The Scottish capital of Edinburgh is known for its spectacular castles, cobblestone streets and UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also home to a buzzing nightlife scene with cozy pubs serving up tasty local beers, chic bars in the city center, and bustling nightclubs. It is also home to an insane amount of world-class whisky which you NEED to try if you visit.
The city has become one of the most popular places to visit in Europe which has meant that the number of accommodation options is rapidly growing and this includes hostels. However, not all of these hostels have a bustling and sociable atmosphere which can be super important for those travelers heading to Edinburgh to party! That’s exactly why we decided to create this guide to the best party hostels in Edinburgh where we have cherry-picked five of our favorites.
Is a party trip to Edinburgh on the cards? Have a scroll below to find some epic places to stay…
Quick Answer: The Best Party Hostels in Edinburgh
#1 Best Overall Party Hostel in Edinburgh – Kick Ass Grassmarket
#2 Best Luxury Party Hostel in Edinburgh – St Christopher’s Edinburgh Original
#3 Best Budget Party Hostel in Edinburgh – Kick Ass Greyfriars
#4 Best Party Hostel in Edinburgh for Solo Travelers – a&o Edinburgh City
#5 Best Centrally Located Party Hostel in Edinburgh – Castle Rock Hostel
#1 – Kick Ass Grassmarket
Best Overall Party Hostel in Edinburgh
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 10am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Pub quizzes and crawls
- Epic on-site bar
- Central party location
- Sociable atmosphere
Why Kick-Ass Grassmarket is a Kickass Party Hostel
As you can probably tell from the name of this hostel this Grassmarket Square hostel is a self-proclaimed Kickass Party Hostel. Kick Ass Grassmarket provides epic facilities and a bubbly atmosphere perfect for getting the night started. This includes plenty of social spaces including its epic on-site bar which has a bustling social atmosphere. Here backpackers congregate along with some youthful locals across the city to enjoy the cheap drinks deals and smooth ambiance. Several events are put on at or start at the bar including a vibrant pub quiz and a city-famous pub crawl.
On the hostel’s famous pub crawl you will be taken around the local area of Edinburgh Old Town and explore some of the city’s best pubs and bars whilst also getting some epic discounts on drinks. As we previously mentioned, the hostel is situated in the Old Town neighborhood and its central location near Grassmarket square makes it an awesome place to stay to explore the top sites during the day!
Overall Party Hostel Score: 9.5
Editor’s Recommendation! These are the staff pick for the top hostels in Edinburgh (for all budgets!)
#2 – St Christopher’s Edinburgh Original
Best Luxury Party Hostel in Edinburgh
Hostel Details:
- $$$
- Checkout before 11:00am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Bar crawls
- On-site bar
- No curfew
- Party location
Why St Christopher’s Edinburgh Original is a Kickass Party Hostel
If you’ve ever visited a St Christopher’s Hostel you will have heard of their famous Belushi bars with there being one at pretty much every one of their hostels. And let us tell you, the Edinburgh Original branch is pretty epic! A lively atmosphere matched with a vibrantly decorated interior it is the ultimate spot to get the drinks flowing. There are also plenty of drinks deals at the Belushi Bar so you don’t have to worry about bursting the bank balance.
There are also a number of awesome events put on by the team at St Christopher’s Edinburgh including Bar Crawls to some of the city’s best pubs, bars, and clubs along with free walking tours during the day to some of the capital’s top sites.
The rooms at the hostel are also super comfortable and have a deluxe and modern feel to them meaning you’ll have a good night’s sleep after a busy day exploring night or a lively night out.
Overall Party Hostel Score: 8.5
Will you be in Edinburgh a while? Here’s your guide to the top day trips from Edinburgh for exploring the area!
