Visiting Edinburgh on a Budget: 10 Money-Saving Tips

Edinburgh is a city of sheer beauty; the medieval Old Town is peppered with history and lore, and its cobbled streets, hidden closes and wynds beg to be wandered. The locals are incredibly friendly, the pubs are world-class, and the surrounding natural scenery is mind-bogglingly beautiful.

Its only downfall? Edinburgh isn’t the most budget-friendly destination. While some attractions are unavoidably expensive (I’m looking at you, Edinburgh Castle), there are plenty of free museums and historic sites, inexpensive restaurants, and a myriad of outdoor activities to help offset the costs of its pricier attractions.

The following 10 tips will help you stretch your budget, and help you make the most of your time in Scotland’s bonnie capital.

1) Walks, Parks and Green Spaces

One of Edinburgh’s most appealing qualities is its abundance of parks and natural attractions. There’s plenty to see and do outdoors, and all for free!

Princes Street Gardens is a public park located in the centre of the city, running between Old Town and New Town. It’s the perfect spot to escape bustling Princes Street or to simply relax in the shadow of the castle.

The view from Calton Hill is arguably the best vantage point in the city, offering panoramic views of Edinburgh’s skyline, Arthur’s Seat, and the Firth of Forth. Several monuments can be found on Calton Hill as well, including The National Monument of Scotland and the Nelson Monument.

Located in the heart of the city within Holyrood Park lies Arthur’s Seat, a dormant volcano and prominent landmark standing at 251 metres. The ascent is relatively easy, albeit rocky at times, and it takes roughly 45 minutes to reach the summit. The walk is worthwhile – the view from the top is stunning, especially with the castle looming in the distance.

The Water of Leith Walkway is a 12-mile river-side walk, winding through the middle of Edinburgh. The best spot to get on the path is at Dean Village – a historical grain-milling hamlet with buildings dating back to the 1800s. From Dean Village, you can follow the path along the river to the vibrant neighbourhood of Stockbridge, which has plenty of charming cafes and bakeries, gourmet eateries, and vintage and boutique shops. (If you’re visiting on a Sunday, be sure to peruse the stalls at Stockbridge Market for local produce, tasty food stands, and a variety of hand-crafted goods.)

2) Free Attractions

Edinburgh has plenty to offer in terms of free attractions; visit The National Museum of Scotland for a lesson in Scottish history, or discover the work of Scotland’s most famous writers at The Writers’ Museum. The Royal Botanic Garden, The Scottish National Gallery, St. Giles Cathedral, and The Scottish Parliament are a few other popular free options.

3) Avoid the month of August

The largest arts festival in the world – The Fringe Festival – takes place over the course of three weeks every year in August, and accommodation prices skyrocket as the city sees a massive influx of visitors. Unless you’re planning a visit specifically to coincide with the Fringe Fest (which I would highly recommend, by the way!), avoid this month to save on accommodations, and just about everything else.

4) Getting Around

Edinburgh is an incredibly compact and walkable city, and the best way to explore is by foot – especially since most attractions are located within neighbouring Old Town and New Town.

If you want to utilize public transportation, the buses are convenient and relatively inexpensive; a single ticket costs £1.50, and a day ticket is £4.00, which also includes unlimited travel on the trams. If you’re planning to use transport for a number of days, be sure to look into the weekly passes to save money.

The Airlink bus continually runs between the airport and the city centre, and the cost is £4.50 for a single ticket.

5) Alternative Accommodation Options

Edinburgh has its fair share of moderately priced accommodations; hostel dorm rooms start around £20 pounds per night, and budget hotels like Cityroomz and Motel One average about £80 per night. If you’re really looking to cut down on accommodation costs, consider alternative options like Airbnb or HomeAway, where you can rent a cheap room from locals. The University of Edinburgh offers student dormitories of various sizes and types at Pollock Halls for reasonable prices during the summer months, as well.

6) Cheap Eats

Dining out in Edinburgh can easily drain your wallet, but there are plenty of budget-friendly restaurants to choose from.

If you’re looking for a grab and go-style meal for less than 5 pounds in Edinburgh’s Old Town, head to Oink for a simple yet delicious roast pork roll, The Piemaker for hearty meat or veggie pies, or The Baked Potato Shop for massive baked potatoes topped with a variety of hot or cold fillings.

For lunch or dinner, try Mosque Kitchen – a no-frills restaurant known for its cheap and authentic Indian food – where a plate of curry, rice, and naan bread will only set you back about £7. Ting Thai Caravan is another option for fantastic and cheap Thai food; the Pad Thai is delicious and costs less than £10. For Scottish cuisine, Mum’s is a great choice for haggis and other classic comfort foods, or try The Dogs: a gastropub featuring traditional Scottish food with a contemporary twist.

