You’re in luck if you’re trying to find a fun and affordable place to stay in Inverness. In this article, we offer our recommendations for the top 7 hostels in Inverness, where you may have a comfortable and affordable stay. These hostels provide a variety of amenities and services to meet your needs while showcasing the best of Inverness’s culture and hospitality. If you disagree, you’re mistaken; Inverness is the ideal city-base for outdoor experiences in Scotland. Britain’s northernmost city is situated near some of the most secluded walks, hills, and beaches you’ve ever seen. Additionally, it’s even closer to a number of incredibly well-known sights, including the North Coast 500, Urquhart Castle, and Loch Ness.
Thus, by providing you with the top 7 hostels in Inverness, I’ve made it easier for you to access everything in this guide. Bring a sandwich and come celebrate with us!
Top 7 Best Hostels in Inverness
Here are my top recommendations for the best hostels in Inverness, together with information on how to book, features, and benefits of each.
I’ve also made an interactive map that displays you the locations of each hostel to assist you choose the ideal one for your needs. The map is simple to navigate; just move and zoom, and click on any hostel to view additional information. This article includes direct links to each hostel’s component, allowing you to swiftly navigate to the section that most interests you.
1. Bazpackers Hostel
It is located directly in front of the city’s castle, has both private and dorm rooms, and its staff is amiable and courteous. Housed in an ancient house, it has exposed brick, a garden with amazing views, tonnes of vintage details, and décor that seems like it belongs in a Harry Potter film. It seems as though the word “cosy” was appropriated and used to describe a hostel. You will become enamoured with the location and desire to stay for all time.
The bathrooms are modern and spotless, the kitchen is well-equipped and a fantastic place to save money, and the people are always welcoming.
2. Inverness Student Hotel
The most well-known hostel in the city, Inverness Student Hotel, is located just a minute’s stroll from Bazpackers Hostel yeah, I’m not really sure why the word “hotel” is in its name. Inside a charming, colourful home that may use some updating but is still warm and inviting despite being a little antiquated. The exposed-brick common areas are bustling, it’s neat and orderly, and the vibe is welcoming. Additional benefits include free tea and coffee (again! ), a fireplace (again! ), and a decent continental breakfast (for £3, at least as of writing). The staff is very knowledgeable about the area and can assist you with renting bikes and scheduling trips.
All in all, this hostel is among the greatest in Inverness and is reasonably priced. Younger backpackers would be best served by staying here as they only have dorm rooms. It is the busiest hostel in Inverness and the finest place to meet people because it is inexpensive.
3. Inverness Youth Hostel
This establishment, an approved Hostelling Scotland lodging, has all you might anticipate from an official Hostelling Scotland lodging. These locations are ideal for larger parties and families looking for reasonably priced, neat and orderly lodging that isn’t very fancy. It’s well-kept and friendly, with excellent facilities, a sizable shared kitchen, and spacious communal rooms. To put it briefly, this is not a new-school hostel, but rather an old-school one. It’s not in the heart of the city, but it’s only a fifteen-minute walk from the castle, and there are no activities, restaurants, or bars nearby.
This is Inverness’s best hostel for large groups. It’s reasonable, if not ideal, for lone travellers who wish to establish acquaintances.
4. Black Isle Hostel
This location, which feels more like an office than a hostel, is another clinical choice. The design is a little boring, the price is high for what you receive, and there’s no lively vibe. Although it’s not among the greatest hostels in Inverness, it’s still a decent alternative given the lack of other options. However, it’s not all bad: it’s really clean, the restrooms are kept up, the staff is helpful and nice, and it’s not as busy as some other options (great if you need a bit of privacy).
But the biggest perk of this place is its nearby pub: just around the corner, you’ll find the iconic Black Isle Bar, a famous brewery with loads of drinks and pizzas. It’s one of the best bars in the city
5. Black Isle Bar and Rooms
Recall that I described a well-known pub near Black Isle Hostel in the last entry?
This is the bar, then. Additionally, there are some hotel rooms above the pub. Thus, this is the place to go if you want to be even closer to all the beverages and pizza (as well as if you want to stay in a cosier, more contemporary setting with lovely individual rooms).It’s not a dorm. Therefore, to be honest, it’s not among the greatest hostels in Inverness (I hope you can forgive me for misleading you). However, it’s among the greatest places to stay in Inverness. They provide family rooms as well as double rooms; the mattresses are comfy and everything is immaculate. When you’re trying to sleep, there’s not a lot of noise from the bar below, and the staff is friendly and accommodating.
6. Loch Ness Bunk Inn
It’s not in Inverness here.
That being said, it’s not truly among the greatest hostels in Inverness. Nevertheless, it’s among the greatest hostels in this region of Scotland, and getting there from the city only takes 30 minutes by car or 35 minutes by bus. Assume for the moment that you are less interested in Inverness itself and more interested in exploring the Loch Ness region. This is exactly where you should stay if that is the case. The Loch Ness Bunk Inn, situated near Drumnadrochit, is conveniently close to Urquhart Castle, some excellent views of Loch Ness, and the well-known Loch Ness Centre.
The hostel is tidy and cosy in and of itself. There’s a fantastic on-site restaurant, spacious bedrooms, inviting common areas, and sleek, contemporary bathrooms. Here are 21 strange facts about Loch Ness, one of the most well-known lakes in the world (spoiler alert: 77 billion people could fit in the space it left behind if it were hollowed out!).
7. Ratagan Youth Hostel
This one is probably going to seem really confusing to you if you felt that the previous option was a complete surprise.
But please be patient with me:
The majority of visitors to Inverness are seeking outdoor experiences rather than just visiting the city. Furthermore, west of the city are some of the greatest outdoor experiences close to Inverness. Thus, it’s preferable to stay here if you want to visit everything west of Inverness, including Plockton, Lochcarron, Torridon, Applecross, and the Isle of Skye. Additionally, Ratagan Youth Hostel is a good place to stay if you’re going to be in this area. Yes, the drive from the city is ninety minutes. There isn’t a finer area to stay if you want to experience the best of western Scotland, including the outstanding natural features close to Inverness.
The hostel itself is fantastic: it’s large, airy, and hospitable, with a fully equipped kitchen, a cheap breakfast, comfortable mattresses, and a warm, friendly vibe. Although it’s not the world’s most social hostel, it’s nice and clean, and you’ll sleep well.
FAQ’S:
Q1.How can I make a reservation at these hostels?
Most hostels have online booking systems on their official websites. Alternatively, you can use popular booking platforms like Hostelworld or Booking.com to secure your reservation.
Q2.What types of accommodations do these hostels offer?
These hostels typically provide dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds, suitable for solo travelers or groups. Some may also offer private rooms for those seeking more privacy.