Where to Stay in Old Town, Edinburgh
The medieval ridge from the castle to Holyrood — the Royal Mile, the closes, the postcard Edinburgh. Atmospheric and brutally hilly.
Who Old Town is for
First-timers wanting the medieval atmosphere. Photographers. Anyone with the castle as their priority.
Who should skip it
Travelers with mobility issues — the closes are stairs. Light sleepers. Wheeled-luggage travelers.
Top-rated places to stay in Old Town
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Top things to do in Edinburgh
Old Town compared to other Edinburgh neighborhoods
Round-by-round head-to-heads — atmosphere, walkability, price, sleep quality.
Other Edinburgh neighborhoods worth knowing
- New TownThe Georgian grid north of the castle — flat, wide streets, the best hotels and restaurants, walking distance to everything Old Town.
- LeithThe former port north of the center — gentrified-but-real, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Michelin restaurants, the city's best food scene.
- StockbridgeNorth of New Town — village-feeling, Sunday farmers' market, Royal Botanic Garden adjacent, where wealthy Edinburghers actually live.