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a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel

2.0 star property
Hostel near Royal Mile in Edinburgh

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Photo gallery for a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel

Free WiFi, bed sheets
Reception
Front of property
Lobby sitting area
Breakfast, lunch and dinner served

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • 24/7 front desk
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping
  • Pet friendly
  • Laundry

Explore the area

View in a map
50 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1NE
  • Place, Royal Mile
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, University of Edinburgh
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Place, Edinburgh Castle
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Airport, Edinburgh (EDI)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory

Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 237 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 6-Bed Dormitory

Bed in 6-Bed Dormitory | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 6-Bed Dormitory

  • 279 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(4 reviews)
  • 279 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 10-Bed Dormitory

Bed in 10-Bed Dormitory | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 10-Bed Dormitory

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)
  • 279 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Twin Room

Twin Room | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Twin Room

  • 172 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Family Room (2 Adults + 2 Children)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Room (2 Adults + 2 Children)

  • 194 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Beds and 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Quadruple Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Quadruple Room

7.2 out of 10
Good
(10 reviews)
  • 237 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Single Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Single Room

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for 8-Bed Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

8-Bed Room

  • Sleeps 8
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Quadruple Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

6-Bed Room (Bunk Beds Only)

  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

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The price is $315
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About the neighborhood

Edinburgh

City center stay.A stay at this Old Town Edinburgh hostel places you steps from Royal Mile and within a 10-minute walk of University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Hostels in EdinburghOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Royal Mile - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • University of Edinburgh - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Grassmarket - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Princes Street - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Edinburgh Castle - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles

Getting around

  • Edinburgh (ZXE-Edinburgh Waverly Train Station) - 5 min walk
  • St Andrew Square Tram Stop - 11 min walk
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bannerman's Bar - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Whiski Bar & Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Cabaret Voltaire - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Royal Oak - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Burrito 'n Shakes - ‬3 min walk

About this property

a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel

Hostel near Royal Mile in Edinburgh
There's a restaurant on site, as well as a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces. A terrace, a vending machine, and tour/ticket assistance are also featured at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel.

This Edinburgh hostel is smoke free.

  • 132 guestrooms or units
  • Deli
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Television in lobby
  • ATM
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Water dispenser
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
A&o Edinburgh City - Hostel offers 132 accommodations. This Edinburgh hostel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms include showers. Housekeeping is offered daily and hair dryers can be requested.

Similar properties

Front of property
CoDE Pod – The CoURT - Edinburgh
  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast available
  • Bar
  • Laundry
4.6 out of 5, Wonderful, 1,048 reviews
$90 nightly
The price is $108
Nov 3 - Nov 4
Total with taxes and fees
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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Buffet breakfast available for a fee 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekdays and 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM on weekends; GBP 9.90 for adults and GBP 4.95 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Bicycle storage
  • Billiards/pool table
  • TV in common areas

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Elevator (93 inch wide door)

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Shower

More

  • Bulk dispensers for toiletries
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • LED lighting
  • Water-efficient showers
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: GBP 12.00
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: GBP 12.00
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets: GBP 12.00 per pet, per night
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 1 pets
  • Certain rooms only
  • You can request a pet-friendly room by reaching out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately GBP 9.9 for adults and GBP 4.95 for children
  • Pet fee: GBP 12.00 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in fee: GBP 12.00 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out fee: GBP 12.00 (subject to availability)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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 major credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. This property accepts major credit cards, Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Children stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • Pets are welcome in specific rooms only, which can be requested by contacting the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation (please see the Fees section for related charges).

Property is also known as

Smart City Hostels Edinburgh
Smart Hostels Hostel Edinburgh City
Smart City Hostels Edinburgh Hotel Edinburgh
Smart City Hostels Edinburgh Scotland
Smart City Hostels Safestay Hostel Edinburgh
Smart City Hostels Safestay Hostel
Smart City Hostels Safestay Edinburgh
Smart City Hostels Safestay
Smart City Hostels by Safestay
Safestay Edinburgh Royal Mile Edinburgh
Smart City Hostels by Safestay
Safestay Edinburgh Royal Mile Hostel
Safestay Royal Mile Hostel
Safestay Royal Mile
Hostel/Backpacker accommodation Safestay Edinburgh Royal Mile
Safestay Edinburgh
Smart City Hostels Edinburgh
a o Edinburgh City
a o Edinburgh City Hostel
Safestay Edinburgh Royal Mile
a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel Edinburgh

Frequently asked questions

How close is a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel to the airport?

A&o Edinburgh City - Hostel is 8.1 mi (33-min drive) away from the Edinburgh Airport (EDI) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel?

As of Oct 22, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel on Nov 9, 2025 start from $88.55, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel.

How close is a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel to the beach?

