United Kingdom
Visiting Edinburgh: how much will it actually cost?
Plan €2088 for 7 nights in Edinburgh, return flight from London included, or €587 travelling cheap. On the ground that works out at €295 per person per day.
Edinburgh - estimate transport, lodging, and meals before you book.
- From
- €81/day
- vs. London
- 114%
- Best month
- Jul
Your trip to Edinburgh
Set the length, the number of travellers and the comfort level: the figures recompute here.
€2,088
per person, flight included
- on the ground
- €2,065
- flight from London
- €23
- per person per day, on the ground
- €295
InstantTripCost estimate
Full 7-night budget breakdown
Per-person estimate including flights from London, split across the six expense categories.
per person · Comfort
| Category | Budget | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | €20 | €23 | €35 |
| Hotel | €203 | €1057 | €1260 |
| Food | €252 | €588 | €1344 |
| Transport | €56 | €126 | €315 |
| Activities | €28 | €140 | €434 |
| Misc | €28 | €154 | €399 |
| 7-night total | €587 | €2088 | €3787 |
Flight from London (annual median).
Unit prices
comfort
Enough to check the total yourself, line by line, at the comfort level you picked.
- €13
- Breakfast
- €24
- Lunch
- €48
- Dinner
- €6
- City ride
- €20
- Site admission
- €295
- A full day
Orders of magnitude derived from our measured ranges, not surveyed venue by venue. Prices vary by neighbourhood and season.
Why go
Why visit Edinburgh
Edinburgh stands out as a solid value-for-money destination for international travelers, with 488k inhabitants and an urban character that reveals itself in a matter of days.
A standard 7-night trip averages €2065 per person at mid-range comfort, flights from London included. Booking off-season (September) saves up to 49 % on the airfare alone, freeing up budget to upgrade lodging or activities.
Real budget
What a trip to Edinburgh actually costs
Let's break it down. Lodging: a hostel dorm or entry-level hotel runs around €29 per night, a well-rated 3-star around €151, and 4 to 5-star around €180. Food: around €12 a day eating local, €28 mixing canteens and restaurants, €64 if you sit down for dinner every evening.
Local transport: roughly €8 a day on public transit, €18 adding a few taxi rides. Activities: about €25 a day at a normal sightseeing pace, €52 if you stack paid entries and day trips.
On a 5-to-7-day trip, lodging accounts for roughly 35-45 % of total budget, food 15-20 %, flights 20-30 % depending on the booking window, with the remainder split between local transport, activities, and miscellaneous (visa, insurance, tipping, SIM card). A Edinburgh trip that goes over budget is almost always because the hotel is oversized for the rest, rarely because of activities.
Seasonality
When to go and what it costs
Peak season in Edinburgh is summer (June through August): hotel and flight rates climb 30-60 % above winter levels. For an off-peak trip, August combines decent weather and still-reasonable prices.
Money saving
How to cut the Edinburgh budget
The single most profitable lever in Edinburgh is the date. Shifting departure to a shoulder-season month recovers up to 49 % on the flight alone. Booking timing comes next: the 6-to-8-weeks-out window consistently beats both last-minute and booking a year ahead for hotel rates.
On lodging, moving 1 or 2 metro stops out of the hyper-center often halves the bill at equal comfort, with no real commute penalty. As for activities, one standout experience per day is enough. Stacking 3 or 4 paid tickets daily inflates the budget without making the trip noticeably better.
Practical info
Language, currency, and logistics in Edinburgh
Language: English, English is understood in most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Currency: Pound (£) - plan €50-100 in cash for the first days and use a fee-free card for the rest.
The three tiers
What a budget traveller, a comfort traveller and a premium traveller typically spend.
Budget
€73
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €29
- Meal
- €12
- Transit / day
- €8
Comfort
€253
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €151
- Meal
- €28
- Transit / day
- €18
Luxury
€417
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €180
- Meal
- €64
- Transit / day
- €45
Weather & best time to visit
Average temperatures and conditions by month in Edinburgh.
