With a stay at Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate, you'll be centrally located in Edinburgh, within a 5-minute walk of Royal Mile and Grassmarket. .This hotel is 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Edinburgh Castle and 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from University of Edinburgh.
What's nearby
Victoria Street - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
Grassmarket - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
Royal Mile - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
University of Edinburgh - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
Edinburgh Castle - 9 min walk - 0.5 miles
Getting around
Edinburgh (ZXE-Edinburgh Waverly Train Station) - 7 min walk
St Andrew Square Tram Stop - 11 min walk
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 37 min drive
Restaurants
Deacon Brodies Tavern - 5 min walk
Greyfriars Bobby's Bar - 5 min walk
Frankenstein - 4 min walk
The Elephant House - 6 min walk
The Three Sisters - 1 min walk
About this property
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate offers 230 accommodations with air conditioning. This Edinburgh hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices). Bathrooms include showers. Housekeeping is offered daily and hair dryers can be requested.
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.
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.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
In-room WiFi speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
No onsite parking available
Family friendly
Laundry facilities
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Laundry facilities
Lockers
Luggage storage
Vending machine
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Outdoors
Garden
Terrace
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
More
Renovated entire property - June 2024
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Hair dryer (on request)
Shower
More
Air conditioning
Laptop workspace
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Towels fee: EUR 4 per person, per stay (or guests may bring their own)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Long-term renters welcome
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Hotel
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Edinburgh
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Hotel Edinburgh
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Reviews
Reviews
7.2
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Perfect for a quick stop over in Edinburgh. Location was great, room was clean and felt safe. The only down fall is that there I a pub across the street that was quite loud late into the night, however, I stayed during the World Cup finals so it was understandable. I would stay again!
It was close to old city centre and super clean :)
HYEON AH
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Rhonda
Jul 7, 2026
Liked: Staff & service
If you just need a room with a bathroom for a couple nights this will work nicely. I was pleasantly surprised.
Staff, shops nearby,location were great and I would stay there again
Clean room, friendly and helpful staff, so close to everything.
Could use a bathroom rug, and perhaps a desk or chair in the room.
Loud night club cross the window, but mostly just the sat night.
aline
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Carlie
Jul 10, 2026
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Staff were extremely helpful when I had forgotten to request a bottom bunk for my tired old bones with few if any climbing skills. They went above and beyond to help find me another room. Thank you!
the rooms were spotless and the staff were courteous
James
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review
2/10 Terrible
Andrew
Jun 20, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
We had a four person (two bunk) room with basic en suite facilities for the same price as a room in a good 5 star London hotel. Appalling value for money for a hostel. Not sure how they justify the exceptionally high pricing.
Great stay for the price, but we were in a private room and had no drug users en-suite. There definitely were profuse users in and around the property, but we did not have any issues.
I do recommend this hostel. It is in old town, Edinburgh, and it was awesome. The location is good. You will really enjoy it. The only thing I didn’t like is the way the showers they were facing the wall a very hard to get wet.
Clean rooms and helpful staff. Bedding was clean. Rooms were quiet and secure. Bunk beds aren’t bad, but the ladders to the top bunks are pretty narrow, making it difficult to get down from. Hallways are a bit narrow, but it’s in an old building. The location is fine, it’s on the lower street so you have a few young drunk people walking around late at night. Shops are nearby. Overall an enjoyable stay.
brendon
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Xuyen
Jun 12, 2026
Liked: Staff & service
The rooms were clean and I like that the beds felt semi private since it covers your face. It is ideal to get a room with a private bathroom. The public one, I felt exposed since the top of the stall is open and both genders use it and it feels a bit dirty. It is very loud at night with the bar so bring ear plugs. The road to get to the front of the building feels desolate but when you turn the into the main corner of the street there are lots of stores to shop around.
Xuyen
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review
4/10 Poor
Brendan
May 24, 2026
Liked: Staff & service
There was a dance club nearby with bass that permeated the room--it was loud enough to hear the vocals until well after 2:00 AM. I had a terrible sleep.
Brendan
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review
2/10 Terrible
Alan
Apr 5, 2026
Disliked: Cleanliness
2 shops local as well as a lively night club outside rooms 132 / 232 /332,
Fellow guests pretty annoying with the sleep patterns & noise with lockers
Pleasant stay at the hostel. Having our own dorm was great and made it affordable for three people meeting up, visiting the City and just having a catch.
Great location and close to the Cities parkrun that takes place on Saturday