Leith is Edinburgh’s port, furthest out from the center but with good bus connections to New Town. Buses run frequently to New Town and to Leith. A former village absorbed into the city, it offers a slice of authentic Edinburgh life alongside a smattering of decent cafes, restaurants, and pubs. Dining options are non-existent but there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in nearby New Town.Ī little further north of Dean Village, Stockbridge is a 15-minute downhill walk from New Town. Accommodation is scarce: there are several mid-range hotels here and one high-end option. Edinburgh Waverley train station is located here, with links to London, Glasgow, and other major cities.ĭean Village, a 10-minute walk or short bus ride northwest of New Town, is a slice of village tranquility just minutes away from the bustling city center, with cobbled streets and a riverside path bordering the Water of Leith. The Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery are the main sights here, and there’s a greater selection of mid-range and budget accommodations (including some chains), as well as several luxury hotels. Just north and downhill of Old Town, New Town is also super-central, with excellent transport connections, wide streets lined with handsome Georgian architecture and high-end boutiques, and narrow lanes dotted with cafes and bars. This area is excellent for families due to its proximity to attractions. It’s a very walkable neighborhood, with attractions in New Town and Southside within easy strolling distance, and handy public transport connections from Princes Street down the hill to other parts of Edinburgh. There are several excellent high-end hotels here, as well as mid-range options, and even a couple of budget picks just down the hill. (If you’re visiting Edinburgh without a car, the Old Town and New Town areas are the most convenient places to stay.) A number of museums and other attractions aside, New Town has excellent and diverse dining for every budget and plenty of bars and pubs to discover in the tiny lanes branching off the Royal Mile. The historic Old Town comprising Edinburgh’s most famous street – the partially-pedestrianized Royal Mile, which runs from Edinburgh Castle to the Holyrood Palace, sits on a hill above New Town and is as central as it gets. Similarly, while Old Town and New Town have the lion’s share of accommodations, Edinburgh’s best hotels are not focused in one neighborhood, and it’s easy to find great lodgings for all budgets in several different areas.

There are convenient tram connections from the airport to the Edinburgh Waverley train station located between Old Town and New Town. While most attractions are concentrated in and around Old Town and New Town, there are some further out that can easily be reached by efficient public transport.

Edinburgh’s “downtown” is composed of Old Town – the city’s medieval heart – and New Town, and separated from each other by the main thoroughfare of Princes Street. There is no single best neighborhood to stay in Edinburgh, and since most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other, you can easily stay in several different neighborhoods without missing out on the sights. Here seen from the Edinburgh train station. Conveniently located between Old Town and New Town and an easy walk to both areas. The Balmoral is the best luxury hotel in Edinburgh.

Hotels in edinburgh scotland