The hostel that changed my mind about shared accommodation was a converted 18th-century convent in Lisbon called the Lisbon Destination Hostel. I arrived expecting cramped dorms and noisy common areas, and instead found a rooftop bar with a view of the Alfama district, a breakfast spread that included fresh bread, cheese, and coffee, and a private room with an en-suite bathroom for 28 euros per night. That was in 2022, and since then I have stayed in over 60 hostels across five continents. The best ones are not just cheap places to sleep; they are social hubs, cultural experiences, and sometimes the most memorable part of a trip. This guide covers the hostels that stood out, with specific prices, locations, and the details that make each one worth visiting.
Europe: Where Hostel Culture Thrives
Europe has the most developed hostel network in the world, with properties ranging from bare-bones dorms to boutique hostels that rival small hotels. In Lisbon, the Lisbon Destination Hostel remains one of the best, with dorm beds from 18 euros and private rooms from 28 euros. The building is a former convent with original stone walls and arched doorways, and the rooftop terrace offers one of the best views in the city. The hostel organizes daily walking tours, family dinners, and fado music nights. In Porto, the Porto Spot Hostel, in a renovated Art Deco building near the Bolhao market, offers dorm beds from 14 euros and a free breakfast that includes pastel de nata, the Portuguese custard tart.
Within Budapest, the Wombat's City Hostel on Kiraly Street is a reliable choice for solo travelers. Dorm beds cost 12 to 16 euros depending on the season, and the hostel has a large common room with a bar, a cinema room, and a kitchen. The location is central, within walking distance of the ruin bars in the Jewish Quarter and the thermal baths on the Danube. In Prague, the Mosaic House offers a more design-forward experience, with a co-working space, a cafe, and art exhibitions in the lobby. Dorm beds cost 15 to 20 euros, and the hostel attracts a mix of digital nomads and backpackers. The building is on the banks of the Vltava River, a 10-minute walk from the Charles Bridge.
The Balkans, hostels offer exceptional value. In Sarajevo, the Hostel Franz Ferdinand, named after the archduke whose assassination triggered World War I, offers dorm beds for 10 to 12 euros in a converted apartment building in the old town. The owner, a Sarajevo native who lived through the siege, gives informal history tours that are more insightful than any paid excursion. In Dubrovnik, the Hostel Angelina, about a 15-minute walk from the old town walls, offers dorm beds for 20 to 25 euros, which is cheap for a city where hotel rooms routinely cost 150 euros or more. The hostel has a garden with a barbecue area and a kitchen where guests cook communal dinners.
Southeast Asia: Budget Hostel Paradise
Southeast Asia is where hostel prices reach their lowest and the quality is consistently high. In Bangkok, the Lub d hostel in Silom offers dorm beds for 350 to 500 baht, about 10 to 14 dollars, and includes free breakfast, a rooftop pool, and organized social events. The hostel has a co-working space on the ground floor, making it popular with digital nomads. In Chiang Mai, the Stamps Backpackers hostel offers dorm beds for 250 baht, about seven dollars, in a converted traditional Thai house with a garden courtyard. The hostel organizes cooking classes, temple visits, and weekend trips to local elephant sanctuaries.
Inside Hanoi, the Hanoi Rocks Hostel in the Old Quarter offers dorm beds for 120,000 dong, about five dollars, and private rooms for 300,000 dong. The hostel has a rooftop bar where draft beer costs 20,000 dong, less than one dollar, and the social atmosphere makes it easy to meet other travelers. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Hideout Hostel in District 1 offers dorm beds for 100,000 dong, about four dollars, and has a rooftop terrace that is a quiet escape from the chaos of the surrounding streets. In Hoi An, the Tribee Kinh Homestay offers dorm beds for 100,000 dong in a traditional Vietnamese house surrounded by rice paddies, a 15-minute bicycle ride from the old town.
During Bali, the Puri Garden Hotel in Ubud is technically a hotel but operates with a hostel-like social atmosphere. Dorm beds cost 100,000 to 150,000 rupiah, about seven to ten dollars, in a lush garden setting with two swimming pools, a yoga studio, and an open-air restaurant. The property attracts a mix of backpackers and yoga practitioners, and the weekly schedule includes meditation sessions, Balinese cooking classes, and traditional dance performances. In Canggu, the Outpost Hostel offers dorm beds for 150,000 rupiah and caters to digital nomads with fast Wi-Fi, co-working spaces, and a community of remote workers from around the world.
Latin America: Hostels with Character
Latin America's hostel scene has improved dramatically in recent years, with several properties that rival the best hostels in Europe and Asia. In Medellin, Colombia, the Hostal Rango, in the El Poblado neighborhood, offers dorm beds for 30,000 to 40,000 Colombian pesos, about seven to ten dollars, in a converted colonial house with a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool, and a bar. The hostel organizes daily salsa classes, Spanish lessons, and city tours, and the location in El Poblado puts you within walking distance of the city's best restaurants and nightlife. In Cartagena, the Media Luna Hostel in the Getsemani neighborhood offers dorm beds for 25,000 to 35,000 pesos, about six to nine dollars, and has a rooftop pool overlooking the city walls.
In Mexico City, the Mundo Joven Hostel Catedral, across from the Metropolitan Cathedral in the historic center, offers dorm beds for 250 to 350 Mexican pesos, about 14 to 20 dollars. The location is unbeatable, within walking distance of the Zocalo, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Alameda Central. The hostel has a rooftop terrace with views of the cathedral and the surrounding colonial architecture. In Oaxaca, the Azul Ceviche Hostel, despite its name, is a well-run property in a converted colonial building near the Santo Domingo church. Dorm beds cost 200 to 300 pesos, about 12 to 18 dollars, and the hostel organizes mezcal tastings, cooking classes, and trips to nearby artisan villages.
