Edinburgh has a reputation for expensive hotels, yet a comfortable, central base for well under £200 a night is still easy to find if you pick the right street and the right dates. This guide groups fifteen affordable places to stay by neighbourhood, so you can trade a few extra minutes on foot for a lower price per night.
Every property below was checked against its official website for address, postcode and key facilities. We give a price band rather than a fixed figure, because Edinburgh rates move with every big event, rugby weekend and stadium concert, and the same double can cost three times as much in August as it does in February.
Updated 26 October 2026. Addresses and facilities checked on each hotel’s own website; rates change daily, so confirm the price when booking.
| Hotel | Postcode | Band | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motel One Edinburgh-Royal | EH1 1BL | ££ | Arriving by train |
| The Inn Place | EH1 1NY | ££ | Groups & bunks |
| ibis South Bridge | EH1 1HN | ££ | Late bar |
| Motel One Edinburgh-Princes | EH2 2AN | ££ | Design for less |
| Premier Inn Princes St | EH2 4AD | ££ | Families |
| easyHotel Edinburgh | EH2 4AD | £ | Lowest base rate |
| YOTEL Edinburgh | EH2 4NA | ££ | Solo travellers |
| Indigo, York Place | EH1 3JD | ££ | Boutique feel |
| Travelodge Waterloo Place | EH1 3BG | £ | Discounted rates |
| Cairn, Windsor St | EH7 5JR | £ | Apartments |
| No. 11 Brunswick St | EH7 5JB | ££ | Georgian character |
| Garner Edinburgh | EH12 5DR | ££ | Rail links |
| Point A Edinburgh | EH3 8EB | £ | Conference trips |
| Piries, Coates Gdns | EH12 5LB | £ | Murrayfield |
| Cityroomz Edinburgh | EH2 4RG | £ | Short breaks |
Old Town: cheap beds near the castle
Staying inside the medieval core means you can walk to the castle, the closes and the late-opening pubs without a bus fare, and be back in bed within minutes. Expect higher prices in festival season and some noise on weekend nights.
Right beside Waverley, so you can wheel your case from the platform to reception in a couple of minutes. Check-in is from 3pm, pets are welcome by arrangement with the team, and there is no car park on site (the nearest is Q-Park Greenside).
Set on one of the prettiest curving lanes in Edinburgh, with 41 rooms spread over four floors. Private bunk options make it a useful pick for friends splitting the bill, and the cafes of the historic core are outside the door.
A big, reliable chain property with 259 air-conditioned doubles and twins a few steps from the Royal Mile, plus a bar that stays open late. Accor runs a second ibis around the corner on Hunter Square if this one is full.
City centre and New Town hotels
The Georgian grid north of the gardens has the widest choice of mid-priced chains, with trains and the airport bus close by. George Street and St James Quarter keep you busy on wet days, and you are never more than a short walk from dinner.
Smart, compact rooms and a stylish lounge bar at the east end of the main shopping street. Trains, trams and buses all leave from within a few minutes, so it works well for a night or two in Edinburgh with day trips.
Faces the castle across the gardens. Up to two children eat breakfast free when an adult orders one, so a family room here is good value; car drivers must use the paid Castle Terrace car park.
The no-frills option in Edinburgh: small, clean spaces where you pay only for the extras you want. Ideal if you plan to be out exploring from morning to midnight and just need a bed for the night.
Clever cabin-style room layouts with air conditioning inside a Georgian terrace. You can earn Hilton Honors points on every stay, which helps frequent travellers get more value from a trip to Edinburgh.
A boutique IHG address in a row of Georgian townhouses near St James Quarter, often priced close to the big chains outside peak weeks. Good if you want a little personality from your stay.
Open as normal, but Travelodge says construction work runs until December 2026, daily from 7:30am to 8pm. Light sleepers should weigh the discount against the noise; late risers may find it a bargain.
Top of Leith Walk: more space for less
Ten to fifteen minutes on foot from Princes St, these two addresses often undercut central rates and sit on the main bus corridor down to the shore, on the quieter east side of town.
Simple doubles plus self-catering apartments a few minutes from the Edinburgh Playhouse, so you can cook a meal or two and keep the cost per night down on a longer trip to the east side of town.
