Where to Stay in Leith, Edinburgh: Hotels, B&Bs and Airbnbs (2026)

Leith is Edinburgh’s old port, a couple of miles north of the Old Town, and in my view it is the most underrated base in the city. You wake up by the water, eat at some of the best tables in Scotland, and still reach central Edinburgh in about 20 minutes on the tram.

This guide sorts the hotels in Leith by style and area: two floating hotels on the docks, a landmark by the harbour, good-value chains near Ocean Terminal, family-run guest houses by the Links and a few places on the road into central Edinburgh. I have added Airbnb advice, the new Edinburgh tourist tax and transport tips, so you can compare accommodation across the whole area. For the wider area, see our Leith neighbourhood guide.

Updated 27 October 2026. Details were checked on each hotel’s own website. Prices change daily, so treat any figure here as a guide and confirm when booking.

Is Leith a Good Area to Stay in Edinburgh?

Yes, if you prefer neighbourhood life to tartan shops. Many visitors to Edinburgh never come this far north, which is part of the appeal. Here is the honest trade-off before you book accommodation in Leith.

• For: the waterfront and the river, a deep line-up of pubs and places to eat in Leith, and a lower price per night than most of central Edinburgh.
• For: the Edinburgh tram runs through Leith to the West End and on to Edinburgh Airport, so you rarely need a taxi.
• For: calm residential streets around the Links, plus free on-street parking at some guest houses.
• Against: most Edinburgh sights are two miles away, so plan on the tram or bus each day.
• Against: the docks are still a working port, and parts of the main road into the city are busy and scruffy late at night.

Leith Hotels at a Glance

Prices for accommodation are not listed because they swing widely with the season; the Edinburgh Festival in August and Hogmanay are always the dearest dates.

Luxury and Floating Hotels on the Waterfront

The docks hold the most memorable places to stay in Leith, including two hotels that are actually ships, which you will not find anywhere else in Edinburgh.

Fingal

Fingal is a former Northern Lighthouse Board ship, owned since 2014 by the trust behind the Royal Yacht Britannia and moored in Leith a five-minute walk from it, in Alexandra Dock. Its 23 cabins are named after Stevenson lighthouses, and the Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar holds 2 AA Rosettes and serves guests afternoon tea, dinner and cocktails.

It is an AA five-star hotel and was named Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2026. Parking is free for guests, and cabin rates on its website started at about £264 a night when I checked, the top price bracket in Leith.

Check hotel rates and availability

Ocean Mist

Ocean Mist is a ship built in 1919 and moored on the quayside itself, among the bars and seafood spots. It has 17 cabins, a Castle View Bar and a team on hand around the clock.

Breakfast is free if you book direct, which makes the website worth checking first. It is a fun, smaller alternative to Fingal for a couple’s weekend in Edinburgh.

Check hotel rates and availability

Malmaison Edinburgh

This turreted landmark on Tower Place began life in 1883 as a Sailors’ Home, according to the Leith Local History Society. Malmaison opened the hotel here in 1994, and its brasserie and bar look straight over the harbour.

There is free on-site parking, which is rare in Edinburgh, and the Leith tram stop is a short stroll away. Ask for water views when you book; the night-time views of the old port are lovely.

Check hotel rates and availability

Budget and Mid-Range Hotels

Reliable chains and a small independent for the lowest rates in this corner of Edinburgh.

Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh – Leith Waterfront

This modern hotel stands on Ocean Drive, across from the Ocean Terminal shopping centre where you board Britannia. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by 11am, and guests must be 18 or over to check in.

It suits business trips and short city breaks in Leith, with the tram and buses close by.

Check hotel rates and availability

Premier Inn Edinburgh Leith Waterfront

Premier Inn sits on Newhaven Place, by the fishing harbour and lighthouse. Guests can park for £6 a night, a good deal if you are touring Edinburgh and Scotland by car.

Expect the usual Premier Inn formula, and the Leith seafront promenade towards Granton is right outside.

Check hotel rates and availability

Smith Place Hotel

Tucked into a Georgian cul-de-sac off the Walk, this small, newly refurbished hotel has nine rooms and some of the lowest rates per night in this part of Edinburgh.

It is simple and tidy rather than fancy, with buses into the city centre at the end of the street.

Check hotel rates and availability

Guest Houses and B&Bs by Leith Links

The Victorian terraces facing the Links hold the best family-run places to stay. The park is where some of the earliest rules of golf were written, and it is a green base for a peaceful night.

