Last Updated on August 20, 2025
Edinburgh, Scotland, is the second most visited city in the United Kingdom, making affordable accommodation a challenge to come by. Luckily, there are plenty of long-standing hostels in Edinburgh that are top-rated and have thought of everything to accommodate the modern traveler.
These seven hostels are in walkable areas close to all the main attractions in Edinburgh, budget-friendly, and top-rated across all booking platforms.
A stay at any of these puts you in the right position to explore the city for 24 hours, 3 days, or even weeks if you have long-term plans in place.
If you don’t want to read through the full list, I have the top five best hostels in Edinburgh listed below for convenience.
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Top 5 Hostels in Edinburgh at a Glance
Here is a quick list of all the best Edinburgh hostels:
Best overall hostel | Castle Rock Hostel
Best hostel for solo travelers | High Street Hostel & solo females | Haystack Hostel
Best hostel for partying | St. Christophers Inn Edinburgh
Best hostel for budget travelers | St. Christophers Inn Edinburgh
Best hostel for digital nomads | Kick-Ass Greyfriars
7 Best Hostels In Edinburgh
Many of the best hotels in Edinburgh are some of the city’s heavyweights that have been around, and plan to be around, for a long time. You’ll see these hostels repeated on many other lists of the best in the city, and there’s a good reason for that.
These hostels aren’t mentioned in any particular order, and they all have 8+ review scores, so that you can guarantee a perfect stay and accommodation that’s worth your while.
one of the common rooms inside Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh
1. Castle Rock Hostel
If I could copy and paste a hostel anywhere in the world, it would be Castle Rock Hostel over and over again.
They built out this historic home to strike the perfect balance of where travel meets intention. It may be smushed between the two most iconic places in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, but it has the creature comforts of home and every amenity you could possible need to feel comfortable.
The ambiance is reminiscent of a castle-like grandeur, but it’s colorful and quirky enough to bring that classic hostel feel that will be the pinnacle of your auntie or uncle lore. It’s an adults-only hostel, so you must be 18 or older to book. Keep in mind that you cannot stay over a week, even if you make separate reservations, so this is not a place for long-term travel in the city.
You’ll like this hostel if you’re not on a crazy tight budget, are open to parties (but want plenty of room to get away), and want to be close to all the main tourist attractions in Edinburgh. From here, you can walk virtually anywhere in the city. A true gem, and it’s clear why it’s the most booked out hostel in the city. If you’re traveling over peak dates, book far in advance.
Ideal for | First-timers in Edinburgh
Location | 15 Johnston Terrace (Google Maps)
Price | £22 / night (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | Free wifi, free linens, breakfast for £1.5, luggage storage, security lockers, full kitchen, 24/7 reception, security, in-house events, bookable tours, board games, pool table, outdoor terrace, common rooms, and adaptors if needed.
Female-only dorms? | Yes
a peek at the bar on-site at Kick-Ass Greyfriars Hostel
2. Kick-Ass Greyfriars
Any stray backpacking Australian will be caught staying at Kick-Ass Greyfriars Hostel. It’s about a stone’s throw from Castle Rock, so it offers all the same walkability and proximity to the main sites, but a little bit different vibe.
There’s a lot of variety here when it comes to the kind of bunk rooms you can book. They range from 4-bed to up to 30 in a mixed dorm. All of them are modern with colorful accents and thoughtful design.
It’s no secret that many travelers come here because Kick-Ass is a well-known party hostel. If that’s not your thing, scroll to my next recommendation. Otherwise, the hostel hosts pub crawls and trivia nights almost nightly for an additional fee, which is a good way to mingle and meet other travelers.
This is also an adults-only hostel, so you must be 18 or older to book, and you cannot exceed a 14-day stay.
Ideal for | Backpackers who want to party
Location | 37-39 Cowgate (Google Maps)
Price | £26 / night (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | Free wifi, free linens, luggage storage, security lockers, full kitchen, 24/7 security, in-house events, bookable tours, gaming room, common rooms, mini supermarket, free walking tours, breakfast for £5, beer garden, on-site bar, and adaptors if needed.
Female-only dorms? | Yes (but only 4 beds and may be priced higher)
the epic spiral staircase inside Kick-Ass Grassmarket Hostel
3. Kick-Ass Grassmarket
Kick-Ass Grassmarket is owned by the same people who own the Greyfriars location that we talked about above. The only difference is the address and a handful of the amenities.
This hostel is located in Grassmarket Square, a historic spot with a bunch of different quirky shops that are a short walk away from the Royal Mile. Like its sister location, Kick-Ass Grassmarket is very much social, colorful, and welcoming to all backpackers. There is a minibar with plenty of seating if you want to enjoy drinks with new friends, pregame before your pub tour, or relax before taking on the city.
Its trove of amenities includes movie nights on Mondays and karaoke nights on certain days, so it’s ideal for a solo traveler looking to make friends while they’re in Scotland.
This is also an adults-only hostel, so you must be 18 or older to book, and you cannot exceed a 14-day stay.
Ideal for | First-timers in Edinburgh
Location | 2 West Port (Google Maps)
Price | £21 / night (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | Free wifi, free linens, breakfast for purchase, luggage storage, security lockers, full kitchen, 24/7 security, in-house events, bookable tours, board games, common rooms, onsite bar and restaurant, and adaptors if needed.
Female-only dorms? | Yes
the home-y common room at Haystack Hostel
4. Haystack Hostel
Haystack Hostel is smushed right between Old Town and New Town in Edinburgh, and is within walking distance to Waverly Train Station and numerous bus stations. When you stay here, you are equidistant from almost all the top things to do in Edinburgh.
