Edinburgh is the historic capital city of Scotland. Complete with a majestic, stone-clad old town and its very own castle, there’s a ton of culture to get to grips with here. This includes the must-visit and very fun annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
But is Edinburgh cheap? Being the charming, verging on stately city that it is, you may think that staying here on a budget is difficult. If that’s you, then you’re in the right place.
We’ve put together this guide to the cheapest hostels in Edinburgh to give you some inspiration when it comes to staying here on a budget. So, let’s take a look at some of our favorites!
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Edinburgh Backpackers is one well-known of all the Edinburgh hostels, which makes sense considering it was opened way back in 1995. But don’t expect anything too fancy – it’s a simple kind of no-frills hostel that provides a good night’s sleep in clean, simple dorm rooms.
Set in a historic building, this budget hostel in Edinburgh also offers private rooms. These are a little cosier, coming with large double beds and pretty neat period features, including huge windows and high ceilings. In fact, it’ll feel a bit like you’re in one of Edinburgh’s classic B&Bs.
They don’t allow stag or hen parties – or children under 12 – so it’s pretty much aimed squarely at those backpacking Edinburgh. On top of that, the staff are super welcoming and will help you out with your Scotland travel plans. For such cheap accommodation is also in a great location in the city centre within walking distance of places like Princes Street and The Royal Mile.
Where is Edinburgh Backpackers?
We’d say that the central location really sells this place. The hostel sits between Princes Street and The Royal Mile, with Edinburgh Castle around a 10-minute walk away. It’s also just 200 yards from Waverley railway station, which makes getting out and about a breeze especially if you’re planning on taking any day trips whilst in Edinburgh. For party animals, you’ll be pleased to know that all the bars and nightlife spots of Grassmarket are within walking distance.
The hostel itself sleeps up to 150 guests across four separate buildings, so the room options vary. Let’s take a look at the dorm rooms:
- Female dorm
- Male dorm
- Mixed dorm
In terms of private rooms, you can choose from the following options:
- Single room
- Twin room
- Triple room
- Four bed private room
Prices at Edinburgh Backpackers start from $15 USD per night.
Any extras?
As far as facilities and amenities go at this budget hostel in Edinburgh, there’s a fair bit going on here, including:
- Key card access
- Security lockers
- Luggage storage
- Free tea and coffee
- Communal kitchen
- Free Wi-Fi
- Cafe
- Games room
It’s not exactly fancy, but Edinburgh Backpackers does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s the best cheap hostel f you like value for money and a reliable place to stay. You can’t go wrong with this one.
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The first thing you’ll notice about High Street Hostel is the awesome historic building it’s situated in. In fact, this place really does have a long history, dating back over 470 years and with links to the royal family. It’s definitely a place where you can get to grips with the history of Scotland (and the UK as a whole, really).
Today, it’s been updated to house a fun, welcoming hostel. It’s very backpacker-oriented inside, with walls covered in colourful artwork, as well as stuff like a pool table and other places to kick back and socialise. It’s not just a cheap hostel in Edinburgh, but a fun place for solo travellers to hang out too.
They claim to be one of the cheapest hostels in Edinburgh, and with a spacious fully-equipped kitchen and an affordable buffet breakfast to keep costs low, we’d have to agree. Plus, it’s got a chilled atmosphere, helped by the staff who are friendly and will help you plan your Edinburgh itinerary.
Where is High Street Hostel?
The location of this budget-friendly hostel pretty much pays for itself. You’ll find it right off the Royal Mile, which means you’ll be right in the middle of the city centre. Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street are less than a 10-minute walk away, and Waverley railway station is even closer. The central location also puts the hostel in easy striking distance of the party-centric Grassmarket area.
As for what sort of rooms they’ve got on offer, their options for dorm rooms include:
- Mixed dorm
- Female dorm
There are just a couple of private rooms to choose from if a dorm doesn’t take your fancy:
- Twin room
- Double room
Prices start at $17 per night.
