Visiting Edinburgh on Budget

Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Scotland and indeed Europe, with many festivals and tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy. Like many of the major cities however Edinburgh can be an expensive place to visit with hotel prices averaging around £100 a night and a pint of beer at over £3.

Many people travel on a budget and for those traveling from the USA and other foreign countries where the exchange rate is not particularly favorable, it can sometimes limit how long you can stay and what you can enjoy in the city.

There are options for having a long stay in Edinburgh without breaking the budget, its all about getting value for money. Firstly one of the most expensive parts of any vacation is usually the accommodation so finding reasonably priced accommodation is important.

Edinburgh has a wide selection of accommodation throughout the city and the surrounding area. It has the highest concentration of luxury hotels in Scotland with dozens of five star hotels around the Princes Street area.

Most property’s in the city center area tend to be expensive and a minimum of £100 a night. You can find cheaper Guest Houses and B&B’s a couple of miles outside the city center and due to the efficient public transport in the city this is worth considering.

If you would like city center accommodation at a cheap rate then a hostel is your only option, somewhere like Smart City is ideal where you can enjoy some clean and comfortable accommodation but for only £15 a night! If you are travelling on your own hostels can also be an ideal opportunity to meet new people and enjoy group social events.

Next on the list is attractions and things to do in Edinburgh, as some places can be pretty expensive to visit especially for large families. The two most popular attractions are Edinburgh Zoo and Edinburgh Castle, these cost over £20 to visit both which is pretty good value for money.

If you are looking for something cheaper then why not try the Museum of Scotland or the Botanic Gardens. Both are within the city center and are Free to visit, you can easily spend a day visiting these attractions and they are perfect for all ages.

If you visit Edinburgh during the festival season then you will also be able to see dozens of free shows at the Fringe. There are some shows the sell tickets(usually under £10) but a lot of acts just pick a spot along the Royal Mile and start performing, meaning free entertainment.

Transportation is another expensive to factor in to any trip, luckily Edinburgh is pretty compact in size which means you can walk to all the main parts of the city. This is also a very good way to see Edinburgh as the building and architecture on display can be just as enjoyable to see as any of the main attractions.

If you are paying a winter visit when it is cold or raining then you may want to think about taking the bus is a very efficient way to get around. You don’t have to break the bank for a trip on the bus either, a day ticket costs £2.50 and gets you unlimited bus travel for the entire day within the city and the buses run frequently throughout the day.

If you are planning on making a rail journey to another city or town in Scotland then it is wise to book tickets in advance as they tend to be cheaper. Visit the Scotrail website for promotions and online booking (tickets can be collected at the station via online booking)

Finally if you are looking for a place to find cheap drinks in the evening then try Iguana or Oxygen in the old town area, these are popular with students and they always know where the best bargains in the city are.

Rooms in Edinburgh
Further information on local attractions and accommodation in Edinburgh.