Solo travel · Edinburgh · United Kingdom
Solo travel in Edinburgh
How to enjoy Edinburgh at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Edinburgh suits solo travellers: it is compact and walkable, hostels and walking tours abound, and pubs, comedy clubs and festivals make meeting people easy. Book accommodation early for August and Hogmanay. Many solo travellers base themselves in Leith.
Key facts
- Base
- Leith
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Language
- English
Solo travel tips
- Stay in the Old Town or Southside for hostels and walkable evenings.
- Join a walking tour or a ghost tour of the closes to meet other travellers.
- In August, book a few Fringe shows and fill the gaps with free ones; the queues are an easy place to start conversations.
- Climb Arthur's Seat in daylight and let someone know your plans if walking alone in Holyrood Park.
- Watch your belongings in Fringe crowds and on busy buses.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Leith
Leith was a separate burgh until 1920 and still feels like its own town, with restaurants and pubs along the Shore, some of the city's most acclaimed dining, the cafés of Leith Walk and the Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal. The tram links Leith with Princes Street in about 15–20 minutes.
- Good
- Excellent food scene; Better-value hotels; Tram to the city centre
- Watch out
- Away from the main historic sights; Some streets feel rough around the edges
- Nearby
- Royal Yacht Britannia, The Shore, Leith Walk, Newhaven Harbour
Great on your own
Castle · Old Town
Edinburgh Castle
Head straight to the Crown Room for the Honours of Scotland before the queues build, then circle back to the views from the batteries.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Street · Old Town
The Royal Mile
Duck into the closes off the main street; many open onto quiet courtyards and views over the New Town.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Shopping
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Palace · Holyrood
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Check dates before you go: the palace closes to visitors during royal visits, usually in early summer.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Viewpoint · New Town
Calton Hill
Go at sunset or sunrise; the steps up from Regent Road take about five minutes.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Iconic
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Garden · New Town
Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument
The monument's spiral stairs become very narrow near the top; skip the climb if you dislike tight spaces.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
Museum · Leith
Royal Yacht Britannia
Take the tram to Ocean Terminal and combine the visit with lunch on the Shore.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Meeting people
- Whisky tasting — Join a tasting in an Old Town whisky bar or at the Scotch Whisky Experience by the castle esplanade to compare malts from Speyside, Islay and the Highlands.
- Dinner on the Shore — Leith's waterfront has some of the city's best seafood and modern Scottish restaurants, from casual oyster bars to acclaimed tasting-menu dining rooms.
- Grassmarket and Cowgate — Historic pubs with outdoor tables below the castle, and late-night clubs and student bars along the Cowgate.
- George Street and the New Town — Cocktail bars, wine bars and smart restaurants in grand Georgian buildings.
Sensible precautions
Edinburgh is generally safe for visitors. Pickpockets work the festival crowds and the Royal Mile in summer, and the steep closes, stairs and cobbles are slippery in rain. On Arthur's Seat, stay on the paths and avoid the crags in wind or poor visibility.
- Emergency number
- 999 or 112
- Staying connected
- UK mobile networks are fast; non-UK visitors can buy a local SIM or use an eSIM, and EU roaming terms depend on your provider.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Edinburgh good for solo travellers?
Edinburgh suits solo travellers: it is compact and walkable, hostels and walking tours abound, and pubs, comedy clubs and festivals make meeting people easy. Book accommodation early for August and Hogmanay.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Edinburgh?
Leith: Edinburgh's old port of waterfront restaurants, bars and the Royal Yacht Britannia.