The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh close to Old Town and New Town

💡 Dayna’s local tip: ‘Any local will tell you that the charity and thrift shops in Stockbridge are the best in the capital – believe them.’

Stockbridge gets called ‘a village within the city’ so often that it might as well be printed on the street signs, and this warehouse-style family home explains exactly why people fall for it. There's underground parking, which is close to a miracle in this city, along with a kitchen island the size of a small country and enough BOSH appliances to make anyone briefly consider a career change into interior design. If you're driving up, this is the pick that saves you the nightmare of circling Stockbridge for a space. Once you're settled in, it's a short stroll to The Raeburn or one of the other spots on our guide to the best breakfasts and brunches in Edinburgh.

Rooms: Two beds, two baths. Sleeps four.

Price: From £549 a night.

Nearby: A gentle walk along the Water of Leith to Dean Village and the Botanic Gardens, with Stockbridge's own shops and cafés right on the doorstep.

This period-style apartment comes with oak-panelled walls, more books than you could realistically get through in a lifetime, and enough looming family portraits watching you eat breakfast like they're deciding whether you're worthy of the inheritance. It's a bit like staying in a country house that got lost and ended up in the middle of the Old Town instead. But the intrigue doesn't stop at the paintings, because there's also a secret bed box tucked into the wall that'll have you feeling like a Georgian aristocrat playing hide and seek. After dropping your bags here, it's a five-minute walk along the Royal Mile to some of the best pubs in Edinburgh for a well-earned pint. 

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £280 a night.

Nearby: It's right on the Royal Mile, so Edinburgh Castle, St Giles' Cathedral and the Scottish Parliament are all a short stroll away.

Moody, vintage, and just the right side of twee (there's a tartan teddy bear propped on the bed, in case you needed convincing), this one-bed feels like New Town's answer to a boutique hotel room. Every corner has been considered, and somehow that never tips over into try-hard. You're also a 15-minute walk from Princes Street, which is handy when the shopping urge inevitably strikes. Once you've explored New Town, it's an easy walk over to Calton Hill for one of the best views in the city. 

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £340 a night.

Nearby: A short walk to Princes Street and George Street, with Calton Hill around 10 minutes away on foot. 

This place is owned by an artist, so expect original pieces on the walls and vintage furnishings to give it some zhuz. The mirror above the log-filled fireplace and the antique wardrobe in the bedroom are the kind of details you notice on day one and are searching on ebay on the way home. There's a garden too, which is ideal for a lazy morning coffee if the weather cooperates. It's a quieter, more residential pick, but still within easy reach of some of the best restaurants in Edinburgh.

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps three.

Price: Check current rates on Airbnb.

Nearby: Set in a leafy residential pocket, with Bruntsfield and Morningside both a short walk away. 

This one is located a little further away from the action than some of our other choices, but it's still just a 20-minute walk to the city centre. This one's a 16th-century dovecote originally built to house pigeons, believe it or not. It’s since been converted into one of the most fairytale places you could stay in Edinburgh, perhaps the setting of a very good short story. It isn't roomy, but it doesn't need to be, since this is a stay built around atmosphere. Take some quiet time here before working your way through Edinburgh's best free things to do.

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: Check current rates on Airbnb.

Nearby: A 20-minute walk from the city centre, with Bruntsfield Links and Morningside's quieter streets right on the doorstep. 

History buffs, this one's for you. Bang slap in the middle of Old Town, with the castle looming over you at every turn, this apartment sleeps four without feeling cramped and puts every major sight within stumbling distance. It's the kind of base that makes first-time visitors feel like seasoned locals within about a day. Once you've dropped your bags, head straight for Victoria Street and the rest of our guide to the best things to do in Edinburgh's Old Town.

Rooms: Two beds, one bath. Sleeps four.

Price: Check current rates on Airbnb.

Nearby: Grassmarket itself, plus Victoria Street and Edinburgh Castle towering above it all.

We'd love to tell you about the chic four-poster bed and the cleverly laid-out living room, but honestly, good luck focusing on anything other than the castle sitting right outside the window. It's a one-bed built for two, making the most of a small space rather than fighting it. Fair warning: your camera roll will end up suspiciously full of the same window shot at different times of day. When you're ready to trade the view for a glass in hand, Old Town has plenty of the best cocktail bars in Edinburgh close by. 

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: Check current rates on Airbnb.

Nearby: Old Town's main sights are all within easy walking distance, with the castle visible from the apartment itself.