This hostel is 3 mi (14-min drive) from Portobello Beach and 14.4 mi (32-min drive) from Seton Sands. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel, but buffet breakfast is offered for a fee of GBP 9.9 for adults and GBP 4.95 for children. It's available on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and weekends from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Is there a casino at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel?

No, there is no casino at this hostel.

What time is check-in at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Early check-in costs GBP 12.00 (subject to availability).

Is there free parking at a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel?

Free parking is not available at this hostel.

Does a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel have a pool?

A&o Edinburgh City - Hostel does not have a pool.

Does a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hostel.

How close is a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel to downtown Edinburgh?

A&o Edinburgh City - Hostel is 0.3 mi away from Edinburgh.

a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 281 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 393 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 189 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 76 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 61 out of 1000 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Stavroula

Traveled with family
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Thomas

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carl, Quincy

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a cool place to stay so close to the Mile. We got to do so much in the two days. Love the bar area.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Anita

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Easy check-in, had to queue but that was fine. Friendly staff and very helpful. Clean room, basic but everything we needed in the family room. Good mattresses but squeaky frames, large towels and good facilities. Great spot for getting around town and sights.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Patrick

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Gillian

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My bed was broken the curtain bar was hanging off it. My special requests we compleatly ignored. I fully understand you cant alswy be goven them but to not even day im sorry we cant fo that foe you is shocking. Only asked for a bottom bunk because i have medical conditions and climbing would leave me in pain i also jeed to use loo often so its more disturbance fro. Top for all in room. It was extremely hard to find even google maps tried to get me to jump off a bridge to get to it. When i was there i couldnt find the entrance lucky a staff member came out to the bin. You need to make your own bed when you arrive so for someone like me arriving nearer 1am and the 2 that arrived later than me thats even more noise and shaking the buk that someone is already sleeping in. I wouldnt use them again
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Neil

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice place
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maria Beatrice

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good location in the Old Town, clean and buzzing, lovely staff
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Daniel

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Michelle

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The people at the service desk were so wonderful and helpful. They let us store our luggage since we arrived before check in. They showed us where things were in the building and access to lifts so we could avoid hauling luggage up the stairs. The facilities and our room were kept clean. Our room was very cramped and tight, which we expected, but that was my only complaint. We had no room to open or lay out our suitcases. The 2 main beds were made up, but the bunk beds we had to put sheets on ourselves, which I didn't like. Overall a good stay and I would go back again.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Keriann

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent area in Old Town! They let us check in early and store our bags and gave us excellent directions to catch the bus to the airport from near the Scott monument. We were so tired from the 19,000 steps we got in daily that we were able to sleep well through the bar music(which was present til 1am but relatively quiet.) We felt safe, with our 3 young adult children…and that’s equal on our list with cleanliness. Thanks A&O on Blackfriars street in Edinburgh (sooooo close to the center of the Royal mile (and Edinburgh castle and King Arthur’s Sear and Holyrood Palace)
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Mackenzie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Jasmine Eleanore

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The Bar beneath the property was very loud and made sleeping terribly hard. The price for renting any kind of appliance was pretty high for the condition they were in (given, I didn't exactly expect new, super fluffy Towels that smelled of Roses but, at least without stains and holes would have been nice and the Hairdryer was not much of a help with drying my hair either). The 'privacy curtains' were a Joke given the didn't close properly or reach the matress.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Honie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Amazing staff!

Great staff and convient location! Great job! Thank you all!
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jake

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not suitable for families

Family rooms are not very suitable. Mirrored something like a prison cell. Kids had to make their own beds as only one bed had been dressed. No facilities in the room bar the bathroom sink which is located outside the bathroom door.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Margaret

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
I saw that my opinion and satisfying DOESN'T MATTER........ what else opinion You needed?
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rajat

Traveled with group, Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really like to stay, it was really clean and the staff is really, really helpful
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Matthew

Business traveler
Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Micheal

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Rugby refuge

Very adequate while there for a rugby match. Excellent location just off the royal mile. Very safe and secure
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Angela

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great hostel.

Great hostel located in the center of old city, walking distance to everything. Our family of 5 rented an entire dorm room of 4 bunk beds and it was great. Each had a private curtain to pull and had 2 private showers and toilets in the room. A little loud in terms of thin walls and noisy floor when walking, but nothing a pair of ear plugs could not fix for light sleepers. Great bar attached made for a very fun place to hang out.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Bramble

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
My first solo trip, I was nervous about the concept of a hostel but a&o made it easy and made every opportunity to make available help known to me. My key card unfortunately stopped working but thankfully I only came and went once from my dorm so no real fault to place.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Liam

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Saskia

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms were quite modern, great place to just lay our head down. Very good price. Got towels in the room and soap. Would definitely recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024