Quick answer
The New Town is the best all-round base in Edinburgh: Georgian streets, the shops of Princes Street and George Street, galleries and restaurants, flat pavements and the tram on the doorstep. Waverley station and the Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens are a short walk away.
Built in the 18th and 19th centuries as an orderly grid of squares and crescents, the New Town faces the Old Town across Princes Street Gardens. It is calmer than the Royal Mile, easier to walk and still only minutes from the castle.
Why stay in the New Town
- Shopping and dining: Princes Street, George Street, Rose Street and Multrees Walk.
- Culture: the Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
- Transport: Waverley station, and the Princes Street and St Andrew Square tram stops.
- Christmas: the market and big wheel in East Princes Street Gardens. See our Christmas and Hogmanay guide.
Things to know before you book
- Georgian buildings often mean stairs and no lift in smaller hotels and flats. Check if you have heavy bags or limited mobility.
- Road closures on Princes Street on 31 December for the Street Party.
Getting to the New Town from Edinburgh Airport
By car, the New Town is about 25 minutes from the airport, longer at rush hour. A pre-booked transfer is the easiest way in with luggage: your driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals with a name board and takes you to the door of your hotel or flat, at a price fixed when you book. Edinburgh Airport to the city centre is a fixed £48 in a saloon, or £86.40 for a return booked together.
The tram runs from the airport to the city centre in about 30 minutes, every 7 minutes in the daytime; the last tram leaves the airport at 22:52. For a late landing, a family or lots of bags, see our guide to late-night arrivals or airport to city centre options.
Who the New Town suits
Almost everyone: families, shoppers, business travellers and couples. For a more local feel, look at neighbouring Stockbridge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the New Town or the Old Town better to stay in?
The New Town is flatter, calmer and better for shopping and restaurants; the Old Town is more atmospheric and closer to the castle. Both are walkable to each other.
How much is a transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the New Town?
A fixed £48 one way in a saloon car, or £86.40 for a return booked together.
Is there a tram from the airport to the New Town?
Yes. Trams stop at Princes Street and St Andrew Square, about 30 minutes from the airport.
Sources
Facts, fares and timetables checked 28 October 2026. They change, so check with the operator before you travel.