Visiting the Festivals on a budget  

At the Fringe 

There are two major Free Fringe organisations – the PBH Free Fringe and the Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival – which run a programme of events that are exclusively free. Performers will usually ask for donations at the end, so bring a bit of cash – even a pound or so will show the performers your appreciation, and cost you less than a ticketed show. (Please note – most Free Fringe shows take place in pubs, clubs or bars, so some may have 18+ door limits after a certain time of day)  

Hundreds of free shows are performed every year, so you’re bound to find something that you’ll enjoy in the Fringe Guide or one of the Free Fringe lists. Some free shows may require a ticket, so make sure you know if that’s necessary before you arrive. 

To find free Fringe tickets, you can use the free ticket filter online and on the Fringe app, or pick up programmes from Free Fringe venues across the city. 

At other Edinburgh festivals 

Free shows aren’t only on the Fringe! There isn’t the same breadth of free shows at the other festivals, but the Edinburgh Book Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Edinburgh Art Festival all have some free or pay-what-you-can events.  

The streets are full of performers during the Fringe. You can watch outstanding street shows from magicians, circus performers, music groups, drummers, mimes and buskers, to name a few, and make a donation of your choosing.  

Shows will often put up half-price tickets on some days. You can pick up cheap tickets at the Half Price Hut at the Fringe Box Office. Watch out, though, they can go fast, so if you’re after a specific show it can be a bit stressful! 

If you’re in full time study, unemployed, disabled, retired or under 18, some shows and venues offer concessions – check the listings for more.  

You can also get discounts at some shows for group bookings – families can often get concession prices, and some performances may offer a 10% bulk discount for groups of at least ten people booking together. 

Seeing shows every hour of every day can get expensive! Taking a break to go to some of Edinburgh’s many wonderful attractions not only eases the pressure on your wallet, but gives you some time to catch up with yourself.  

The Botanical Gardens in Broughton, the National Galleries dotted around the city, and the Museum of Scotland are all free to enter and offer hours of entertainment. If the weather’s nice, you could also climb the famous Arthur’s Seat, walk along the peaceful Waters of Leith, or get the bus out to Portobello for a day at the beach

Fringe venues in Edinburgh are tightly packed within the city, meaning it can be easy to walk (or rollerblade, or skateboard, or unicycle) between venues and see some of the sights. 

If you’re able to bring a bike, that can also be a quick and cheap way to get around (although it can be tricky to find places to stow it). 

If you’re travelling a little further across the city, or staying out of the city centre, Lothian bus and trams provides regular services offering day, night, and family tickets. You can download the free Lothian travel app to help plan your routes: www.lothianbuses.com/app/ 

With the city so crowded during the Festivals, travelling by foot or by bus instead of car or taxi is not just a cheaper option – it’s often quicker, too! 

It can be easy to end up spending a lot of money on food and drink if you’re staying in town for the Festivals. If you have access to a kitchen, cooking at least one or two of your daily meals in your accommodation, and making yourself packed lunches, can save you tens or even hundreds of pounds over the course of the Festivals. If you’re struggling to afford groceries, there are several free or pay-what-you-can community pantries in the city.

If you’re performing at this year’s Fringe, be sure to flash your performer pass at many local businesses to receive a discount on everything from bagels and burgers to gym memberships and massages. You can find some of these at the back of the Fringe Central Events Programme.