With a stay at Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate, you'll be centrally located in Edinburgh, within a 5-minute walk of Royal Mile and University of Edinburgh. This hotel is 0.5 mi (0.9 km) from Edinburgh Castle and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Grassmarket.
Take in the views from a terrace and a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and laundry facilities.
Make yourself at home in one of the 230 air-conditioned guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers.
"I stayed at Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate from Sep 10–12, 2025. The location is excellent, right in the city center, and the staff were polite and helpful. For budget-friendly accommodation, it offers good value.
However, there are a few areas where the experience could be improved:
Beds: The bunk beds were quite loose and made a lot of noise with every movement, which disturbed sleep.
Lockers: It would be much more convenient if lockers had an integrated pin-lock system. Having to buy a separate lock just for a short stay felt unnecessary.
Noise at Night: Dorms can naturally be noisy, but there was excessive disturbance from snoring. On the second night, someone knocked on the door very loudly at 3 AM. Since all guests have electronic key cards, this should not have happened, and it was unsettling.
Bathrooms: Cleanliness could be better. One of the toilets wasn’t flushing properly, and overall maintenance was lacking.
Housekeeping: Fresh sheets were only provided after 6 PM on the second day, despite check-in being from 3 PM. This timing could be improved.
Amenities: Providing simple slippers for bathroom use would be a small but thoughtful addition.
Check-in/Check-out: Check-in at 3 PM feels quite late, while check-out at 11 AM feels early. A little flexibility would enhance the stay.
Breakfast: Breakfast was fine for a short visit, but for longer stays it becomes repetitive.
Overall, the hostel is a good choice for short, affordable stays in Edinburgh, with friendly staff and a great location. With a few improvements in facilities and guest comfort, it could easily deliver an even better experience."