Weekend
A weekend in Edinburgh: three hotels and a plan for two nights
The train from King's Cross pulls into Waverley right below the castle. By Friday evening you can be in a whisky bar in the Old Town, listening to the rain and not minding at all.
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In short: a weekend in Edinburgh
Two nights are enough for Edinburgh if you stay in the Old Town or along Princes Street. See the castle and the Royal Mile on Saturday morning, climb Calton Hill at sunset, and spend Sunday on Arthur's Seat or in Dean Village. Our first choice is The Balmoral, the hotel under the clock tower by Waverley station.
Our first choice: The Balmoral. Check availability and prices at The Balmoral
Edinburgh is a city on two levels. The Old Town runs along the ridge between the castle and Holyrood, with narrow closes and tall old houses. The New Town lies below, with wide streets and Georgian squares from the 1700s.
Both are small enough to walk, but the hills are steep. Stay central and you will not spend the weekend climbing steps back and forth. So we have chosen three hotels within walking distance of both the castle and the station.
The hotels we choose for a weekend in Edinburgh
One classic hotel in the heart of the city, one in the New Town and one country house below Arthur's Seat. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com.
The Balmoral: a weekend with everything on the doorstep
The Balmoral stands where Princes Street meets Waverley station, and its clock tower has been a city landmark for more than a hundred years. J.K. Rowling is said to have finished the last Harry Potter book here.
The hotel has three restaurants and two bars, and guests are especially pleased with the food. The whisky bar is the place to settle in on a wet evening. From Waverley, trains run on if you want to see more of Scotland.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Balmoral
Breakfast under glass
Kimpton Charlotte Square occupies Georgian town houses in the New Town. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Kimpton Charlotte Square: a weekend in the New Town
Kimpton Charlotte Square fills a row of Georgian town houses on Charlotte Square, at the western end of the New Town. Princes Street Gardens are a few minutes away.
There are two restaurants and two bars, and the bright glasshouse in the middle of the building is a lovely spot for breakfast. Choose the Kimpton for a calmer base. Dean Village and Stockbridge are within walking distance.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kimpton Charlotte Square
Prestonfield House: a country house in the city
Prestonfield House sits in parkland at the foot of Arthur's Seat, with peacocks on the lawn and drawing rooms in red and gold. It feels like a Scottish country house, yet the centre is a short taxi ride away.
Prestonfield suits a romantic weekend, or anyone who wants to start Sunday with the walk up the hill behind the hotel.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Prestonfield House
More options are in our guide to the best hotels in Edinburgh, and the neighbourhoods are explained in where to stay in Edinburgh.
Friday: arrive and find a whisky bar in the Old Town
Trains from London King's Cross arrive at Waverley, right in the centre, and the airport tram runs to Princes Street and St Andrew Square. If you are staying at The Balmoral or in the New Town, you are there in a few minutes.
The first evening belongs in the Old Town. Edinburgh has several bars with hundreds of whiskies, and the bartenders are happy to help you choose. Eat in a pub around the Grassmarket, with the castle lit up above you.
Saturday: the castle and the Royal Mile
Be at Edinburgh Castle when it opens. The castle stands on an old volcano and holds the Scottish Crown Jewels, and the queue grows long through the morning. Book your ticket in advance.
Walk down the Royal Mile towards Holyroodhouse, and look into the closes that drop away between the houses. Take a detour down Victoria Street, the curving street of painted shopfronts that ends in the Grassmarket.
If you want to make an occasion of the afternoon, Edinburgh is a city for afternoon tea. Towards sunset, walk the short way up Calton Hill from Princes Street. The view of the castle and the Old Town is one of the best in the city.
Book Saturday dinner before you travel. Our favourites are in the Edinburgh restaurant list.
Under the clock tower
The Balmoral stands right next to Waverley station. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Sunday: Arthur's Seat or Dean Village
If you have good shoes, climb Arthur's Seat, the old volcano in Holyrood Park. Most people take under an hour from Holyrood, and from the top you can see the whole city and the sea.
For a gentler morning, walk along the Water of Leith to Dean Village, a tiny village just minutes from the centre. Carry on to Stockbridge for Sunday brunch.
The National Museum of Scotland is free and a good choice if it rains. Leave your bags at the hotel, and pick them up on the way to Waverley or the airport tram.
Turn a work trip into a weekend
Edinburgh hosts conferences and meetings all year round. If yours is on a Friday, stay for the weekend and take the train from Waverley to Glasgow or the Highlands on Sunday.
Stay near Princes Street and both the station and the airport tram are close by. Ask about late check-out on Sunday, and check whether breakfast is included in the price you are comparing.
When is the best time for a weekend in Edinburgh?
May, June and September bring long days without the crowds of August, when the Fringe and the other festivals take over the city. In December there are Christmas markets in Edinburgh, and hotels fill early.
January to March is cold and dark but quiet, and the whisky bars are at their best. Book with free cancellation where you can, so you can secure the dates early and still change your plans.
Our first choice for a weekend in Edinburgh
The Balmoral
The Balmoral stands where Princes Street meets Waverley station, with the castle on one side and Calton Hill on the other. Its clock tower has been a landmark for more than a hundred years. The hotel has three restaurants and two bars, and guests are especially pleased with the food. The whisky bar is the place for Friday night, and the airport tram stops nearby.
Frequently asked questions about a weekend in Edinburgh
How do I get from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre?
Take the tram. It runs from the terminal to Princes Street and St Andrew Square, right by Waverley station and the New Town. There is also an airport bus into the centre. A taxi is quickest late at night but costs more. If you are staying along Princes Street, the tram is the easiest option in both directions.
Is two nights enough for a weekend in Edinburgh?
Yes, two nights are enough if you stay in the Old Town or along Princes Street. You will have time for the castle, the Royal Mile, Calton Hill and either Arthur's Seat or Dean Village. If you also want a day trip to the Highlands, or to see Leith and the Royal Yacht Britannia, add a third night.
What can you do in Edinburgh when it rains?
Visit the National Museum of Scotland, which is free, and see the castle early before the queues. Spend the afternoon over afternoon tea and the evening in an Old Town whisky bar. Rain comes and goes quickly in Edinburgh, so pack a waterproof and head up Calton Hill when it clears.
Which hotel is best for a weekend in Edinburgh?
The Balmoral is our first choice because it stands by Waverley station, with the castle and the Old Town within walking distance. Kimpton Charlotte Square suits a calmer weekend in the New Town, and Prestonfield House below Arthur's Seat is for a romantic weekend. All three score highly with guests.