Does the property allow pets?

Pets are not allowed at this adults-only hostel. Service animals are exempt from this policy.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 14:00 to 07:30, and check-out is by 10:00. Guests under 18 years old are not permitted at this property.

Where is the property located in relation to key landmarks?

The hostel is located in Old Town Edinburgh, steps from the Royal Mile and near Edinburgh Castle. It is also close to Princes Street and Grassmarket, with easy access to events at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and Murrayfield Stadium.

What are the policies for guests staying with children?

Children are not allowed at this adults-only property, as guests must be 18 years or older.

Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel

Average nightly price at Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel - over 18s only by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
January	US$82
February	US$86
March	US$92
April	US$110
May	US$139
June	US$142
July	US$134
August	US$178
September	US$151
October	US$131
November	US$115
December	US$117

What guests think

Reviews of Edinburgh Backpackers - over 18s only highlight a superb, ultra-central location near the Royal Mile and train station, generally clean spaces, and friendly staff, alongside frequent street noise, many stairs with no lift, and simple, budget-style rooms.

Room layouts vary from compact bunks to spacious private rooms, many with shared bathrooms, and some are in separate buildings with communal kitchens. Several guests noted maintenance quirks typical of older buildings, including temperamental showers, worn fixtures, and occasional stale smells. Expect a straightforward, good-value stay suited to short visits and flexible travellers.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities are basic and spread across separate buildings; several reviews mention communal kitchens and a small lounge, plus paid laundry. There’s no lift and nearby parking is off site and pricey.

Related guest reviews

10

Anastasia

16 Feb 2025

·

We needed a stay for one night in Edinburgh and it was perfect! We had a private room, which was spacious and the bed was very comfy! The amenities were updated and very nice. We shared a bathroom and kitchen with another private room. It was in the center of a lot of great spots. Good bars nearby and great shopping. Would definitely go back if we stay in Edinburgh again!

10

Viktoria

2 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Amazing location! Shops, restaurants and attractions are within the block. Check in was easy and staff very friendly. I had a private room with shared bathroom and the room was a decent size and the bathroom was very clean. The shared kitchen was modern, clean, and had utensils, dishes, and cookware, as well as a fridge to store food.

10

Melvin

22 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very central location and good value for where it was in the city. Check in was easy with the 2 staff members that I had touch points with being super friendly and helpful One downside was parking, the closest car park was Blu Radison From 5pm to 10am was £30

8

Kama

29 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room I was giving is in a building which had no elevator so had to lug my luggage up stairs myself. Room was okay but very loud from outside all day and night. Bathroom could use a bit more cleaning.

10

Moira

28 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was unbelievably nice & accommodating, but the 3rd story stairs are definitely for younger people.

6

Heather

1 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

So the location is fantastic being a couple of blocks from everything - the main train station, Edinburgh castle, and right on the royal mile. All of the private rooms are in a separate building without any communal facilities, which was a drag. Very clean.

10

sunny

16 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Sensational location! I could not have been more satisfied. You walk out onto the most photographed street in Edinburgh, the Royal mile and walking distance to the newer " city" and the gardens. Excellent room with convenient access to common area. Kitchen well stocked Great value- for the convenience alone.

8

Laura

23 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was very sufficient. A fully equipped kitchen with a kettle and coffe and milk in the fridge. The beds were a bit uncomfortable but for the price it was perfect. Nice to see the street view from the window.

8

Linda

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We stayed in a private room with bunk beds, it shared a bathroom and kitchen with one other private room. The bathroom and kitchen had new flooring and appliances. The shower pressure was great and no problems with heat. There was even a towel warmer in the bathroom. The ruins were in an old stone building with stone steps at the entrance then normal steps after that. The hostel is in two buildings on the royal mile with tons of shops and a short walk to everything. The receptionists are super friendly and give great advice on where to tour. They also have laundry service for 10 pounds. We had a fantastic time!

10

Leslie

7 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We reserved private rooms in two different buildings. First one was a spacious twin bed en suite room down the block from the main hostel. It had tea/coffee making stuff, eating area and over stuffed chair. On the ground floor right inside the street entrance. Quiet. Second room on the1st floor further down the street was a just a bit wider than the bunk beds. Shared bathroom with one other room was right across a tiny hallway from our door. We used the communal kitchen to make coffee and heat food. WiFi worked well. Also quiet here.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is widely praised, with many describing rooms and shared areas as very clean or spotless. A few noted worn or shabby fixtures and occasional bathroom or kitchen odors.

Related guest reviews

8

Tianlai

5 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

room was outdated, toilet was hard to flush, kitchen had a bad smell. localtion was quite good. overall decent for the price.

