Festivals on a budget

Want to enjoy Edinburgh's festivals without spending more than you have to? Let us help you discover how to have a great time for less, here in the festival city!

Edinburgh has something for everyone with a range of different festivals spread through the year, all of which offer great ways to make your money go further.

General Tips

Book in advance

Sometimes booking in advance can throw up discounts, and if you plan to see plenty of shows, it's worth looking into the Supporters or Friends schemes offered by some festivals. These often allow you to book in advance and receive a discount on selected tickets.

Link up online 

Sign up for festival emails and connect with festivals on social media - if there's a venue needing to be filled, this is where you'll hear about bargain tickets at short notice!

Enjoy free events

Whether it's a street performance or part of the Free Fringe, there are plenty of 'free' shows and performances throughout the festival. Likewise, the Art and Book Festivals offer plenty to enjoy without paying a penny.

Ctrl+F is your friend

Get onto a festivals website (or, even better, their online brochure) and search the text for words like "free", "cheap", "bargain", "early bird" and so on - it's easy to miss them if you look through on your own but a quick search can uncover some hidden gems.

Bring a packed lunch

If you are going to be in Edinburgh for a while, then you could bring your own lunch in, especially if you are in self-catering accommodation and away from the city centre. There’s no shortage of excellent cafes, pubs and restaurants to eat out in, but the cost can add up. 

Look at alternative accommodation

If you can't find accommodation in the city-centre during your visit, then look to well-connected areas further out, such as Leith, Newington, Morningside, Dalry and Craigleith. The Scottish Youth Hostels Association and various student accommodation providers also offer private rooms in the summer months, sometimes at much more affordable rates.

Use public transport

Get to know the great tram and bus networks in the city. Not only is this greener than driving or taxis, but the pricing is much more affordable for getting around the city, especially if you plan on using a day pass to visit multiple events.

Soak it all in

It's easy to focus on events and performances - but there's a lot to be said for just enjoying being in the middle of things. That could mean relaxing in one of Edinburgh's lovely green spaces, wandering through lively streets full of festivalgoers or having a natter with someone over a coffee or a pint. Edinburgh is the festival city, and the city is as much a character in it all as the festivals - enjoy it!

Festival by festival

In spring, there's the Science Festival with a range of completely free events and exhibitions, plus lots more at bargain prices or with significant concessions available.

Shortly afterwards, the Edinburgh International Children's Festival of performing arts for children and young people begins. Families receive discounted tickets for family groups, and The Festival's Schools programme also offers free performances for schools where the school does not have the resources to support a visit.

Speaking of open air free events, there are few more open, colourful or loud than the Jazz Festival's Mardi Gras and Festival Carnival events on the opening weekend. Hundreds of brightly dressed musicians, dancers and acrobats entertain the crowds along Edinburgh's city centre streets, so get there early to grab a suitable spot.

Suddenly it's August and the full on, wonderful chaos of Edinburgh's summer festivals! You'll find many early Fringe performances heavily discounted (or even offered free on Edinburgh's streets) in order to create a buzz; plus there are often special discount coupons to be found in newspapers and magazines. You might not have someone else's reviews to rely on, but you can often find great bargains during the first few days.

Then there's the Art Festival, where the vast majority of exhibitions and events are completely free to attend, and the Book Festival's base is an idyllic spot to hang out and just people-watch in the warm sunshine. 

While there aren’t many free events for the Edinburgh International Festival, free tickets are available to young musicians, NHS workers, low-income benefit recipients and charity workers. 

Along with a range of discount tickets for multiple films, the Film Festival has free events, exhibitions and workshops, the chance to sign up for emails offering special deals, and of course the festival's much loved open air free screenings.

As the summer draws to a close, it's time for a more contemplative and relaxed event, and the Storytelling Festival is just the ticket. As the nights draw in and the temperatures edge downwards, there's much enjoyment and value to be had by heading to one of the festival's many free events and exhibitions for some bewitching tales and fascinating insights.

To round off the year, there's the multi-day magnificence of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay - and even if you choose not to buy tickets for the Street Party or Concert in the Gardens (though they're well worth it!), there's plenty to enjoy. Line the streets on 29 December to witness an amazing river of fire in the Torchlight Procession, enjoy the fantastic New Year's Eve fireworks from locations across the city and enjoy a free cultural music trail on 1 January.

Get in the back door

Fancy enjoying the festivals from an insider's point of view? Then look out for opportunities to work for the festivals - it's a brilliant way to see even more while paying less (or, even better, being paid to do it). Check out our jobs page throughout the year, and especially in springtime, as Edinburgh's major festivals begin their annual search for staff. Good luck!

Image credits:

• A Fringe performer on the Royal Mile (Edinburgh Festivals)
• Man Vs Machine (Chris Scott/Edinburgh International Science Festival)
• Mardi Gras (Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival)
• Callum Innes, The Regent Bridge (Stuart Armitt/Edinburgh Art Festival)
• Enchanted Wood day (Solen Collet/Scottish International Storytelling Festival)
• Torchlight Procession, Son et Lumière, (Grant Richie/Edinburgh's Hogmanay)