7) Cheap(er) Drinks

Visiting one of the city’s historic pubs is a must-do when visiting Edinburgh, but pints and cocktails don’t always come cheap. Check out some of the following bars and pubs for slightly cheaper pints, or mixed drink and cocktail specials.

In New Town, Lucky Liquor offers a £5 beer & bourbon deal, The Basement has an array of inventive cocktails starting at £5.50, and restaurant and bar Sygn in Edinburgh’s West End has a fair selection of cocktails for £5 as well. Amongst the dozen or so pubs on Rose Street, head to The Black Cat for reasonably priced pints, and live music every Monday and Wednesday.

In Old Town, you’ll find Sandy Bell’s: a folk bar with traditional music sessions every night of the week, and pints starting around £3.50. Part of the infamous underground vaults are located within Banshee Labyrinth – which is said to be one of Edinburgh’s most haunted bars – and many of their mixed drinks and pints cost less than £4. The Hanging Bat is a craft beer bar with an in-house brewery; the lengthy menu includes local and international bottled and draught beer, with the average schooner hovering around the £5 mark.

8) Avoid Taxis

Taxis in Edinburgh are very expensive, so I’d recommend avoiding them at all costs if you’re on a strict budget. If you happen to find yourself without any other option, Uber has recently launched in Edinburgh and is slightly cheaper than regular cabs.

9) Inexpensive and Worthwhile Tours

Discover the dark side of Edinburgh’s history on an Underground Vault Tour (£9). This series of tunnels hidden beneath Old Town once housed everything from serial killers to malevolent spirits, witches and infamous criminals – to name a few.

Whisky may be the drink of choice for most visitors, but it isn’t the only spirit worth sampling. The Edinburgh Gin Distillery offers a Gin Discovery Tour (£10), where you can learn the history behind Edinburgh Gin, tour the distillery, and sample their acclaimed gin.

The Free Walking Tour covers the main sights in Edinburgh’s winding Old Town, and delves into the city’s fascinating history, with plenty of tales, legends, and ghost stories thrown in for good measure. It’s a tip-based tour, so it’s technically not free, but still a great value.

Climb to the top of St. Giles Cathedral on their Rooftop Tour, which provides a beautifully unique view overlooking the Royal Mile (£6).

10) Sample the National Drink for Less

If you’re a scotch connoisseur, you might want to book a tour at The Scotch Whisky Experience, but if the £14.50 price tag puts you off, or if you just want a wee taste of Scotland’s national drink, head to one of the best whisky bars in the city instead. Bow Bar has a dizzying array of single malts on offer (over 300, to be precise), and Whiski Rooms boasts a combined restaurant, bar, and specialist whisky shop.

Do you have any other tips for visiting Edinburgh on a budget?

Budget Beyond the Basics: Smarter Ways to See Edinburgh (and Spend Less)

Edinburgh rewards the slow wanderer and the savvy planner. Ready? Let’s make your bank account as happy as your camera roll.

Where to Stay for Less (Without Sacrificing Charm)

If you’re not precious about sleeping on the Royal Mile, you can get far better value a few streets—or a few stops—away. Leith has creative energy and great dining at lower prices. Haymarket and Dalry offer fast tram/train links. Tollcross and Bruntsfield feel neighborhood-y yet walkable to the Old Town. Stockbridge is village-cute without New Town hotel rates.

• Look at Leith, Dalry/Haymarket, Tollcross/Bruntsfield, and Stockbridge for value + vibes.
• In July–September, check University of Edinburgh residences (Pollock Halls, etc.).
• Weeknights are cheaper than Fridays/Saturdays—shift your weekend if possible.
• Prioritize places with a kitchenette and a washing machine to cut meal/laundry costs.
• If you have points, chain hotels on Princes Street often run quiet-season promos.

Neighborhoods That Stretch Your Budget

A Free-Heavy Two-Day Plan (Walk, Wonder, Repeat)

The best budget days in Edinburgh are mostly outdoors with a few targeted, free museums for variety. Day 1 focuses on Old Town’s texture: wynds and closes, kirkyards, and rooftops; Day 2 shifts green and leafy with a riverside ramble and a seaside sunset.

