Budget tier
£800–1,000 for a family of 4 across 3 nights (budget aparthotel, chippy + café meals, free museums, castle entry).
For families willing to trade central location + restaurant dinners for savings. Still gets you the big sites.
Edinburgh on a budget — family of 4
£800–1,000 for a family of 4 across 3 nights (budget aparthotel, chippy + café meals, free museums, castle entry).
Family Score · 83/100 for Edinburgh
Edinburgh on a budget — family of 4
A family of 4 can do Edinburgh at three very different price points. The sites and meals change less than you'd think; the hotel and the pace of eating out change a lot.
Three budget tiers
Mid tier · recommended
£1,400–1,900 for 3 nights (3-star central hotel, castle fast-track, Dynamic Earth, 2 restaurant dinners).
The best balance for most families. Central-adjacent hotel, 2 restaurant dinners, one paid attraction per day.
Comfort tier
£2,800+ for 3 nights (boutique hotel, Royal Mile private tour, Michelin-ish Timberyard dinner).
4-star central, fast-track entries, taxis in the evening, restaurant meals most days.
How to spend less without a worse trip
- 💡 National Museum of Scotland is FREE — one of the great family museums in Europe
- 💡 Royal Botanic Garden is free; glasshouses have a small fee
- 💡 Lothian Buses day family ticket (£10) covers 2 adults + 3 kids city-wide
- 💡 Lunch deals at pubs are £8–10 vs. £15–20 dinner mains
Pair this with a trip length
Build this trip around your kids' ages
Famila takes your dates, your kids' ages, and your budget — and writes a Edinburgh itinerary that actually fits your family. Not a feed of generic "family-friendly" places.
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