10

Erica

24 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location and clean, well organized. Lovely staff

10

Viktoria

2 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Amazing location! Shops, restaurants and attractions are within the block. Check in was easy and staff very friendly. I had a private room with shared bathroom and the room was a decent size and the bathroom was very clean. The shared kitchen was modern, clean, and had utensils, dishes, and cookware, as well as a fridge to store food.

10

Nichol

20 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Could not get over how clean everything was. Felt so comfortable and safe

8

Kama

29 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room I was giving is in a building which had no elevator so had to lug my luggage up stairs myself. Room was okay but very loud from outside all day and night. Bathroom could use a bit more cleaning.

10

Lisa W

10 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had the private room, which had a kitchen attached. Everything was spotlessly clean. The room was very cute and usable

10

Pat L

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, clean, would definitely stay again.

4

Terry

12 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Start with the good: Quick and easy check in. Comfy bed. Good location. The bad: Shower utterly useless, either ran scolding hot or freezing cold. The bathroom in general was very shabby. Dirty floor tiles, bath panel coming away and the shelf above to sink wasn't even screwed down. The room was very dark with what appeared to be water damage to the ceiling and the pictures on the wall. The room was also boiling with only a small fan in the room.

10

Elizabeth

8 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location, room was small but clean.

10

Katharine

10 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent stay! It’s right in the middle of everything. It’s clean and safe. I would stay here again, easily.

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Rooms

Rooms range from tiny bunk rooms to spacious privates and feel basic, with older decor. Expect noticeable street noise in some rooms and occasional issues like thin walls, temperamental showers or water pressure, and windows that don’t open.

Related guest reviews

6

Darci

20 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It did the job as a crash pad for a couple of nights. Not much sound insulation, room also had a very stale/dusty/damp smell when we first arrived and we couldn’t open the window to ventilate. Perfect location for everything we wanted.

6

Claus

8 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very basic. Very rocky bunk bed (booked as double bed) and could not open the window. So with a 3 night stay the air get quite stale. You have to be hit with dwarfism to stand under the shower and you have to be quick otherwise you get scolding hot water or ice cold.

8

Leslie

7 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Stayed twice at beginning and end of Scotland tour. First stay we had a private room in a separate building from the main hostel. The ground floor twin bed room was quite roomy and had a bathroom and tea kettle. The 2nd stay was also a private room (quite narrow with bunk beds) & a small table & chairs) on the 1st floor in another building with a shared bathroom, accessed just outside our door.. We shared the bathroom with one other room. Location of both were ideal, within walking distance to everything, including the Airlink drop-off/pick-up spot. Considering the rooms cost significantly less than other hotels, would definitely stay again.

8

Jazz

7 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Perfect location, spacious room, clean, hard beds lol, not so comfortable for me. Very loud at night, well the room we had which was right on the street. Staff was ok. They did their jobs and that's it.

10

Katie

10 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good value for money given the very central location and it was clean enough. I wouldn’t have wanted to stay any longer because it was so noisy. We could hear everything from the street below all night long. Also a few security concerns given the key used to unlock the main shared door is the same key that opens the key to your bedroom. Theoretically anyone staying there has access to your room with their key.

8

Safiyah

8 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

I enjoyed our private room on the top floor, it was quiet, peaceful and very spacious. We did not enjoy the poor water pressure and extreme temperatures of the showers. Additionally, the bathrooms could've been cleaned more often by the cleaning staff. Some of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful, some were rude and obviously did not feel called to service and being helpful. Phenomenal location!

10

Leslie

7 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We reserved private rooms in two different buildings. First one was a spacious twin bed en suite room down the block from the main hostel. It had tea/coffee making stuff, eating area and over stuffed chair. On the ground floor right inside the street entrance. Quiet. Second room on the1st floor further down the street was a just a bit wider than the bunk beds. Shared bathroom with one other room was right across a tiny hallway from our door. We used the communal kitchen to make coffee and heat food. WiFi worked well. Also quiet here.

4

Terry

12 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Start with the good: Quick and easy check in. Comfy bed. Good location. The bad: Shower utterly useless, either ran scolding hot or freezing cold. The bathroom in general was very shabby. Dirty floor tiles, bath panel coming away and the shelf above to sink wasn't even screwed down. The room was very dark with what appeared to be water damage to the ceiling and the pictures on the wall. The room was also boiling with only a small fan in the room.

10

Elizabeth

8 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location, room was small but clean.