Any extras?
As well as providing a cheap place to stay for the night, High Street Hostel has the following amenities and facilities for you to make use of:
- Outdoor terrace
- Pool table
- Laundry service
- Breakfast available (additional fee)
- Communal kitchen
- Free wifi
- Free tea and coffee
- 24-hour reception
It might be old and historic, but High Street Hostel is pretty cool. The staff definitely help make this place what it is – a budget hostel in Edinburgh that’s welcoming, friendly, and fun.
Set in a Victorian townhouse, this is a brand new hostel in Edinburgh complete with high-spec amenities and posh interiors. It’s part of the award-winning St Christopher’s hostel group, so you know you’ll be getting something impressive when you book a bed here, in fact, it might just be the best hostel in town!
Accordingly, there’s contemporary decor throughout – from the modern dorm rooms to the boutique-style private rooms. There’s also a vibrant atmosphere, as this place – like all St Christopher’s hostels – comes equipped with the famed Belushi’s Bar. Drinks ahoy! Because of that, and its various events, it’s a pretty sociable place to be especially for solo travellers.
If aesthetics are important to you, then you’ll absolutely love staying at St Christopher’s! You’re not just getting any old bunk beds here, instead, the airy dorm rooms and stunning private rooms offer something a bit more upmarket than your standard cheap hostel in Edinburgh.
Where is St Christopher’s Edinburgh Old Town?
You’ll find St Christopher’s in the Old Town – the best place to stay in Edinburgh if you want to explore the city centre. You’ll have a ton of history and charming streets on the doorstep, and it’s opposite Waverly railway station and the Edinburgh Dungeons. A 10-minute walk gets you to Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street and the Royal Mile is just a short stroll away.
Back at the hostel itself, there are a bunch of different room options going on that make it one of the best hostels in town. Let’s start with the dorm choices, which include:
- Mixed dorm
If you’d rather have some privacy (and don’t mind paying a bit more), you can choose from the following:
- Single room
- Twin room
- Double room
- 4+ bed room
Prices start from $33 per night.
Any extras?
Being part of the reliable St Christopher’s chain, you can expect a whole lot of different perks going on at this place. These include:
- Luggage storage
- Free wifi
- Bar and restaurant (Belushi’s)
- Security lockers
- Key card access
- 24-hour reception
- ATM
- Tours/travel desk
There are also some pretty awesome activities and events that really give this place value for money (we did tell you it was the best hostel in town!). For example:
- 25% off food and drink at Belushi’s bar
- Happy hours
- Free walking tours
- Pub crawls
- DJ nights
- Televised sports
We’re going to put it out there – St Christopher’s Edinburgh Old Town is not the cheapest hostel in Edinburgh. But if you like stylish interiors and feel like the extras could suit you, then you’ll love it. It’s also one of the best hostels for solo travellers too.
Set in a Victorian building complete with its own turreted tower, Kick Ass Greyfriars claims to be “more than just a hostel”. For starters, it’s pretty funky. The decor throughout is contemporary and eye-catching, with an old VW camper-turned-bar in it. This certainly is the kind of place that’s fun to hang out in.
So from the interiors alone, it’s fair to say that Kick Ass Greyfriars is far cry from what you’d expect of a budget backpackers hostel in Edinburgh. In fact, they had an update in 2019 – a lick of paint and some new furniture to create the stylish spacious hostel it is today.
But it isn’t just about looking cool. It’s also about the atmosphere, and this place has it by the bucketful. So it’s one of the best hostels for solo travellers. One place that’s particularly happening is its stunning beer garden, which boasts a view of none other than Edinburgh Castle. Use the free wifi to call your mates and make them jealous of your view!
Where is Kick Ass Greyfriars?
