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  5. Reviews of Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate

Reviews of Safestay Edinburgh Cowgate

96 Cowgate Edinburgh, Old Town, Edinburgh, EH1 1JN, United Kingdom

#164 of 181 hotels in Edinburgh

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 1168 hostel reviews

6.9

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.1

  • Comfort

    7.1

  • Location

    8.8

  • Facilities

    6.9

  • Staff

    8.3

  • Value for money

    7.7

  • Free WiFi

    8.3

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 29 August 2025

    7.0
    The stay was nice, helpful staff and decent environment.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    The lack of furniture inside the room.

    The location is really good. The staffs were really friendly.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 25 August 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Communal area very small and with little entertaining

    Good position although a little bit too noisy due to the fringe festival. Good breakfast. Showers and bathroom exceptional (practicity and cleaning)

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 August 2025

    6.0
    You pay for what you get but location was convenient
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dorm Ensuite
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Staff was quite rude, even at check in they just took my card and said "ok", continued chatting.

    Location was good and bathroom was clean

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 22 August 2025

    8.0
    good for the purpose I had - seeing shows at the Fringe and only going to the room to sleep
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 8 nights

    very noisy due to a bar in front

    location is great

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 17 August 2025

    6.0
    Good standard of youth hostel, but toilets smelt awful!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Toilets smelt horrific! Noise from club across the road until 3am Noisey doors slamming Inconsiderate dorm guests (not properties fault) Very expensive for a 6 bed dorm +£90 but it was during the fringe.

    City centre location Easy check in Clean sheets, comfortable bed and pillow One of the cleanest hostels I have stayed in

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 11 August 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The shower heads are to high, and the water isn’t on long enough so you are constantly turning it on, both times that I had a shower the water was cold….very disappointing in this area only.

    It was close to the venue we were there to go to.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 10 August 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The friendly helpful staff, especially Aga, Subbu and Shashvat!! They were like family away from family😍

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 August 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The shower itself is very small and you can’t adjust the height of showerhead which can be a bit problematic for taller people. Overall the washrooms weren’t very clean. During Fringe you can hear noise from the street but I guess you can’t expect anything else from the hostel in this area.

    The location is just brilliant. Value for money.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 August 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Opposite the night club , too much noise

    Close to the city centre

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 August 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Quadruple Room Ensuite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Located in front of an open air pub, so loud music until 1am every day in summer, just in front of our windows.

    Very well located in the old town, nice accomodations with own bathroom and free coffee..

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 August 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    In front of the hotel there is a bar that doesn't let you sleep, the noise stops until 1 am

    The staff is really friendly and it is centrally located.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 August 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Male Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    None

    Staff is friendly

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 4 August 2025

    7.0
    Comfy beds.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Female Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Oh my something had gone horribly wrong in the bathroom and although everything was clean and looked 100% the smell was terrible. That was probably a one off issue though. No kitchen facilities even to make yourself a tea.

    Great location, good value for money, comfy bed with individual reading lights and plugs for charging your phone.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 2 August 2025

    6.0
    not recommended for non-night person
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Male Dorm Ensuite
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    the services and the location regarding the clubs

    the location regarding the city center

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 31 July 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Shower's could be serviced or upgraded.

    Clean budget hostel with friendly staff. Shubhi and Kaviya were very helpful

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 31 July 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • 6-Bed Private Room Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    Staff friedliness and service level

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 28 July 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dorm Ensuite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bathroom in corridor wasn't the cleanest.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Family with young children
    • 6-Bed Private Room Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    It's a great location to stay for what we needed.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 22 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Noise

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 22 July 2025

    7.0
    Nice stay. Close to the centre of Edinburgh.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Male Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    Nice stay. Close to the centre of Edinburgh. However a karaoke bar is opposite which went on until the early hours.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • 6-Bed Private Room Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Only the shared bathroom was my -ve point

    Very nice stuff and very helpful Excellent location just few minutes from top attractions

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 July 2025

    8.0
    It was good.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dorm Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    A free towel would be nice.

    Location is good, near to all the tourist spots.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 19 July 2025

    8.0
    Great value
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Shared Bathroom Cowgate View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bathrooms are not too clean, club across the street can be very loud at night, bring your own earbuds

    Clean beds. Plenty of toilets and showers. Helpful staff, tasty breakfast. Great value all in all.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 19 July 2025

    7.0
    Worth the price, good stay for youth
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dorm Ensuite Library Way
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bathroom was dirty. Layers upon layers of dust and pubic hair but still usable.

    Location is superb. Staff is available 24/7. Throughout the whole stay we felt safe and our luggage was secure the whole time.

    Stayed in July 2025

Showing 1 – 25

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