Want to experience the beauty of Scotland? Head over to Inverness! It’s a major hub for travellers who wish to experience the unique Scottish splendour. It has served as a cultural and administrative area of the Scotland Highlands for centuries. Like other parts of the UK, travelling in Scotland can be more expensive than budget backpackers would like.
Therefore, discovering cheap and comfortable accommodation isn’t always easy whilst you get to know the country. That is the reason we have written the article today to help you find the best hostels in Inverness.
Before we dive deeper into discussing the best hostels in Inverness, let us learn more about this beautiful city. Inverness lies towards the northeast coast of Scotland, at the spot where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. It’s the cultural capital and one of the largest cities in the Scottish Highlands.
The old town features a 19th-century Cathedral and an indoor victorian market selling crafts, clothes and food. There is a contemporary museum and art gallery depicting the local and Highland history. King David probably founded it in the 12th century, but thankfully its history over the years has survived, and it’s thriving to this day!
Spending more time in Scotland? You’ll no doubt love our epic guide to best hostels in Scotland.
Our favorite hostels in Inverness are:
- Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers - best for social butterflies
- Bazpackers Hostel - best for female solo travelers
- Inverness Youth Hostel - best for backpackers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers
2. Bazpackers Hostel
3. Inverness Youth Hostel
Most of the older part of the city dates back to the period following the completion of the Caledonian Canal in 1822. The city is known for its vibrant cultural traditions, such as dancing to bagpipe music, distilling whiskey, and more, making it an enticing destination for travellers worldwide.
Inverness is one of Scotland’s gems. It offers a number of historical landmarks that form the perfect base for exploring the sculptured Scottish Highlands. We hope you will be convinced to consider Inverness as your next travel destination.
Let’s explore more about this Scotland city and accommodation options in the form of the best hostels in Inverness.
Read more: Detailed guides to the best hostels in Edinburgh and the best hostels in Glasgow.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
Inverness is a charming and enticing destination that has lured travellers in for a long time. It is especially alluring for those who wish to visit another side of Scotland beside Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Below are the best hostels in Inverness that will provide you with an excellent base for exploring the area. Let’s see where you can stay at the hub of the Highlands!
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Inverness
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Inverness cost $29 – $35 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $40 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com.
Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Getting around Inverness: Inverness is a great city to explore on foot and by bike. Walking tours are available as well as bike rentals. The city also has an extensive public transportation system, with buses and taxis, that can take you to any part of the city. The Inverness airport offers a variety of flights to destinations throughout Scotland, the UK, and Europe.
Best time to travel Inverness: The best time to visit Inverness is from May to September. This is when the weather is mild and sunny, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. The Highland Games are also held in Inverness during this period, so if you’re looking for a great festival experience, this is the time to go. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds and get the best deals, plan your trip for outside peak season (October to April).
Safety in Inverness: Safety in Inverness is generally good. The city is served by a modern police force with a visible presence in the city centre, and the crime rate is low. Inverness is largely a safe and peaceful community, with a strong sense of community spirit. Travellers should always be aware of their surroundings and take normal preventative measures to ensure their personal safety, such as avoiding secluded areas and not leaving belongings unattended.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in Inverness are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Inverness.
- Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers – best for social butterflies
- Bazpackers Hostel – best for female solo travelers
- Inverness Youth Hostel – best for backpackers
These are our favorite hostels in Inverness. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.
1. Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers
2. Bazpackers Hostel
3. Inverness Youth Hostel
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Bazpackers Hostel |
| 🤑 Budget-friendly: | Inverness Youth Hostel |
| 👩❤️👨 Couple Hostel: | Bazpackers Hostel |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | Bazpackers Hostel |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Inverness Youth Hostel |
| 🎒 for Backpacker: | Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Inverness Youth Hostel |
1. Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers
Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers is the first on our list of best hostels in Inverness. It is located above a bar, ideally considered the best place to socialise. It’s our top pick for solo travellers looking to socialise and spend quality time with fellow travellers.
This bright and unique hostel is something you shouldn’t miss on your trip. It offers you ten mixed dormitory rooms and 14 private rooms. The latter includes single, twin, double and family rooms. There are two communal bathrooms, one for males and the other for females. There is also a large comfortable lounge space with a dining area and kitchen available to cook during the stay.
One of its most popular aspects is its bar, which offers a selection of 26 craft beers on tap. Its brewery produces world-class organic beer and is exclusively available in the bar. The bar kitchen is well-fitted with a wood-fired pizza oven and the food prepared remains organic.
Another important highlight of the hostel is its unique pizzas, salads, stews, and soups. If you want to learn about the brewery, then the hostel also arranges tours to the brewery for free.
Location: The hostel is strategically located, so you won’t have to walk too far into the town to find the bus or train stations. Black Isle Hostel is just 5-minute walk from Inverness Railway Station and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
It is also 4.4 km from the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, 12 km from Castle Stuart Golf Links, and 32 km from Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club. The nearest airport is Inverness Airport, which is 13 km away.
The best choice in Inverness for
- solo travelers
- social butterflies
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Bazpackers Hostel
Do you know one of the interesting things about Bazpackers Hostel is that it is located in the smallest building in Inverness? This building also happens to be a converted Old Victorian townhouse from 1826. It provides guests with a budget, self-catering accommodation with a homely atmosphere and great city views.
