Airbnbs in Edinburgh: 13 staycations in the Scottish capital
Edinburgh is filled with secret retreats for a city-break escape, hidden down cobbled mews or tucked away in friendly neighbourhoods. With traditional high ceilings, excellent comforts, quirky interiors and clever design, these are the ultimate Airbnbs in Edinburgh. All are within walking distance of the Scottish capital's best things to do, the best restaurants in Edinburgh and the top places to drink in Edinburgh. For more options, see our pick of the best Airbnbs in Scotland.
While we have not stayed in every Airbnb featured, we have carefully selected these as recommendations based on their location, design, previous guest reviews and the fact that they have achieved Airbnb's Superhost status at the time of our research. All listings on Condé Nast Traveller are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1. Stately Georgian townhouse, New Town
Group-trippers can take over this entire stately home as their own, in the heart of Edinburgh’s elegant new town. All the original Georgian wall mouldings and ceiling roses are still in situ, but a modern renovation ensures a five-star feel with all mod-cons. This place is large and airy; five out of six bedrooms have their own ensuite. Bridgerton-worthy tasteful furnishings are spread throughout – some of the bedrooms even have four-poster beds.
Sleeps: 13
Price: From £785 per night, with a two-night minimum
2. Cosy townhouse, Leith
Decorating with dark colours is a bold choice, but it’s pulled off perfectly in this cosy townhouse in Edinburgh’s cool Leith area. Punchy ochre yellow furnishings add a glow to the deep-hued walls, which all feels very striking. With three bedrooms, a large dining room with an extendable table and a sociable open-plan lounge, this spot is perfect for big family get-togethers. Take note that it’s a 30-minute walk to the city centre, but there’s plenty to do closer to home – an abundance of bars, takeaway joints and Michelin-starred restaurants sit right on your doorstep.
Sleeps: Six
Price: From around £280 per night, with a two-night minimum
amelia claudia3. Chic basement apartment, West End
You can see that an interior designer has run their expert eye over this subterranean apartment – every inch of the property is arranged just so to make the most of the beautiful Georgian architecture. Rustic linens and neutral hues ensure a soothing spot to crash after a day tramping up and down the Royal Mile, and the outside space is sweet as can be, with trailing plants and a bistro table ready for morning coffee breaks. All little touches are well considered – there’s a high chair for those travelling with tots and, in the bathroom, handmade sustainable toiletries from a local Scottish brand.
Sleeps: Four
Price: From around £135 per night, with a two-night minimum
4. City-centre loft, Old Town
Overlooking Edinburgh’s most famous street, this Royal Mile flat is the perfect escape for two. Cleverly designed, the box bed is hidden behind oak-panelled walls, while airy living spaces are filled with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows looking straight onto the hillside high street. Curl up on cosy sofas in the reading room, where a giant fireplace is framed by family portraits and heirloom-filled bookshelves, or test out the kitchen with its long wooden dining table. The host provides tins of Scottish shortbread for arrivals, and there is an honesty bar available for guests to help themselves. The nearby Grassmarket has plenty of shops to check out during your stay – go for a tasting session at The Whisky Shop, try on vintage clothes at second-hand store W Armstrong and Son and, on a sunny day, head to Mary’s Milk Bar for the city’s best ice cream.
Sleeps: two
Price: from £90 a night
5. Pastel-hued apartment, New Town
On fashion-forward George Street, Eden Locke is a collection of pastel-hued studio apartments available to book individually on Airbnb. Part of the Locke hotel group that includes Bermonds Locke and Locke at Broken Wharf, this space seamlessly blends the feel of renting a private home with all the comforts of staying in a hotel. Designed by New York architects Grzywinski+Pons, bedrooms are carefully considered. Soothing pastels are offset by splashes of mustard yellow and pale oak floors, and each studio has a fully fitted kitchen with a marble dining table, a comfortable living area with Apple TV, a bathroom with Kinsey Apothecary products and blackout bedroom blinds. Don’t forget to check out the ice-cream-coloured Eden Café, a light-filled streetside coffee shop and co-working space perfect for grabbing a snack as you head out to explore the city.
Sleeps: two
Price: from £62 a night
6. Medieval retreat, Bruntsfield
This stone-cut cottage is the place to book for those who believe staycations are made all the better with a bit of medieval pomp. Formerly home to nesting doves, this renovated tower is hidden in a large private garden near the friendly, residential Bruntsfield neighbourhood. Downstairs, rough walls house a wood-burning stove, pull-out sofa bed and cedarwood kitchen, while upstairs in the tower lies a tiny, low-lit mezzanine with a bed surrounded by cubby holes and views of the garden. Stepping stones lead from glass doors across flower-filled grounds, where paths trail beneath rose-covered trellises and ancient garden tools are hung on the walls.
