How To Make The Most Of Visiting Edinburgh On A Budget – A Local’s Guide

If you’re making a trip to Scotland, there’s a good chance that you’re going to spend some time in Edinburgh. Scotland’s capital city has a bit of an expensive reputation, but as somebody who lived there for a decade, I know about visiting Edinburgh on a budget!

Sure, there are lots of luxury hotels and Michelin-star restaurants and if you arrive during the Fringe you could spend a fortune. However, there’s an abundance of free things to see in Edinburgh and more affordable places to eat and drink than you might think!

In reality, it might be easier to visit Edinburgh on a budget than almost any other city in the UK! You just have to know when to avoid visiting, where’s really worth spending your money and what’s an affordable place to stay. I’ve got lots of tips for you and I’m giving them away for free!

You might also find these Edinburgh daytrips for History Lovers useful!

This blog contains some links that I may make a commission from at no cost to you.

When to Visit Edinburgh On A budget

The first thing you need to know when planning your budget trip to Edinburgh is when to visit. There are two big events that it’s always worth trying to avoid – although they also happen to be lots of fun. Easily the most expensive time for accommodation in Edinburgh is August. That’s when the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is on and prices skyrocket!

The other time when prices tend to go up in Edinburgh is around the Christmas Market, although that’s nowhere near as drastic. Generally, the Scottish tourist season runs from April to October, so finding budget-friendly places to stay in Edinburgh can be a challenge.

Your best time to visit Edinburgh to spend the least amount of money is February-March or late October-early November. May/September are also excellent times to visit, but you have to make sure you book things ahead. Compare the best prices for accommodation here!

Budget Places To Stay In Edinburgh

There are some wildly expensive hotels like The Balmoral, but they’re often style over substance. If you’re going to be out exploring Edinburgh all day, all you need is a budget place to stay in Edinburgh to rest your head. It’s the easiest place to save money!

My top recommendation is the Edinburgh Central Hostel run by Hostelling Scotland. It’s in a very central location, run by a reputable company that I often stay with around Scotland, so you can be assured of a certain standard. The cheapest option is always a shared dorm, but just because you’re visiting Edinburgh on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t keep your privacy – there are private options available too!

There are other hostels, some livelier than others, as well as student accommodation that’s rented out during university holidays. At other times, small guest houses are cheaper than usual. The best thing to do is put your dates and budget in here and have a browse!

Getting Around Edinburgh On A Budget

One of the best things about visiting Edinburgh on a budget is how walkable the city is.

Most of the popular sites and areas are clustered together, the Old Town centred around the Royal Mile, the castle, New Town, museums & Dean Village. If you bring your walking shoes, you can save a fortune on taxis! One thing to be aware of though, there are a lot of hills, cobbles and steps to navigate…

If you want to get a little further away to areas like Leith or the beach at Portobello and walking there (still possible) is just too much then don’t worry. Lothian buses crisscross the whole city and are relatively cheap. It’s currently (2026) £2.20 an adult or £1.10 for a child to make a daytime journey, or £5.50/2.75 for a day ticket. If you tap your contactless bank card then it will automatically cap it at the day rate. Check all the current prices here.

If you are going to spend all day walking around, the changeable Scottish weather might be a worry. Here’s a couple of things I’d say are essential:

Packable Raincoat – This waterproof raincoat packs away into a small bag so you can keep it on you for sudden downpours. It also actually works compared to those tiny, paper-thin things you can get!

Waterproof Bag – I’ve got one of these bags for hiking, but it’s also perfect for a day exploring the city. Small enough not to get in the way but big enough to fit the essentials and properly waterproof!

Airport Transfer

My top tip would be not wasting money in Edinburgh on an airport taxi. Book a ticket for the airport bus here instead for just £6!

Edinburgh’s Best Free Attractions

There are an abundance of free activities in Edinburgh so you won’t have a to pay a penny! If you’re interested in art, history, museums and hiking then you could fill at least three days with these. Here are a few of my favourites for your budget Edinburgh trip.

National Museum of Scotland – Found on Chamber Street, this place is absolutely enormous! You could probably spend an entire day here if you wanted to, from natural history to world curiosities. I would advise exploring every floor of the dedicated Scottish section. You can explore a little bit of the entire country there without ever leaving Edinburgh!

Scottish National Galleries – There are actually two galleries in the space between Edinburgh’s Old & New Towns. One is the National Gallery, with art from the year 1300 right up to 1945! The other building is the Royal Scottish Academy with changing displays. You can also find the Scottish Portrait Gallery on Queen Street and the Modern Art Galleries at the other end of town!

The Museum Of Edinburgh – Often missed but right on the Royal Mile in Canongate, I absolutely love the Museum of Edinburgh. Telling the history of the city, in a historic 16th century building, it’s one of my favourite budget-friendly places in Edinburgh.

St Giles Cathedral – Right in the heart of the Old Town and the Royal Mile, St Giles Cathedral is a spectacular place! Dating back over 900 years, this has seen a lot of turbulent Edinburgh history. Don’t miss the Thistle Chapel up the back right corner! There are donation points if you’d like to contribute, but don’t worry if you can’t stretch that far – St Giles is for everybody (and it’s dog friendly!)

Expensive Edinburgh Attraction Alternatives!

There are lots of other attractions in Edinburgh which can be a lot of fun if you can afford them, but risk breaking the bank for a budget trip. Here are some of the most popular ones and things that you can do instead!

Instead Of Edinburgh Castle

There’s no doubt that Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular things to do in Edinburgh, but it’s also one of the most expensive. I love a good castle, but it gets so busy that it’s hard to see everything or enjoy it sometimes. The best views are without a doubt from outside the walls, so head to The Vennel, Grassmarket or Prince’s Street Gardens and admire it from there!

