Ahhh Bali, where everyone feels like family and the island feels like home…
The Island of the Gods has well and truly earned that title in my books. Whether you’re looking to get barrelled, dance your pants off, or join the masses who have moved over and set up their life, the Bali hostel scene is ready and waiting to welcome you in with open arms.
And man, Bali has some absolute bangers. I would go as far as saying that Bali has some of the best value for money hostels in the world. You just have to know which one matches YOUR vibe. Are you a surfy-chick ready to hit the waves? A yogi wanting to reflect and relax? Or a hard-core party-goer ready for some WILD nights out?
I’ve stayed in tooooo many Bali hostels than I can reasonably count. So, let me impart my wisdom to you.
Crack a bintang and ayok!
Need the short version? Start with these Bali hostels
Let’s take a closer look at each hostel
Now that we’ve gone over what to expect from the hostels while backpacking in Bali, I won’t make you wait any longer! Let’s dive into each.
1. The Farm Hostel – Overall Best Hostel
Price: $$
Best for: Solo travellers, social travellers, and anyone looking to meet new people.
Highlights: Swimming pool, included breakfast.
Dorms from: $11 USD.
Private rooms from: N/A.
Location: Canggu
The Farm Hostel is my favourite hostel in Bali with a chilled, friendly atmosphere. It’s expanded recently and lost a bit of the original chill vibes, but I still rate it! I first stayed here in the first year they were open and met some of my best friends from around the world at The Farm. Right in the heart of Canggu, it’s not close to all of Canggu’s top things to do, but being on Batu Bolong, it’s pretty damn close.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- 2 PILLOWS!! (Need I say more?)
- Weekly events for making socialising easy. Including beer pong tournaments, free Indonesian dinner, pizza night, bingo and the famous Farm pub-crawl.
- On-site bar, kitchen and social area to relax in.
The Farm Hostel has evolved into a massive community space, now offering enough beds for up to 80 travellers! You can enjoy not just one, but two glistening outdoor pools, a sprawling garden area with bean bags and sun loungers, and an outdoor communal kitchen. There are no private rooms, only different-sized dorm rooms, with mixed and female-only options. It’s a fab place to stay in Canggu.
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2. Tribal Bali – Best For Digital Nomads
Price: $$
Best for: Digital nomads, long-stayers, hardcore hustlers, and veteran entrepreneurs.
Highlights: Swimming pool, on-site cafe and restaurant, huge coworking space.
Dorms from: $14 USD.
Private rooms from: $50 USD.
Location: Pererenan, a five-minute drive from hipster Canggu.
Tribal is a very special hostel… With sleek, custom-designed private rooms and dorms to ensure a good night’s sleep, Tribal is Bali’s newest and most modern hostel. It is without a doubt the best hostel in Bali for Digital Nomads, or anyone looking to get shit done.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- A nomad’s dream, with a HUGE co-working space
- Amazing coffee and a restaurant on-site to fuel a hard day’s hustle
- Dedicated phone booths for those who need a bit more privacy
- And a gigantic pool!
Need a quick screen break? Soak in some sun and relax in the infinity pool or hit the billiards table for a game of rapido pool. There’s always plenty happening down at Tribal. If you’re looking to find the perfect place to blend fun and hustle, you’ll find it at Tribal. Once you’re ready for bed, head up to the spacious hostel rooms, which have received rave reviews.
3. Bali Bobo Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel
Price: $
Best for: Budget travellers, social travellers, those wanting convenience but also close to beaches.
Highlights: Swimming pool, free breakfast, close to the airport.
Dorms from: $8 USD.
Private rooms from: $20 USD.
Location: Jimbaran.
You know what they say, location, location, location. Just nine km from Ngurah Rai International Airport, this hostel is where you want to be and for the price you want to pay. The hostel is based in Jimbaran, which is the gateway to the Bukit Peninsula, minutes from Uluwatu, and surrounded by stunning beaches.
Why you’ll love it:
- The kitchen is fully equipped and open-air, so you can save a few bucks and cook at home.
- Relax by the swimming pool to beat the Bali heat.
- Close to innumerable surf spots, beginner and advanced!
Aside from the outdoor swimming pool, there are three common areas to relax in, the common room upstairs even has an air bike! You can stay fit on vacation from the comfort of your hostel. There are beanbags to lounge on around the joint, and there are tables downstairs if you need to park up and do some work, too.
4. Savanah Ubud – Best for Yogis and Boujee Backpackers
Price: $$$
Best for: Yogis, boujee travellers, those who want to relax in one place.
Highlights: Swimming pool, free yoga, free massages, weekly events.
Dorms from: $29 USD.
Private rooms from: $94 USD.
Location: Ubud.
This hostel is state-of-the-art, as far as hostels go – a shady pool area to lounge around and private en suite bathrooms. Savanah is only a ten-minute walk to Ubud Palace and the famous Ubud Market; you’ll have your own oasis amongst the hustle of Ubud. As for the Monkey Forest, that’s nearby too, you might even get some sneaky visitors.
