Selection of the best Edinburgh Hostels
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh’s grand Georgian buildings, historic castle and clutch of cultured galleries make it the perfect city break. Shopaholics will love the vintage boutiques on the Grass Market, and party animals can stay up till the wee hours in the pubs and bars along the Royal Mile. |

With a thriving student population, Edinburgh is cheaper than pricey capitals like London, with a wide selection of Edinburgh Hostels in the city center.

Accommodation can get booked up quickly during the Festival in the summer, and the legendary Hogmanay celebrations on New Year’s Eve, so book online before you travel for somewhere cheap to stay. Here’s a guide to the best Edinburgh Hostels.

Castle Rock Hostel
Boasting one of the best locations in the city, this backpacker-friendly hostel is just a minute from the Castle, Royal Mile and Grass Market. Built in 1846, the building has bags of character and the spacious rooms are full of art and antiques, with scenic views of the Castle.  But the hostel still has plenty of modern facilities, with a garden patio, lounge with piano and log fire and big screen movie room. 

High Street Hostel
This eco-friendly hostel is completely carbon neutral – they recycle everything, and all electricity comes from renewable energy sources. The 400 year old building has been transformed into a fun hostel with a lively social calendar, ranging from free movie nights and pub crawls to walking tours.

Edinburgh Nights Hostel
Perfect for large groups, the Edinburgh Nights Hostel has clean, modern and large dorms, and is only a few minutes from the train and bus station. There’s a free continental breakfast to kick off a day of sightseeing, lockers in all the rooms, and free internet and wi-fi for guests.

Bus Station Backpackers Edinburgh Hostel
This small and cosy hostel is noted for its homely atmosphere, and great free extras, like unlimited internet and a huge free breakfast. The hostel only accepts small groups and has a minimum stay of two nights, allowing weary backpackers to settle in, meet other travelers and make themselves at home. The rooms are decorated with artefacts from the owner’s extensive travels, and the staff is always on hand to offer travel tips and advice.