City in Scotland, United Kingdom
Edinburgh for solo travelers
Is Edinburgh good for solo travel?
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.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 5/5 · Excellent for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Watch drinks on busy weekend nights and use licensed taxis after late events. |
How to meet people in Edinburgh
Hostels with pub crawls, free walking tours, Meetup groups, hillwalking clubs, open-mic nights and Fringe shows make it easy to chat.
Good things to do alone
- Climb Arthur's Seat at sunrise
- Walk the Water of Leith to Dean Village
- Catch a ceilidh or folk session in a pub
- See free and cheap shows at the Fringe
- Take a day trip to St Andrews or the Borders
Where to stay in Edinburgh
| 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 |
Solo travel across United Kingdom
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| London | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Edinburgh | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bristol | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Manchester | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Liverpool | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Glasgow | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Brighton | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Scottish Highlands | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| York | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Lake District | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cornwall | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Belfast | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cardiff | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Birmingham | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Newcastle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Leeds | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Snowdonia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Oxford | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bath | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cambridge | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Isle of Skye | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cotswolds | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Edinburgh good for solo travelers?
Excellent for solo travel (5/5). Scotland's compact capital is great for a solo trip: walkable, historic, full of pubs and festivals.
How do you meet people in Edinburgh?
Hostels with pub crawls, free walking tours, Meetup groups, hillwalking clubs, open-mic nights and Fringe shows make it easy to chat. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Edinburgh?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Edinburgh safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Watch drinks on busy weekend nights and use licensed taxis after late events.
More about Edinburgh
Going to Edinburgh solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Edinburgh meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.