If hostels aren’t your style, never fear – Edinburgh has lots of budget-friendly hotels, as well as a good selection of B&Bs (like any good city on the British Isles should). The hotels on and nearest to the Royal Mile are often the most expensive, since that’s the area most tourists want to focus on, so if you’re more concerned about budget you need to be prepared to walk a bit further or figure out the city’s great bus system.

Note that you’ll need to zoom in on the map below to get to the hotels in Edinburgh (at the center of the map).

Search this map to find cheap hotels in Edinburgh

There are several hotels and hostels near Edinburgh Castle, but of course they don’t always come cheap – this is, after all, where most people want to be when they visit the city. There are cheaper hotels in Edinburgh that aren’t so far away from the castle that you couldn’t still walk there (or even take the bus), so if you’re hoping to save money that might be an option for you.

Also note that two of the 5-star hotels in Edinburgh featured on WhyGo Scotland, the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa and Caledonian Hilton Hotel, are also very close to the Edinburgh Castle.

Hotels near Edinburgh Castle

Point Hotel Edinburgh

The Point Hotel Edinburgh is on the back side of the castle, but you couldn’t ask for a better castle view – especially from the roof terrace. Not all of the rooms have a view of the castle, but of course you’re a very short walk from the castle itself if you stay here. There’s an on-site restaurant and bar, and it’s also got conference rooms for business travelers.

Best Western Edinburgh City Hotel

Also on the back side of the castle (a bit further from the castle than the Point Hotel) lies the Best Western Edinburgh City Hotel. There are 52 rooms in the hotel, and it caters to business travelers as well as leisure travelers with things like free WiFi and conference rooms. There’s also an on-site restaurant.

Tigerlily

For a less typical hotel experience, the Tigerlily boutique 4-star hotel is a great option. It’s located on George Street across Princes Street Gardens from the castle itself, but it’s still a short walk – and this stylish little hotel will certainly appeal to those of you who appreciate more unique accommodation. There are more than 30 rooms at Tigerlily, an award-winning on-site restaurant, and a lovely bar.

Castleview Guest House

Not far from Tigerlily is the Castleview Guest House, a 3-star guest house in a restored Georgian building. Along with standard single and double rooms, Castleview also has larger family-style rooms that sleep up to six people. Not all rooms have a view of the castle, so if that’s important be sure to ask for that – and note that the dining room, which everyone gets to use, does have castle views. This is a small property, so if it appeals to you don’t wait too long to book.

Old Waverley Hotel

The Old Waverley Hotel is located at the end of Princes Street Gardens opposite the castle, but that means it’s in a good position to have views over both the park and the castle. It’s a B&B-style hotel, and many of the bedrooms have castle views. The restaurant also overlooks the park and Princes Street below.

Hostels Near Edinburgh Castle

On a tight budget but still want to be close to the castle? Check out these hostels right in the neighborhood.

Castle Rock Hostel

As you’d expect from the name, the Castle Rock Hostel is right next to the castle. It’s on the back side of the castle, so although it’s right next to the main icon of the city it’s a fairly quiet street. Castle Rock Hostel has been voted Scotland’s top hostel in past years, and it has all the amenities you’d expect from a good European hostel.

Budget Backpackers

The Budget Backpackers hostel is a street behind the Castle Rock Hostel, so it’s also extremely close to the castle. This, too, is a hostel that’s been voted among the top in Scotland in the past, and it has both private and dorm-style rooms as well as the usual hostel amenities.

Caledonian Backpackers

The Caledonian Backpackers hostel is at the end of Princes Street Garden that’s closer to the castle, on the opposite end from High Street just off Princes Street in the New Town. There are female-only dorms in addition to the usual co-ed dorms, and this hostel also has the usual amenities you’d expect.

photo by Mari Smith

The Glenfinnan Viaduct, built in the late 19th century, is part of the West Highland Line in Scotland – which happens to be home to some of the most scenic train rides in the world. The Royal Scotsman company offers several train tours through Scotland, ranging from 2-7 days in length and covering various parts of the country. Not every route includes the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, so if that’s high on your must-see list then be sure to target the routes that go through the western and northwestern parts of the country. Read through each route to make sure it’s on the itinerary.

The Royal Scotsman is one of the world’s great luxury train lines (it won’t surprise you to learn that it’s part of the Orient Express company), so these holidays don’t come cheap. They’re an excellent vacation idea for train enthusiasts, however, especially when you consider that the cost includes everything from transportation to food to lodging to off-train excursions. And of course the scenery outside your train window is worth every penny.

