Along with laundry facilities, this smoke-free hotel has a 24-hour front desk and a garden. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a vending machine.
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 a shower. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and hairdryers can be requested.
During your stay at Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate, you're just a quick walk from University of Edinburgh. Features include free WiFi in public areas and laundry facilities.
Free Wi-Fi (speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices))
Amenities include locker space, laundry facilities and a terrace
Just a 5-minute walk from University of Edinburgh and 6 minutes on foot from Royal Mile
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate offers its guests a terrace, a vending machine, and a garden. WiFi is free in public spaces. A complete renovation of Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate was completed in June 2024.
This Edinburgh hotel is smoke free.
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 transport
No on-site 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
Smoke-free property
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
No pets allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available.
Payment types at the property
Important information
Optional extras
The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.
Towels fee: EUR 4 per person, per stay (or guests may bring their own)
This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
Property is also known as
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Hotel
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Edinburgh
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Hotel Edinburgh
Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate Reviews
Reviews
7.0
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers 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.More informationOpens in a new window
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
Darryl
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Solange
23 Sept 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Over all a comfortable stay. It could definitely use some renovating and the stairs are strong concrete but molded oddly in certain areas. But the staff was extremely helpful and the area was very convenient for walking old Edinburgh.
The only small hiccup was the shower water pressure, it felt a bit weak. Other than that, the place was clean, central, and the staff were friendly. overall great!
Vineeth
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Elisabeth
11 Jul 2025
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
The location is amazing. Staff is very nice. The shared bathroom was not perfectly clean and a bit smelly, that's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
Can’t say enough good about this place. Our second stay here. Staff and management are wonderful!
melvin
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified
6/10 Okay
Hannah
20 Jun 2024
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Beds and toilets were a little rickety, but otherwise it was pretty good. Convenient location, good staff, easy to get to places around it, and quite affordable.
Hannah
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified
6/10 Okay
Nadia
9 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
clean, spacious room and toilet. Not enough hanging hooks. Windows MUST be changed, loud music comes from the pub in front until 3 A.M !!!
Nadia
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Ganesh Pandian
30 Aug 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Value for money except minor complaint.
Ganesh Pandian
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Colin
4 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
I liked the closeness to pubs and clubs & the smoking area. I hated the bunk beds & the noise of the people in the room with me. I didn't sleep at all
The property was easy to find ! The staff are all lovely and helpful ! Excellent location walking distance from everything ! A lot of toilets and washing facilities. Clean beds and lockers for your stuff ( bring your own lock ). Would recommend ear plugs because it’s right across from three sisters and they play live music until like 3 am but that’s no fault of the hostel at all! I was prepared by the reviews so I brought earplugs, eyelash and had a good night sleep. All in all good place and did the job 😁
For just one night the hostel was ok. The only thing that bothered me was the large group of people who were together and talking very loudly and with music playing late at night.
The only downside was the noise from the doors outside our room banging, and the conversations being had outside our room late at night and early in the morning. But for £40, what would we expect? We'd stay again, though.
Stephen
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
james
17 Aug 2025
Disliked: Room comfort
An ok place to stay if you love to party
The biggest thing that made my stay not so enjoyable,is that the bar across the street was so loud you heard the music in the room. Therefore it made it a bit challenging to go to sleep at night. Also outside of the hostel in the smoking area, the ashtrays were full. I asked the staff where I could empty the ashtrays. The staff said they would empty the ashtrays and they finally emptied them a day later.
james
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
Verified traveller
24 May 2025
Disliked: Staff & service
It was clean but everything is a money grab, 5£ here 6£ there. It felt like I was going to get asked to bring my own toilet paper