How Much Does Edinburgh Cost per Day
A full breakdown of Edinburgh prices: daily budgets by tier, every itemised cost from the guide, and where the money actually goes.
The short answer
Budget travellers in Edinburgh spend around GBP 55 a day. Mid-range travel runs closer to GBP 120, and a splurge day lands around GBP 260. Per person per day in GBP outside the Fringe, roughly USD 70 / 155 / 335 at rates in the second half of 2026. During the Fringe (usually August), expect accommodation specifically to run well above these figures, sometimes double.
Daily cost breakdown
- Stay
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
| Tier | Stay | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | GBP 28 | GBP 18 | GBP 5 | GBP 4 | GBP 55 |
| Mid-range | GBP 70 | GBP 35 | GBP 6 | GBP 9 | GBP 120 |
| Splurge | GBP 170 | GBP 70 | GBP 10 | GBP 10 | GBP 260 |
A mid-range day outside the Fringe: GBP 70 room split two ways, GBP 5 bus day ticket, GBP 23.50 Edinburgh Castle ticket booked online, GBP 12 pub lunch, GBP 30-35 sit-down dinner with a drink. Comes to roughly GBP 115-125 per person; add a healthy premium to the accommodation line if you're travelling in August.
Every priced item in this guide
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh Castle | GBP 23.50 adult booked online in advance, GBP 26.00 walk-up; GBP 14.00 child (7-15) online, GBP 15.50 walk-up; GBP 19.00 concession online, GBP 21.00 walk-up |
| National Museum of Scotland | free general admission; charges apply for some special exhibitions |
| Palace of Holyroodhouse | Standard Admission: GBP 22 adult in advance / GBP 26 on the day; GBP 14/17 young person (18-24); GBP 11/13 child (5-17) and disabled visitor; access companion and under-5s free. GBP 1 tickets available for named UK benefit recipients. |
| Arthur's Seat | free |
| Royal Yacht Britannia | GBP 23 adult online in advance (Apr-Oct 2026) / GBP 25 on the door / GBP 27 flexible ticket; GBP 22/24/26 for the same tiers Nov 2026-Mar 2027. Young person (16-21)/student and child (7-15) GBP 11.50-13.50 depending on tier; under-7s free. |
| Calton Hill | free |
| Haggis, neeps and tatties | GBP 12-18 |
| Cullen skink | GBP 7-11 |
| Scotch pie | GBP 2-4 |
| Whisky flights | GBP 20-40 for a flight |
| Seafood | GBP 20-35 |
| Deep-fried Mars bar | GBP 3-5 |
How to spend less
- National Museum of Scotland is free and can easily fill half a day
- Arthur's Seat and Calton Hill are free hikes with better views than several paid attractions combined
- Book Edinburgh Castle online rather than walk-up; the operator's own pricing charges a premium at the gate
- Travel outside August if the Fringe itself isn't the point of your trip; accommodation savings alone can be substantial
- Old Town pubs often have simple, cheap lunch menus that undercut the sit-down dinner prices on the same street