To join a train trip on The Royal Scotsman, you’ll first need to get yourself to Edinburgh. All of the company’s trips depart from this beautiful city, and if you’ve never visited before this is also a good opportunity to find out what all the fuss is about. You may find better deals if you fly first into London and then fly into Edinburgh on a budget carrier (rather than directly into Edinburgh), so be sure to check on that option.

Also note that if you’re planning to spend a few days in the city before or after your train trip, there are two “sides” to the city center. There’s a much newer downtown area, and then the historic center around the Royal Mile. The latter is where most visitors usually want to be, but it can be harder (especially in the high season) to find a good deal on a hotel in Edinburgh‘s historic area. Consider staying in a B&B in a nearby residential neighborhood, or – if you’re looking at the more modern part of the city center – look at hotels that are close to bus lines for easy access to anywhere you’d like to go.

photo by Chris Barber

>>read more about Transportation in Scotland

The main operator in Scotland is FirstScotRail . Tickets can be bought from the stations, travel agents, online or by phone. You can also buy a ticket on board but you cannot benefit from any discounts.

The most flexible pass is the Freedom of Scotland Travelpass, which gives unlimited train travel within Scotland. It also gives discounts to Northlink ferries to Orkney and Shetland. If Scotland is only part of your itinerary, consider the All-Line Rover, which is available for purchase in the UK. It allows for unlimited travel within mainland Britain.

Scenic train rides

Aside from traveling by train to get from one place to another, trains are also excellent to see the beauty of the country. And when we talk about the Royal Scotsman , you’ll do that in style. The train ride takes you through the heart of the Highlands in private cabins and with an open-deck observation carriage behind. There are several journey to choose from, ranging from 2 nights (twin cabin €2710) to 7 nights (twin cabin €9270). The prices include: cabin with private shower and toilet, daily meals, all other beverages, entertainment and all sightseeing.

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Getting to/from Scotland by Bus

There are plenty of connections between Scottish cities and other cities in the UK. National Express is the main operator. There are also a number of bus companies operating services within the UK, such as:

• Arriva : operates local bus services through the UK. There are several bus passes available.
• First : connects 40 towns in the UK and also runs in the rural areas. Weekly passes are available.
• Megabus : offers the cheapest bus routes in the UK (if you need to travel around England or Scotland) with fares starting at £1.
• Scottish Citylink : offers service to over 200 cities in Scotland. Passes are available.

Getting around Scotland by Bus – From One City to Another

Just like getting from other parts in the UK to Scotland, getting around Scotland by bus is cheap and a good alternative if you have time. Particularly at peak times, getting out/in of Edinburgh or Glasgow can be painfully slow.

Megabus remains the cheapest way to travel in Scotland, with departures from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth, connecting these cities (aside from connecting to other cities in the UK). You can only book tickets on line (30min to 45min before departure).

Citylink offers 200 connections within Scotland. Buses from Edinburgh to Glasgow leave every 15 minutes and the fare is £4. Passes are available.

Some rural areas are only served by Postbus . It operates minibuses carrying mail and ten fare-paying passengers. It’s a slow way to travel but a good option if you want to get to a remote area.

Getting around Scotland by bus – Within a City

In Edinburgh there are two main bus companies: Lothian and First . They use the same bus stations but the route numbers and the tickets system are different. Single tickets for Lothian Buses are £1.30 and are valid for one journey. There’s also an all-day ticket for £3.20. There are also four companies which operate sightseeing buses (and all are owned by Lothian) .

In Aberdeen there are also two bus companies: First and Stagecoach . Day passes are available (for £3). The company mostly runs services within the city and to the suburbs. Stagecoach runs services outside the city. The day pass is £11.

In Glasgow buses go everywhere. The main operator is First Glasgow . An all day pass costs £3.50, while a weekly ticket is £14.50. Other bus operators within the city are : Arriva and Stagecoach West Scotland, which operate services outside to the outlining towns.

In Inverness there are about 50 routes operated by Stagecoach Inverness and Rapsons Highland . The average fare within the city is £1.25 single adult.

Hence, Glasgow has become one of the most visited cities in the British Isles and is proud to offer the best shopping outside London. But it is also one of the best cities for viewing Art Nouveau Art and Architecture .

Charles Rennie Mackintosh created a unique blend of styles which can still be admired in buildings all over the city. Don’t miss taking a look at The Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art, the newly restored Willow Tearooms, Scotland Street School, Queen’s Cross Church, and the House for an Art Lover.

Aside from his works, you can also admire other superb buildings, such as The Clyde Auditorium and the Glasgow Cathedral. You can also visit the museums and galleries.

If you are a football fan, you should watch a game live on one of the stadiums. Or you can spend a night out listening to live music.