A Georgian townhouse with its own brasserie, for anyone who wants period character without a luxury bill. Calton Hill, with its views over Edinburgh, is a short walk away.
Haymarket and the West End
The western side of town is the smart choice if you arrive by air or rail: the tram runs from the airport to a stop outside these hotels, and Murrayfield Stadium is roughly 20 minutes away on foot. Rates here are often a little lower than in the centre, especially on a Sunday night.
The former Hub Hotel reopened in June 2025 as IHG’s first Garner in Scotland, with 195 refreshed rooms opposite the station. Expect a grab-and-go breakfast, secure paid spaces for cars behind the building and fast rail links out of town.
Small, air-conditioned bedrooms near the EICC, with a complimentary breakfast when you reserve direct (confirm when booking). Handy for a conference stay or a night on a short work trip to Edinburgh.
A quiet Victorian terrace address that works well for rugby fans walking out to Murrayfield and for anyone wanting a quiet night before an early train out of Edinburgh.
Straightforward accommodation right on the tram line, a short stroll from the shops and bars at the western end of Princes St. Fine for a quick weekend stay in town.
Getting to your hotel
From Edinburgh Airport, the tram takes you to the West End, Princes St and St Andrew Square, and the Airlink 100 bus runs into the city centre. Most travellers arriving by rail use the main station below the castle; trains from Glasgow and the west also stop at the western station, which suits the hotels on that side. Drivers should note that few central hotels have their own car park, so budget for a public one or leave the car at home.
Hostels for really cheap beds
Private rooms and dorm beds cost a fraction of a hotel night. Castle Rock Hostel (15 Johnston Terrace, EH1 2PW) sits beneath the castle, while Kick Ass Hostels has two Edinburgh sites, at 2 West Port by the Grassmarket and at 37–39 Cowgate. All three are adults-only (18+) with 24-hour reception, shared kitchens or bars, and a lively crowd in a busy part of town.
The visitor levy: what it adds to your bill
Since 24 July 2026 the council charges a 5% levy on paid overnight accommodation, worked out before VAT and capped at the first five consecutive nights. Stays booked and paid for before 1 October 2025 are exempt. Some sites quote prices without it, so compare like with like; full rules are on the City of Edinburgh Council website.
How to pay less for a room in Edinburgh
- Avoid the big dates. August, Hogmanay and major rugby or concert weekends can double the nightly price; check the events calendar before you fix your trip.
- Go midweek. Sunday to Thursday nights are usually cheaper than Friday and Saturday.
- Book direct. Point A, Motel One and other chains keep perks such as free cancellation or a morning meal for direct bookings.
- Skip the car. Spaces in the centre are limited and costly; the airport line and the Airlink bus connect the airport with the middle of town.
- Look one stop out. The east and west sides of the centre often have availability when the core is sold out, at a lower rate per night.
Price bands: £ = budget, usually among the lowest rates in Edinburgh; ££ = mid-range for the city. Always confirm the live price per night, including the 5% levy, when booking.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the cheapest hotel in central Edinburgh?
On most dates easyHotel and Travelodge Waterloo Place post the lowest headline rates in the centre, but the gap closes in quiet months. Compare a few properties for your exact dates before booking.
When are hotel prices in Edinburgh lowest?
January to March and early November are usually the best value. Prices climb in August for the Fringe, at Hogmanay and on Six Nations match weekends, when a single night can cost more than a whole week in winter.
Which part of the city is best for an affordable stay?
Stay in the historic core for sightseeing on foot, around the Georgian streets for shopping and trains, or out west for the airport and lower prices. If everything central is full, look east towards the Playhouse.
Is Travelodge Edinburgh Central open in 2026?
Yes. The Waterloo Place hotel is trading, but its website warns of construction work until December 2026, from 7:30am to 8pm daily.
What happened to the Hub Hotel on Clifton Terrace?
It was refurbished and reopened in June 2025 as Garner Hotel Edinburgh, an IHG brand, at the same Clifton Terrace address.
Do I have to pay the Edinburgh visitor levy?
Most guests do. The 5% charge applies to the first five nights of a paid stay and is usually added by the hotel at booking or check-out; ask if the quoted price already includes it.