City in Scotland, United Kingdom
Edinburgh
Scotland's compact capital is great for a solo trip: walkable, historic, full of pubs and festivals. August is crowded and costly, winters are dark, and hills and cobbles tire legs.
At a glance
- Safety5/5Very safeDetails
- Monthly budget$3,310–4,760Comfortable, one person · £2,500–3,600Details
- Value for money14/100Better value than 13% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMay–Jun, Aug–SepWarmest: Jul, 18°CDetails
- Air quality4.8 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2021) · Meets the WHO guidelineDetails
- Internet184 MbpsFixed broadband, United Kingdom medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableSafe and soft, among the UK's best tap water.Details
- LGBTQ+4/5WelcomingDetails
- Solo travel5/5English: spoken almost everywhereDetails
- Doctor's visit$106–238Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundUberVery walkableDetails
- Cash or cardPractically cashlessPractically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses.Details
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Old Town | First visits: castle, Royal Mile, hostels; noisy and touristy |
| New Town | Georgian streets, shops, restaurants, easy walking |
| Leith | Waterfront bars, seafood, calmer long stays |
| Stockbridge | Village feel, cafés, Sunday market, river walks |
| Marchmont–Bruntsfield | Students, cheaper flats, parks, pubs |
Apps that work in Edinburgh
Ride-hailing
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- Citymapper: Live transit routes in London and big cities
- Trainline: Rail tickets and advance fares
- Taxis: Black cabs hail on the street and are metered. Prices jump in August; pre-book on a busy festival night.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in United Kingdom.
- Practically cashless Practically cashless: contactless cards and phones work almost everywhere, including buses. Keep a few pounds for markets and some rural B&Bs.
- Currency: Pound (GBP). US$1 ≈ £0.76 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Most cash machines are free; avoid 'pay-to-use' machines in shops and always decline the machine's currency conversion.
- Tipping: Restaurants often add a 12.5% service charge; otherwise tip 10–12.5%. No tipping at pub bars; round up taxi fares.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere, including London transport with daily fare caps.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Visa-free visitors (EU, US, Canada, Australia and others) need an ETA: £20 in the UK ETA app, usually approved within a day.
- An ETA lasts two years or until the passport expires and covers repeat visits of up to six months each; no work.
- Airlines check ETAs at boarding. Arriving from Ireland also needs an ETA unless you live in Ireland.
Emergency numbers
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999
Plugs
Type G · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Supermarkets, newsagents and phone shops sell prepaid SIMs (giffgaff, Lebara, Three, Vodafone); £10–20 buys a month of generous data. No ID needed. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in United Kingdom
Going to Edinburgh solo?
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.