Caledonian Backpackers

Enjoy free fast internet and free breakfast from 6am to 12 midday, when our late checkout is. In the middle of the city, you can enjoy your stay in Edinburgh without hassles or extra costs. We have a cheap bar with pool tables, Wii, and other games, a cinema, full kitchen and will even lend you a laptop if you need. Welcome to Edinburgh, it is a truly beautiful city, and our job is to make sure you leave with a smile on your face and good memories.

** Only people over 18 years of age may stay at Caledonian Backpackers.
** Please ensure you bring photographic identification to check in, such as a passport or drivers license.

We are easy to get to, and you can check in anytime. If your bed isn't ready, then you can leave your luggage in our lockup and use the hostel facilities. Our receptionists are there 24 hours a day, and will help you with anything you need, from booking tours to sightseeing ideas.

Internet access is very important these days, so we have made sure we have a super fast connection, which is available throughout the hostel , even in your bed. It is free to use, and if you need one we have have laptops available as well as other computers located around the place you can jump on, all at no charge.

Breakfast is always a nice thing to have before you start your day, so we provide a simple all you can eat breakfast each morning. By simple, we mean cereal (Corn Flakes, Weetabix, muesli), Toast (jams, Vegemite, chocolate spread), Coffee (filtered), Tea and an orange drink. Sorry we do not do a cooked breakfast, however you can get one at Wannaburger just next door.

And at the end of your day you want to relax and meet friends. Our bar is just the place, with 2 pool tables, a Wii console and board games. There are couches to relax and the drinks are cheap. Next to the bar is our Cucumber room, where you can sit and watch the world go by or read a book with beautiful castle views. Otherwise you can enjoy our Beanbag Cinema where you can choose from over 100 movies.

For dinner, you can eat out at one of the many restaurants and pubs around us, or you can bring your food back and eat it in the bar, or order it in. Alternatively, we have a full kitchen available, and the supermarket is around the corner, so you can cook for yourself.

We also have a coin operated laundry, so you can do your washing while uploading your photos on our fast internet. Backpacker style.

Accommodation Information

We have mostly dormitory accommodation, with rooms of different sizes. 4, 6, 8, 12, 20 or our massive 38 bed dormitories are available. All of your bed linen is washed after each guest and the bed is made for you (Duvet cover, bottom sheet, pillow cases). We have new mattresses (July 2011) which are super thick and comfy.
Towels are not included but we can supply you with one for a 50p cleaning charge.
Security is important, so our rooms have keycard access, which means the keys expire at checkout, so no keys are "floating around". Every bed has a locker (600hx305wx460d mm), which you can lock with your own padlock, so you can be absolutely sure nobody else has access. (If you need to get a padlock we sell them for £2.50).
We have female only dormitories as well as mixed (co-ed) dormitories.
Our bathrooms are not in the rooms, but are all available with hot water 24 hours a day very close to your room. They are cleaned at least 3 times a day.

Location Information

Caledonian Backpackers
3 Queensferry St
Edinburgh EH2 4PA

Caledonian Backpackers is located in the West End of Edinburgh, just under the castle. We are in the city center, at the end of Princes St, which is a very beautiful shopping street, with the castle and gardens one side and shops on the other. The main tourist sights are all within a very close walking distance, and if you want a nature walk, you can do that within 5 minutes too. Pubs and clubs are everywhere and restaurants of every type can be found within a 10 minute walk.

Free walking tours of Edinburgh leave from the Royal MIle every day at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, which is a beautiful 15 minute stroll past the castle and Princes St gardens.

One of the great things about Edinburgh is that everything is within walking distance, and somehow, no matter how much "fun" you have, you can always find your way back to the hostel. However, in case you get lost and need directions, we are located on a corner which also has The Caledonian Hotel, which is a 5 star Hilton, so local people know it better than us, so it might be better to ask for directions for that. A taxi from anywhere in the central city will cost about £4 or £5.