After staying at more than 50 hostels all over the world, I thought it was time to give you some recommendations. Sometimes when I leave a hostel, I feel like I just left the best place ever. But then I find another hostel and that’s the best one in the world. If you found my website and if you’re considering to visit a destination that’s in this list, I hope I can help you with making your choice. There’s one side note: it’s the people who can make it or break it. I’ve stayed in wonderful hostels without meeting good people while I’ve been staying in basic hostels with the best people. It’s more likely that that last category is turning up in this blog than the first one. If you’re looking for a good party hostel, well you better stop reading then. I don’t like them.
By the way, none of these recommendations are sponsored. I never worked with hostels, I just like to stay at them. And as you can imagine, I’m still travelling and this list may be updated again and again. (last update: February 2023) Of course I can’t cover all hostels in the world, so I’m missing out on loads of them. I also wasn’t able to stay at some very popular hostels because I always book last minute. That doesn’t take away that I still have some favourites.
This blog contains affiliate links. If you book a hostel through one of my links, I’m earning a small commission while you’re not paying more.
In This Post
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka offers some of the best hostels and this was surely one of them. Roy’s Villa Hostel feels like a retreat. Roy understands hospitality. Staying here is almost a retreat, still at the best vibes of a hostel. Family dinners, amazing breakfast, cheap and daily activities, cocktail making workshops and so much more. Next to that, Roy takes care of his community. He’s investing some of the profit he makes into his neighbourhood, so they all benefit from the travellers coming to their place. During the big crisis, Roy collected money to help the people in need. If there’s one place I’d love to go back, it’s Roy’s Villa Hostel. He has also been awarded with an Hoscar, being the best small hostel in the world!
Sri Lanka offers some of the best hostels and this was surely one of them. Roy’s Villa Hostel feels like a retreat. Roy understands hospitality. Staying here is almost a retreat, still at the best vibes of a hostel. Family dinners, amazing breakfast, cheap and daily activities, cocktail making workshops and so much more. Next to that, Roy takes care of his community. He’s investing some of the profit he makes into his neighbourhood, so they all benefit from the travellers coming to their place. During the big crisis, Roy collected money to help the people in need. If there’s one place I’d love to go back, it’s Roy’s Villa Hostel. He has also been awarded with an Hoscar, being the best small hostel in the world!
Let me be clear, you can skip Colombo. There’s absolutely no need to visit this city and it’s one of the worst capital cities I’ve ever visited. Colombo is full of scams, it’s dirty, it’s just awful . But, I went twice to this hostel, as I simply had to catch some trains. This hostel is located close by the train station and I actually enjoyed my time here. It’s pretty fancy for Sri Lankan standards, I met great people and there’s some great food around. The airconditioning is pleasant and there’s free coffee all day long. When I found out I didn’t like this city, I decided to catch up with some work and this hostel is a great place to do so!
The Philippines
I visited Siargao just months after a huge typhoon devastated a lot on this island. And it hurts to see such a beautiful place in this way. Collapsed houses, palm trees without leaves and people who lost their homes. I was more than happy to spend some of my money here, to help them rebuild their island. A great place to stay is Bravo Beach Resort. This is such a gem with the best people I’ve ever met at any accommodation. Always in for a chat, always smiling genuinely and just making me feel at home from the very first minute. It’s not an official hostel, but they have dorms and you can book it through their own website.
Morocco
One of my best experiences ever and I’m going to explain you why. From the moment I arrived, Hassan has been amazing to me. I came by car and he was a bit surprised, as most of the travellers come by bus. The first thing he said, even before my official check in was: I’ll get you some tea. Shall I make you some eggs as well? You must be starving after a long ride. After that, he has simply been amazing to me. Everything he did for me, summed up:
Offering tea + eggs at arrival
Offering home made pasta with fish at my first evening
Lots of recommendations how to get to the right spots
Daily breakfast and always more than enough
Countless cups of tea. Whenever I asked for it, he already boiled some water
He offered to do my laundry for free
He stored my luggage when I went on a camel tour.
When I came back I could take a shower and have some of the breakfast, even though I already checked out
All of this mentioned above, costed me a total of €10 euros. He charged €5,- a night and when I asked him to prepare my bill, he said: that’s easy. Two nights, that’s €10 euros in total. I still can’t believe it and of course I gave him more than this. Hassan has plans to create a pool and I can’t wait to be back one day, as I simply love the desert and this hostel.
Don’t expect anything fancy. The beds are pretty bad, the shower is cold, but this place has been one of my best experiences ever.
