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Is Edinburgh expensive? Can you visit Edinburgh on a budget? When is the best time to visit Edinburgh? These are questions we often hear from Scotland fans planning a trip to Edinburgh. This guide details how much a visit to Edinburgh costs and includes transport fares, accommodation options, food and drink costs, and activity ticket prices.
We’ve also created a section on tips for visiting Edinburgh on a budget.
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How Much Does a Trip to Edinburgh Cost?
As with any trip, the answer to the question ‘How much does Edinburgh cost?’ depends on your travel style.
Anything is possible in Scotland’s capital.
If money is no object you can stay in a suite at The Balmoral, sip champagne on George Street and slurp oysters in Leith.
If your budget is a little more conservative, there are hostels in Edinburgh, pubs with somewhat student and backpacker prices and food options that won’t break the bank while feeding your belly.
Note: If you are visiting from outside of the UK, you may need to purchase a UK ETA, which you can read about here.
Transport Prices in Edinburgh
If you have ample time and want to save money, walking is your best mode of transport.
Edinburgh is a very walkable city, it has its compact size to thank for that.
A leisurely stroll from the bottom of Leith Shore to Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile in the Old Town can be done in 50 minutes.
You can walk from Calton Hill to the West End in 40 minutes.
If you only have one day in Edinburgh or want to save your feet during your weekend trip, then you have a variety of options to consider.
- Join a hop-on hop-off bus, like this one
- Buy a Lothian Buses DAYticket for £5 per adult or a single ride for £2
- Get a Network DAYticket which lets you use the bus and tram* for £5 or a tram single for £2
- Head to a taxi rank and get in a taxi. Prices vary depending on tarifs
- Order an Uber for transparent prices
*This doesn’t include the tram ride from Edinburgh Airport to the city. Read our guide on how to get from the airport for full options.
Edinburgh Accommodation Costs
Room prices will depend on when you visit.
Avoid the Festival Fringe and Hogmanay/New Year if you are on a budget and read our guide to affordable hotels in Edinburgh.
Below are some examples of hotel prices for high-end and affordable accommodation.
Edinburgh Hotel Prices
- Balmoral Deluxe Castle View: £500-800 (image below); read our review
- Ibis Hunter Square double room: Starting at £130 (image below)
- Motel One: Starting at £80
Edinburgh Apartment Prices
Apartments in Edinburgh can be expensive, especially in the Old Town or City Centre.
- Apartment for one night: £110 – £250
Edinburgh Hostel Prices
Hostels in Edinburgh are cheaper than in London but more expensive than in Glasgow, as to be expected.
- Shared dorm example: Starting at £14
Food and Drink Prices in Edinburgh
This is where you can really start putting away the pounds in currency and weight gain!
- Two alcoholic drinks at an Old Town pub: £10-15
- Two cocktails at a Royal Mile pub: £18-20
- Two speciality gelatos in the Old Town: £10
- Two breakfast rolls and hot drinks on Cockburn Street: £16
- One wine, one beer, two mains from Italian in West End: £45
- One takeout sandwich in Leith: £6
- Brunch for two with one Mimosa in Leith: £42
- Two Thai takeout meals and two soft drinks in Stockbridge: £18
- Afternoon tea for one at Prestonfield House: £60
- Bottle of water by Edinburgh Castle: £3.50 (!!)
- Bottle of water in supermarket: £1.20
Do these Edinburgh prices surprise you?
You may also like our guide food and drink page, which links to our food guides.
Edinburgh Activities and Attractions Costs
There is heaps of free stuff to do in Edinburgh, which we’ll go over below, but there are some attractions you will want to pay for to learn more about the city.
Popular paid-for activities include:
- Edinburgh Castle: £19.50 or skip the line tickets with guide £36
- Underground Vaults Tour: £20 (review)
- Royal Yacht Britannia: £20 (review)
If a walking tour is “free”, you should always tip at the end.
Some visitors tip guides on top of pre-paid tours, too.
Check out our Edinburgh gift guide, which includes experiences.
Currency in Edinburgh
The Scottish Pound and the British Pound (GBP/£) are both used in Scotland.
The most up-to-date exchange rates can be found here.
Currency comes in the following:
- Notes: £50, £20 (image below), £10 image below), £5
- Coins: £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p
Credit Cards and ATMs
The majority of credit cards are accepted at hotels and attractions.
Annoyingly, American Express is not widely accepted in cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops.
There are many ways to pay.
Tap a debit or credit card on the machine to activate contactless payment for low amounts, use the chip and pin function or sign for the payment. The latter is not used frequently anymore.
Some locals use digital wallets on their phones and watches.
ATMs and cash dispensers are widely available and mostly free to use, attached to banks and outside of stores such as Tesco.
Avoid small corner shop ATMs as they often charge for use. An alert will tell you if this is the case.
Contact your bank to find out how much they charge for transactions abroad.
Tipping in Scotland
Tipping is not mandatory but is appreciated.
10% is customary for good table service, and some places will add the charge, so check the bill.
If hotel staff help with luggage, tipping is expected.
You don’t have to tip your taxi driver.
Edinburgh on a Budget
You don’t have to splurge to visit Scotland’s capital. Here are our tips on how to visit Edinburgh with a few quid.
- Visit during the low season, avoid summer months and December, check out our guide to autumn
- Visit Monday-Thursday for cheaper accommodation rates
- Walk or buy day tickets for the bus if you need transport
- Carry your refillable water bottle
- Eat your biggest meal at lunchtime
- Consider set menus for lunch, here are fine dining options for under £35
- Eat where the students go for big portions and smaller prices – try Nicholson Street
- Download the Too Good To Go app for cheap take out meals
- Grocery shop at Lidl or Aldi for cheaper options, avoid Waitrose in Stockbridge
- Take shopping bags with you to save 5p and the environment
- Check out 5pm.com and Groupon for hotel and attraction deals
- If visiting for the Festival Fringe, bag the 2-4-1 tickets at the start of the calender
Free Things To Do In Edinburgh
There’s plenty of money-saving free things to do in the city. Here is a selection.
- Visit the gardens such as Princes Street, Starbank and the Meadows
- Enjoy Edinburgh walks up Calton Hill, Arthur’s Seat and along the Waters of Leith
- Visit Edinburgh museums, the majority are free to enter
- Do a self-guided Harry Potter tour
- Spend the day at an East Coast beach
You can find out more in our guide to free Edinburgh activities and may also like our post on family-friendly activities.
Cost of living in Edinburgh
Like Edinburgh so much you plan to move to Scotland?
Long Stay Apartments
Edinburgh rent prices are naturally higher for flats closest to the City Centre.
One-bed flats (apartments) start at £1000 per month.
Rentals last for at least six months and require a deposit, proof of person, and reference.
Bills such as gas, electricity and WiFi aren’t usually included, so factor this into your costs.
Check out Zoopla and CityLets for more.
Don’t want to commit to a long lease?
One-month rentals tend to start at around £1800 per month.
Parking and Petrol Prices in Edinburgh
Parking in Edinburgh City Centre is only free after 18:30 and Sunday morning.
Car parks tend to be pricy, hitting double figures for an all-day ticket.
Residents need permits in the City Centre.
For free parking, you have to go as far down as Leith.
Read our guide to parking here.
Petrol is quite difficult to find in the city centre, so plan to fill up at a supermarket or on the outskirts.
Most cars are unleaded.
Double-check what petrol/gas the car takes before filling up because if you make a mistake, you could be charged a hefty fee!
