The Ultimate Backpacker Guide to Edinburgh (Where to Stay, What to Do, and Budget Tips)
- Jay
- Mar 21
- 11 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Edinburgh is most backpackers' first destination when visiting Scotland, and its' easy to see why - the Scottish capital is compact, historic, walkable, and packed with things to see and do, from castles to museums, parks to hilltop hikes, bars to unmissable festivals.
It's one of the most backpacker-friendly cities in the UK, with a wide variety of social hostels, free attractions, and affordable, quick onward connections to exciting adventure destinations in the Scottish Highlands. Whether you're in town for a city break, getting ready for a road trip around the country's Lochs, Glens and Bens, or just passing through on your Europe trip, Edinburgh is a great place to both start and end your time in Scotland.
In this guide we'll cover everything backpackers need to know - including where to stay, how much things typically cost, free things to do and see, as well as tips and discounts to help you make the most of your time in Edinburgh.
How to Get to Edinburgh (Quickly, Affordably, and Both!)
As a European capital city, Edinburgh is well-connected to nearby major cities by road, rail and air links (plus hopefully soon, the sea!). If planning a trip to the city from elsewhere in Great Britain or the island of Ireland, you'll find it easy to find public transport links.
Travelling to Edinburgh by Bus
Travelling to the city by bus is often one of the most affordable ways for backpackers to reach the city, especially if you're coming from other major UK destinations like London, York, Glasgow, Manchester or Liverpool. Most long-distance buses arrive at Edinburgh Bus Station, located in the New Town and easily within walking distance of most of the city centre hostels (so you can at least put your bags somewhere after that night bus...).
Budget operators including Citylink, Flixbus, Megabus, National Express and more offer connections both to and from Edinburgh across Great Britain, and Citylink even offers an affordable combined bus-ferry ticket to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Bus tickets across the UK are priced 'dynamically', meaning the earlier you book the more likely you are to snag a cheap seat to travel across the country.
The bus journey from London is infamously long (9-10 hours), though tickets start from just £18 in 2026 if you're lucky, and average around £30 when booked in advance in 2026. You can, however, find comparatively priced tickets on trains, so best to shop around and use the Omio app to check comparative pricing across your transport options.
If travelling from Continental Europe, you can connect with buses that travel over the English Channel at London Victoria Coach Station and then onwards to Edinburgh. This is a slow method of travel with more competitive pricing likely to be available on budget airlines - but if taking a sustainable, slower approach, you can find yourself en route to Edinburgh from other European destinations by road easily enough.
Travelling to Edinburgh by Train
One of the easiest and most comfortable ways to reach the city is by long-distance train - similar to bus links, you'll find rail connections from all major UK cities including London, Glasgow, Manchester and York. The majority of backpackers will end their rail journeys at Edinburgh Waverley, the main train station located slap-bang in the middle of the city centre between the Old and New Towns. You'll find yourself able to walk to most backpackers hostels in the city centre in 10-15 minutes.
Train travel is significantly than bus travel, especially if heading via the high speed lines along the East Coast (from London, York and Newcastle) or the West Coast (from Manchester, the Lake District, and connecting Liverpool, Bristol, Bath and beyond).
Ticketing for trains in the UK is known to be expensive, though 'advance fares' bought well ahead of time can help you save, and even compete with the cost of some bus routes. Travelling 'off-peak' (check for times throughout the day listed as such when searching) from destinations in England and Wales will also save you money.
For another chance to save, try booking ahead with relatively new service Lumo if travelling from London, designed to be a budget, sustainable alternative to other operators. You can also check Omio to see rail options alongside bus routes to compare your options at competitive prices.
Flying into Edinburgh Airport (and getting to town!)
You'll be pleased to know that Edinburgh's airport is served by a wife range of low-cost airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air, which means it's often very easy to find very cheap flights from European destinations and beyond (with new affordable direct routes to Morocco opening this up even further!) when booked in advance, and especially during sales.
Using Skyscanner alongside the Budget Airlines' websites, you can easily compare the best routes to fly into Edinburgh.
The airport is located a short bus or tram ride from the city centre, with the Airlink 100 Bus (operated by local city-wide bus operator Lothian Buses) running 24 hours a day into town, and being the most convenient, affordable option to connect you from your flight to your hostel. Prices for the Airlink 100 bus start from £6.50 for a single ticket or £8 for an open return in 2026. Riding the bus to its final stop, Waverley Bridge, will leave you a short walk from almost all city centre hostels, and on a journey that usually only takes around 35 minutes tops.
The tram is an alternative to the bus, though is more expensive and runs less frequently. There are tram stops along Princes Street, the main shopping street in the New Town, and also up to St. Andrew's Square, which is a short walk across North Bridge into the Old Town, and towards many backpackers' hostels. Tickets into town from the airport on the trams start from £7.90 for a single and £9.50 for an open return, and the journey to the city centre takes just a couple of minutes longer than the bus.