Best month to visitJuly
Where to sleep in Edinburgh
The hotels we measured
Accommodation picks by price range.
MEININGER Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket
Hotel, not yet rated.
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate
Hostel, decent (7.1/10) from 3,128 reviews.
Revolver Edinburgh
Hostel, decent (7.7/10) from 355 reviews.
Ashgrove House
guesthouse, very well rated (8.7/10) from 1,095 reviews.
A-Haven Townhouse Hotel
guesthouse, very well rated (8.7/10) from 797 reviews.
Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+)
Hostel, well rated (8.1/10) from 5,757 reviews.
Kick Ass Grassmarket (18+)
Hostel, well rated (8.3/10) from 10,272 reviews.
CODE - The Court, Edinburgh
Hostel, very well rated (8.8/10) from 7,632 reviews.
All observed hotels in Edinburgh
24 properties, nightly rate for a 2-night stay arriving 15 October 2026.
| Hotel | Category | Rating | From / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEININGER Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket | Budget | ★ 0 | €17 |
| The Hostel | Budget | ★ 7.2 | €17 |
| Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate | Budget | ★ 7.1 | €18 |
| Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) | Budget | ★ 8.1 | €20 |
| Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+) | Luxury | ★ 8.1 | €20 |
| Revolver Edinburgh | Budget | ★ 7.7 | €22 |
| Revolver Edinburgh | Mid-range | ★ 7.7 | €22 |
| High Street Hostel - Over 18s Only, Backpackers Atmosphere | Budget | ★ 8.4 | €24 |
| Kick Ass Grassmarket (18+) | Budget | ★ 8.3 | €24 |
| Kick Ass Grassmarket (18+) | Luxury | ★ 8.3 | €24 |
| Just Sleep Hostel Edinburgh | Budget | ★ 8 | €28 |
| CODE - The Court, Edinburgh | Luxury | ★ 8.8 | €53 |
| Ashgrove House | Mid-range | ★ 8.7 | €78 |
| Alexander Guest House | Luxury | ★ 7.8 | €88 |
| A-Haven Townhouse Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.7 | €102 |
| hub Edinburgh City Centre - Haymarket | Mid-range | ★ 7.5 | €107 |
| Sonas Guesthouse | Mid-range | ★ 9.2 | €113 |
| Balmore Guest House | Mid-range | ★ 7.4 | €113 |
| Rosehall Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.3 | €114 |
| Holiday Inn Edinburgh Zoo by IHG | Luxury | ★ 8 | €121 |
| hub Edinburgh City Centre - Royal Mile | Mid-range | ★ 7.1 | €128 |
| hub Edinburgh City Centre - Rose Street | Mid-range | ★ 8 | €132 |
| Scot Townhouse | Luxury | ★ 9.5 | €139 |
| Four Points by Sheraton Edinburgh | Luxury | ★ 7.8 | €147 |
Things to do in Edinburgh
Recommended activities and tours.
Scottish National Gallery
The National (formerly the Scottish National Gallery) is the national art gallery of Scotland. It is located on The Mound in central Edinburgh, close to Princes Street.
Art museum
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
National Galleries Scotland: Portrait is an art museum on Queen Street, Edinburgh. Portrait holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots.
Art museum
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
National Galleries Scotland: Modern (the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art) is part of National Galleries Scotland, which is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Modern houses the collection of modern and contemporary art dating from about 1900 to the present in two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, that face each other on Belford Road to the west of the city centre.
Art museum
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Dhùn Èideann) is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age.
Archaeological site
Scott Monument
The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is the second-largest monument to a writer in the world after the José Martí monument in Havana.
Monument
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle is a ruined medieval castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is three miles (4.8 km) south-east of the city centre, on a low hill to the south of the modern suburb of Craigmillar.
Castle
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens are two adjacent public parks in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland, lying in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The Gardens were created in the 1820s following the long draining of the Nor Loch and building of the New Town, beginning in the 1760s.