10

Scott

7 Apr 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Pros: excellent location, super clean, comfortable room, value for money. Cons: thin walls (can hear other guests speaking at normal level), lots of stairs if on third floor. With all that said, I would highly recommend for a short stay.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful, and efficient, with easy check in and assistance when needed. A few guests found service just okay or occasionally rude.

Related guest reviews

10

Jessica

28 Nov 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I had a lovely stay at this Hostel. It's in the perfect location. And Mercedes at the front desk was very helpful and accommodating. They honored my request to get a room on the top floor and I had a quiet night's sleep. The shared bathroom was very clean. The lounge are was nice to relax and eat some food and people watch out the window. They also held my luggage while I went exploring. I will be back.

10

Erica

24 Feb 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location and clean, well organized. Lovely staff

10

Jasper

15 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I stayed here for one night to get the "hostel experience" while in Edinburgh. This was just a two-day excursion from London during my study abroad. Edinburgh: brilliant. Absolute favorite place. Edinburgh Backpackers was fantastic and honestly, this is probably not a true hostel experience. It was quiet. I had a private small room with a shared bathroom with one other room. The bunkbed was comfy (better than the expensive student housing I've been staying in). There is a TUB in case you want a bath. The check-in person was very friendly and gave me directions and instructions. I highly recommended staying here. If you are with one other person, a bunk bed private room is great and affordable.

10

Melvin

22 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very central location and good value for where it was in the city. Check in was easy with the 2 staff members that I had touch points with being super friendly and helpful One downside was parking, the closest car park was Blu Radison From 5pm to 10am was £30

8

Jazz

7 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Perfect location, spacious room, clean, hard beds lol, not so comfortable for me. Very loud at night, well the room we had which was right on the street. Staff was ok. They did their jobs and that's it.

10

Ellen

7 Jun 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Great GREAT location on the Royal Mile. Some of the bestvplaces to eat, shop and explore. Staff was always friendly, helpful and accomodating.

10

Sue

19 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Everyone was friendly and my room was clean. Located in the middle of everything. I would stay here again. Just a note for people with trouble walking you may have a lot of stairs.

8

Jessica

3 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hosts were great! They swapped our room out for a lower level due to us underestimating the stairs and even helped us get one of our suitcases up the stairs. They were super friendly and helped us navigate the town! Good for a simple over night place to sleep.

10

Megan

29 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, helpful staff

10

Noor Hayati

7 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Actual room was on another building but the reception was kind to walk me to it. She was thorough in explaining the details etc.

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Location

Exceptionally central on or near the Royal Mile and close to Waverley Station, making most sights walkable. Central position brings notable street noise and some uphill walks; parking nearby is limited and costly.

Related guest reviews

8

Anne

12 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Close to the Royal Mile and Train Station

6

Darci

20 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It did the job as a crash pad for a couple of nights. Not much sound insulation, room also had a very stale/dusty/damp smell when we first arrived and we couldn’t open the window to ventilate. Perfect location for everything we wanted.

8

Gregory

25 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I'm glad we chose this hostel as it is so close to everything. The bus from the airport dropped us at the bottom of the hill and it was a short walk, though it was up a steep hill. It was also a short walk back down the hill to the train station when leaving. And the Royal Mile is right there, only a block away. Cockburn Street itself is a place of amazing character. I was surprised that our room was in a different building around the corner and down some stairs. Once inside, it was up stairs again, so be prepared to carry your luggage. The room itself was small, but more than adequate. We never heard from other patrons, but the street outside was active through the night. We slept fine in spite of the voices from the street below.

10

Melvin

22 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very central location and good value for where it was in the city. Check in was easy with the 2 staff members that I had touch points with being super friendly and helpful One downside was parking, the closest car park was Blu Radison From 5pm to 10am was £30

8

Jazz

7 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Perfect location, spacious room, clean, hard beds lol, not so comfortable for me. Very loud at night, well the room we had which was right on the street. Staff was ok. They did their jobs and that's it.

10

Annette

13 Jul 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Easy check in, easy to find, everything is in walking distance.

8

Ryan

14 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Right off of the main walking path from train station to the Royal Mile, so extremely convenient.

10

Pat L

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, clean, would definitely stay again.

10

sunny

16 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Sensational location! I could not have been more satisfied. You walk out onto the most photographed street in Edinburgh, the Royal mile and walking distance to the newer " city" and the gardens. Excellent room with convenient access to common area. Kitchen well stocked Great value- for the convenience alone.

10

Megan

29 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, helpful staff

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Dining

No information on breakfast or on site dining; several reviews mention communal kitchens for self catering.