Greece
The only hostel I returned to! I loved it here so much and was actually one of the first guests after they opened during Covid times. The hostel is created by four guys who have been travelling a lot. They took the best things from each hostel they visited and decided to create a hostel themselves. At a prime location. This hostel has everything I’m looking for. The curtains, one of the best en-suite showers I had at any hostel in the world, an awesome common space and even the option to do your own laundry. The first time I stayed here, there wasn’t really a vibe yet. They ran on half capacity and it was hard to meet people. One year later, I felt the urge of coming back to Thessaloniki and it’s what I did. Of course I booked the hostel and I loved it, maybe even better. There was a vibe this time and it really deserves a spot in my list of best hostels in the world! By the way, if you haven’t been to Thessaloniki yet, go. Try to understand the city and you’ll fall in love with it. I’ve been within 14 months and I’m currently thinking about going back, once again…
Another gem in Greece! Holy Rock Hostel is one of your only options if you plan visiting Meteora, so you better book it. The place has an awesome kitchen, had an amazing volunteer and just offered an amazing family vibe. Just the memory of sitting in front of the hostel, on that little wall, while the sun shines on your face.. It makes me want to come back. I met a lot of great people here and they offer great activities. Do ask the owner about his rally history, he’ll tell you good stories!
Bosnia
One thing I liked when I was looking for a hostel in Mostar, is that Taso’s House wrote: We’re not a party hostel, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great time here. And it was exactly like that. The place is pretty small, so you’ll run into a lot of other travellers. During the breakfast there’s always time to meet up with other people and I made lots of friends to do nice activities with. Some things I highly recommend are the free walking tour and eating at Tima – Irma. Mostar is such a small place, but I could have stayed longer. Easily. There are some other great hostels around, but I didn’t regret my choise for Taso’s House!
Spain
Yep, that price hurts. We’re talking about Barcelona inflation as it’s one of the most popular cities in Europe. Staying at Casa Gracia was great though. I stayed twice, once in a private room and once in a dorm and both were amazing. The dorms are very spacious and the building in general is very boutique. I haven’t stayed long enough to catch the real vibe, but I would easily book it again. Close by public transportation and located in one of the trendiest areas of Barcelona if you ask me.
Colombia
Viajero is a hostel chain, mainly operating in South America. You can find them in Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and more! I’ve stayed in two of their branches in Colombia and the one in Medellín surely was my favourite one. It’s a big hostel, but it won’t feel that big. The place has an awesome rooftop bar with jacuzzis to chill in, while you’re looking over the skyline of El Poblado. The beds have a lot of privacy with curtains and almost little pods to hide in. I had some snoring neighbours, but it didn’t bother me at all because the sound got reduced so much. This hostel has a huge common space, offers breakfast for those who want to and the staff is very good. I couldn’t believe that such a big hostel could feel so small. Next to this and very important to me: the place has a nice and FREE co-working space with good Wi-Fi. The tours they offered were a bit pricy if you ask me, but that’s what tours are in general. If you ever get the chance to visit Medellín, book this hostel in advance as it will sell out.
My first nights in Bogotá I stayed at Masaya. This is another chain serving a lot of places in Colombia. The ones in Minca and Medellín are very famous too. I didn’t stay there, but I heard that it gets sold out at least two weeks in advance, all the time. Let’s get back to Bogotá, ‘cause I stayed there and I liked it! The beds have a lot of privacy, the shower is very very good and there are decent lockers available. The patios are amazing and the breakfast that’s included in most of the room rates is simply amazing. The location is very good and in one of the best areas of Bogotá. I’m so happy that I started my Colombia trip here and I’d highly recommend you to do the same!
Chile
This place has been a home away from home during the Christmas season. I didn’t know where to spend my Christmas and ended travel planning wise up in northern Chile. Known as an expensive, but beautiful place. Let’s be clear, this isn’t the cheapest hostel you’ll find in this area, but the services they offer are amazing. The breakfast is included and even when you leave early, they prepare a take away breakfast for you. The towels are included as well and there’s daily housekeeping cleaning your room. It does sound like a hotel, but it surely isn’t. The rooms are placed around a small internal garden where you can hang out with fellow travellers. Last but not least, the host speaks good English, so if you’re not the best in Spanish, they got you covered!
Some spots I didn't like
I’m not here to bash anyone and I always feel bad about writing bad reviews, but without explaining too much, these are my least favourite places. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have a good time there, but they just couldn’t meet my expectations.
Imagina Hostel – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Selina hostels – in general. Overpriced, paying for co-working spaces, commercialised, very expensive, no vibe beside their WhatsApp groups.
Old Town Hostel – Kotor, Montenegro
St. Christopher’s Inn Shepherd’s Bush – London, UK
Safestay Hostel – Bratislava, Slovakia
Sunflower Beach Backpacker Hostel – Rimini, Italy
