About

OVER 18's ONLY - NO CHILDREN ALLOWED

BOOKINGS FOR 5 OR MORE, PLEASE CONTACT THE HOSTEL DIRECTLY PRIOR BOOKING.

Reception is open 24/7!

A refundable deposit of either £10 in cash or an ID is required for the keys.

If you book a non-refundable rate, the full amount will be charged before arrival. Please make sure your card details are correct-- if we can't process the payment, your booking might be cancelled.

Castle Rock Hostel is fabulously located right beside Edinburgh Castle! Our palatial hostel offers wonderful character, with a mix of grandeur and a backpacker vibe!

Enjoy being in Edinburgh's best location & being at the very heart of the city. We are just a stroll from the bus, train and the airport bus and a 1 minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, 1 minute from the Royal Mile & 1 minute from the Grassmarket. We are in a relatively quiet street but the city's wonderful, late night-life is also just around the corner ideal!

Built in 1846 and turned into a backpackers hostel in 1997, we have packed this grand old building full of art, character and antiquity. Some people say it is more an art gallery or museum than a hostel. We think you will love it with our bright, sunny and spacious rooms and great facilities like FREE Wi-Fi, a movie room, a delightful patio and a fire place for those cold winter nights as well as plenty of room to kick back and relax or join in the fun with other travelers.

Our receptionists will always give you a friendly welcome and can help with any questions about what to see in Edinburgh or about travel around Scotland. We aim to look after you totally so you can have the best holiday possible. Here's a list of more that we offer!

Truly superb location under the castle ramparts
Open 24 hours every day of the year
Bed-side lockers in all rooms
24 hour Safe for total security.
Vibrant atmosphere with a choice of lounges
Big lounge with Jukebox, pool table, piano, free tea & coffee
Luggage storage
Free hair dryers

ART everywhere!
Big screen movie lounge with both Scottish and mainstream movies
Internet lounge with Wi-Fi
Posh lounge with piano and fire place
Hot and powerful showers
Unisex bathrooms (with locked cubicles)
Large self-catering kitchen
Laundry service £5.00
Clean bed linen (with properly fitted sheets)
MacBackpackers tours pick-up point
No hidden charges
No Stag or hen parties
Minutes from the bus and train
Fabulous views over the city
Scottish owned - backpacker run
We also have two other hostels in the Old Town of Edinburgh; the small & vibrant Royal Mile Backpackers and the historic High Street Hostel, Edinburgh's original independent hostel!

Just a few reminders;
* We are an 18+ hostel.
* We have a 7 night maximum stay- this includes making consecutive separate reservations.
* We do not have a lift as we are in a heritage building and all our rooms are either up or downstairs! You will need to walk uphill to get here so be warned your legs will feel the burn but it's oh so worth it!
* If you do not show up on the arrival date of your booking you will be charged the first night and the rest of your booking will be cancelled.


For group bookings (5 guests or more):

Please note that we require the first night's payment as a deposit in order to hold the reservation.
The remaining balance will have to be paid at least one week before arrival.


SPECIAL CANCELLATION POLICY FOR AUGUST/NEW YEARS / HOGMANAY: All New Years / Hogmanay reservations between the 30th of December and the 1st of January must be cancelled 7 days in advance prior to 3pm on the arrival date. This is the same for bookings made during the Fringe Festival in August.
If it is less than 7 days in advance, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE FIRST NIGHT.
*Please note that bookings made over New Years Eve will be charged in advance in full on the 21st of December.

Go green and carbon neutral; Fifteen years ago we bought a 75+ hectare woodland that absorbs more than the total CO2 emissions from fuel used in our hostel and also the other properties in our small MacBackpackers hostel and bus company chain. We also try our best to re-cycle everything (with your help) and our electricity is all sourced from renewable, non-nuclear supplies. Stay with us for a great holiday and minimal environmental impact!

Castle Rock reserves the right to charge any guest who causes damage to the hostel a fine of up to £100 depending on the severity of the damage caused.

House Rules

Check In

15:00 - 23:00

Check Out

until 10:00

  • Taxes Not Included
View House Rules

Facilities

  • Free City Maps
  • Free WiFi
  • Free Internet Access
  • Free Security Lockers
  • Free Luggage Storage
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Adaptors
  • Luggage Storage
View all facilities

Reviews

9.5Superb(25662)
  • Value for Money
    9.5
  • Security
    9.7
  • Atmosphere
    9.4
  • Cleanliness
    9.0
  • Staff
    9.7
  • Location
    9.9
  • Facilities
    9.2
Summary of traveller reviews

Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh offers a fantastic social atmosphere, perfect for solo travellers looking to meet new people. Guests praise its unbeatable location, friendly staff, and spacious, clean facilities, including a large kitchen and multiple common areas. It's ideal for those seeking a lively yet comfortable stay in the heart of the city.

Stayed in Aug 2026
7.1
I
Ibrahim
Male, 41+, England
Thank you
Stayed in Aug 2026
9.1
A
Andrew
Male, 31-40, USA
This hostel was great! The location is fantastic, close to everything and the metro station. The facilities are a bit old and run down, but the atmosphere is great- everything is big and ornate. The staff is friendly. I loved the 24-hour free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. £4 continental breakfast is a nice touch. £5 full service laundry!!
Stayed in Aug 2026
9.4
A
anna
Female, 25-30, USA
Great hostel! I loved my experience here. It is very social, but I was in a more solo mood and was able to spend a lot of time to myself while still enjoying the great atmosphere. It's a very big hostel but there are so many spaces to hangout in and the rooms are spacious. Awesome location too. The bathrooms could have been a bit cleaner, but pretty expected for a hostel with so many guests. The kitchen was great, plenty of space. I'd recommend this hostel, especially for solo travelers!
View all reviews

Location

15 Johnston Terrrace, Edinburgh, Scotland
0.3km from city centre
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Hostelworld says

Castle Rock Hostel is in an ideal location just beside Edinburgh Castle, up the hill from Grassmarket. This carefully-decorated hostel has clean, spacious, themed rooms that our guests have described as "lovely and warm", as well as a large kitchen and multiple lounges, so there's plenty of space to meet others or find a quiet corner. Hostelworld travellers have said "the staff are wonderful and great at answering questions and giving advice about what to see and do (and not) in the city". We like their popular, highly praised walking tours and pub crawls. They don't accept guests under 18.