(Last Updated: December 2024)

I've stayed at over 100 hostels while traveling. Is that a bit embarrassing?

I think not. Hostels are not only the most affordable way to travel but also the best way to meet new people.

But not all hostels are created equal. I've stayed at underrated places that shock me, world-renowned hostels that disappoint, and everything in between.

The following are the 10 best hostels I've stayed at.

It can be hard to differentiate great hostels so I emphasized places where great memories happened to me.

Without further ado...

Honorable Mention

These were great hostels on paper, but maybe they didn't have that one magical memory that places that cracked the top 10 had. Still, they deserve a mention:

• Goodmorning Solo Traveler (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Castle Rock Hostel (Edinburgh, Scotland)
• Baloo Hostel (Athens, Greece)
• Long Street Backpackers (Cape Town, South Africa)
• Let's Rock Party Hostel (Krakow, Poland)

10. Onefam Waterloo (London, England)

This won't be the last Onefam on this list.

In a city that disappoints with the quality of hostels, Onefam Waterloo is a gem. Onefam organizes nightly events and free family dinners and does a fantastic job of facilitating community. It's a solo traveler's paradise, and its Waterloo location is one of the best.

London is a tough city to backpack due to how expensive it is, but it becomes possible thanks to Waterloo being a relatively affordable option. I highly recommend staying here if you're in London!

9. Grays Hostel (Dubai, UAE)

Hostels in Dubai tend to mostly be apartments in high-rise buildings, but I loved that this made Grays feel like home.

I worked at the kitchen table while looking out at the sea, and I met a bunch of other travelers doing the same. I'll never forget the night when three of us rented a luxury car and drove to an Egyptian restaurant recommended by a local.

Blasting some throwback songs while speeding down the highway was an experience facilitated by this welcoming place, and I'm very grateful to have felt so comfortable in the massive, sprawling city.

8. Hostel Ani & Haakien Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

"It's just the vibe."

This is often how I describe hostels, but Hostel Ani & Haakien is a perfect example.

Friendly volunteers and staff members made me feel right at home. Hostel events that weren't too overbearing, letting me take things easy during my stay. A fantastic Kapsalon recommendation sealed the deal. I loved this place.

Especially noteworthy were its garden area which was a great place to be a digital nomad, and its security system which embedded the key fob into a wristband, making it the most frictionless hostel security I've ever experienced.

7. Hostel Ruthensteiner (Vienna, Austria)

Hostel Ruthensteiner had it all.

In fact, it was named one of the best hostels in Europe in 2024. I was lucky to have gone during the low season because the price rises dramatically and sells out far in advance during the high season.

Between cool day activities like polar plunges and walking tours, and free communal dinners and pub crawls at night, this is the perfect place to avoid the big factory-style hostels that dominate most European capitals. It's small, familial, and the best place to use as a home base to explore Vienna's magic.

6. Mad Monkey Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)

I didn't even want to party in Bangkok. But it normally happens anyway when you're a guest at a Mad Monkey hostel.

This hostel is next to Khaosan Road, boasting a pool, bar, and restaurant. They put on pub crawls almost every night and I met tons of backpackers with great vibes. While I sometimes chalk these interactions up to chance, it's clear that some hostels bring out the best in people.

Mad Monkey is one of those places.

Thailand has many great hostels for affordable prices, but Mad Monkey Bangkok is one of the best.

5. Lub D Ko Samui (Ko Samui, Thailand)

Another Thailand hostel.

Lub D on Ko Samui took my breath away. For less than $10 a night, I got to stay at a hostel on the beach, complete with an infinity pool looking out on the water, a bar, and a ton of young backpackers looking for memorable nights on the town.

When I stayed here, it was only the second time I'd ever solo traveled, but I met countless friendly faces who made me feel right at home. The bar prices were incredibly fair, and the outdoor setup guaranteed you'd meet other travelers.

I hardly remember sleeping more than a few hours at Lub D because every waking second was action-packed and memorable. Give it a chance if you find yourself in Ko Samui!

4. Mad Monkey Cebu City (Cebu, Philippines)

Another ranking, another Mad Monkey.

Similar to Lub D, I hardly spent any time sleeping at this hostel. I dropped my bags, headed to the bar, and one introduction turned into a memorable night out.

But the best hostels are places that facilitate these sorts of interactions, which is why Mad Monkey Cebu is so high on this list. Like many places in Southeast Asia, it's cheap yet high-quality. But it's also friendly and welcoming, in a way that I've seen few hostels be.

Another bonus of Mad Monkey Cebu is that it is frequented by locals who want to interact with travelers. I've stayed at many hostels where locals go and keep to themselves, but Mad Monkey Cebu was one big family.

Go to the Philippines and experience the kindness of its people. Head to Mad Monkey Cebu to have the time of your life along the way.

3. Mad Monkey Phnom Penh (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

The best Mad Monkey in Southeast Asia.

Also the site of my first-ever solo travel experience. Mad Monkey Phnom Penh will always have a special place in my heart.

I'll never forget how scared I was walking into that hostel and how one amazing night out changed everything I thought I knew about travel. For $6 a night, the hostel offered a pool, bar, and restaurant. I did a hostel pub crawl and didn't get home until 7:00 AM.

Yeah. Mad Monkey is where it's at. It's also an example of a place that's so good, it's worth making a trip to Phnom Penh just to stay there. There's not a ton to do in the city. But the community you'll find at the hostel will make it completely worth it.

2. Mushroom Farm Eco Lodge (Livingstonia, Malawi)

The longest I ever traveled to get anywhere was 87 hours to get to Mushroom Farm Eco Lodge in the remote mountains of Malawi.

The journey made this place even more worth it. A recurring theme of top hostels is that they bring out the best in people. Mushroom Farm doesn't just do that–it brings out the best of Malawi.

It made me fall in love with the country, the locally sourced food, the warm-hearted people, and the jaw-dropping views. I couldn't get enough of this place.

Sometimes you leave a place, but a piece of it comes with you. That's the case at Mushroom Farm.

1. Onefam Ramblas (Barcelona, Spain)

The undisputed #1.

This isn't the best hostel in the world because I spent 3 months here. I spent 3 months here because it's the best hostel in the world.

Onefam Ramblas unlocked the best version of myself and allowed me to meet countless amazing people. I made memories that I won't soon forget and it unlocked free access to some of the best nightlife in the world.

I paid forward my travel debt at Onefam by serving other travelers who came through the doors. I honed my cooking skills before leading nights out on the town. I spent 24 hours a day with volunteers who connected with me and our guests.

It was the best time ever.

Go to Barcelona and stay at Onefam Ramblas–not Onefam Parallelo, not Onefam Battlo, and certainly not Onefam Les Corts. Stay at Ramblas and you won't ever regret it.

Every day I wake up grateful that that's the decision I made.