Comparison · Dublin vs Edinburgh · Ireland / United Kingdom
Dublin vs Edinburgh
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Dublin for Guinness and Pubs and live trad music; choose Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 350 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 350 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Dublin
- May–September
- Best time for Edinburgh
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Dublin | Edinburgh | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Ireland | United Kingdom |
| Known for | Guinness, Pubs and live trad music and Book of Kells | Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
| Best time to visit | May–September | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 20°C (68°F) | July, 19°C (66°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 8°C (46°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 13 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Beaches | Sandymount Strand | Portobello Beach |
| Airports | DUB | EDI, GLA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dublin for…
Guinness and Pubs and live trad music. Dublin is a compact, walkable capital split by the River Liffey, with Trinity College, Grafton Street and the Georgian squares on the south side and O'Connell Street and the Docklands to the north and east. The Book of Kells, the national museums, Dublin…
Choose Edinburgh for…
Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile 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
| # | Dublin | Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinity College and the Book of Kells | Edinburgh Castle |
| 2 | Guinness Storehouse | The Royal Mile |
| 3 | Kilmainham Gaol | St Giles' Cathedral |
| 4 | National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology | Palace of Holyroodhouse |
| 5 | National Gallery of Ireland | Arthur's Seat |
Food compared
| Dublin | Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Full Irish breakfast | Haggis, neeps and tatties |
| Irish stew | Cullen skink |
| Dublin coddle | Full Scottish breakfast |
| Soda bread | Scotch whisky |
Which is cheaper?
Dublin and Edinburgh cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$350 in Dublin and $180–$320 in Edinburgh (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Edinburgh on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Dublin and Edinburgh are about 350 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Dublin and 3 in Edinburgh.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dublin or Edinburgh cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 in Dublin and $180–$320 in Edinburgh (estimates).
+Is Dublin or Edinburgh better for a first trip?
Pick Dublin for Guinness and Pubs and live trad music, or Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and free sights.
+How far is Dublin from Edinburgh?
About 350 km in a straight line.