Anyone who has driven into Edinburgh knows the feeling. You have had a good journey, you are almost at your accommodation, and then the real challenge begins: where on earth do you put the car? Parking in Edinburgh is genuinely difficult and often expensive, which is why serviced apartments with parking are worth their weight in gold. If you are arriving by car, on-site parking can be the single most important thing on your accommodation checklist. Here is why it matters so much, and how Ocean Serviced Apartments makes it easy.
Parking in Edinburgh city centre: the honest picture
Edinburgh is a wonderful city to visit and a stressful one to park in. The centre is a mix of controlled parking zones, permit-holder streets and pay-and-display bays that fill early and charge by the hour. Many city-centre hotels either have no parking at all or charge a nightly fee to use a nearby car park, and those fees add up fast over a few days. For a longer stay, the cost of storing a car can quietly become one of the biggest lines on your bill.
The result is that a lot of visitors either leave the car at home and miss out on exploring beyond the city, or spend the first hour of their trip circling for a space and the rest of it worrying about parking charges and time limits. Neither is how you want to start a break.
The Ocean difference: complimentary parking on site
At Ocean Serviced Apartments, parking is included and it is on site. We have an underground car park at the apartments in Western Harbour, and it is complimentary for guests. That means you drive straight to where you are staying, park securely underground, and forget about the car for the rest of your trip. No hunting for a space, no hourly meter, no nightly parking fee eating into your budget.
For a city where parking is such a headache, this is one of the things guests mention most often and appreciate most. You can read the specifics on our facilities page, and our FAQs answer the common questions directly: see do you provide parking and where do I park.
Why parking matters more than you might think
It saves real money
Free on-site parking is not just convenient, it is a genuine saving. Over a week, paying to park in the city could cost as much as a nice dinner out or two. Over a month-long stay, the difference is substantial. When you compare accommodation, it is worth factoring parking into the total cost rather than just the headline nightly rate, because a slightly cheaper room that charges for parking can work out dearer overall.
It makes day trips possible
One of the best things about staying in Edinburgh is how much lies within easy reach by car: the coast of East Lothian, the Forth bridges, the countryside of the Borders and beyond. When your car is parked free and secure at the apartment, spontaneous day trips become easy. You can head out whenever you like and come back to a guaranteed space, which is liberating in a way that city-centre parking never allows. Our transport page has more on getting around.
It takes the stress out of arrival
Arriving somewhere new is always a little tense, and a difficult parking situation makes it worse. Knowing there is a dedicated underground space waiting for you means you arrive relaxed, unload easily and start your trip properly. With self check-in and flexible check-in times, you can even arrive late off a long drive without any fuss.
You still do not need the car for the city
Here is the happy paradox of staying at Ocean: you get excellent parking, and you barely need to use it once you are here. The waterfront location means Ocean Terminal, the shops, the cinema, the Royal Yacht Britannia and a large Asda are all a short walk away, as our guide to Ocean Terminal and Western Harbour explains. From here, the city centre gives convenient access to Princes Street, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland and Holyrood Park.
And when you want the city centre, the number 11 bus runs from near the door and the tram is a short walk away, both giving easy access to Edinburgh city centre in around 20 to 30 minutes. Taking public transport into town is quicker and cheaper than driving in and paying to park there, so the car can stay tucked away underground while you enjoy the city. You get the best of both: the freedom of having a car for trips out, and the ease of leaving it behind for the city itself. Our location page shows how it all connects.
Especially valuable for longer stays
Parking becomes even more important the longer you stay. For a weekend you might just about tolerate a paid car park, but for a stay of a week, a month or more, free secure parking is a major practical advantage. Relocating families, contractors on assignment and anyone here for an extended period all benefit from being able to keep a car at no extra cost. Our guide to staying a week or more in Edinburgh covers what else makes a long stay comfortable, and combined with our long-stay discounts of up to 25% off, the total value of a longer booking really adds up.
Day trips that make the car worth bringing
Free, secure parking is not just about arrival, it is what turns a car into an asset for your trip. Edinburgh is superbly placed for days out, and having a car ready to go, at no extra cost, means you can make the most of them.
Head east and the East Lothian coast offers sandy beaches, golf links and pretty seaside towns like North Berwick, all within an easy drive. Go west and you reach the Forth bridges at South Queensferry, where you can see three centuries of engineering side by side, and beyond them the Kingdom of Fife. To the south lie the rolling hills and historic abbeys of the Scottish Borders, and to the north the road opens up towards Stirling, the Trossachs and the edge of the Highlands. Many of these are comfortable day trips that would be far harder to reach, and far more expensive, without your own transport.
When you come back, your space is waiting underground, with no circling and no charge. That combination, a car for the wide-open days out and public transport for the city itself, is exactly what makes staying somewhere with proper parking so freeing. For inspiration on where to go, our 3 to 5 day Scotland itinerary from Edinburgh maps out some of the best routes.
Frequently asked questions
Is parking really free at Ocean Serviced Apartments? Yes. We provide complimentary parking in an underground car park on site for our guests.
Is the car park secure? It is an underground car park at the apartments, giving you a dedicated, sheltered place to leave the car during your stay.
Do I need to book a parking space in advance? It is always best to mention that you are bringing a car when you book, so we can confirm arrangements. See our parking FAQ or just ask the team.
Can I leave the car and use public transport for the city? Yes, and most guests do. The number 11 bus and the tram reach central Edinburgh in around 20 to 30 minutes, so the car can stay parked while you are in town.
Does free parking work out cheaper than a city-centre hotel? Often, yes. Many central hotels charge a nightly fee for parking or have none at all. For example, parking at Roomzzz Edinburgh costs £13 per night, Destiny Scotland Hanover Apartments offers parking options nearby, secure on-site parking is available at The Knight Residence, and St James Quarter Car Park offers discounted parking for guests. When you add those charges to the room rate, a waterfront apartment with complimentary parking can work out better value overall, and the saving grows the longer you stay.
Book serviced apartments with parking in Edinburgh
If parking has been the sticking point in planning your Edinburgh trip, we have solved it. Complimentary underground parking, spacious two-bedroom apartments, modern amenities including free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and a fully equipped kitchenette, plus in some apartments a terrace or balcony with city views, and a waterfront location a short walk from Ocean Terminal make Ocean an easy choice for anyone arriving by car. Guests can also choose a coffee and croissant breakfast option. Take a look at our two-bedroom apartments, then request a quote with your dates and let us know you are bringing a car. You can also call the team on 0131 553 7394 with any questions.