In Peru, the Kokopelli Hostel in Cusco is a favorite among travelers heading to Machu Picchu. Dorm beds cost 30 to 40 Peruvian soles, about eight to eleven dollars, and the hostel offers oxygen for guests adjusting to the altitude, which is a thoughtful touch at 3,400 meters above sea level. The hostel has a bar, a cafe, and a travel desk that can arrange Inca Trail permits and other excursions. In Lima, the Kokopelli hostel in the Miraflores district offers dorm beds for 35 to 45 soles, about nine to twelve dollars, and has a rooftop terrace with views of the Pacific Ocean.
Africa and the Middle East: Emerging Hostel Scenes
Africa's hostel network is growing, with South Africa leading the way. In Cape Town, the Atlantic Point Backpackers, near the V&A Waterfront, offers dorm beds for 250 to 350 South African rand, about 14 to 19 dollars. The hostel has a swimming pool, a bar, and a travel desk that arranges Table Mountain hikes, Cape Peninsula tours, and wine tasting trips to Stellenbosch. In Johannesburg, the Curiocity Backpackers in Maboneng offers dorm beds for 200 to 250 rand, about 11 to 14 dollars, in a converted industrial building in the city's most creative neighborhood. The hostel has a rooftop bar, an art gallery, and a cafe that serves excellent coffee.
In Morocco, the Equity Point hostel in Marrakech offers dorm beds for 80 to 120 Moroccan dirhams, about eight to twelve dollars, in a traditional riad in the medina. The riad has a central courtyard with a plunge pool, a rooftop terrace with views of the Atlas Mountains, and a hammam, a traditional Moroccan bathhouse, in the basement. The hostel organizes cooking classes, medina walking tours, and day trips to the Atlas Mountains. In Essaouira, the Equity Point hostel, a 10-minute walk from the beach, offers dorm beds for 70 to 100 dirhams and has a rooftop terrace where the Atlantic breeze provides relief from the summer heat.
The Middle East, the hostel scene is limited but growing. In Jerusalem, the Abraham Hostel is the standout property, offering dorm beds from 30 to 40 US dollars in a central location near the Old City. The hostel is known for its free walking tours of the Old City, which cover the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian quarters and are led by knowledgeable local guides. The hostel also organizes day trips to the Dead Sea, Masada, and the West Bank. In Amman, Jordan, the Caravan Hostel offers dorm beds for 10 to 15 Jordanian dinars, about 14 to 21 dollars, and has a rooftop terrace with views of the Amman Citadel and a social atmosphere that makes it easy to meet other travelers.
What Makes a Great Hostel
After staying in over 60 hostels, I have identified six factors that separate the truly great hostels from the merely adequate ones. The first is beds with privacy. The best hostels provide each dorm bed with a curtain, a reading light, an electrical outlet, and a small shelf or locker. These features sound minor, but they transform the dorm experience from an exercise in vulnerability to something that approaches the comfort of a private room. The second factor is common spaces that are designed for socializing. A hostel with a single couch in a hallway is not a social hostel. A hostel with a rooftop bar, a communal kitchen, a garden, and a co-working space creates multiple opportunities for guests to interact naturally.
The third factor is the staff. Great hostels are run by people who genuinely enjoy meeting travelers and who go out of their way to help guests plan their time in the city. The best hostel managers greet you by name, remember your travel plans, and make specific recommendations based on your interests. The fourth factor is the location. The best hostels are within walking distance of the city's main attractions but not in the noisiest or most touristy areas. A quiet residential neighborhood with good public transport connections is ideal. The fifth factor is cleanliness. A hostel can have beautiful design and great social spaces, but if the bathrooms are dirty and the sheets are stained, none of that matters.
The sixth factor is the price-to-value ratio. The cheapest hostel is not always the best value. A hostel that charges five dollars more per night but includes free breakfast, free walking tours, and a social program that eliminates the need to pay for organized activities may actually save you money overall. When comparing hostels, calculate the total daily cost including accommodation, food, and activities, not just the bed price. A 15-dollar dorm bed with free breakfast and free walking tours may cost less per day than a 10-dollar dorm bed where you pay for breakfast and activities separately.
Booking Tips and Platforms
Hostelworld is the dominant booking platform for hostels worldwide, and it is the best place to start your search. The site lists over 36,000 properties in 170 countries, with verified reviews from real guests. The booking process is straightforward, and most properties allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. Hostelworld charges a small booking fee, typically two to three dollars, which is deducted from the total when you check in. Booking through Hostelworld also gives you access to the platform's loyalty program, which offers discounts on future bookings.
Booking directly with the hostel, either through their own website or by email, can sometimes yield a lower price than booking through Hostelworld, because the hostel avoids the platform's commission. Email the hostel directly, mention that you found them on Hostelworld, and ask if they can offer a better rate for a direct booking. Many hostels will match the Hostelworld price or offer a 5 to 10 percent discount. This approach works best for smaller, independently owned hostels rather than large chains.
For last-minute bookings, the Hostelworld app shows properties with availability for tonight and tomorrow, which is useful when your travel plans change unexpectedly. In popular destinations during peak season, booking at least a week in advance is advisable, because the best hostels fill up quickly. In less popular destinations or during shoulder season, you can usually find a bed without booking ahead, but calling ahead to confirm availability saves you from wandering the streets with your backpack looking for a place to stay.