It carries all the charm of many Scotland backpacker hostels as it depicts the old fire hearth and exposed interiors. There are plenty of room options which are extremely comfortable, stylishly decorated, and perfectly safe for all solo female travellers.
The facilities are really clean, and the staff is always willing to help you. The communal areas in the hostel provide guests with cooking materials, a washer and a drier. To be honest, overall, it is a good value-for-money hostel with all of its amenities!
Location: Bazpackers is located a 5-minute walk from the city centre and around a 15-minute walk from Inverness Railway Station. University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness is 3.5 km away, while Castle Stuart Golf Links is 13 km away. The closest airport is Inverness Airport, 14 km from the property.
A great choice for
- female solo travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. Inverness Youth Hostel
Once you are in Inverness Youth Hostel , you will love its location. It’s nestled in a cute building with real character, fun, and a relaxed atmosphere.
The Youth Hostel is spacious and has a common room with large open fireplaces with big Victorian-style windows. It offers stunning views over the river and the hills. Additionally, there are comfortable dormitory rooms that have between 5 to 10 beds.
The hostel staff is friendly and helpful and offers all the guests free tea, coffee and cocoa. How amazing is that? They are always approachable and help you book your tours and other places of interest. The small-sized hostel has a lot of things going on in it, with live music on most nights. It’s also a great place to socialise – you will meet and interact with like-minded travellers!
Location: It’s just a few miles from Loch Ness, and there is also a beautiful riverside area where you can have a great time while basking in picturesque views.
This is one of the best hostels in Inverness for
- backpackers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Best Hostels in Inverness for Solo Travelers?
We think that the best hostel in Inverness is Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers .
The Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers is a great option for solo travelers in Inverness. It offers comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, a communal kitchen, and a friendly atmosphere.
The hostel is near to a variety of attractions, including the Inverness Castle and the River Ness. The hostel also provides a free shuttle service to the city center.
Guests will also appreciate the 24-hour reception and the helpful staff. With all of these amenities and more, the Black Isle Hostel Bazpackers is the perfect place for solo travelers to stay in Inverness.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
More Hostels worth a mention
At the moment, we think you are all set with the hostels we just shared with you. We always try to keep our guides super fresh and up to date. We might add more hostels worth a mention here in the future if we feel that it could enrich your travel and hostel experience.
Backpacking tips for Inverness
Whether you want to walk through Inverness or watch local theatre productions, there are so many amazing things to enjoy in the region. We have prepared a list of backpacking tips if you plan to travel to Inverness. With this, you can ensure to experience the best of both worlds.
1. Don’t miss out on wandering the city streets! There are only 50,000-60,000 residents, but its history dates back to the 6th century. The oldest house is Abertarff, which showcases how 16th-century families lived. You can plan a visit to St. Andrew’s Cathedral, built by the end of the 19th century. There are a few hostels that organise city walking tours.
2. Do you love attending live shows during your travels? Eden Court is the second-largest arts company that puts on amazing shows. It boasts two theatres as well as studios and galleries. Whether it’s a drama school, animation workshop or interactive activities, Eden Court offers a lot.
3. Your trip is incomplete without heading to Inverness Castle if you love history. The current one has been around since 1836, but there has been a castle on the site since the 11th century. It played an important role in the battle for Scottish independence. Be sure to ascend on one of the towers for the best view of Inverness.
4. One of the best things to do in Inverness is to explore the pretty shops of the Victorian market. It is located conveniently in the heart of the city and retains the aspects of Victorian design. It is more charming than the other malls in the region.
5. Go for a quick 20-minute drive outside the city centre and visit Chanonry point. It guarantees you the opportunity to spot a bottlenose dolphin. You will enjoy spending time here amidst nature and these lovely water animals.
6. The fact that it is the closest town to Loch Ness may also tickle your interest! Who would miss a chance to see the world-famous lake? You just might be THE ONE who sees and takes a picture of Nessie!
There are so many things and to-do activities in Scotland that it is just not possible to include all of them. Therefore, these are some of the important places you shouldn’t miss while backpacking Inverness. We hope through our backpacking tips, you will be able to plan your trip the way you have always envisioned!
What about the cheapest hostels in Inverness?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Inverness.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Inverness
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
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How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Inverness best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Need an eSIM Card for Inverness?
Get your eSIM Card with Airalo.com instantly online. It is easy to set up and cheap! Read our review of Airalo here.
No more searching for mobile stores. Get your eSIM Card for now and enjoy it instantly after landing in your new destination.
Our Favorite Hostels in Inverness put on a map + sights
We’re listing all the three best Inverness hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.
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FAQs
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Flights to Inverness?
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
More handmade Guides for you
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Edinburgh + Edinburgh budget travel guide
- best hostels in Glasgow, Scotland
- Best hostels in London and backpacker hostels in London
- Best hostels in Manchester
- Best hostels in Liverpool
- Best hostels in Dublin and the 24 best hostels in Ireland
- Best hostels in Galway
- Best hostels in Brighton
- best hostels in Cardiff
- best hostels in Isle of Skye
Over to you
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this Inverness guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