The rooms are clean and spacious, and there is a full kitchen for you to cook meals or store food in the fridge/freezer. If you want to ditch the bunks for the night, they also have private rooms you can book, albeit at a steep price for what it is.
While they don’t have tours bookable from the hostel, the entire staff is local and knowledgeable about the city/country, so they can help guide you into checking all your must-sees off your list before you leave.
There is no age requirement for this hostel, but there is a maximum of 7 nights you can stay here.
Ideal for | Backpackers who want to splurge on nicer accommodation
Location | 5, 3 W Register Street (Google Maps)
Price | £44 / night (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | Free wifi, free linens, towels for a fee, breakfast for a fee, luggage storage, security lockers, full kitchen, 24/7 security, knowledgeable staff, board games, common rooms, and adaptors if needed.
Female-only dorms? | Yes
the small outdoor patio at High Street Hostel
5. High Street Hostel
There’s a reason why High Street Hostel has won many awards and is consistently chosen by travelers when they’re exploring Edinburgh.
It’s plotted along Blackfriars Street, a small spur off the Royal Mile, which makes it exactly halfway between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
They do a great job of maintaining the building’s 470-year-old history, while providing a modern-day experience with all the bells and whistles for travelers. The location was formally known as the Morton’s House, where the resident, Earl of Morton, was beheaded in the early 1500s as a consequence of his involvement in the murder of Mary Queen of Scots’ husband.
As time goes on, more and more shops and pubs are opening around the hostel, which makes it extremely walkable for a quick bite, pub crawl, or day of shopping. High Street is also one of the only hostels that, by staying there, you get a discount at select pubs and venues nearby.
They don’t accept any guest under the age of 18 and the maximum nights you can book here is 14 days. However, if you want to stay longer than that, you need to contact the hostel directly.
Ideal for | First-time backpackers
Location | 8-18 Blackfriars Street (Google Maps)
Price | £27 / night (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | Free wifi, free linens, towel rentals for £2, laundry service for £5, a pool table, breakfast for a fee, luggage storage, security lockers, full kitchen, 24/7 reception, knowledgeable staff, board games, hosted events, common rooms, free tea, and perhaps most excitingly, a fish tank.
Female-only dorms? | Yes
the dreamy natural light inside the CoURT
6. CoDE Pod Hostel: The CoURT & The Loft
CoDE Pod is an urban loft concept that incorporates Asian-inspired pods into its design. The name comes from its custom-built code entry systems throughout the property that give you access to the building, dorm room, and a private security locker.
In Edinburgh, there are two locations, the CoURT and the Loft. The two hostels are relatively close together in Edinburgh’s city center, so I coupled them together for this recommendation. They’re best compared side-by-side to see which is a better fit. Although they both sport similar amenities.
The bunk rooms are designed like sleeping pods so that you have a better sense of comfort and privacy, and there’s a trove of modern amenities that will take your backpacking experience up a notch.
CoDE Pod has won numerous awards. In 2025, they were awarded the Best Hostel Award by Kayak. They’ve also been recognized by TripAdvisor, Rough Guides, Hostel Geeks and the Scottish Tourism Alliance for their excellence in the accommodation space.
It doesn’t appear that they have a limit on how long you can stay here, but you have to be at least 18 years old.
Ideal for | Boujie backpackers
Locations | 1A Parliament Square (Google Maps) & 50 Rose St N Lane (Google Maps)
Prices | £25 / night & (per person) & £33 / night & (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates (the CoURT) | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Check current rates (the Loft) | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | Free wifi, breakfast for £3, free activities, luggage storage, board games, tea and coffee makers, security lockers, a kitchenette, and a common room.
Female-only dorms? | Yes
the vibrant lobby of St. Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh
7. St. Christopher’s Inn Edinburgh
St. Christopher’s Inn is a micro hostel chain that has planted the most beloved hostels around the U.K. and the rest of Europe.
The location in Edinburgh operates practically as a hotel, offering all on-site amenities and free events. If you’re exploring more of Scotland, the hostel is right across the street from the Waverly Train Station, which can take you anywhere in the country.
It’s within walking distance to all the main attractions in Edinburgh, including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and Calton Hill. On-site Belushi’s Bar has cheap drinks to get your party started early, or there’s a restaurant for a quick bite.
If you want the best rate, you should book directly on the St. Christopher’s Inn website. If you’re staying for three or more days, you can use codes “WKDAY15” or “WKEND15” at checkout for a discount. Before you book, check the offers page for more deals on your stay. Coupon codes are provided by the hostel and rotate seasonally.
When you book direct, not only do you get the best rate, but you also receive a free welcome drink and 25% off all food in the restaurant, which can be great value for budget travelers. *Both food and drink offers are only for those who book direct.
Ideal for | Travelers want to party
Location | 9-13 Market Street (Google Maps)
Price | £16 / night (per person) *varies by season
Check current rates | Booking.com & Hostelworld
Facilities | free wifi, laundry facilities, onsite bar and restaurant, ATM, board games, movies, a full kitchen, 24/7 reception, common rooms, a security locker, luggage storage, and breakfast for £5.
Female-only dorms? | Yes
If you have any other questions about visiting Scotland, please reach out! Otherwise, browse my other Scotland guides to help you plan your trip:
10 Tips For Traveling Scotland On A Budget
Best Coffee Shops In Edinburgh
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