Staying In Old Town Edinburgh: 15 Central Hotels Compared

Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge - Royal Mile sits at the most central intersection of Old Town's pedestrian grid, putting Edinburgh Castle a 9-minute walk north and Holyrood Park around 15 minutes east - meaning the full Royal Mile is effectively your doorstep. Rooms are air-conditioned with Ibis Sweet Beds, en-suite shower rooms, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee facilities, which covers the essentials without surplus. The on-site restaurant serves international cuisine from lunch through late evening, complemented by a bar that handles snacks between meals. Discounted parking is available within a 5-minute walk, which is a practical advantage in a district where most properties offer no parking at all.

• South Bridge location - walkable to Royal Mile, Grassmarket, and Waverley Station
• On-site restaurant and bar with extended evening hours
• Facilities for disabled guests and a lift on site

Grassmarket Hotel is positioned 300 metres from the Royal Mile in one of Old Town's most characterful neighbourhoods, where the weekly market, historic pubs, and Castle views from street level make it a visually distinctive base. Rooms feature plasma-screen TVs, wall-sized magnetic maps, Bluetooth stereo connectivity, and rainfall showers - a noticeably design-forward specification at this price tier. Princes Street shopping is 750 metres away and Waverley Station is 800 metres on foot. The Grassmarket location means lively evening atmosphere immediately outside, which is a genuine consideration for light sleepers.

• 300 metres from the Royal Mile with direct views up to Edinburgh Castle
• Rainfall showers and Bluetooth in-room audio in every room
• Free WiFi throughout and family room options available

Aparthotel Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile sits 600 metres from Edinburgh Festival Theatre and 10 minutes on foot from Waverley Station, making it a practical base for those planning a mix of Old Town sightseeing and venue-heavy itineraries. Each apartment includes a kitchenette with a coffee maker, kettle, crockery, and kitchen utensils, which directly reduces food costs on longer stays. Edinburgh Playhouse and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo venue are both within 700 metres, and Edinburgh Castle is 1.4 kilometres away. Continental breakfast is available on site, and the 24-hour reception adds booking flexibility for late arrivals.

• Kitchenette in every apartment - practical for 3+ night stays
• 600 metres from Edinburgh Festival Theatre and 700 metres from Edinburgh Playhouse
• 24-hour front desk, lift, laundry facilities, and disabled guest access

Holyrood Aparthotel is located just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's city centre, offering studio and 2-bedroom apartments that give substantially more space than a standard hotel room at a comparable central rate. Fully equipped kitchens with washer/dryers are included in every apartment, and Italian-tiled bathrooms with modern bedroom layouts make the residential feel genuine rather than token. Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park are a 5-minute walk, while Waverley Rail Station is 10 minutes away. Optional breakfast hampers with continental items including Scottish shortbread and oatcakes can be pre-booked - a practical alternative to daily restaurant spend.

• Studio and 2-bedroom options with full kitchen and washer/dryer
• 5-minute walk to Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat
• On-site gym and maid service available on request

Abbey Strand Apartments, At Holyrood occupies the quieter eastern end of the Old Town corridor, 1.1 kilometres from Waverley Station and within short distance of the Royal Mile, placing them away from the Grassmarket noise while remaining walkable to central sights. Each unit features a well-fitted kitchenette with dishwasher and oven, satellite flat-screen TV, bathrobes, and a seating area with sofa - a residential specification suited to stays of 4 nights or more. Full-day security and a picnic area with garden access are distinctive features in this district. Edinburgh Playhouse, Mary King's Close, and the Royal Mile are all within 1.3 kilometres.

• Full kitchenette with dishwasher and oven in every unit
• Garden access and picnic area - uncommon in Old Town properties
• Full-day security and free WiFi throughout

Edinburgh Castle Apartments are positioned 400 metres from Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, with Princes Street - including tram and bus stops serving Edinburgh's financial and business districts - just a 2-minute walk away. This location is one of the most strategically central in the entire Old Town for combining sightseeing with transport access. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo venue is 600 metres from the property, making these apartments particularly relevant during Festival season when proximity reduces the chaos of post-show navigation. Waverley Station is a 10-minute walk, and Edinburgh Airport is reachable within a 30-minute drive with paid public parking available nearby.

