15 Best Airbnbs in Edinburgh, From a Converted Warehouse to a Medieval Retreat

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Lots of natural light, bespoke furnishings, rainshower and bathtub

Right in the heart of Edinburgh’s grand Georgian New Town, this thoughtfully curated ground-floor apartment sees period elegance meet contemporary comfort and aesthetics. A solid timber door opens up to calm, sophisticated interiors. The bedroom, bathed in natural light from dual-aspect windows, features a plush king-size bed framed by bespoke furnishings and a salvaged cast-iron radiator. The bathroom blends polished marble, high-end Hansgrohe fixtures, a luxurious rainshower/bathtub combination, and ambient lighting that reflects off a vast heated mirror. After long days rambling through the city center, you can sink into a cup of tea in the living room overlooking leafy gardens. There’s also a sleekly equipped kitchen flowing into a cozy dining alcove—ideal for intimate dinners.

Bed & bath: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths
Top amenities: Five en suite bathrooms, Bridgerton-worthy interiors

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 moldings and ceiling roses are still in situ, but a modern renovation ensures a five-star feel with all modern conveniences. This place is large and airy; five out of six bedrooms have their own en suite. Bridgerton-worthy, tasteful furnishings are spread throughout—some of the bedrooms even have four-poster beds.

Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Large dining room, proximity to restaurants and bars

Decorating with dark colors is a bold choice, but it’s pulled off perfectly in this cozy townhouse in Edinburgh’s cool Leith area. Punchy ocre 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 center, but there’s plenty to do closer to home—an abundance of bars, takeaway joints, and Michelin-starred restaurants sit right on your doorstep.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Small garden, high chair for children, sustainable toiletries

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 traveling with tots and, in the bathroom, handmade sustainable toiletries from a local Scottish brand.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Overlooking the Royal Mile, natural light, fireplace

Overlooking Edinburgh’s most famous street, this Royal Mile apartment is the perfect escape for two. Cleverly designed, the box bed is hidden behind oak-paneled 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 cozy 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.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Marble dining table, blackout blinds, Apple TV

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 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.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Renovated tower space, flower-filled grounds, garden views

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 neighborhood. 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.

Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Giant windows, exposed brick, proximity to antique stores and markets

Behind the cobblestone alleyways of Stockbridge village, this bright space is the perfect hideout, away from the city center’s hustle and bustle. In the living room, giant windows let light flood in, so you can 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 centered 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-size 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.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Proximity to Edinburgh Castle, stone walls, old book collections

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 colorful buildings of Grassmarket, home to excellent pubs (the Beehive Inn has a beer garden with great castle views). The apartment itself is cute and cozy, with rough stone walls, shelves heavy with old book collections, and plenty of tartan throws. The bedroom has soft-toned, paneled 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.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Quiet area, village-like atmosphere, rustic stonework

Tucked down a cobbled mews, this stone-walled house is near the quiet Stockbridge area. Packed with cute cafés and family-run restaurants, this neighborhood is known for its secluded, village-like atmosphere despite its proximity to the city center (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 cozy, 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.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Location in the heart of New Town, towering ceilings, antique furnishings

This classic apartment, 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.

Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Light-filled space, open-plan kitchen and living room, pillow-top mattress

This peaceful retreat is in the quiet Comely Bank neighborhood, where the sounds of the city are muffled by leafy trees, and stretches of green gardens back onto babbling rivers. Dove-gray walls are framed by intricate cornicing, with period sash windows allowing light to pour into this majestic space. The open-plan kitchen and 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.

Bed & bath: 2 bedroom, 2 baths
Top amenities: 24/7 virtual concierge, city skyline views, balcony

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, light colors 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 apartment, 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.