Cheap Hotels Edinburgh: The Numbers To Know

5%
Edinburgh visitor levy · of the room or bed price before VAT, on stays from 24 July 2026 booked on or after 1 October 2025
First 5 nights
Levy night cap · nights six onwards in the same stay are not charged
£7.90
Tram, airport to city centre · adult single, airport and city zone; under 35 minutes to the city centre
£6.00
Lothian Buses City Day ticket · £5.70 with the TapTapCap daily cap
25 days
Festival Fringe 2027 · 6 to 30 August 2027, the Fringe's 80th edition
£55
Cheapest double room · per night, double room for two, at Mayfair Guest House in Leith

Cheap Hotels Edinburgh By Stay Type

Hostels

All 11 Hostels on one page →

Budget Hotels

All 11 Budget Hotels on one page →

Apartments

All 12 Apartments on one page →

Guesthouses

Mayfield Guesthouse, Doubles

A guesthouse in the Southside and Newington area, rated 8 out of 10 across 1,537 reviews, from £100 per night.

8.0/10 (1,537)from £100 per nightGuesthouse, Southside and Newington

Check availability

All 7 Guesthouses on one page →

Narrow The Cheap Hotels Edinburgh List To Your Trip

1. What kind of place do you want to sleep in?
2. What can you pay per night?
3. How close to Waverley Station do you want to be?

Below is a starting shortlist of five well-reviewed stays, not the full list. Answer a question or two and it rebuilds to fit you.

  1. Johnston Terrace Hostel, Old Town

    Hostel, Old Town

    from £16 per night, dorm bed 9.4/10 (25,769)

  2. Queen Street Budget Hotel, Old Town

    Budget hotel, Old Town

    from £106 per night 8.2/10 (11,075)

  3. Airport Budget Hotel, Lochside

    Budget hotel, Edinburgh Park and Airport Corridor

    from £85 per night 7.6/10 (9,294)

  4. Cowgate Hostel, Old Town Dorms

    Hostel, Old Town

    from £10 per night, dorm bed 8.4/10 (8,963)

  5. Grassmarket Hostel, Dorm Beds

    Hostel, Old Town

    from £12 per night, dorm bed 8.3/10 (8,527)

  6. University Residence, Summer Stays

    University residence, Southside and Newington

    8.1/10 (7,506)

Open The Remaining Stays

Compare Every Cheap Hotels Edinburgh Pick In One Table

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Breakfast
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All 41 stays, most reviewed first. Tap a sort chip twice to flip the order.

StayKindBreakfastWalk to WaverleyAreaFromRatingBook
Johnston Terrace Hostel, Old TownCastle Rock Hostel Hostels Breakfast not included 10 min Old Town £16 dorm bed 9.4/1025,769 reviews Check availability
Queen Street Budget Hotel, Old TownYOTEL Budget Hotels See listing 17 min Old Town £106 8.2/1011,075 reviews Check availability
Airport Budget Hotel, Lochsideibis budget Budget Hotels See listing - Edinburgh Park and Airport Corridor £85 7.6/109,294 reviews Check availability
Cowgate Hostel, Old Town DormsKick Ass Hostels Hostels Breakfast not included 9 min Old Town £10 dorm bed 8.4/108,963 reviews Check availability
Grassmarket Hostel, Dorm BedsKick Ass Hostels Hostels Breakfast not included 13 min Old Town £12 dorm bed 8.3/108,527 reviews Check availability
University Residence, Summer StaysUniversity of Edinburgh Guesthouses See listing 30 min Southside and Newington See listing 8.1/107,506 reviews Check availability

When Cheap Hotels Edinburgh Prices Rise And Fall, Month By Month

Price Band
Typical Hotel Rate
What Drives It
Price BandLowLowLowShoulderPeakPeakPeakPeakHighShoulderLowShoulder
  • Reported or just starting
  • Present
  • Building or consistent
  • Common or peak
  • Not named
  • This month