3 John’s Place

This boutique smart hotel overlooks the park and mixes mid-century style with technology: keyless entry, and lighting and temperature you control from your phone.

Bathrooms come with Scottish toiletries and robes, which makes it feel more like a luxury hotel than a guest house.

Check hotel rates and availability

Culane House Hotel

A family-run guest house with en-suite bedrooms, family rooms and two flats for self catering. Guests can park free on the street outside, and the bus stop to central Edinburgh is by the door.

Visit the Culane House Hotel website

Merith House Hotel

A few doors along, Merith offers simple single, twin and triple bedrooms with tea and coffee kit, fine for a no-frills night. Some are in an annexe, so check the room type when you book.

Visit the Merith House Hotel website

Sandaig Guest House

Sandaig is a family home in two Victorian villas from around 1870. It has four-star accommodation with en-suite showers, a cooked breakfast that reviewers rate highly, and the bus to the city centre takes about 10 minutes.

Visit the Sandaig Guest House website

Leith Walk: Halfway Between the Port and the City Centre

The top of the Walk is a short stroll from Edinburgh Waverley, so these three hotels are a good compromise.

No11 Brunswick Street

A Georgian townhouse with suites, a fine-dining restaurant and a hidden garden, near Hillside. It feels like a private Edinburgh house rather than a hotel.

Check hotel rates and availability

Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh

This chain hotel fills a row of listed Georgian buildings on Baxter’s Place, at the very top of the Walk. You are about as close to the New Town as it gets while still being on the Leith side.

Check hotel rates and availability

Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel

Run by Hostelling Scotland, it has shared dorms and private en-suite rooms, and it serves breakfast. It is the best budget pick in Edinburgh for solo travellers who still want to walk to the Royal Mile.

Check hotel rates and availability

Airbnbs and Self Catering Apartments in Leith

Holiday rentals make a lot of sense in Leith, where flats in converted warehouses by the river cost less than in the New Town. A kitchen also helps with longer stays and families visiting Edinburgh.

Every short-term let in Edinburgh now needs a licence from the council, and the whole city is a control area for this type of accommodation, so many listings have disappeared. Licensed listings should show a licence number; if one does not, book elsewhere. The City of Edinburgh Council explains the rules.

For hand-picked flats by the Links, near the Shore and in Newhaven, see our list of the best Airbnbs in Leith.

Search flats on Airbnb

Which Part of Leith Should You Stay In?

Leith is bigger than most visitors to Edinburgh expect, and each corner of Leith has a different feel at night.

• The Shore: the old harbour on the Water of Leith, with Michelin dining, historic inns and a free riverside path; every other door is a bar or bistro.
• Ocean Terminal and Western Harbour: newer flats, the chain hotels and Britannia. Handy for shopping.
• Newhaven: the end of the line, with a lighthouse and seafront walks. Good for families and an early night.
• The Links: grand terraces and a big park. The best choice for a peaceful sleep.
• The Walk: the long road towards Edinburgh’s centre, full of cafés, with a bar on every block. Closest to the sights.

Getting Around from Leith

The tram is the easy option. It links Leith with St Andrew Square, Princes Street and the West End, and trams run as often as every 7 minutes. A single in the city zone costs £2.40, a day ticket £6, and a single from Edinburgh Airport £7.90, according to Edinburgh Trams.

Lothian buses cover the same ground across Edinburgh and use the same tickets, and they run through the night on some routes. Walking from Leith to the Old Town takes about 45 minutes.

Prices, the Visitor Levy and Booking Tips

• Tourist tax: since 24 July 2026 Edinburgh charges a 5% levy on the cost of the first five nights of any paid stay, including hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets. See the council’s levy page.
• When to book: Edinburgh rooms for August and Hogmanay sell out months ahead; winter weekdays are the best value per night.
• Parking: Malmaison and Fingal have free spaces for guests and the Premier Inn charges £6 a night. For more choice, see our Edinburgh hotels with parking.
• Dogs: pet friendly rooms are limited here, so read our dog friendly hotels guide before booking. Dogs ride the Edinburgh tram free on a lead.
• Breakfast: check whether it is included in the price. At Ocean Mist it is free for direct bookings.

New Hotels Planned for Leith

A 121-room hotel over ten floors is proposed for Rennie’s Isle, on the Leith waterfront, with family and accessible bedrooms. It is still at the consultation stage, so it will not open soon.