Where Should Backpackers Stay in Edinburgh?
Is it More Expensive to Stay Close to Edinburgh's City Centre as a Backpacker?
If booking a hostel, no - generally hostel prices are comparable across the city, and it is affordable, safe, and easy to stay close to the centre of it all. Read our full article below for a local's honest opinions on where backpackers should stay in the city.
If you're splashing out on a hotel or apartment, you are likely to find it more expensive closer to the centre of town.
Should I stay in Edinburgh's Old Town or New Town?
We recommend staying in the Old Town if possible - it puts you closer to some of the main attractions, and in reach of more affordable places to eat, drink and explore than in the New Town. Plus, many of the more 'social' backpackers hostels are located in the Old Town. Read our full article below for the lowdown:
Which Edinburgh Hostel is Best Suited for Me?
Royal Mile Backpackers, located slap-bang in the middle of the city on the historic Royal Mile, offers a friendly, cozy experience. With just 38 beds, you'll soon get to know all of your bunkmates by name.
Castle Rock Hostel, with three large social lounges, a cinema room, well-equipped kitchen, and well-renowned for lively social events like their free weekly Thursday Pub Crawl.
High Street Hostel, where you'll get the warmest welcomes, explore the city with new friends on Free Walking Tours, join in the hostel community with Quiz Nights and Pool Tournaments, and use their large kitchen and relaxed lounge space.
Is Edinburgh Expensive for Backpackers? (Budgeting Tips & More)
The Quick Answer:
Edinburgh can be an expensive city on the face of it, but, if you plan a little ahead of time, Edinburgh can be an affordable destination for backpackers. Travelling off-season will keep your accommodation budget low, while taking advantage of discounts by staying at a Scotland's Top Hostels location can keep your spending on food, drink, tours and attractions to a minimum.
How Much Should Backpackers Budget Per Day in Edinburgh?
Most Expensive - Without Research
Without researching or taking advantage of some of the tips and tricks below, a backpacker's budget at the higher end could end up looking like in 2026:
Accommodation in Hostel Dorm (excluding August and Hogmanay) | £25 - 30 |
Public Transport Day Ticket | £6 |
Entry to Attractions | £16 - 20 |
Breakfast in a Cafe | £7 - £12 |
Lunch in a Cafe/Restaurant | £10 - 13 |
Dinner in a Restaurant/Pub | £16 - 20 |
Cost of a Sweet Treat/Alcoholic Beverage | £3 - 7 |
This means an average spend of between £80-100 per day including accommodation.
Lowest Spend - Budget Backpacker
If looking to avoid spending money at as many points as possible during your trip is the goal, then you can consider budgeting for less paid experiences and treats. To achieve this, you'd likely need to ensure you book a hostel with a well-equipped kitchen:
Accommodation in Hostel Dorm (excluding August and Hogmanay) | £14 - £25 |
No Public Transport Day Ticket - Edinburgh is very walkable | £0 |
Entry to Free Attractions | £0 |
Hostel Breakfast | £4 |
Lunch from a Supermarket (see about 'Meal Deals' in the Food section below) | £4-5 |
Dinner from a Supermarket cooked in Hostel Kitchen | £4-5 |
Sweet Treats/Alcoholic Beverages | £0 |
This means an average spend of around £24-£28 per day including accommodation.
Middle Ground - Social, Sightseeing Backpacker
If looking to avoid spending money at as many points as possible during your trip is the goal, then you can consider budgeting for less paid experiences and treats. To achieve this, you'd likely need to ensure you book a hostel with a well-equipped kitchen:
Accommodation in Hostel Dorm (excluding August and Hogmanay) | £14 - £25 |
No Public Transport Day Ticket - Edinburgh is very walkable | £0 |
One Paid Attraction during your visit (such as Edinburgh Castle or Mary King's Close) + visits to Edinburgh's many Free Attractions | £8 (per day, split over 2 days) |
Hostel Breakfast | £4 |
Lunch from a Supermarket (see about 'Meal Deals' in the Food section below) or from one of Scotland's Top Hostels Discounted Partner Cafes | £4-7 |
Dinner from a Supermarket cooked in Hostel Kitchen | £4-5 |
2x Sweet Treats/Alcoholic Beverages | £8 |
This means an average spend of around £35-45 per day including accommodation.
To find out about all of our budgeting tips, tricks and discounts, explore our full article on making the most of your money during your trip to Edinburgh:
What to Do & See in Edinburgh on a Budget
With world-class attractions like Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Yacht Britannia and more, you might be worried that filling your days with sightseeing will break your backpackers' budget. You'll no doubt be pleased to hear that almost all of Edinburgh's museums and art galleries are free to visit, including the expansive National Museum of Scotland and three locations of the National Galleries.