Tucked into the sunken valley of Dean Village, this riverside pad has panoramic views straight over the old mill buildings and the Dean Bridge. It's one of the most photographed corners of the city, but it somehow still feels like its own little world, a former milling village that just happens to sit ten minutes from Princes Street. The unit is a great mix of old and new, with antique furniture, a wood-burning stove, three bedrooms that'll comfortably fit six people, and enough workspaces that you could, in theory, get some work done here (you won't, too busy exploring). Once you've had your fill of the view, it's a scenic riverside walk to Stockbridge for one of the best breakfasts and brunches in Edinburgh.

Rooms: Three beds, two baths. Sleeps six.

Price: From £358 a night. 

Nearby: A short walk along the Water of Leith to Stockbridge, or the other way into the West End and Princes Street.

Bored of beige bedrooms? This home is just what the doctor ordered, with pretty prints, pastel bed frames, and furniture that looks like it's been plucked from a Parisian apartment and not a New Town tenement. It sits on the oldest street in New Town, so you've got artisan shops on one side and the city centre on the other. If old books and quirky little shops are your thing, it's also a short walk to some of the best bookshops in Edinburgh.

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £265 a night.

Nearby: Close to New Town's artisan shops and cafés, with Princes Street and the city centre a short walk away.

Normally in Edinburgh you have to pick a side: city centre or coast. This one refuses to choose, sitting within walking distance of both Portobello Beach and Arthur's Seat. It's a freshly decorated, homely spot, ideal if your trip involves alternating between a beach walk and a hike up an extinct volcano, as most good Edinburgh trips should. After the climb, reward yourself at one of the best beer gardens in Edinburgh down on the Portobello promenade.

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £136 a night.

Nearby: A 40-minute walk (or 10-minute bus) into the city centre, with Portobello Beach and Arthur's Seat both within easy walking distance in the other direction. 

Edinburgh's sky has a reputation for being grey even in the height of festival season, but this cheerful flat on Lauriston Gardens holds its own against it. Wooden floors, fireplaces and big windows are all present and correct for a classic Old Town home, but it's the yellow walls and splashes of colour and pattern throughout that make it stand out. We suspect the hosts have a soft spot for Frida Kahlo. 

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £166 a night. 

Nearby: Just up from The Meadows, with Old Town's main sights and the University of Edinburgh area both a short walk away. 

For anyone who'd rather explore a city than sleep in the thick of it, this guest house is the move. It's bright, airy, and dressed in soft pastels, with a cosy deck for watching the sunset and a wood-burning stove for when the Scottish weather does its thing. Three buses get you into town in about 20 minutes, so you're never far from the action, just far enough for a proper night's sleep. 

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £139 a night.

Nearby: A quiet residential pocket of South Edinburgh, roughly 20 minutes from the centre by bus. 

Overlooking the Meadows, this 19th-century build is proof that families and groups don't have to compromise on style. It's a good mix of vintage and contemporary decor, but the real selling point is the green space right on your doorstep, perfect for a morning coffee before the day's sightseeing. Walking distance to both Old Town and New Town means you're never far from a decent meal either, so check our guide to the best restaurants in Edinburgh before you head out.

Rooms: Three beds, two baths. Sleeps six.

Price: From £681 a night. 

Nearby: Overlooking the Meadows, with Old Town and New Town both within walking distance for dinner options.

High ceilings, hardwood floors, dark vintage leather seating, and an open fireplace that makes every entrance feel dramatic, this Albyn Place apartment is the museum-aesthetic dream. It sleeps six across three ensuite bedrooms, so it works equally well as a spenny family getaway or a genuinely affordable group stay once you split the cost. 

Rooms: Three beds, three baths. Sleeps six.

Price: From £1,062 a night.

Nearby: On Albyn Place in New Town, a short walk from Princes Street and George Street.

Tucked between a row of antique bookshops, this ivy-covered cottage is the softer, romantic counterpoint to Grassmarket's busier corners. Whimsical floral wallpaper, calming sage walls and antique furniture throughout make it feel more countryside cottage than city-centre flat, and then you get up to the rooftop garden for breakfast with castle views and remember exactly where you are. A five-minute walk gets you down into the rest of the best things to do in Edinburgh's Old Town.

Rooms: One bed, one bath. Sleeps two.

Price: From £344 a night. 

Nearby: Grassmarket's pubs and restaurants are a five-minute walk away, with Edinburgh Castle visible from the rooftop garden.