What can you say about the literally stunning Isle of Skye? This is the largest island of Scotland’s west coast Inner Hebrides and it boasts incredible cinematic landscapes that wouldn’t look outta place in Middle Earth.
It’s got waterfalls, jagged coastlines, and dramatic skies – plus it offers the chance to see some of the most amazing sights in nature. We’re talking whales here. It’s a hiker’s and nature lover’s dream!
But… it’s remote, right? So… are there even ANY hostels here that you can stay in if you’re backpacking? Maybe you’ll have to rough it under the stars…
Don’t worry! You’ll have a roof over your head. There are hostels in Isle of Skye. And we’ve made life even easier for you by sorting through the best hostels in Isle of Skye so you can find one to suit you.
Peep our handy list of the top Isle of Skye backpackers hostels below!
Quick answer: The Best Hostels in Isle of Skye
- Best Party Hostel in Isle of Skye – Saucy Mary’s Lodge
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Isle of Skye – Portree Youth Hostel
Best Hostels in Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe, let alone Scotland. It’s worth a visit for just about everyone and anyone. I have enjoyed a couple of trips to middle earth (Skye) myself and I can personally recommend just a handful of hostels…
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Best Party Hostel in Isle of Skye – Saucy Mary’s Lodge
- $$$
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Cable TV
Of course, this place is gonna be the best party hostel in Isle of Skye – it’s run by someone called SAUCY MARY. Or maybe it’s not, but the name’s got definite party hostel vibes. We’re feelin’ it.
Though you can’t expect a mad party hostel on a remote Scottish island, the bar in this top hostel in Isle of Skye is actually where it’s at. The hostel itself is a warm, clean place to stay, close to the waterfront and near the ferry. There’s no curfew, so you just get back in with a keypad in case you’ve gone on a drunken wander to stargaze or something.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Isle of Skye – Portree Youth Hostel
- $$
- Sick Views
- Self Catering Facilities
- No Curfew
Wanna get the best outta staying in the epic Isle of Skye? Staying in Portree will definitely help with that. This top hostel in Isle of Skye is right in the main square, giving you a lil’ bit of choice when it comes to not being located directly in nature.
But this is the best hostel with a private room in Isle of Skye ’cause, well, the private rooms here are pretty much hotel quality and we’re totally down with that. Other than that, it’s clean here, got a decent atmosphere, friendly staff – oh, and amazing views of the dramatic harbour and hills from the common room window.
Best Overall Hostel in Isle of Sky – Skyewalker Hostel
- $$
- Common Room
- Outdoor Pod (For Stargazing)
- Communal Kitchen
Oh, we do love a punny name, and this is probably the top puns we’ve seen in a hostel name. And, as a bonus to this best overall hostel in Isle of Skye (it’s award-winning too), there is actually a fun Star Wars theme. You can stay in Jedi huts here!
Other than the Star Wars theme (also featuring decal of C3PO – and others – on the walls), there’s also a beach nearby where you can spot whales and basking sharks. For food and drink, there’s a hotel close by with a restaurant and bar. Oh and there’s also a cool outdoor pod where the view of the night sky is literally STUNNING. This is definitely one of the best hostels in Scotland.
Skyewalker Hostel is one of our favourites in Isle of Skye but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Isle of Skye – Skye Basecamp
- $$
- Pool Table
- Communal Kitchen
- 24 Hour Security
There’s a warm social atmosphere at this youth hostel in Isle of Skye, which makes it easy to get chatting to fellow backpackers and travelling peeps. It’s located inside an actual house, the kitchen (as in any good home) is the place to be when it comes to mingling.
One of the best things about this place is that it’s actually run by Skye Guides, meaning it’s always got local, knowledgeable guides on hand to show you around. I mean, that alone (besides the ace vibe) makes it the best hostel for solo travellers in Isle of Skye, surely.
Skye Basecamp is one of our favourites in Isle of Skye but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Cheap Hostel in Isle of Skye – Bradford Backpackers
- $
- Board Games
- Free Parking
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
This top hostel in Isle of Skye is run by a kind and friendly guy who creates a really welcoming environment, which is always a plus (especially on a remote island like this). It’s clean, comfortable and features an indoor common room, garden AND a fully equipped kitchen.
It’s the BEST cheap hostel in Isle of Skye, so the low prices here don’t mean that you skimp on location. Nope. It’s near to restaurants, bars and transport, so you can get around the island easily. Plus there’s laundry facilities here so you can wash your stuff after a hike.
Bradford Backpackers is one of our favourites in Isle of Skye but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Couples in Isle of Skye – Skye Backpackers
- $$
- Free Parking
- Laundry Facilities
- Games Room
At this Isle of Skye backpackers hostel, you’ll find a clean, friendly place to stay, and we reckon that makes it a neat place for couples to stay. It’s also close to the Skye bridge, so it’s good for getting onto and off of the island.
The private rooms are modern, quiet and comfy and the staff are uber helpful. Plus there are tours you can go on so you don’t have to make the treks to the top locations yourself without any knowledge. Yep, easily the best hostel for couples in Isle of Skye.
Skye Backpackers is one of our favourites in Isle of Skye but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Isle of Skye – Flora Macdonald Youth Hostel
- $
- Laundry Facilities
- Book Exchange
- Communal Kitchen
Set on the Sleat Peninsula, this is honestly a super sick place to get some work done in some seriously stunning surroundings. That alone easily makes it the best hostel for digital nomads in Isle of Skye. What remote worker wouldn’t love to answer emails to ultra dramatic views?
This recommended hostel in Isle of Skye offers up budget, private rooms, so you don’t have to fork out top coin for a private space of your own. Of course, there’s lots of room here to get your work done – if you can manage it without being hypnotised constantly by the landscape here.
Flora Macdonald Youth Hostel is one of our favourites in Isle of Skye but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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What to Pack for your Isle of Skye Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Isle of Skye
And that is the end of our list of the best hostels in Isle of Skye.
There’s actually a surprising amount of choice on offer – it’s not just one little hostel located in some far-flung area!
Nope, these top hostels in Isle of Skye are actually pretty nice.
And they range from retreats in some of the island’s most beautiful spots to budget hostels set conveniently in civilisation. So you’ll be able to get around – and find some places to eat (and drink!) too.
After all that, if you still can’t decide on where to stay in Isle of Skye, don’t worry about it.
We’d just say go for our pick for the best overall hostel in Isle of Skye, Skyewalker Hostel – complete with Star Wars theme.
Now all you gotta do is… prepare yourself for the breathtaking beauty of this island!
FAQ about Hostels in Isle of Skye
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Isle of Skye.
Travel Safety Tips for Isle of Skye
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
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More Epic Hostels in Scotland and Europe
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Isle of Skye.
Planning an epic trip all across Scotland or even Europe itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Europe, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Isle of Skye has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