• Day 1: Royal Mile amble → St. Giles (free) → Advocates Close viewpoint → National Museum of Scotland (free) → Greyfriars Kirkyard → Meadows picnic → Golden-hour Calton Hill.
• Day 2: Dean Village → Water of Leith to Stockbridge Market (Sun) → Royal Botanic Garden (free grounds) → New Town crescents → Portobello Beach for fish & chips and sunset.
• Use museum cafés for affordable soup/tea and clean facilities (a very real perk).
• Pop into free gallery gems (The Fruitmarket Gallery; City Art Centre paid shows vary).
• Carry a picnic kit: supermarket meal deal + park bench = prime-view lunch for pennies.

At-a-Glance: 2-Day Free-Forward Route

Eat Well, Spend Little (Canny Food & Coffee Swaps)

Edinburgh can be pricey at dinner. Flip the script. Make lunch your main meal. Loads of places run weekday lunch specials, and supermarkets do generous meal deals (sandwich/salad + snack + drink) for the cost of a single café latte.

• Target lunch specials (Mon–Fri) for sit-down value; go lighter at dinner.
• Grab meal deals at Tesco/Sainsbury’s/Co-op for park picnics.
• Share pub mains (portions are generous); add an extra side if needed.
• Look for “early evening” menus (17:00–18:30) at mid-range restaurants.
• Save on caffeine: order an Americano or a pot of tea—refills stretch the spend.

Budget Bites Cheat Sheet

Transport Wins (Walkers Rule, but Capping Helps)

Edinburgh is happily compact. If you do hop on public transport, Lothian Buses and Trams use contactless capping: tap your card/phone and your fares automatically cap at the day rate, so there’s no penalty for multiple rides.

• Walk Old/New Town; bus/tram for Leith, Portobello, or late nights.
• Tap contactless—daily capping means no need to pre-buy day tickets.
• Airlink 100 is the budget airport MVP; trams shine if you’re near a stop with luggage.
• Night buses run after midnight on key routes (check N-numbers).
• Plan hills smartly: downhill into New Town, uphill only once a day if you can help it.

Getting Around for Less

Festival Season on a Budget (If You Can’t Avoid August)

If your dates collide with the Fringe, you can still have an incredible—and wallet-friendly—time with a bit of strategy. Preview week (late July/very early August) is cheaper and less crowded, and the Free Fringe scene offers pay-what-you-feel shows that run all day and late into the night (please tip!). The Royal Mile’s street stages are nonstop, free entertainment.

• Aim for preview days; prices and lines are gentler.
• Build a schedule mix: 1–2 ticketed must-sees + Free Fringe gems.
• Stay in Leith/Dalry; ride the bus in—it’s painless and cheap.
• Pack snacks and a refillable bottle; food queues spike before showtimes.
• See big venues daytime; wander small rooms late night for discoveries.

Fringe Tactics That Save ££

Low-Cost Day Trips (Big Scenery, Small Price Tags)

You don’t need a car to escape the city. Edinburgh’s train and bus web gets you to castles, coast, and quaint towns in under an hour.

• Stirling: Old town lanes + castle + Wallace Monument views.
• North Berwick: Beaches, seabird centre, hill walk up The Law.
• Linlithgow: Palace ruins right on the water, swans, easy loop walk.
• South Queensferry: Bridges, coastal path, photogenic high street.
• Check ScotRail for off-peak return fares; Lothian Country buses cover Queensferry.

Easy Day Trips from Waverley

Sample Daily Budgets & What They Actually Buy

Prices fluctuate, but having a target helps you choose where to splurge and where to save. The “Shoestring” plan leans on meal deals, free sights, and buses only when needed. The “Value” plan adds a pub lunch, a paid attraction every other day, and a couple of coffees you don’t have to justify.

• Put your big spend where it matters to you: a castle ticket, a whisky tasting, or a guided tour.
• Balance sit-down meals with picnics and bakery staples.
• Cap transport with contactless; walk the rest.
• Keep a small “treat fund” for serendipitous buskers, pop-up shows, and irresistible pastries.
• Track cash outlay once a day to stay honest with your goals.

Two Budget Templates (Per Person, Per Day)

Little Freebies Locals Rely On (They Add Up!)

There are tiny Edinburgh habits that make days smoother and cheaper. Tap water is free and good. Museums have clean loos. Church doorways hide quiet, rain-proof spots to regroup. The Meadows or Princes Street Gardens make perfect “living rooms” between sights.

• Fill bottles at museum taps; ask cafés politely if they can refill.
• Use public/venue restrooms to avoid “forced coffee” stops.
• Carry a compact picnic blanket—parks are your best dining room.
• Choose light souvenirs: flat, packable, and meaningful (bookmarks, prints).
• Check for concessions/locals’ days at paid sights.
• Free & Nearly-Free Helpers