Comparison · Edinburgh vs York · United Kingdom
Edinburgh vs York
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Colin, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, beaches and free sights; choose York for York Minster and City walls. York is generally less expensive, and the two are about 259 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 259 km
- Less expensive
- York
- Best time for Edinburgh
- May–June and September
- Best time for York
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Edinburgh | York | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Known for | Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Edinburgh Festival Fringe | York Minster, City walls and The Shambles |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$320 | $160–$280 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 19°C (66°F) | July, 22°C (72°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 7°C (45°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 13 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Beaches | Portobello Beach | — |
| Airports | EDI, GLA | LBA, MAN |
Which one is right for you?
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…
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Choose York for…
York Minster and City walls. York has been a Roman fortress, a Viking capital called Jorvik and medieval England's second city, and all of those layers survive inside its almost complete circuit of city walls. York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe, towers…
Top sights compared
| # | Edinburgh | York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh Castle | York Minster |
| 2 | The Royal Mile | York City Walls |
| 3 | St Giles' Cathedral | The Shambles |
| 4 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | JORVIK Viking Centre |
| 5 | Arthur's Seat | National Railway Museum |
Food compared
| Edinburgh | York |
|---|---|
| Haggis, neeps and tatties | Yorkshire pudding |
| Cullen skink | Fat Rascal |
| Full Scottish breakfast | Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake |
| Scotch whisky | Yorkshire curd tart |
Which is cheaper?
York is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $160–$280 per person there, against $180–$320 in Edinburgh (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). York on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Edinburgh and York are about 259 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Edinburgh and 3 in York.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Edinburgh or York cheaper?
York is usually less expensive: about $160–$280 a day mid-range against $180–$320 (estimates).
+Is Edinburgh or York better for a first trip?
Pick Edinburgh for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, beaches and free sights, or York for York Minster and City walls.
+How far is Edinburgh from York?
About 259 km in a straight line.