Here’s a guide to everything inside Edinburgh Castle to decide if you do want to pay for entry.

Instead Of The Scotch Whisky Experience

Close to Edinburgh Castle, the Scotch Whisky Experience is another of the priciest places in the city. Instead of going into all that technical detail, save your budget and head to one of Edinburgh’s many pubs for a whisky flight instead! In places like Bow Bar or Whiski, the bartenders have a lot of knowledge to talk you through it all!

Instead Of Holyrood Palace

There’s nothing else really like Holyrood Palace and you can save a few pounds by booking in advance here. However, if £22 is going to blow your Edinburgh budget, then head up Arthur’s Seat instead. You’ll get a great view of the palace, it doesn’t take too long and you can explore the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel along the way!

Instead Of Mary King’s Close

Heading into one of Edinburgh’s spooky underground areas is a lot of fun, but at £27, Mary King’s Close is a pricey option! There are a few other options open to you though that will still give you a good fright! Take this tour into the haunted South Bridge Vaults which in my opinion are much creepier than the Close! Or if you’d rather stay above ground, here’s a Tour of Edinburgh’s Dark History!

Instead Of The Theatre

If you’re looking for some entertainment, I’d recommend heading to The Stand comedy club for a laugh. On Monday night’s they host Red Raw, where comedians can try new material or maybe perform for the first time. Sure, it can be a bit hit or miss, but I’ve never not had a great time and it just costs a few pounds!

Where To Eat In Edinburgh On A Budget

Edinburgh has an abundance of eateries, but some of those come with a high price tag! If you’re looking for some cheap places to eat in Edinburgh, here are my recommendations.

Oink Hog Roast – If you don’t want to leave the area around the Royal Mile, you can get a pretty affordable hog roast roll from Oink. Pick your size, add some haggis or stuffing, choose a sauce and away you go! Don’t forget to ask for crackling…

Temptin Tattie – Simple, savoury and superb – nothing beats a good baked potato for lunch!

Chez Jules – You won’t find a list of budget places to eat in Edinburgh without Chez Jules. Their Set lunch menu is fantastic, but prices aren’t wild the rest of the time either. Great brunch too.

Tuk Tuk – This place serves up amazing Indian Street food but in a sit-down restaurant. It’s not crazy cheap, but it’s also pretty budget-friendly for what you get!

Stockbridge/Grassmarket Markets – At the weekend, grab some street food from one of these two markets. Always delicious and much cheaper than a sit down meal!

Howies Set Lunch Menu – I usually recommend Howies as a nice dinner spot, but it also does a great set 2-course lunch for less than £20 if you want to splash out!

Edinburgh Street Food – Fairly new with a seemingly ever changing list of traders, there’s lots of street food found under one roof here. Prices can vary wildly, but you can take a seat and combine orders from them all!

Affordable Tours That Are Actually Worth It

Just because you’re on a budget trip to Edinburgh, doesn’t mean you don’t want to see lots of stuff! While you can easily wander around under your own steam, if you want to put your cash to good use then here are some affordable tours that are actually worth it!

Walking Tours of Edinburgh

Rob Carr’s Harry Potter & History – Thorough and affordable, there’s a reason that Rob is the top walking tour guide in Edinburgh!

Historical Tour of Edinburgh’s Highights – Learn about some of the most important places in Edinburgh’s turbulent past!

The Dark History Tour – There are lots of dark tales from Edinburgh’s history to find here…

Folklore Walking Tour – There’s not just history in Edinburgh, it’s also a place to learn about Scottish folklore!

Outlander Tour – Of course, lots of Outlander was filmed in Edinburgh and this tour takes you to where your favourite characters once stood!

Guide Yourself via App – Download the app and just guide yourself around Edinburgh instead!

Daytrip Tours Outside Edinburgh

Highlands, Loch Ness & Glencoe – Keep in mind this is a very long day trip, but worth it for the views!

The Outlander Tour – Much of the show was filmed near Edinburgh so makes a great daytrip!

Rosslyn Chapel & The Borders – Head south of Edinburgh to the incredible Rosslyn Chapel and around the Scottish Borders!

Kingdom of Fife & St Andrews – My home region and one of the best hidden gems in Scotland!

Kelpies, Loch Lomond & Stirling – Head west to see the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond and a visit to Stirling Castle!

Enjoy The Best Walks In Edinburgh

You can’t miss the huge number of what we call “Tartan Tat” souvenir shops along the Royal Mile, but you can avoid them. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take home a memento, but I prefer to remember my trips with pictures from beautiful spots!

For the best sunset spot, I like to hike up Calton Hill and look over the New Town towards the castle. It’s not a long hike, but it is steep so be prepared! Of course, the walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat is a very popular one. It’s not somewhere I recommend for sunset because it can be tricky getting down in the dark!

Head down to the beautiful Dean Village, an Instagrammer’s dream! From there, walk along the Water of Leith towards Stockbridge, passing St Bernard’s Well. If you manage to time it to finish when the Stockbridge Market is on then even better! In fact, the walk along the entire river from Dean Village to Leith makes a fantastic morning or afternoon

If you have loads of energy and nothing to do one day, you can even challenge yourself to Hike The Seven Hills of Edinburgh! It’s 27km with 700m of climbing and it took me around 6 hours to do the whole thing!

Money-Saving Edinburgh Mindset

I hope these ideas and tips all help if you’re visiting Edinburgh on a budget! It’s my favourite city in the world, a place I truly love, and I want everybody to be able to enjoy it. If you found anything on your trip that might be useful for other people to know, feel free to leave a comment.

If you want to travel all over Scotland without every leaving your chair, you might want to order the Scotland’s Stories Book. It’s packed with tales of history and folklore from real places around the country and something I’m very proud of. Pick up a copy here!