around Edinburgh: the airport, trains, the tram, buses and walking.
- Edinburgh on a rainy day: museums, galleries and indoor plans.
- Edinburgh with kids: parks, hills, the zoo and family days out.
- The Fringe visitor's guide: August, shows, crowds and booking.
- The Hogmanay visitor's guide: New Year in the city.
- Day trips from Edinburgh: the coast, the hills and beyond.
- Food and drink in Edinburgh: areas, markets and what to try.
- The best time to visit Edinburgh: month by month, weather included.
Below, we've grouped them by the kind of trip you're planning. Pick the section that sounds like you and follow the links from there. If you already have a booking with us, start with the guest guide, because it covers what happens on the day you arrive.
A note on what you won't find. We don't name restaurants, bars or cafés, because they open and close faster than we can update a page. We don't quote ticket prices or exact opening times either. They change, and the attraction's own website is always the better source. Where something matters, we say "check before you go", and we mean it.
Your first visit to Edinburgh: where to start
A first trip to Edinburgh usually starts in the Old Town. The castle sits on its rock, the Royal Mile runs downhill to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and narrow closes drop off either side. Across the valley, the New Town is all straight Georgian streets and gardens. Most first-time visitors spend their time between the two, and it's all walkable if you're happy with hills and steps.
Choosing a base
Where you stay shapes the trip. The Old Town puts you in the thick of it, which is lovely in March and lively in August. The New Town is calmer and close to everything. Stockbridge, Leith and the Southside feel more like neighbourhoods, with local shops and a short walk or bus into the centre. Our guide to where to stay in Edinburgh goes through each area honestly, including who it suits and who it doesn't. When you're ready, you can browse our stays in Edinburgh.
Three days, roughly
- Day one: the castle and the Royal Mile in the morning, then the closes and the Grassmarket. Book castle tickets ahead and check times before you go.
- Day two: a museum or gallery, then up Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat for the view, if the weather allows. Our rainy-day guide has the indoor options.
- Day three: pick a neighbourhood. Walk the Water of Leith from Stockbridge, or head down to the Shore in Leith. The food and drink guide covers where people eat in each area.
What first-timers often get wrong
Edinburgh is hillier than it looks on a map, and the cobbles are hard on thin soles. Bring proper shoes and a waterproof, whatever the month. The weather changes quickly, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor things each day. And don't try to drive in the centre: parking is controlled and the streets are narrow. Our getting around guide explains the tram, buses and walking routes. Read when to visit before you pick dates, because the city in August and the city in February are two different places.
Edinburgh with a family
Edinburgh is a good city for children, as long as you plan for short legs and changeable weather. There's space to run, plenty of free museums and a lot of history that's genuinely fun when you're seven.
Days that work for families
- Outdoors: the Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Park, the Meadows and Portobello beach. Arthur's Seat is a real climb, so pick a route that suits the youngest walker.
- Indoors: the National Museum of Scotland is a favourite on wet days. Our rainy-day guide lists more.
- Animals: Edinburgh Zoo is out west at Corstorphine, an easy bus ride from the centre.
The full list, with ideas by age, is in Edinburgh with kids.
Why a whole home helps
Families often find a flat easier than a hotel. You get a kitchen for breakfast and early teas, a washing machine, separate rooms so bedtime isn't everyone's bedtime, and somewhere to dry wet coats. If you need a cot, a high chair or a ground-floor flat, ask us before you book and we'll tell you honestly what each home has. Many of our homes are on shared tenement stairs, so it's worth reading the guest guide on stairs and quiet hours.
Where families tend to stay
Quieter, greener areas suit families best: Canonmills and Inverleith near the Botanics, Morningside and Bruntsfield in the south, or the seaside at Portobello. The where to stay guide compares them. For a change of pace, the beaches at North Berwick are a day out or a stay in their own right, and you can see our stays in North Berwick. The day trips guide covers how to get there by train.
Families coming for a university graduation in June or July have their own page: graduation accommodation in Edinburgh.
Festival trips: August and Hogmanay
Twice a year, Edinburgh changes completely. In August the festivals fill the city, and at New Year it throws a party. Both are wonderful. Both need a little more planning than a normal weekend.
August: the Fringe and the festivals
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs through most of August. The 2027 Fringe, its 80th, runs from 6 to 30 August. The Edinburgh International Festival also takes place in August, alongside other festivals. Venues pop up in churches, basements and courtyards, and the Royal Mile is full of performers handing out flyers.
Things to know: accommodation fills early, minimum stays are longer, and the centre is crowded from late morning to well after midnight. Staying a short walk or tram ride from the centre can make the trip calmer. Our Fringe visitor's guide covers booking shows, getting around and keeping your energy up. If you're performing rather than watching, see Fringe accommodation for performers.
New Year: Hogmanay
Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a few days of events around New Year. Some are free, and the biggest ones in the city centre usually need tickets. Programmes and dates change each year, so check the official programme before you plan. Our Hogmanay visitor's guide covers what to expect, how to get home after midnight and what's open on New Year's Day.
Festival stays with us
Most of our homes take stays of two or three nights, with longer minimums in August and over New Year. Each listing shows its own. Many of our homes are on shared stairs, and quiet hours from 10pm apply in August too, which neighbours appreciate after a month of late nights. You'll find the details in the guest guide, and you can see all our homes to check what's free.
If you have a choice of dates, our best time to visit Edinburgh guide explains what the quieter months offer instead.
