Is Edinburgh Safe for Female Travelers?

Edinburgh is generally safe for female travelers. The city is known for its friendly locals and vibrant culture, and the crime rate is relatively low. Women should take the same precautions as they would in any other city, such as avoiding dark alleys and being aware of their surroundings. Additionally, there are plenty of resources available to help women stay safe, such as the Women's Safety Network and the Edinburgh Women's Safety Charter.

Experiences from Edinburgh

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 30 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

5/5

Safety

5/5

Food

4.9/5

Budget-friendly

3.8/5

Solo travel experience

Edinburgh is such a beautiful city. It’s small enough to cover the grounds in just a day or 2 at a leisurely pace. I recommend going through its main sites. I did that solo and had a blast. I also did the guided Harry Potter tour on a whim despite not being that big of a fan but ended up enjoying it whilst meeting people in that small group.

Posted: September 18, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Local experience

I live in Edinburgh and find it very safe - just ordinary precautions of being in a city. It's probably one of the safer cities in the UK. Anywhere relatively central should be fine to stay - the buses are good, and most places are walkable.

Posted: September 14, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Local experience

Edinburgh is a very safe city, although like everywhere it has its areas that aren't so nice. I would definitely recommend staying in Leith, lots of Airbnb options, excellent transport into the city, and lots of great coffee shops/bars, etc. The main areas I would say to avoid staying are Wester Hailes, Niddrie Mains, and Drylaw. I wouldn't say these areas are necessarily more unsafe for a woman, just a bit more socially deprived and generally less safe at night.

Posted: September 13, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I went to Edinburgh for the first time on my own and I felt really safe the whole time I was there. Everyone was really friendly that I spoke to and there were loads of things to do. I went in January so it was still getting dark at like 4 pm and even then walking round on my own I felt safe.

Posted: July 31, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I went to Edinburgh recently, it’s a lovely little city and everyone’s super friendly. Very very walkable. I stayed at Castle Rock Hostel. They have so much common space for people to hang out that I never felt confined to my room when I just wanted to chill.

Posted: June 10, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I just came back from a solo trip to Edinburgh. I stayed 3 nights. Activities I did: - hop on and hop off bus tour - the Royal Yacht Britannia - comedy bus ghost tour - graveyard ghost tour - Harry Potter walking tour - Edinburgh Castle - surgical museum - walked to Dean Village (scenic viewpoint)

Posted: June 6, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I had a lovely time on my solo trip to Edinburgh It was just a weekend trip but felt I got a really feel for the city. I stayed in a hostel just off the royal mile which was ideal. It's a very walkable city with lots of vegan food options which was lovely! Plenty of free museums and love the national art gallery!

Posted: April 26, 2023Experienced: January, 2018
Things to do: 4/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

Edinburgh is a very walkable town. I did a free Potter trail tour which was fun, and I learned some new things about JK Rowling. Camera Obscura, a museum full of optical illusions, was fun. And Pickles on Broughton Street, a wine and cheese bar, was amazing.

Posted: March 30, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

My solo trip to Edinburgh was super easy. People were friendly and chatty and I didn't feel alone. There was a Harry Potter shop in Victoria street (old town), and I recommend visiting Graigmillar castle (outlander was also filmed there). I did buy a castle pass (when I went to Graigmillar) and it saved me lots of money and I had a guarantee to enter other castles (the pass lasts for a week).

Posted: March 26, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Group travel experience

I loved Edinburgh. I was there with friends. I thought it was easy to find my way around and I walked around a lot. We went to the castle, some museums and drank beer. I thought Frankenstein's Bier Keller was fun. We took the train to Stirling to see the Wallace Monument.

