Amid the grand Georgian architecture of the New Town, hotels on small side roads offer an intimate, personal base from which to explore the city. The Royal Terrace is typical of the hotels in this part of the city. As you might expect from the name it occupies a grand Georgian terrace. Inside, the rooms are decorated in similar period style - offering a high standard of luxury just a few minutes' walk from Princes Street. Just a little further west beside the River Leith, the Belford is a good choice if you prefer your accommodation modern and minimal, with stylish décor and a quiet location still within easy reach of the centre. If you'd rather be in the centre of things, hotels can be found on both Princes Street itself, around the Mound, and dropping into the Old Town.

It is strongly advisable to book many months, or even a year, in advance for accommodation during the month of August due to the Edinburgh Festival and Military Tattoo, and during New Year's, when the traditional Hogmanay festivities attract several hundred thousand revellers.