• 400 metres from Edinburgh Castle and direct Royal Mile access
• 2-minute walk to Princes Street tram and bus connections
• 600 metres from the Military Tattoo venue - strong Festival season positioning

Old Town Chambers, Autograph Collection sits directly on the Royal Mile, 2 minutes from Waverley Station and 5 minutes from Edinburgh Castle on foot - a micro-location that is genuinely difficult to improve upon for Old Town access. Apartments feature open-plan fully fitted kitchens, luxury bathrooms, smart flat-screen TVs, and free toiletries, with select units offering balconies with city views, a cinema TV system, and a Bose sound system. The residential scale of the building means quieter corridors than a full hotel, while the 24-hour front desk and lift maintain hotel-level convenience. This is one of the few Royal Mile addresses where apartment living and immediate castle access are combined at a premium-residential standard.

• 2-minute walk to Waverley Station and 5 minutes to Edinburgh Castle
• Select apartments with balconies, Bose sound system, and cinema TV
• 24-hour front desk, lift, fitness centre, and free WiFi throughout

Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh is placed in the heart of Old Town beside the Royal Mile, less than a 5-minute walk from Waverley Station and within short walking distance of Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street, and Holyrood Palace - making it one of the most comprehensively positioned full-service hotels in this guide. Rooms feature Dream beds with crisp white linens, large-screen TVs, spacious bathrooms with spa toiletries, high-speed WiFi, and a full work area with a tea and coffee dock. The modern restaurant covers an international dinner menu and the bar handles lunch, snacks, and coffee throughout the day. Edinburgh Airport is 14 kilometres away, accessible by the Airlink bus from nearby Waverley.

• Less than 5 minutes' walk to Waverley Station from a Royal Mile address
• Spa toiletries, large-screen TVs, and dedicated work areas in every room
• On-site restaurant with international dinner menu and a full-service bar

Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre is one of the few properties in Old Town that combines an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, and fully equipped fitness suite under one roof at a city-centre address - a genuine differentiator in this district. Waverley Station is a 5-minute walk, Edinburgh Castle is 10 minutes on foot, and Holyrood Park is 10 minutes away, covering the full Old Town visitor circuit from one base. The Itchycoo Bar and Kitchen overlooks the Royal Mile directly and serves a seasonal menu, while a separate restaurant offers traditional Scottish breakfast. Every room includes satellite TV, a private bathroom with free toiletries, a work area, and free WiFi.

• Indoor heated pool, sauna, and fitness suite in the city centre
• Itchycoo Bar with direct Royal Mile views and a seasonal menu
• 5-minute walk to Waverley Station and 500 metres from Princes Street

Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel sits at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, just off the Royal Mile and within walking distance of both Lothian Road and Princes Street - a position that makes it one of the most visible castle-adjacent addresses in Old Town. The newly revamped bedrooms and suites feature free WiFi, Antipodes organic toiletries, mini fridges, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs, with Castle View Suites adding Nespresso machines. Guests have shared access to full leisure facilities at the adjacent Apex Grassmarket Hotel, including a swimming pool, cardio machines, and resistance equipment - effectively giving pool access without a pool on site. Cots and highchairs are available on request.

• Castle-foot location just off the Royal Mile with Princes Street walkable
• Shared pool and gym access at the adjacent Apex Grassmarket Hotel
• Antipodes organic toiletries and air conditioning in all rooms

Apex Grassmarket Hotel anchors the western edge of Old Town's hotel cluster in the vibrant Grassmarket quarter, 600 metres from the Royal Mile and 550 metres from the National Museum of Scotland. It operates a Technogym-equipped fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool, and an award-winning Metro Bar & Brasserie with seasonally rotating menus - a leisure infrastructure level that outperforms most comparable Old Town properties. Every room features a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD TV with Google Cast, en-suite shower with luxury toiletries, and tea and coffee facilities. Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle are a 15-minute walk, and Edinburgh Airport is a 25-minute drive.

