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The crowning jewel of Scotland and perhaps the most beautiful capital city in the world - Edinburgh. Complete with a castle perched on a rock, haggis in every cafe, and a New Town constructed to match the historical Old Town, Edinburgh has it all for backpackers.
However, most of what Edinburgh has to offer comes with a steep price. The UK is a notoriously expensive tourist destination - and only getting more pricey.
However, that does not mean that the penny pinching traveler needs to nix this destination completely! In fact, I’m convinced that anyone can visit Edinburgh without spending anything on activities.
Follow this guide to find the best ways to get FREE:
Edinburgh is a haven for budget travelers looking to spend as little as possible on a hostel bunk. Some of the most popular places run at $15-30 USD per night if booked well in advance. Remember: always book directly to avoid commission fees!
However, if you’re willing to spend 4+ weeks in Edinburgh and use it as a base to explore the rest of Scotland, Worldpackers has dozens of opportunities available for work exchanges!
The concept is simple: you volunteer a few hours a week doing simple things like reception work, social media, housekeeping, leading pub crawls, and more in exchange for getting to live with the host rent free.
During my time in Edinburgh I volunteered at The CoURT - Pod Hostel By Code for a little over six weeks. During that time, I lived rent free directly on the Royal Mile surrounded by strangers that became family.
I stayed at three different hostels during my time in Edinburgh and out of all of them, I would recommend Code the most. Not only for the memories, but for the unmatched quality and amenities that come with it.
If you’ve backpacked Europe, you’re no stranger to free walking tours. You can see my article on them here! The caveat with these tours is that they are not exactly “free” under the premise that you pay what you felt the tour was worth at the end.
However, when you stay at Code, they offer actual free tours around Edinburgh! The tour guide is enthusiastic, knowledgeable about Scotland, and guaranteed to keep you entertained.
Scotland is known for many things: kilts, haggis, the beautiful highlands, and whiskey. Before you book your $50+ whiskey tasting around Edinburgh, take a gander at winning one for free at Code. Yes, I know I keep bringing them up, but they really do offer some of the best budget traveler opportunities in the area!
Every week Code has a designated trivia and bingo night. The winner/winning group of the evening receives either a free beer or whiskey tasting in the underground Lost Close.
Walking around Edinburgh is like walking through a living museum. In my two months there, I never got tired of wandering the Royal Mile, Cowgate, and Grassmarket areas.
Victoria Street - the inspiration for Diagon Alley - and its colorful array of buildings led directly up to the best view of Greyfriar’s Kirkyard - a graveyard you can walk around and scout out names JK Rowling used for characters in the Harry Potter series.
The symbol of Edinburgh: a great castle compound situated on a rock overlooking the city. While the castle does cost money to go into, exploring the surrounding area is free. Your walk around the Royal Mile will likely lead you past performing bagpipers on your way there!
Arthur’s seat is an ancient volcanic rock which composes most of Holyrood Park - the palace where Mary Queen of Scotts once lived.
This is an unmistakable landmark and an easy 40 minute walk up. Bring good walking shoes as Scotland is rainy and the paths will likely be muddy. Don’t forget a windbreaker!
Prince’s street can be considered the main street of Edinburgh. This is where you’ll find most brand name stores, Scott’s Monument, and the beginning of New Town. Running parallel to the shops is Prince’s Street Garden.
This is a quaint area with walking paths, a cute cottage, and a view of the castle.
Walk a little further down Prince’s Street and you’ll head right up to Calton Hill. This is coined the best place to watch the sunset in Edinburgh. From here, you are at about eye level with the castle, and can see right to the ocean.
Calton Hill is also known as Edinburgh’s Acropolis. There are a few buildings inspired by The Parthenon. The architecture is a stark contrast to the gothic Old Town.
Edinburgh’s most scenic village is a quick twenty minute walk from the downtown area. Within the village itself there isn’t much to do, but it’s a great place to stroll through for an hour or two. Bring your favorite outfits and have a little photoshoot!
The best, and most time consuming, attractions in Edinburgh are the museums! Yes, museums in Edinburgh are free to the public.
Plan on visiting these museums as a rainy day activity. The National Museum of Scotland alone is massive and has several hidden nooks and crannies. I went twice for four hours each and I still don’t think I saw everything! Do some research and be selective on the things you want to see for time purposes.
Other museums include:
Edinburgh has a plethora of free evening activities to keep you entertained. You don't need to pay an exorbitant amount, either!
A quick Google search will lead you to karaoke nights at Pilgrim, comedy shows at The Beehive, and trivia nights at The Globe.
However, the best thing to do is a traditional dance night - a ceilidh - at Stramash. Whether you want to participate in the dances or observe from the second floor, there is no entrance fee. This is also where you can hear some of the best traditional live music! It goes on every Wednesday from 9pm, so don't miss out!
If you aren't a skilled dancer, don't worry. They will teach you the dances before you begin, and it's a learning experience for everyone.
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