Comparison · Bath vs Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Bath vs Edinburgh
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Bath for Roman Baths and Georgian architecture; choose Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, beaches and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 511 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 511 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Bath
- May–June and September
- Best time for Edinburgh
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Bath | Edinburgh | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Known for | Roman Baths, Georgian architecture and Royal Crescent | Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 2 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$320 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 23°C (73°F) | July, 19°C (66°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 8°C (46°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Beaches | — | Portobello Beach |
| Airports | BRS, LHR | EDI, GLA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bath for…
Roman Baths and Georgian architecture. Bath is a small city in a bowl of hills on the River Avon, built almost entirely in pale Bath stone and listed by UNESCO as a whole. The Romans built a bathing complex over its hot springs, still visible at the Roman Baths beside the Abbey, and in the 18th…
Choose Edinburgh for…
Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, beaches and free sights. Edinburgh is built across volcanic hills between the Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills, and its two UNESCO-listed halves sit side by side: the medieval Old Town strung along the Royal Mile from the Castle to Holyrood, and the Georgian grid of the New…
Top sights compared
| # | Bath | Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman Baths | Edinburgh Castle |
| 2 | Bath Abbey | The Royal Mile |
| 3 | Thermae Bath Spa | St Giles' Cathedral |
| 4 | Royal Crescent and No. 1 Royal Crescent | Palace of Holyroodhouse |
| 5 | The Circus | Arthur's Seat |
Food compared
| Bath | Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Sally Lunn bun | Haggis, neeps and tatties |
| Bath bun | Cullen skink |
| Bath Oliver biscuits | Full Scottish breakfast |
| Cream tea | Scotch whisky |
Which is cheaper?
Bath and Edinburgh cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $180–$320 in Bath and $180–$320 in Edinburgh (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bath on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bath and Edinburgh are about 511 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 2 days in Bath and 3 in Edinburgh.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bath or Edinburgh cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $180–$320 in Bath and $180–$320 in Edinburgh (estimates).
+Is Bath or Edinburgh better for a first trip?
Pick Bath for Roman Baths and Georgian architecture, or Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, beaches and free sights.
+How far is Bath from Edinburgh?
About 511 km in a straight line.