But before rushing to book one of the many flights to Glasgow , make sure to figure out accommodation first. In any large and popular city, it tends to be a bit difficult to grab cheap accommodation. So start the search for a cheap Glasgow hotel ahead of time. Remember that it’s better to travel during the low or shoulder season.

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For the English speakers, Australia is one of the most sought destinations for such a vacation. It is possible to work any kind of job during a working holiday in Australia, but you can work the same job with the same employer for 6 months only on the same visa. So when you look for working holiday jobs in Australia make sure to take into account the details.

Before you look for cheap airfare to Australia , it’s worth it to look for the types of jobs you can do. The service industry requires work force all the time but the competition is pretty fierce, so make sure to have a well written CV available. Fruit picking and agricultural work don’t require much and they are quick ways to get money when you travel. Backpackers adore these jobs. Hostel jobs are also popular among backpackers as they offer a quick way to get some money (or work in exchange of accommodation, for example).

Temp work is more suites for the qualified workers. Make sure to bring proper attire (office type) and a well written CV. If you like babies an au pair job is a good choice.

As soon as you’ve got your eyes on a job, make sure to ask the agency (or website handling the details) what paper work you’ll need. Then, do your research at the embassy for the visa requirements. When you’ve got everything scheduled, look for hotels around Australia in case you need accommodation (or just want to plan so sightseeing in between work).

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Still, if you plan to try to see him with your own eyes, start by booking one of the cheap flights to Edinburgh . Or you can look for flights into Inverness, if you don’t plan to do additional sight-seeing along the way.

With the flight booked, now it’s time to find the accommodation. Hotels in Scotland range from affordable to expensive, just like in any other country. Sure, if you decide to spend some days in Edinburgh, your budget will suffer a bit – unless you book a bed in hostel. In Inverness you can find rooms starting at £35 per night.

In case Nessie lets you down, you can head to Lake Van, in eastern Turkey, which is home to another mythical creature: Van Gölü Canavari. This is one of the “new” monsters and has been spotted since 1995. Or you can head to Sweden to see Storsjöodjuret, probably the “oldest” monster which inhabits a European lake.

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One of the World Cup host countries is Germany. And in case you need more reasons to visit the country, here are just some of them. Germany hosted the tournament in 1974 and 2006. The national football team won has won three World Cup titles. And the German beer goes great with football, doesn’t it?

Cheap flights to Germany are very easy to find, especially if you are already in Europe. Many low-cost carriers have excellent deals to German cities right in the middle of the high season. For example, Ryanair offers flights from £10 one way between Edinburgh and Hamburg or Frankfurt.

If you plan to stay in Berlin, keep your eyes on the special offers if you want to save money. Otherwise, expect to pay about £132 round trip from Edinburgh or £107 round trip from Glasgow, at the end of June.

Berlin hotels aren’t likely to burn a big whole in your pocket. You can find rooms in 3-star hotels at just £44 per night (2 persons). Alternatively, you can look for hostels in Berlin. Beds in private rooms start at £21 per night.

Now that you’ve figured out the most important purchases for this vacation, it’s time for more fun things. Each large city has set up large screens in parks or squares to allow football fans to watch the games. In Berlin, the place to be is the Fifa Fan Fest 2010. Entrance is free and there are two venues.

Alternatively you can check out the Kulturbrauerei, an old brewery converted for cultural event. In the backyard there is a big screen to watch the matches.

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Airfare to Athens is not hard to find and with some luck you can grab a good deal from one of Scotland’s large airports. For example if you want to avoid the summer heat and crowds and plan to fly to Athens in mid-June, rates start at £230 RT (from Glasgow on easyJet). A very easy way to grab the deals is to sign up for the low-carrier’s newsletter and plan your vacation around their special deals.

Also you can buy the Greek ferry tickets in advance (up to 2 months) so that you don’t need to worry about much when you get to Athens. It’s quite easy to plan an island hopping itinerary even without the help of a travel agent. But you’ll surely find the iPhone apps for Greece useful when planning your vacation. Aside from being able to check the ferry schedules, you can also use them to learn Greek phrases, which surely come in handy if you plan to visit one of the hidden islands.

Do remember to pack your sunscreen and wear it even when you just walk in the villages. The sun in Greece is hot and can burn your skin easily. Dress lightly but make sure not to look like a tourist (please leave the shorts and sport shoes at home).

Make sure to try at least some of the Greek delicacies such as tzatziki, grilled octopus, souvlaki and the world-famous lamb. If you have a sweet tooth then baklava will surely appeal to you. And don’t forget to wash them down with ouzo and traditional Greek wines.