• Indoor pool, Technogym fitness centre, and award-winning Metro Bar & Brasserie
• 55-inch 4K TVs with Google Cast in every room
• 600 metres from the Royal Mile and 550 metres from the National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood is metres from Holyrood Park, 5 minutes on foot from Holyrood Palace and Abbey, and positioned at the quieter eastern end of the Old Town - a micro-location that trades immediate Royal Mile buzz for a noticeably calmer environment with park proximity. The Health and Wellbeing Club includes a gym, indoor pool, sauna, and a beauty centre with treatment rooms and a nail bar, making it the most spa-complete property in this guide. Rooms feature marble private bathrooms, satellite TV, ample workspace, and free WiFi, with Princes Street reachable in 15 minutes' walk. The Arti & Alba Restaurant uses locally sourced meat and fish for a menu that reflects regional Scottish produce.

• Full spa with indoor pool, sauna, beauty centre, and nail bar
• Metres from Holyrood Park - quieter Old Town micro-location than Grassmarket
• On-site parking available and Arti & Alba restaurant with local sourcing

House of Gods Royal Mile is positioned centrally in Edinburgh with Camera Obscura 700 metres away, the National Museum of Scotland nearby, and Edinburgh Waverley Station within easy walking distance - anchoring it firmly within the Old Town sightseeing circuit. The property includes an on-site nightclub and room service, a combination that makes it distinctly different from other Old Town hotels and directly relevant for travellers who want nightlife as part of their stay rather than as a separate commute. Rooms are air-conditioned with flat-screen TVs, safety deposit boxes, coffee machines, and en-suite showers with free toiletries. À la carte and continental breakfast options are available, and the 24-hour front desk handles late check-ins.

• On-site nightclub - unique among Old Town central hotels
• 700 metres from Camera Obscura and close to the National Museum of Scotland
• Air conditioning, room service, and 24-hour front desk

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is a 5-star property in Edinburgh's city centre, immediately adjacent to Mary King's Close, Camera Obscura, and the National Museum of Scotland - placing it within the densest cluster of Old Town visitor attractions. The hotel operates 3 restaurants including a Scottish cuisine option with vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan menus, plus a rooftop terrace, a fitness centre, and a concierge service. Every room features a flat-screen TV, coffee machine, shower, and free toiletries, with a full bar and room service for in-room dining. Edinburgh Airport is 9 kilometres away, the shortest airport distance of any property in this guide.

• 5-star positioning adjacent to Mary King's Close and Camera Obscura
• 3 restaurants including dedicated Scottish cuisine with dietary options
• Rooftop terrace, fitness centre, concierge, and 24-hour room service

Market Street Hotel forms part of Edinburgh's historic skyline on Market Street, a few minutes' walk from the Royal Mile and 650 yards from Mary King's Close - a location that puts it inside the Old Town's most visited corridor without sitting directly on the noisy Royal Mile itself. Each boutique-style room features locally made fabrics, locally curated artwork, locally roasted coffee, bespoke furniture, Chromecast, Apple TV, and a private bathroom - a room specification built around sourced Edinburgh identity rather than chain-hotel standardisation. The rooftop Nor' Loft Champagne lounge serves breakfast, small plates, and drinks with panoramic city views, which is one of the most distinctive food and beverage settings of any hotel in this guide. Edinburgh Castle is 1 kilometre away and Camera Obscura is 700 metres on foot.

• Rooftop Nor' Loft Champagne lounge with panoramic Edinburgh views
• Locally sourced room interiors - fabrics, art, and coffee all Edinburgh-origin
• Apple TV and Chromecast in every room, superb breakfast rating