Posted: March 11, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Meet locals in Edinburgh

Mikayla

Mikayla

Speaking

About Me

I love travelling and seeing how locals live all over the world. Anywhere new is novel and exciting! I’m up for a lot (although I’m not an adrenaline junkie! I’m quite the opposite.. I love slow living 😂) and just want to soak up as much of the world as possible 😁 I’m into anything creative, love a bit of music, especially if it’s live! I love poetry, and storytelling in any form (books, films, storytellers, museums, galleries, exhibitions). I love animals too 💛 I am vegan but respect everyone’s own ways of living 😊 I’m also quite interested in anything that’s eco-friendly/promoting sustainable living and I love getting out into nature 😍

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇱🇦 Laos, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇻🇦 Vatican City, 🇵🇹 Portugal

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Chloe

Chloe

Speaking

About Me

Hey, I’m Chloe, I’m travelling the east coast of Australia and would love to meet some new people. I love history and seeing new places!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

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Ellie

Ellie

Speaking

About Me

Heya! My name is Ellie and I'm a 4th year medical student with serious wanderlust xx

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇩 Bangladesh, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇻🇳 Vietnam

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Stay with locals in Edinburgh

Kayla

Kayla

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

I can host:

1 guest

About me

Want to be a social designer and live a nomad life. Is heading to University of Edinburgh for my master’s in Design for Change! Interested in art & design, community building, culture & nature exploring, solo travel.

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇳 China, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, 🇲🇴 Macao, 🇲🇾 Malaysia

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Ellis

Ellis

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

I can host:

1 guest

About me

Hello, I'm Ellis and I'm interested in animals, art, books, backpacking, camping, cycling, hiking, events & social, swimming, writing and trekking

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇳 China, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇱🇺 Luxembourg, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇲🇳 Mongolia, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇻🇳 Vietnam

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Farida

Farida

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

I can host:

1 guest

About me

Hey, My name is Farida and I'm interested in art, books, dancing, health, nature and writing

mode_comment 0

Upcoming visitors to Edinburgh

Marie-Laurence

Marie-Laurence

Speaking

About Me

Hi🤗💛 My name is Marie, I'm from Canada and I am currently stu(dying) in France. I don't have classes on thurdays and fridays so I plan to, hopefully, to go on small trips around europe while I'm here.

Countries I’ve Visited

🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇺🇲 U.S. Minor Outlying Islands

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Elena

Elena

Speaking

About Me

Hi!, My name is Elena and I'm interested in animals, architecture, art, backpacking, books, culture, dancing, games, health, hiking, nature, photography and science

Countries I’ve Visited

🇩🇪 Germany, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇭 Switzerland

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Mika

Mika

Speaking

About Me

Hi! I’m Mika, a 21 years old queer and non-binary (they/them) solo traveler and a student for photography in Jerusalem!

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France

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Local discussions

TravelWhat places and restaurants would you recommend for a trip to Edinburgh?

I’m going to Edinburgh in a week and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of places to visit and restaurants that they would recommend.

Posted: June 27, 2023
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Solo travelWhat recommendations do you have for things to do in Edinburgh?

I have booked a trip to Edinburgh for the weekend. Does anyone have any recommendations for things to do, things to see, places to eat? I really want to make the most of our time so if anyone has any recommendations of things to do in Edinburgh that would be great.

Posted: June 23, 2023
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Solo travelWhat is the best way to get to Edinburgh from London in December?

Hi I want to travel to Edinburgh in December (from London) what is the best way to get there? By train or plane? I am going solo first time ever

Posted: November 20, 2022
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Travel Safety in United Kingdom

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Frequently asked questions

Is Edinburgh Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Edinburgh is generally safe for solo female travelers. The city is well-known for its friendly locals and vibrant culture, and the crime rate is relatively low. Women should take the same precautions as they would in any other city, such as avoiding dark alleys and being aware of their surroundings. Additionally, there are plenty of resources available to help solo female travelers, such as the Women's Safety Network and the Edinburgh Women's Safety Network.

Is Edinburgh Safe at Night?

Edinburgh is generally safe at night for female travelers. The city is well-lit and has a low crime rate. It is recommended to take the usual precautions such as avoiding dark alleys and walking with a friend or in a group. Additionally, it is best to stay in well-lit and populated areas, and to be aware of your surroundings.

Is Edinburgh Safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?

Edinburgh is generally safe for LGBTQ+ travelers, especially female travelers. The city is known for its progressive and inclusive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, and there are many LGBTQ+ friendly bars, clubs, and other venues in the city. Additionally, the city has a number of organizations and support groups dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, and the police are generally supportive of the community.