Related guest reviews

10

Anastasia

16 Feb 2025

·

We needed a stay for one night in Edinburgh and it was perfect! We had a private room, which was spacious and the bed was very comfy! The amenities were updated and very nice. We shared a bathroom and kitchen with another private room. It was in the center of a lot of great spots. Good bars nearby and great shopping. Would definitely go back if we stay in Edinburgh again!

10

Diane B

15 Apr 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

As hostels go, this was an incredible place. The room and bathroom were spotlessly clean. The desk staff were so helpful and very nice. It was in a perfect location - so close to Waverley train station, Princes Street, the Royal Mile the castle and Grassmarket are all within easy walking distance. I did not use the kitchen facilities at all so I can't review that. In short, if you're on a budget, this is an awesome place. I will have to be honest and say that at age 62, I'm probably a little past the age for staying here again. I found hauling my suitcase upstairs difficult (not the fault of the EBH at all). I think I've become a bit of a princess, so sharing a bathroom wasn't my favorite (I knew this was happening and they have other options including ensuite so again, not the fault of EBH.) Originally I was supposed to travel with my niece to show her that travel doesn't have to be beyond expensive, but she had to cancel - too late for me to change my reservation. If you're up for being in a hostel, this is the best.

10

Viktoria

2 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Amazing location! Shops, restaurants and attractions are within the block. Check in was easy and staff very friendly. I had a private room with shared bathroom and the room was a decent size and the bathroom was very clean. The shared kitchen was modern, clean, and had utensils, dishes, and cookware, as well as a fridge to store food.

10

Lisa W

10 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had the private room, which had a kitchen attached. Everything was spotlessly clean. The room was very cute and usable

6

Heather

1 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

So the location is fantastic being a couple of blocks from everything - the main train station, Edinburgh castle, and right on the royal mile. All of the private rooms are in a separate building without any communal facilities, which was a drag. Very clean.

10

sunny

16 Aug 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Sensational location! I could not have been more satisfied. You walk out onto the most photographed street in Edinburgh, the Royal mile and walking distance to the newer " city" and the gardens. Excellent room with convenient access to common area. Kitchen well stocked Great value- for the convenience alone.

10

Francesca

18 Feb 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very pleasantly surprised. We had a private room and a shared bathroom but had tons of privacy, felt like it was just us. The location is perfect and the facilities are very clean. The staff of very friendly and there are a few deals for restaurants and pubs that are offered. Definitely would return and recommend

8

Laura

23 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was very sufficient. A fully equipped kitchen with a kettle and coffe and milk in the fridge. The beds were a bit uncomfortable but for the price it was perfect. Nice to see the street view from the window.

8

Linda

28 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We stayed in a private room with bunk beds, it shared a bathroom and kitchen with one other private room. The bathroom and kitchen had new flooring and appliances. The shower pressure was great and no problems with heat. There was even a towel warmer in the bathroom. The ruins were in an old stone building with stone steps at the entrance then normal steps after that. The hostel is in two buildings on the royal mile with tons of shops and a short walk to everything. The receptionists are super friendly and give great advice on where to tour. They also have laundry service for 10 pounds. We had a fantastic time!

10

Leslie

7 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We reserved private rooms in two different buildings. First one was a spacious twin bed en suite room down the block from the main hostel. It had tea/coffee making stuff, eating area and over stuffed chair. On the ground floor right inside the street entrance. Quiet. Second room on the1st floor further down the street was a just a bit wider than the bunk beds. Shared bathroom with one other room was right across a tiny hallway from our door. We used the communal kitchen to make coffee and heat food. WiFi worked well. Also quiet here.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
1	2 $66	3 $66	4 $66	5 $105	6 $192	7
8 $74	9 $118	10 $175	11 $118	12 $118	13	14
15 $116	16 $59	17 $118	18 $118	19 $180	20	21
22 $174	23 $133	24 $118	25 $180	26 $180	27	28
29 $133	30 $118

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1 $117	2 $133	3 $133	4 $163	5
6 $98	7 $118	8 $114	9 $113	10 $114	11	12
13 $118	14 $114	15 $114	16 $114	17 $118	18 $163	19
20 $115	21 $164	22 $120	23 $112	24 $118	25 $163	26 $207
27 $160	28 $208	29	30	31

Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel - over 18s only

Prices for Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel - over 18s only

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room

Twin Room (Bunk Bed)

Double Room with Private Bathroom

Twin Room with Bathroom

Bed in 5-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room

Double Room with Shared Bathroom

Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room

Quadruple Room with Shared Bathroom

Bed in 14-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room

Guest reviews of Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel - over 18s only

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel - over 18s only

Prices for upcoming dates