Think London prices are extortionate? Well, you’d be correct. But a new report has revealed that there’s one UK city that actually ranks above the capital as one of the most costly places on the continent for a city break.
For its City Costs Barometer 2025, Post Office Travel Money did some number crunching and revealed that the combined cost of different tourist expenses in Edinburgh is higher than any other city in western Europe.
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The most costly part of staying in the Scottish capital is the accommodation. According to data from Hotels.com, the average price for two nights in one of the city centre’s three-star hotels is £399. That’s for the ten cheapest en-suite rooms available between June 6 and 8.
Edinburgh’s 48-hour public transport pass is also more expensive than most other European cities at £22, it’s ‘top tourist heritage attraction’ Edinburgh Castle costs £19.50 to enter and a simple filter coffee will set you back £3.50. Add the average price of a glass of wine, a return airport bus, a three course evening meal and a sight-seeing bus tour and in total, a trip to Edinburgh amounts to £601.50.
The report also highlighted that costs tend to escalate during peak season, such as when the Edinburgh Fringe is on, and with the city’s incoming tourist tax, it could be set to get even more spenny.
Across Europe as a whole, Edinburgh emerged as the third most expensive to visit, trumped only by Copenhagen and Oslo. London placed 26th with a total cost of £525.40.
You can definitely do Edinburgh on a budget, though. From the National Museum of Scotland to Portobello Beach, there are plenty of excellent things to do in the city for free and a bunch of affordable places to eat and wallet-friendly hotels, too.
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