In which quarter house in Edinburgh?

Knowing where to sleep when arriving in Scotland: Here is a brief description of the best areas to stay in Edinburgh!

Second Town of Scotland, Edinburgh It has been the capital since the 16th century. With a population of 482,640 inhabitants (2012) and an area (259 km2) as wide as the department of Val-de-Marne (94), Edinburgh is also a city where the number of dwellings per capita is among the largest in Europe. Finding an apartment or hotel will be easy, but still need to know in which sleeping area in Edinburgh.

Built on volcanic hills, Edinburgh is known for its festival, whisky and for being one of the spearheads of the Enlightenment century (through A. Smith and D. Hume, among others). Classified as UNESCO’s heritage, the city has quite a few neighborhoods, and you’re advised to consider a rather important budget to stay there, like any big city in the United Kingdom. Here are the neighborhoods of Edinburgh where to sleep.

Old Town, historic centre

The oldest part of the city, built on a crag, is home to most of the buildings of interest in Edinburgh. The old town has kept its picturesque appearance and its medieval style of town, many buildings still dating from the Reformation. It is with the main boulevard – the Royal Mile – that you will find a lot of alleys with large squares, markets and green spaces. In the city centre, don’t miss Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Princes Street Gardens and the National Gallery of Scotland. A neighborhood where sleeping is no longer central, alive, and dynamic. If you fail to pay at least €60 for a hotel night, go back to the hostels, it is THE alternative solution to the high price of accommodation in Edinburgh.

New Town, New Town

It is the édimbourgeois area where you find the great chic shops, the great fashion brands: if you plan a day of shopping, this is where you have to stay. Enjoy it to relax on the lawns of the city: in a green setting, you enjoy a complete tranquility in the heart of Edinburgh. With its 18th century Georgian architecture houses, the neighbourhood is in fact considered one of the most beautiful artistic achievements of the entire UK.

Calton Hill and Broughton

Further north, between the city centre and the coastline – in Leith – is one of the highest points in the city, with its panorama over the castle, Arthur’s seat – the famous hill of 251 meters above the city – and the other quarters of the center. 143 steps will take you to the top of the Monument Nelson, to enjoy a view of the National Monument. Downstairs, cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants will delight the noctambules, a good neighborhood where to stay in Edinburgh if you like the party and nature, just a step away from the city centre.

Dean village, small haven of peace

Located in the west of the city centre on the banks of the Water of Leith River, this area is very quiet and is suitable for walks in the middle of nature, forgetting that one is in a European capital. The old mills were rehabilitated in chic apartments and many houses date back to the 17th century. This is where a part of the film was shot Avengers . Many Scots settle there, but note that the area is devoid of shops and pubs: choose this neighborhood where to stay in Edinburgh if you are travelling with your family.

Leith, the port of Edinburgh

If the Leith district is now totally caught in the city in the 18th century, it was separated from Edinburgh. Fashionable industrial buildings are attracting more and more. It is in Leith that one can see the Britannia or shopping at Ocean Terminal. You certainly enjoy its cafés, restaurants and the mouth of the Water of Leith River.

Main Photo Credit: Flickr – Andy Smith