Travelling to Edinburgh for work
Plenty of our guests come to Edinburgh to work: a project for a few weeks, a conference, a hospital placement, a site contract or a visiting post at one of the universities. A short let suits those stays well. You get a proper desk or table, a kitchen, a washing machine and room to switch off at the end of the day.
Pick the right page for your trip
- Short stays for visiting professionals: a week to a few months, on your own or with a colleague.
- Company accommodation: one contact for the booking and company invoicing.
- Contractor accommodation: whole homes for crews, early starts and parking where homes have it.
- Insurance accommodation: a temporary home while yours is being repaired.
Practical points for work trips
Self check-in with a code means a late flight or a 5am start isn't a problem. Tell us when you'll arrive, and if you need fast wifi for video calls, ask before you book so we can point you to homes that suit. Our team answers guest messages from 9am to midnight every day, and there's a 24/7 emergency line during your stay.
Location matters more on a work trip than on holiday. If your office is in the west, around Edinburgh Park or the Gyle, the tram runs out that way towards the airport. Haymarket is a good base for both trains and trams. Our getting around guide explains the tram line and the buses, and the where to stay guide covers each area's commute.
When you have an evening free
Even a busy work trip leaves the odd evening. A walk up Calton Hill at sunset takes under an hour from the centre. The food and drink guide covers the areas worth walking to for dinner, and the rainy-day guide has indoor ideas for a wet evening. Check opening times before you go, as they vary through the year.
A weekend in Edinburgh
A weekend is enough to fall for the city and leave a list for next time. The trick is not to try to do everything.
A simple plan
- Friday evening: arrive, settle in and walk somewhere close for dinner. Our guest guide explains self check-in, so a late train is fine.
- Saturday: the Old Town in the morning before the crowds, a gallery or museum after lunch, and a view from a hill if it's dry.
- Sunday: a slow walk in a neighbourhood, a market if there's one on, and the train home.
The food and drink guide covers markets and the areas people eat in, and the rainy-day guide is your plan B.
Weekends with a reason
Some weekends come with an event attached. Six Nations rugby brings big crowds to Murrayfield: Scotland play Italy on Saturday 6 February 2027, Wales on Saturday 13 February, and Ireland on Friday 5 March. Our page on accommodation near Murrayfield has more. Golfers head east to the East Lothian links, and our golf holiday homes page covers that coast.
Getting the most from two nights
Arrive by train if you can. Waverley station is right in the centre, and many homes are a walk or a short tram or bus ride away. Flying in, the tram and the Airlink 100 bus both run from the airport to the city centre; our getting around guide compares them. If you'd like more time on your last day, you can ask for a late check-out in the app up to 24 hours before. It depends on the calendar and is confirmed once accepted and paid.
Short on time but fancy the sea? The train to Musselburgh from Waverley takes about seven minutes, and North Berwick makes a lovely day out. See day trips from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh travel guide basics: getting around and the weather
Two things shape every trip to Edinburgh: how you move around and what the sky is doing. Both are easier with a bit of planning.
Getting here and getting around
The tram runs between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven, stopping at Murrayfield Stadium, Haymarket, Princes Street, St Andrew Square for Waverley, and on through Leith. The Airlink 100 bus runs from the airport to Waverley Bridge in the city centre. Lothian Buses cover the city, and trains from Waverley and Haymarket reach the coast and beyond. Times and fares change, so check the operators' own sites before you travel. Our guide to getting to and around Edinburgh has the details, including taxis and late-night options.
Walking is often quickest in the centre. The Old Town and New Town sit close together, but the hills, steps and cobbles add time. A car is more trouble than it's worth for most city stays. If you do bring one, ask us whether a home has parking, because many don't.
The weather
Edinburgh weather is changeable rather than wild. You can see sunshine, a shower and a sea breeze in the same afternoon. Summer evenings are long and light; winter days are short. Pack layers and a waterproof in any month. Our best time to visit guide goes month by month, and the rainy-day guide is there for the wet days.
Staying warm indoors
Many of our homes are in stone tenements and Georgian buildings. They're full of character, and older buildings can take a while to warm up after a cold spell. The guest guide has simple heating tips, and your house guide explains the controls in your home.
Staying in an Edinburgh home with Stays In
We're a local team looking after licensed short lets across Edinburgh and East Lothian. Every home we let holds a short-term let licence, and licence numbers are shown on each listing. If you're staying with us, here's what to expect, in short.
- Before you arrive: you verify your ID, then you get your arrival details and access code.
- Arriving: self check-in with a code, so you can arrive when it suits you within the check-in time.
- During your stay: messages answered 9am to midnight every day, and an emergency line 24/7.
- House rules: quiet hours from 10pm on shared stairs, no parties, and the guest limit set by the licence.
- Extras: early check-in or late check-out can be requested in the app up to 24 hours before, confirmed once accepted and paid.
The full detail is in our guest guide to check-in, house rules and your stay, including bins, heating, wifi, checking out and lost property.
The Visitor Levy
Stays in the City of Edinburgh starting on or after 24 July 2026 carry a 5% Visitor Levy on the accommodation price, for the first five nights. It doesn't apply in East Lothian, so not in Musselburgh or North Berwick. Our Visitor Levy page explains how it works.
Find your home
You can browse all our homes, or go straight to stays in Edinburgh or stays in North Berwick. If you'd like to see what other guests say first, our reviews page collects 1,552 guest reviews from Airbnb, Booking.com and Google, with an average of 4.7. Have a question before you book? Get in touch with our team and we'll answer honestly.
By the Stays In team, Edinburgh. Checked 1 October 2026: times, prices and programmes change, so check before you go.