Situated in the lively Grassmarket area, staying here means you’ll be surrounded by bars and cafes and within easy strolling distance from most of Edinburgh’s top sights. As we mentioned, Kick Ass Greyfriars has a view of Edinburgh Castle, and it’s not too far from it either (a five-min walk). It’s also a short walk from Princess Street and the famous Arthur’s Seat.
Want to know what the sleeping situation is at this budget Edinburgh hostel? Let’s start with the dorms, which include the following options:
- Female dorm
- Mixed dorm
There are also private rooms on offer if you’re not as comfortable staying in a hostel. Your options in that case include:
- Twin room
- 3+ bed private room
Prices start from $19 USD per night.
Any extras?
There are some good perks to staying at Kick Ass Greyfriars that go way beyond its design and comfy bunk beds. Specifically, you’ll have access to the following:
- Pool table
- Hotel quality mattresses
- Key card access
- Mini supermarket
- Restaurant/bar
- Beer garden
- Tours/travel desk
- Jobs board
Staying Kick Ass Greyfriars also gives you access to the facilities at the sister hostel Kick Ass Grassmarket, just a two-min stroll away. But there are also a few activities and events going on here that you might want to stick around:
- Free walking tour
- Food and drink discounts
- Pub crawl
As well as a top location for nightlife, this cheap Edinburgh hostel boasts some pretty neat interiors. And let’s not forget that awesome beer garden, either. Overall, it’s might just be the best cheap hostel to base yourself in during your travels around Edinburgh.
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They may play loose and fast with the caps lock here, but don’t let the name put you off. This ultra-modern hostel is actually set in a former courthouse (and jail) dating all the way back to 1693. But inside it’s not all bricks and cobwebs – they’ve taken full inspiration from an “Asian-style pod concept” to deliver an all-out comfy, well-designed place to stay.
It’s all about the dorms here, and they’re impressive – much more than you’d expect of a cheap hostel in Edinburgh. As the name implies, they’ve got pods galore. These are spacious, specially designed bunks that come with privacy curtains, USB sockets and your very own light.
Because it’s a historic building it can’t be changed architecturally, all the jail cells have been transformed into budget rooms for backpackers. Pretty cool, right? Also, the bathrooms in this place are super clean which is what you want from a cheap hostel in Edinburgh!
Where is CoDE Pod – The CoURT?
Centrally located along the Royal Mile in the heart of Edinburgh Old Town, this hostel is in striking distance of sights including Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street, the Gothic-style St Giles Cathedral and the National Museum of Scotland. There’s also a selection of bars and restaurants in the surrounding area, which makes exploring pretty fun. Princess Street and Edinburgh University are both an easy stroll away, too. Take advantage of the free breakfast before you head out exploring the city centre and beyond.
With a few private rooms on offer, CoDE Pod – The CoURT has the following simple dorm options available:
- Mixed dorm
- Female dorm
And the private room options include:
- Double room
- Twin room
Prices per night start from $22 USD.
Any extras?
There are some pretty neat amenities, perks, and general things going on at this cheap Edinburgh hostel:
- Bar
- Cafe/restaurant
- Free breakfast
- Communal workspace
- 24-hour reception
- Free walking tours
- Wheelchair friendly
- Secure keypad entry system
Staying in a former jail cell may not be the vibe that everyone is going for, but we’d say this place is pretty cool – especially for digital nomads discovering Edinburgh. Alongside the price, its unique aesthetic, free wifi and good workspaces make it basically an all-around awesome place to stay. It makes it not only one of the best Edinburgh hostels but one of the most unique too!
Cheap Hostels in Edinburgh FAQ
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Final Thoughts on Cheap Hostels in Edinburgh
Staying in a hostel in Edinburgh is a fantastic way to see the city. You’ll not only get to sleep for cheap in the city centre, but you’ll also get the chance to meet other travellers and join in events, too.
Many of the hostels in Edinburgh are housed in historic buildings that have been lovingly updated with modern facilities. Offering up the perfect balance of good times, affordable prices, and top amenities, you’ll get so much more than just a bed for the night.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
