Last updated September 3, 2026

Grassmarket in Edinburgh's Old Town, with historic tenement buildings and Edinburgh Castle rising above them

Mike McBey / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Edinburgh

Where to Stay in Old Town, Edinburgh

Old Town runs along the ridge that drops from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, with the Royal Mile as its spine and Grassmarket, Victoria Street, and the Cowgate branching off it. It's the oldest part of the city, a tangle of medieval closes and tenement buildings, and the most central base for reaching the Castle and the main historic sights on foot.

What it's actually like to stay here

Dense, cobbled, and busy with tourists, buskers, and bagpipers for most of the day, with narrow closes and stairways connecting streets at different levels. Grassmarket and the Cowgate turn into one of the city's main nightlife strips after dark.

Stay here if

Best for first-time visitors who want to be steps from Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, and anyone who wants historic architecture right outside the door.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider New Town instead if you're a light sleeper or don't want to deal with cobblestones and steep closes — Grassmarket and the Cowgate stay loud into the early hours, and luggage doesn't roll easily on the old stone streets.

Walkability
Excellent for sights — the Castle, St Giles' Cathedral, and Holyroodhouse are all on or just off the Royal Mile — but the ground is uneven cobblestone and there are steep closes and stairs between streets on different levels.
Noise at night
Can be loud at night, especially around Grassmarket and the Cowgate, which are lined with bars and clubs that stay busy until the early hours. Streets higher up the Royal Mile are generally quieter after midnight.

Best Hotels in Old Town, Edinburgh

The Scotsman Hotel

★★★★
  • ✨ Best luxury
  • 🏛️ Best for architecture & design

Our take A dramatic Edwardian newspaper building on North Bridge, with a grand marble staircase and period detail rare in a purpose-built hotel, between Old Town and New Town.

Highlights

  • The former Scotsman newspaper offices, an Edwardian landmark with its marble staircase and original details
  • North Bridge, between Old and New Town: near the Royal Mile, Waverley and Princes Street
  • Its own art deco screening room with leather armchair seating, unusual for a hotel

What to know

  • Room sizes and layouts vary more than in a purpose-built hotel, since the building was converted from newspaper offices
  • Some rooms face North Bridge directly, which carries traffic and foot noise
Check availability on Booking.com

The Inn on the Mile

★★★★
  • ❤️ Best for couples

Our take A small, characterful boutique hotel in a converted bank building right on the Royal Mile — a good match for couples who'd rather have distinctive rooms than a big hotel lobby.

Highlights

  • A converted Victorian bank, with original cornicing and exposed stonework kept in the conversion
  • Right on the Royal Mile's High Street, with a ground-floor bar and restaurant
  • Small, so it feels boutique and personal rather than like a big hotel

What to know

  • A small property, so it books up quickly, especially around the Festival Fringe in August
  • Being on the High Street, front-facing rooms can pick up street noise, especially on weekend nights
Check availability on Booking.com

Apex Grassmarket Hotel

★★★★

Our take Solid, modern facilities at a price Old Town's smaller boutique hotels don't reach — and the Castle sits right outside a good number of the rooms.

Highlights

  • Many rooms face directly onto Edinburgh Castle across the Grassmarket
  • Rooftop restaurant with the same Castle outlook, plus an indoor pool and gym on site
  • Right in the Grassmarket, with the Royal Mile and Victoria Street a short walk

What to know

  • The Grassmarket stays lively with bars until late, so lower-floor rooms can pick up some street noise on weekend nights
  • Castle views depend on room assignment — request one at booking if it matters to you
Check availability on Booking.com

Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre

★★★★
  • 📍 Best location

Our take A central Old Town base right on the Royal Mile's High Street, with a full leisure facility (pool, sauna, gym) that's rare to find this close to the Castle.

Highlights

  • On the Royal Mile's High Street, near St Giles' Cathedral, the Castle, and Holyroodhouse
  • Indoor heated pool, sauna, and fitness suite — unusual in the Old Town's historic core
  • Underground parking on site, useful given how limited street parking is in the Old Town

What to know

  • Street-facing rooms can pick up noise from the Royal Mile, which stays busy with foot traffic into the evening
  • The building is a modern construction rather than a historic conversion, so it reads more corporate than boutique inside
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Edinburgh Waverley train station sits right on the edge of Old Town, and most Lothian Buses routes pass through or near it. New Town is about a 10-minute walk away across Princes Street Gardens.

Skip the rental car. The Old Town's streets are narrow, cobbled, and often one-way, parking in the center is limited and expensive, and the Old Town and New Town are walkable or a short bus ride apart.

Frequently asked questions

Is Old Town too touristy to stay in?
It's the busiest, most visited part of Edinburgh, but that's also what makes it convenient — the Castle, Royal Mile sights, and Waverley station are all within easy walking distance.
Is Old Town noisy at night?
The Grassmarket and Cowgate areas can be loud until the early hours thanks to their bars and clubs. Streets further up the Royal Mile, away from those two spots, are calmer.

Related areas

A row of Georgian townhouses on Charlotte Square in Edinburgh's New Town, seen from the street on a clear day

Mike Shaw / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

New Town

Best for: Architecture lovers, Couples, Luxury travelers

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