January

Price Band: Low Typical Hotel Rate: £111 average a night for two, from £86 What Drives It: Christmas market ended 3 January 2027, the cheapest month in the scans

February

Price Band: Low Typical Hotel Rate: £150 average a night for two, from £107 What Drives It: Scotland v Italy 6 February and Scotland v Wales 13 February 2027 at Murrayfield

March

Price Band: Low Typical Hotel Rate: £167 average a night for two, from £125 What Drives It: Scotland v Ireland, Friday 5 March 2027 at Murrayfield

April

Price Band: Shoulder Typical Hotel Rate: £189 average a night for two, from £159 What Drives It: Edinburgh Science Festival, 3 to 18 April 2027

May

Price Band: Peak Typical Hotel Rate: £251 average a night for two, from £207 What Drives It: Edinburgh Marathon Festival, 29 and 30 May 2027

June

Price Band: Peak Typical Hotel Rate: £256 average a night for two, from £204 What Drives It: Royal Highland Show, 17 to 20 June 2027

July

Price Band: Peak Typical Hotel Rate: £288 average a night for two, from £218 What Drives It: No dated event confirmed

August

Price Band: Peak Typical Hotel Rate: £326 average a night for two, from £216 What Drives It: Festival Fringe 6 to 30 August 2027, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 6 to 28 August 2027

September

Price Band: High Typical Hotel Rate: £228 average a night for two, from £187 What Drives It: No dated event confirmed

October

Price Band: Shoulder Typical Hotel Rate: £177 average a night for two, from £75 What Drives It: No dated event confirmed

November

Price Band: Low Typical Hotel Rate: £150 average a night for two, from £119 What Drives It: Christmas markets open 14 November 2026

December

Price Band: Shoulder Typical Hotel Rate: £176 average a night for two, from £115 What Drives It: Christmas markets, then Hogmanay from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027

Open The Full Month Table
MonthPrice BandTypical Hotel RateWhat Drives It
JanuaryLow£111 average a night for two, from £86Christmas market ended 3 January 2027, the cheapest month in the scans
FebruaryLow£150 average a night for two, from £107Scotland v Italy 6 February and Scotland v Wales 13 February 2027 at Murrayfield
MarchLow£167 average a night for two, from £125Scotland v Ireland, Friday 5 March 2027 at Murrayfield
AprilShoulder£189 average a night for two, from £159Edinburgh Science Festival, 3 to 18 April 2027
MayPeak£251 average a night for two, from £207Edinburgh Marathon Festival, 29 and 30 May 2027
JunePeak£256 average a night for two, from £204Royal Highland Show, 17 to 20 June 2027
JulyPeak£288 average a night for two, from £218No dated event confirmed
AugustPeak£326 average a night for two, from £216Festival Fringe 6 to 30 August 2027, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 6 to 28 August 2027
SeptemberHigh£228 average a night for two, from £187No dated event confirmed
OctoberShoulder£177 average a night for two, from £75No dated event confirmed
NovemberLow£150 average a night for two, from £119Christmas markets open 14 November 2026
DecemberShoulder£176 average a night for two, from £115Christmas markets, then Hogmanay from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027

Hostel, Budget Hotel Or Apartment: Which Cheap Stay Fits?

Hostel Dorm BedHostel Private RoomBudget Chain HotelAparthotelGuesthouse Or B&BHoliday ApartmentUniversity Summer Room
Cheapest PriceFrom £10See the listingFrom £69From £125From £55See the listingSee the listing
Who It SuitsSolo travellers and friends who want the lowest priceCouples and small groups who want privacy at hostel pricesFamilies and anyone who wants a predictable roomLonger stays and small groups who want a kitchenCouples who want breakfast and a hostGroups and families splitting one placeSummer visitors who can book months ahead
Usually IncludedBed, locker, shared bathroomPrivate room, often shared bathroomPrivate bathroom, often breakfast as an add-onKitchenette, private bathroomPrivate room, usually breakfastWhole place with kitchenSingle room, shared kitchen or bathroom
Edinburgh Visitor LevyYes: 5% of the bed price, first 5 nightsYes: 5% of the room price, first 5 nightsYes: 5% before VAT, first 5 nightsYes: 5% before VAT, first 5 nightsYes: 5% before VAT, first 5 nightsYes, including licensed holiday lets; check the licence number on the listingYes when let to visitors and non-Edinburgh students