#3 – Kick Ass Greyfriars
Best Budget Party Hostel in Edinburgh
Hostel Details:
- $
- Checkout before 10am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Bustling bar area
- 24-hour reception
- Beer garden
- Pub crawls
Why Kick Ass Greyfriars is a Kickass Party Hostel
One of the best party features of this hostel is its Kickass beer garden which has epic views overlooking the beautiful Edinburgh Castle. This is the perfect setting to grab a few local beers from the bar, chat and mingle with some new travel pals and prepare for a bustling night out in the city.
You’ll also find other great common areas on-site at Kick Ass Greyfriars including a sociable breakfast area, rooms equipped with games tables along with a vibrant on-site bar where you can enjoy a tasty selection of drinks created in the famous VW Van.
The hostel also has no curfew and a 24-hour reception and security guard with a wristband-style system meaning you can come and go as you please even if it’s late at night safely.
Overall Party Hostel Score: 9.0
Need more specifics? Here are the best neighborhoods in Edinburgh to stay!
#4 – a&o Edinburgh City
Best Party Hostel in Edinburgh for Solo Travelers
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 10am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- On-site restaurant and bar
- 24-hour reception
- Pool tables
- Outdoor terrace
Why a&0 Edinburgh City is a Kickass Party Hostel
We love the on-site restaurant and bar at a&0 Edinburgh City Hostel with it offering some backpacker budget-friendly meals to line your stomachs for a heavy night out in the city along with some tasty cocktails! Whilst sipping on your delicious beverage of choice, you can enjoy a game of pool at one of its many pool tables in the bar and common room areas!
With such an amazing location from which to explore the sites and bars of Edinburgh, you’ll want a nice place to head back to. At a&0 Edinburgh, you can come back to relaxation and throw yourself into one of the comfy sofas in the common room or if you’re visiting in the summer months, catch the afternoon sun on the outdoor terrace. Speaking of the outdoor terrace, this is also an epic spot for pre-drinks, and you will find it is where most backpackers in the hostel will congregate to socialize and meet other guests.
Overall Party Hostel Score: 8.5
Looking for a deal? Our recommended budget hostels in Edinburgh won’t break the bank!
#5 – Castle Rock Hostel
Best Centrally Located Party Hostel in Edinburgh
Hostel Details:
- $$
- Checkout before 11am
- Breakfast not included
Party Details
- Outdoor terrace & BBQ area
- Prime party location
- Games tables
- No curfew
Why is Castle Rock Hostel is a Kickass Party Hostel
This hostel is great for those who love being amongst a vibrant and arty atmosphere with the hostel having a funky hostel packed full of awesome artwork from Edinburgh locals along with cozy seating areas to mingle and meet other backpackers.
One of the best areas of the hostel is the big lounge which is equipped with Jukebox, pool table, and piano along with free tea & coffee throughout the day which is perfect for perking yourself up for a night out as well as shrugging off that hangover the next day. There is also a big-screen movie lounge with both Scottish and mainstream movies for those who fancy taking a more chill approach to the night.
We also love the epic organized activities provided at Castle Rock Hostel including its highly praised walking tours and pub crawls both of which are renowned for being one of the best in the city.
Overall Party Hostel Score: 8.0
There’s so much to do in Scotland! So you won’t run out of things to do in Edinburgh!
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Conclusion to the Best Party Hostels in Edinburgh
That was our guide to the best party hostels in the incredible capital city of Scotland. Edinburgh is a truly magical destination all year round and it should definitely be added to your bucket list. It is also an incredible place to party and is somewhat overlooked as a nightlife hotspot in comparison to its neighbor Glasgow. However, it is definitely a great option for those party-goer travelers. As you can probably tell from this article, the city is also packed full of incredible hostels and with many options available in the city, it made it hard for us to whittle down this list to just five.
However, that has meant we only selected the very best and we can honestly say we love all the hostels we’ve listed above. If you do end up booking any of the options above and experience them for yourself, we’d love to hear your thoughts, so please do let us know in the comments! Fingers crossed that you had an amazing stay.
So now all there is left to say is get booking and get those dancing shoes ready – a night out in Edinburgh could be just around the corner!
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