Skip to content

Meet people in Edinburgh: a guide for solo travellers, students and newcomers

Updated: · Hellohood

In short

Take a tip-based free walking tour from the Old Town, climb Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill for sunset, or run a free Saturday parkrun at Cramond, Holyrood or Portobello. In August the Fringe turns the whole city into one big crowd. Hellohood shows small plans nearby, like a Meadows picnic or a hill walk, that you can join today.

Edinburgh is small enough that you keep bumping into the same faces, which makes it easier to make friends than in a big capital. The Old Town is full of backpackers, the universities bring in students from everywhere, and a steady stream of young workers and expats fills the pubs of the New Town and Leith. People are warm once you start talking, though Scots can be dry at first. The rhythm changes with the seasons: August is packed and wildly social, while winter evenings are dark and life moves indoors.

Hellohood fits that small-city feel: a map of plans nearby, from a coffee in Stockbridge to a hike up Arthur's Seat, that you join in one tap. The Edinburgh city chat is a good place to ask who is around, and adding a trip shows you who else will be in town on your dates, which is handy during the Fringe. The app is still new in Edinburgh, so the map may be quiet. If it is, post a simple plan like sunset on Calton Hill and see who turns up.

Where people meet in Edinburgh

  • Arthur's Seat — An extinct volcano in Holyrood Park with a view over the city; climb it early in the morning or before sunset, and chat with others at the top.
  • Calton Hill — A hill with monuments right above the city centre, at its best at sunset when people gather on the grass.
  • The Meadows — A large park where students gather for picnics, frisbee and barbecues on warm days.
  • Princes Street Gardens — Central gardens beneath the castle, a natural place to sit on a bench at lunchtime.
  • Portobello beach — A seaside promenade in the east, lovely for a walk or a cold swim on a bright weekend.

Neighbourhoods where people hang out in Edinburgh

  • Old Town — The Royal Mile, the Grassmarket and the Cowgate are lined with pubs and hostels, so this is where most travellers end up at night.
  • New Town — Elegant Georgian streets with bars and restaurants, popular with young professionals after work.
  • Leith — The old port on the waterfront, with food spots and bars and a more local, relaxed crowd.
  • Stockbridge — A village feel by the Water of Leith, with cafés and a Sunday market that is ideal for a slow morning.
  • Bruntsfield — A local area next to The Meadows with plenty of cafés, busy with students and young residents.

Things to do alone in Edinburgh (that easily turn social)

  1. Climb Arthur's Seat early in the day; people at the summit swap photos and small talk.
  2. Watch the sunset from Calton Hill, where a crowd gathers every clear evening.
  3. Join a picnic crowd on The Meadows on a sunny afternoon, where frisbees and footballs regularly go astray.
  4. Browse the Stockbridge Sunday Market and share a table with whoever is eating next to you.
  5. In August, queue for a Fringe show; the people beside you will have recommendations.

Hostels, pub crawls & the social scene

Edinburgh's social hostels are concentrated in the Old Town, around the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket and the Cowgate, so almost everyone starts in the same few streets. Hang out in the common room in the early evening, when people plan dinner and the night ahead, and join the free walking tour the next morning. Pub crawls run in the Old Town and are an easy way to meet a group. Not a drinker? Suggest climbing Arthur's Seat, a walk along the Water of Leith or a Saturday parkrun; plenty of hostel guests will join.

Regular things you can just show up to

  • Free walking tours — Tip-based tours leave from the centre every day and are one of the easiest ways to meet other travellers.
  • parkrun — Free 5k runs every Saturday morning at Cramond (Edinburgh parkrun), Holyrood and Portobello.
  • Edinburgh Festival Fringe — Every August the city fills with shows on every corner, and queues and street performances make conversation easy.
  • Hogmanay — Edinburgh's New Year celebrations, one of the most famous in the world, bring people together from everywhere.
  • Stockbridge Sunday Market — A weekly market of food stalls and local makers, a relaxed Sunday meeting point.

Tips for solo travellers & newcomers

  • Book your bed early if you visit in August, because the festivals fill the city.
  • Weather changes fast on Arthur's Seat: wear good shoes and take care on the paths in wind or rain.
  • Solo female travellers: Hellohood has women-only plans and you can turn off messages from men; meet new people in busy places like the Grassmarket or a café first.
  • The Scottish accent can take a day to tune into, and locals are happy to repeat themselves; ask about local words, it is a classic icebreaker.
  • In summer it stays light late, so evening plans start outdoors; in winter, people meet earlier and head inside.

Day trips that are better together

  • Glasgow — A quick train ride west to Scotland's biggest city, its music scene and museums, and a great day to share with others.
  • Stirling — Take the train to the castle and the old town, a history day that is more fun as a small group.
  • North Berwick — A train to this seaside town with beaches and coastal walks, perfect for a group day by the sea.

Best time to go

May to September is best, with long evenings; August is packed during the festivals, so plan ahead.

Plan ideas to start on Hellohood

  • Sunrise hike up Arthur's Seat
  • Sunset on Calton Hill
  • Picnic on The Meadows
  • Stockbridge Sunday Market and a walk along the Water of Leith
  • Day trip by train to North Berwick

How Hellohood works

  1. Open the map and see small plans nearby — today, tonight, this weekend.
  2. Tap to join: a group chat opens so you can say hi first.
  3. Meet in a public place. Or start your own plan in seconds.

FAQ

Is Edinburgh good for solo travellers?

Very. It is compact and walkable, the hostels are clustered in the Old Town, and free walking tours and hill walks give you easy ways to meet people. It feels like a big village, so you will run into the same faces. August is the most social month, but also the busiest.

Is Edinburgh safe to travel alone, also for women?

Edinburgh is generally safe for solo travellers, including women. The main risks are natural rather than people: weather changes fast on Arthur's Seat, so wear proper shoes. At night use normal city sense, stay on busy streets, and meet new people in public places first.

Where do solo travellers stay in Edinburgh?

Almost all social hostels are in the Old Town, around the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket and the Cowgate. It is lively and central, with the castle and Arthur's Seat both within walking distance. In August, book well ahead, as beds disappear quickly during the festivals.

How do I make friends in Edinburgh as an expat or newcomer?

Join something that repeats, like a parkrun at Holyrood, a hiking group or a sports club, and you will soon see familiar faces. The city is full of students and newcomers who are also looking for friends. Hellohood helps you find small plans nearby and people to ask in the Edinburgh city chat.

Is there a language exchange in Edinburgh?

With big universities and many international residents, Edinburgh has language exchanges and conversation meet-ups that come and go. The quickest route is to ask in the city chat, or to start a relaxed language swap in a café in Bruntsfield or Leith yourself.

Is Hellohood free?

Yes, completely. No paywall, no ads. Join plans, start your own, use the Edinburgh city chat and add trips for free. Everyone is 18+, plans happen in public places, and people can only message you after a shared plan or if you allow it.

Nearby cities

All cities →