Cheap Hotels Edinburgh On The Map

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Old Town

New Town

West End

Southside

Leith

Airport

  1. Castle Rock HostelOld Town · 600 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  2. Kick Ass GrassmarketOld Town · 800 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  3. Royal Mile BackpackersOld Town · 240 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  4. CODE - The CourtOld Town · 280 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  5. High Street HostelOld Town · 290 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  6. YOTEL EdinburghOld Town · 1.1 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  7. hub by Premier Inn Edinburgh - Royal MileOld Town · 330 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  8. Holyrood AparthotelOld Town · 670 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  9. Grassmarket apartment with views to Edinburgh Castle - two bedroomsOld Town · 760 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  10. Princes Street HostelNew Town · 200 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  11. Travelodge Edinburgh Central Queen StreetNew Town · 740 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  12. Stewart by Heeton Concept - AparthotelNew Town · 1000 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  13. Edinburgh Central Youth HostelNew Town · 940 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  14. Haymarket StationWest End · 2.0 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  15. MEININGER Hotel Edinburgh HaymarketWest End · 2.4 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  16. Travelodge Edinburgh HaymarketWest End · 2.1 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  17. Argyle BackpackersSouthside · 1.5 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  18. Edinburgh Holiday Guest HouseSouthside · 1.9 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  19. Arrandale Guest HouseSouthside · 2.5 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  20. Leith ShoreLeith · 3.0 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
10 more places
  1. Premier Inn Edinburgh Leith WaterfrontLeith · 3.4 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  2. Ocean Serviced ApartmentsLeith · 3.8 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  3. Abbotsford Guest HouseLeith · 1.5 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  4. Edinburgh Airport tram stopAirport · 10 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  5. Premier Inn Edinburgh Airport - M9 Jct1Airport · 14 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  6. ibis budget Edinburgh ParkAirport · 8.3 km from Waverley Station in a straight line
  7. Waverley StationLandmarks
  8. Edinburgh CastleLandmarks · 780 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  9. Royal MileLandmarks · 300 m from Waverley Station in a straight line
  10. Princes StreetLandmarks · 250 m from Waverley Station in a straight line

Cheap Hotels Edinburgh: Common Questions

Is Airbnb cheaper than a hotel in Edinburgh?

Not usually. For one or two travellers staying one to three nights, a guesthouse or budget hotel tends to cost less, with guesthouse doubles from £55 per night.

Do I pay the visitor levy on an Edinburgh apartment as well as a hotel?

Yes, a visitor levy applies: 5% of the accommodation price before VAT, charged for up to five consecutive nights. It covers stays beginning on or after 24 July 2026 that were booked from 1 October 2025.

How do I check if an Edinburgh Airbnb is licensed?

Any short term let listing should show a licence number in the EH-xxxxx-F format. You can search that number in the public council register, which is refreshed at least monthly.

Are there minimum night stays on Edinburgh apartments?

They can. Hosts set their own rules, two night minimums are common, and the requirement often climbs to three, four or more nights during August and Hogmanay.

Which is better for a family in Edinburgh, an apartment or a hotel?

For a family of four, a licensed two bedroom apartment usually costs less than two hotel rooms and throws in a kitchen. Budget hotel family rooms are the simpler option: Premier Inn family rooms take two adults and two children under 16.

What sits between a hotel room and a self-catering flat?

Aparthotels do. Old Town options here run from £132 per night and New Town ones from £125, each sleeping two with a kitchen and hotel-style check-in.

Guides And Answers For A Cheaper Edinburgh Stay

Guides

Answers

41 cheap hotels in Edinburgh to compare · from £10 a night · 9.4/10 (25,769) on the most-reviewed listing See Rooms And Prices →