Park
Grassmarket
The Grassmarket is a historic market place, street and event space in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the south-west foot of the Castle Rock, lying in a valley, considerably below the surrounding area.
Square
St Margaret's
St Margaret's Chapel, in Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, Scotland. An example of Romanesque architecture, it is a category A listed building.
Church
Greyfriars Kirk
Greyfriars Kirk (Scottish Gaelic: Eaglais nam Manach Liath) is a parish church of the Church of Scotland, located in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is surrounded by Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Church
Places referenced on Wikidata. Admission prices vary by season - check each venue's official site.
Paying less in Edinburgh
What moves the needle
What each decision takes off the €2130 total, strongest lever first.
- − €1498
Travel cheap rather than mid-range
Hostel or entry-level hotel, local canteens, public transport. Accommodation is where the gap opens up.
- − €590
Stay five nights instead of seven
Two fewer nights also removes two days of meals, transport and sightseeing.
- − €528
Travel as a pair
The room is shared, nothing else is. Travellers themselves name this as the strongest lever.
Differences computed from our own measurements, for a 7-night mid-range stay, excluding flights.
FAQ
FAQ - Edinburgh
- How much should I budget for a trip to Edinburgh?
- For a 7-day trip to Edinburgh, expect roughly €587 - €3787 per person depending on your travel style, flights included. The budget profile (hostels, local food, public transit) sits at the lower end ; mid-range comfort sits in the middle ; luxury (premium hotel, fine dining) approaches the top.
- When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
- The best value is in July, with pleasant temperatures and usually cheaper flights than during peak tourist season. This window combines moderate crowds and lower airfare.
- How do I get around in Edinburgh?
- Local transport (metro, bus, taxi) costs an average of €8 - €45 per day depending on your style. Public transit stays the cheapest option ; a day or weekly pass usually pays off after just two rides per day.
- How can I do Edinburgh on a budget?
- For a cheap trip to Edinburgh, target around €81 - €295 per day per person excluding flights: a hostel or budget hotel, meals at local eateries, public transit, and 1-2 free activities per day. Across a week, plan to land below the lower bound of the global range.
- What's the budget for a weekend in Edinburgh?
- For a 3-day / 2-night weekend in Edinburgh, plan around €298 - €950 per person, flights included. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead and flying out Thursday evening / back Sunday evening cuts the total by 10-20 % on average.
- Is Edinburgh an expensive or affordable destination?
- At 89 % of our reference index, Edinburgh ranks among the moderately priced destinations we track. In practice, a daily budget close to our average, 11 % below it.
- How many days do you need in Edinburgh?
- Plan 4 days for the essentials. A full week lets you add the surroundings without rushing, for roughly €885 more per person. Beyond ten days the cost grows linearly: each extra night adds about €295, lodging and daily spending included.
- Do you need a car in Edinburgh?
- Our estimates assume public transport, which covers the centre and its near surroundings. Rental, fuel, parking and tolls are not included: if your route leaves the served area, add them as a separate line.
- How much cash should you bring to Edinburgh?
- Bring €50 to €100 for the first days, until you see where cards work. When paying or withdrawing, decline the conversion into your home currency that terminals offer: it applies its own rate, consistently worse than your bank's.
At a glance
Wikidata, Wikipedia and Open-Meteo data
- Population
- 488k
- Area
- 259 km²
- Elevation
- 47 m
- Language
- English
- Currency
- £
- Time zone
- UTC±00:00
- Founded
- 601
- Avg. July temp.
- 15°
- Avg. Jan. temp.
- 4°
- Rainy days / year
- 155
inhabitants
Pound
12° - 18°
2° - 6°
About
Edinburgh in brief
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. It is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh had a population of 506,520 in 2020, making it the second-most-populous city in Scotland and the seventh-most-populous in the United Kingdom. The wider metropolitan area had a population of 912,490 in the same year.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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