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Cowgate Tourist Hostel

96 Cowgate

Description

Located on the historic Cowgate Street, we are right in the heart of Edinburgh's party and cultural district.

A hostel with a difference!
Our 170 bed hostel contains 12 individually lockable apartments all fully fitted with their own toilet, shower rooms and fully equipped kitchens. An apartment sleeps between 8 and 22 people in a combination of 4 and 6 bed dorms and twin or double rooms.

* Fully-equipped kitchens.
* Free WI-FI and internet access.
* Breakfast is not included
* A continental breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals can be arranged for an extra charge, please ask at time of booking
* Free tea and coffee in reception.
* No curfew! come and go as you please!
* We now have a new outdoor social area that can seat 180 people!
* CCTV installed.

Facilities

  • 24 Hour Security
  • Adaptors
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Fax Service
  • Free City Maps
  • Free Internet Access
  • Free WiFi
  • Fridge/Freezer
  • Hot Showers
  • Housekeeping
  • Ironing board
  • Kitchen
  • Linen Included
  • Luggage Storage
  • Microwave
  • Outdoor Terrace
  • Tea/Coffee Making Facilities
  • Tours/Travel Desk
  • Towels for hire
  • Utensils
  • Vending Machines

Photos

Cowgate Tourist Hostel - 0
Cowgate Tourist Hostel - 1
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Reviews

Traveler Reviews

“Smelly bathrooms, loud music til 3am every night”

Rating: 2 Reviewed on August 25, 2025

I stayed at Cowgate during the Fringe in a 6-bedded room for 4 nights with 5 friends. The rooms were comfortable and clean, but the shared bathroom (with 4 other rooms) was constantly smelly and this...

“2 night stay ”

Rating: 3 Reviewed on February 17, 2020

Points: - the hostel is very basic, you get what you pay for - rooms are clean - showers have issues with pressure and heat retention - opposite a very lively pub which wasn’t an issue for us are...

“Cowgate Hostel”

Rating: 1 Reviewed on January 26, 2020

My wife and I booked one of the private rooms for the night. 12 feet high ceilings and a storage heater "ornament" were the eye catching features of this dump. So the ornamental heater obviously...

Directions

From Airport (by car)
Get on to Glasgow Road (A8) and continue straight following signs to the city centre.
When you reach the west end of Princes Street you'll see a department store called House of Fraser on your left. At the traffic lights opposite House of Fraser turn right onto Lothian Road.
Take your first left onto King's Stables Road.
Turn left at the junction onto the Grassmarket.
Continue straight along this road to the Cowgate.
Cowgate Tourist Hostel is on left of the street, opposite Three Sisters pub.

From Airport (by bus)
Get on the Airport Shuttle bus until it stops on 'Waverley Bridge'.
Then follow the directions below from Waverley train station.

From Waverley train station (on foot)
Come out of Waverley train station onto Princes Street.
Turn right and walk along Princes Street toward Balmoral Hotel.
Turn right at Balmoral Hotel onto North Bridge.
Walk towards Royal Mile/High Street.
Turn right at Bella Pasta on to Royal Mile/High Street.
Cross the street to Starbucks Coffee House and continue walking down hill along Blair Street at the bottom of the Blair Street turn right walk 200 meters and the Hostel will be on the right.Opposite Three Sisters pub.

Policies

Any cancellations must be made 2 days before your arrival or you may be charged for the night.

Please note that all group bookings that have children under the age of 16 must ensure they book entire dorm rooms or apartments for the groups private use!

Groups T&Cs:
1. You may cancel your booking up to 72hrs hours before arrival.(Does not apply to Groups). Please do so directly with the reception office at the Cowgate. If you wish to cancel by email then please do so at least 7 full days prior to your arrival.
2. All group bookings must be paid in full 28 days prior to arrival, any changes or cancellations must be done before this time.Payment will automatically taken from your credit card.
3. Deposits are never refunded.
4. In the event of a no-show without cancellation, we have the right to charge your credit card for the first night's stay where you have booked accommodation with us or for the full price of the tour or other non-accommodation travel service in accordance with your booking conditions.

Important:
Reception is open between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm.
If you are a GROUP and booking through the internet, please CALL US to make sure your whole group can be in the same room.
Check-out is 10:00am (you are welcome to store your luggage at reception).
There is a £20 room key deposit, this is refunded when you check out and return your key.