Here’s How To Visit Edinburgh On The Cheap

Unsplash/Luis Mayoral

Edinburgh, Scotland draws history buffs, architecture nerds, “Harry Potter” fans (J.K. Rowling wrote a lot of her epic here) and comedians and comedy wannabes (the Edinburgh Fringe gets legendary acts every year). The city has a little bit of everything — hello, Scottish whisky — and you can take a trip to the Scottish spot on the cheap, if you know where to stay, dine and sightsee.

Where To Stay: $25 to $75 per night

The average price of an Airbnb in Edinburgh is $90 a day, meaning you can find something pretty darn comfy for $75, if not cheaper, even if it’s not luxurious. Hotels cost a bit more, but if you’re splitting the cost between two people, you can find a really centrally located hotel for $150 total per night.

Where To Eat: $20 to $80 per day

As far as traditional Scottish food goes, you’ll want to get at least one full Scottish breakfast. But if you’re looking for cheap eats, try The Piemaker for, yes, pies (a steak Scotch pie is less than $3) or Wannaburger for a burger made from Scottish Aberdeen beef (the cheapest starts at $4-ish). Then you can fill out your day with coffee snacks and nice dinners at any of the fabulous pubs around every corner.

Where To Drink: $5 and up per day

Flickr/Summonedbyfells

You can grab a pint for cheap at local pubs around town, but if you want to drink like a champ, you’ll likely want a whisky and a beer (about $10).

RELATED: 5 Adorable Pubs In Edinburgh Where You Can Drink Like A Scot

Where To Visit: Free and cheap activities

Although the famous Edinburgh Fringe shows aren’t free, tons of other Edinburgh activities are. The National Museum of Scotland has no entrance fee and is a blend of all the best parts of a museum. Its different wings are basically miniature museums in their own right, from Scottish fashion through the ages to a technological display complete with airplanes hanging from the ceiling. There’s also the Royal Botanical Garden, if you manage to catch one of Edinburgh’s rare but stunning sunny days. Feeling outdoorsy? Climb up Arthur’s Seat, a hiking trail to a viewpoint overlooking the entire city.

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