Even better, we've put together a guide to help you explore as many free things as possible during your trip to the city. Combine these with a handful of paid attractions to keep your spend down, or just enjoy as many free attractions as you can to avoid spending on tickets at all!
What Does a Free Day Out in Edinburgh Look Like?
Seek out the city's best views and explore its long history by combining a visit to St. Giles Cathedral with a wander around Greyfriars Kirkyard before lunch. In the afternoon, head up Arthur's Seat for a short hike, before resting up in the evening and joining the Wednesday Ceilidh at Stramash.
Combine a Museum Crawl with a Pub Crawl - head down to the Writers' Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland - National & Portrait before lunch, then take a short walk back to the Old Town to visit the National Museum of Scotland in the afternoon. After a rest and some carb-heavy dinner, join the Thursday Bar Crawl and meet people from all over the world.
Take a wander down to Stockbridge in the morning to grab a nice coffee and brunch, before heading along the Water of Leith Walkway to the National Galleries of Scotland - Modern to explore some contemporary art. As you head back towards the evening, head down to Dropkick Murphys for a free line dancing lesson on Honky Tonk Tuesdays, and even if it's not a Tuesday - you'll be surrounded by the city's best bars and nightlife to enjoy, and live music at the venue itself throughout the week.
How Many Days Should Backpackers Stay in Edinburgh?
Not to give you early FOMO - but you're likely to feel like you've missed out if you spend anything less than 3 days in Edinburgh. Despite its compact size, the city punches well above its weight as a scenic, historic, vibrant hub of activity. I still feel like I discover something new every week having lived in Edinburgh for 4 years.
The sweet spot as a visitor sits somewhere between 3-5 days - you'll want at least one day to explore the nooks and crannies of the Old Town, another day to pack in a free Museum/Art Gallery crawl, a day to wander along the Water of Leith to Dean Village, drink coffee and thrift shop with the locals in trendy Stockbridge, and one day to explore beyond the centre with a trip to see some Highland Coos at Swanston Farm in the scenic Pentland Hills, or a walk along the coast to tidal Cramond Island.
Evenings can be just as packed as the days (if that's your thing), and the best time of the week to visit Edinburgh as a backpacker is to include Wednesday and Thursday nights in your stay. If you're a guest at a Scotland's Top Hostels location, they'll take you out to a Traditional Scottish Folk Dance night with a live band on the Wednesday, and then a lively Bar Crawl on the Thursday - it's the best balance of experiencing local culture and socialising with people from all over the World.
Explore Scotland's Top Hostels in Edinburgh:
Can You Use Edinburgh as a Base to Explore the Scottish Highlands?
We don't recommend using Edinburgh as a base to explore the Scottish Highlands. It's common for us to hear backpackers attempting to fit 'visiting the Highlands' into their 3/4 day Edinburgh itinerary, which will no doubt mean taking a one day bus tour departing from the city.
The truth is that the Highlands is well worth more than a couple of hours spent off the bus, never mind fitting in the 7 hour return trip to popular destinations like Loch Ness or Glencoe from Edinburgh. The best way to see the Scottish Highlands, especially being able to fit in the mythical Isle of Skye and Glenfinnan Viaduct, is on a 3 or 5 day tour.
Macbackpackers offers tours specifically designed for 18-35 year olds, with a social vibe, nightly stays in lively hostels, and an itinerary that helps you get off the bus, hike, swim, sip whisky and Ceilidh dance through this scenic and vast part of the World. For the best experience, make a Macbackpackers Bus Tour the next stop on your travels after a 3/4 day visit to Edinburgh.
Use code EXPLORE10 for 10% off your Macbackpackers Tour, exclusive to the Scotland's Top Hostels Travel Guide:
Final Tips for Backpackers Visiting Edinburgh
Research your options for travelling to Edinburgh using Omio (for buses and trains) and Skyscanner (for airlines).
Stay in Edinburgh's Old Town if possible to get the best access to affordable bars, restaurants and attractions - it's often no more expensive than staying in hostels further out.
Take advantage of Scotland's Top Hostels Discounts at the best places to eat, drink, tour and explore, only available to those staying at Castle Rock Hostel, High Street Hostel, and Royal Mile Backpackers.
Mix and match a handful of popular paid tourist attractions with our list of 12 Free Things to Do in Edinburgh for Backpackers.
If you can manage it, try to spend at least 3-4 days in the city, and ideally over Wednesday and Thursday nights to get the most of your social backpacking experience at a hostel.
Book a Macbackpackers Bus Tour as your onward travel from Edinburgh if you're looking to make the most of your time in the Scottish Highlands (and avoid taking a one-day bus tour!
Main Photo by Trevor Minett on Unsplash
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