Sleeps: four
Price: from £155 a night
7. A cool converted warehouse
Behind the cobblestone alleyways of Stockbridge village, this bright space is the perfect hideout, away from the city centre’s hustle and bustle. In the living room, giant windows let light flood in, so you spend mornings curled up on the giant velvet sofa watching the world go by – or pull down the tartan blinds come evening to watch a film. The open-plan kitchen is centred around a white marble island, with calming cornflower-blue cabinets, exposed brick walls and floor-to-ceiling industrial radiators. Bedrooms are similarly airy, with vintage wooden chests of drawers and cloud-like king-sized double beds. Outside, discover Edinburgh’s cultural hub: Stockbridge is home to some of the city’s best bookshops, antique stores, second-hand spaces and markets.
Sleeps: four
Price: from £155 per night
8. A historical stay by the castle
Towering over the city, Edinburgh castle is one of the city’s most famous attractions. So for those wanting to be slap-bang in the thick of it, this is the place to book. Sitting in the shadows of the epic fortress, this apartment is perfectly placed between the castle and the colourful buildings of Grassmarket, home to excellent pubs (the Beehive Inn has a beer garden with great castle views). The flat itself is cute and cosy, with rough stone walls, shelves heavy with old book collections, and plenty of tartan throws. The bedroom has soft-toned, panelled walls and an old portrait hanging above a plush, violet-velvet headboard, while the kitchen is painted a soothing duck-egg blue with a decadent gilded mirror elongating the space.
Sleeps: two
Price: from 189 per night
9. Riverside mews house, Stockbridge
Tucked down a cobbled mews, this stone-walled house is near the quiet Stockbridge area. Packed with cute cafés and family-run restaurants, this neighbourhood is known for its secluded, village-like atmosphere despite its proximity to the city centre (Princes Street is about 20 minutes away on foot). Through cottage doors framed by olive trees, the light-filled living space mixes whitewashed interiors with wooden counters, rustic stonework giving it the feel of an artist’s studio – but head upstairs and you’ll find a cosy, cream-hued bedroom complete with a stove ready to warm up the whole house. The Airbnb comes with access to private river gardens, perfect for a day trip down the Waters of Leith to explore Dean Village and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Sleeps: two
Price: from £120 a night
10. Historic apartment, New Town
This classic flat dating back to the 1780s and set in the heart of New Town comes with all the trimmings – towering ceilings, period features and antique furnishings. The bow-walled living room is painted in soothing grey tones and has a marble fireplace, a Persian rug and two vintage chesterfield sofas. The enormous four-poster bed brings a touch of decadence, while the sleek black-tiled bathroom adds a modern twist (the property is the winner of a Hilden Style Award). Round the corner lies one of Edinburgh’s top brunch spots, Urban Angel, but we recommend heading further down the hill to Archipelago Bakery to pick up a coffee and a fresh loaf of bread to take back to the marble-topped kitchen.
Sleeps: four
Price: from £98 a night
11. Plant-filled escape, West End
Unconventionally modern for Edinburgh, this eclectic property provides a colourful stay in town. Enter through a bright-red door to find a jungle-like oasis, with lamps and hanging plants dangling over the kitchen with its green-topped counters, matte-black fittings and pale-wooden splashbacks. The living room is home to more leafy greenery slotted between comfy grey sofas with cheery cushions and geometric-pattern footstools. Spend days exploring the city’s lesser-known neighbourhoods in the West End, where buzzy cobbled streets lead to low-lit restaurants such as L’Escargot Blanc and hidden wine bars – Le Di-Vin, set inside a renovated church, is our favourite.
Sleeps: four
Price: from £70 a night
12. Grand Georgian pad, Comely Bank
This peaceful retreat is in the quiet Comely Bank neighbourhood, where the sounds of the city are muffled by leafy trees and stretches of green gardens back onto babbling rivers. Dove-grey walls are framed by intricate cornicing, with period sash windows allowing light to pour into this majestic space. The open-plan kitchen/living-room area is perfect for curling up by the fireplace with a good book. Or, if the weather is warm, take a picnic out to the private garden to soak up the sun. At night, drift off in the giant king-size bed with its pillow-top mattress and room-darkening shades.
Sleeps: two
Price: from £100 a night
13. Minimalist hideaway, New Town
A pared-back property that lets the view speak for itself – it comes with a balcony looking out over communal gardens and the city skyline. Inside, ice-cream colours create a soothing atmosphere: vanilla-painted walls, pistachio-hued cushions, creamy, pale wooden floors. Splashes of brighter tones add variety – vibrant plants are dotted around the flat, and sofas and armchairs in the living area are angled towards an olive-green feature wall. It’s part of the Sonder group, a rental company providing thoughtfully designed spaces, so when you enter the building you’ll find a reception area with a 24/7 virtual concierge accessible via text, email or phone. Visit the nearby Scottish National Portrait Gallery to gaze at works by Van Gogh, Raeburn or Dalí before rewarding your cultural ventures with a trip to the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society to taste your way through some 200 rare Scottish malts.
Sleeps: four
Price: from £92 a night