Why you’ll love it:
- Unwind with their FREE morning yoga classes and FREE daily massages!
- Evening activities such as Movie Nights, Family Dinners, Trivia Nights and BBQ Nights to help you meet fellow travellers.
- On-site pool, restaurant and bar, so you don’t ever really need to leave 😉
There are a cooking class if you want to take the best souvenir home – a taste of Indonesia. I highly recommend getting into all the activities Savanah has to offer; the staff are divine, and you’ll see a special side to Bali. It’s a bit more expensive than the others, but you get what you pay for!
5. Somewhere Hostel – Best for Surfing and Parties
Price: $$
Best for: Surfers, yoga, partying!
Highlights: Swimming pool, daily surf lessons and free activities every night.
Dorms from: $9 USD.
Private rooms from: $39 USD.
Location: Canggu.
Surf, Party, Adventure is the motto here, and Somewhere Hostel lives up to it. With a jam-packed daily schedule which you can dip in and out of as you choose, this hostel is not for the faint hearted. If you love to send it, you’ll fit right in, especially if you love meeting new people, the crew here are the best!
Why you’ll love it:
- Daily social activities will make it suuper easy to make new friends!
- Daily surf lessons for any beginners or intermediates wanting to level up their skills.
- Party vibes. It’s all go here.
Somewhere isn’t exclusively a surf hostel, but basically, this is where you want to be if you want to learn to surf too. Whether you want to slurp a smoothie bowl, sip an espresso martini, or nosh down on some noodles, the restaurant and bar have got you covered. The coffee here is heavenly, the pool is to die for and the cinema room is a special treat.
6. Parmilla Uluwatu – Best for Peaceful Stays
Price: $
Best for: Chill travellers who want to relax and have a bit of space.
Highlights: Swimming pool, kind hosts and great value for money.
Dorms from: $6 USD.
Private rooms from: N/A.
Location: Uluwatu.
Parmilla is one of those homely hostels in Uluwatu – it’s quiet, and the family is around to answer any of your questions. Lounge by the pool without being surrounded by a load of Aussie blokes on the piss as you recover from the bomb surf in Uluwatu. It’s some of the best value for money one could find around this area.
Why you’ll love it:
- When the hosts suggest Karaoke or BBQ nights, do it!
- Free tea and coffee to keep you hydrated.
- Quiet environment to rest up before hitting the waves.
There’s a garden to enjoy if you’ve spent too much time with your feet off the ground recently, lie under a tree, it’ll do wonders. On the flip side, free wifi if you’ve got to do the business, there’s a lounge downstairs to settle into. You’ll find a full kitchen down here, if you’d like to sort yourself for meals but there are plenty of tasty spots to discover nearby.
7. Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel – Best Boutique Hostel
Price: $$$
Best for: Yoga, relaxing, socialising and hanging out with puppies.
Highlights: Swimming pool, free breakfast and movie nights in a cinema room!
Dorms from: $26 USD.
Private rooms from: $100 USD.
Location: Ubud.
This boutique hostel in Ubud almost feels like a luxury hotel, with super green and spacious property and a huge outdoor pool. It’s pricier than your average Bali hostel, but the complimentary breakfast, free yoga classes daily, and beautiful swimming pool make it worth the price. The staff are incredible, they make it a very welcoming place where it’s easy to meet other travellers to explore with.
Why you’ll love it:
- FREE yoga, massages and manicures?!
- Puppy therapy (I’m sold)
- Trivia nights, family dinners with live music and Balinese dancers and movie nights.
From the breakfast to the comfy hammocks in the garden, everything at Puri Garden is simply perfect. The hostel is a traveller’s dream come true, with lots of different room options and plenty of space to yourself. Even if you stay in a dorm, there’s a massive pool, and so much more.
8. The Tipsy Gypsy Hostel – Best for Solo Travellers
Price: $
Best for: Solo travellers and those looking to meet new people.
Highlights: Swimming pool, super central location.
Dorms from: $6 USD.
Private rooms from: N/A.
Location: Canggu.
This Bali hostel gets rave reviews from everyone who stays there. You’ll quickly feel at home thanks to the friendly owner. It’s relatively small with only three 6-bed dorm rooms, so you’ll get to know other travellers pretty easily. It is a party hostel, BUT with a quiet hour at 11 pm (my kinda place).
Why you’ll love it:
- Super social, party hostel (hence the name!)
- Home away from home vibe. It has a big community feel, which is extra nice for us solo travellers.
- The swimming pool is lush to nurse a hangover, or crack open your first Bintang of the day.
The location is close to the main area of Canggu but just far enough away that you can still get a good night’s sleep. Each bed has a power plug, reading light, privacy curtain, and locker. As one of the best-reviewed hostels in Bali, you cannot go wrong!
9. Pudak Sari Unizou Hostel – Best for Airport Convenience
Price: $$
Best for: Travellers wanting a place to crash in Kuta before leaving, or after arriving at the airport.
Highlights: Swimming pool, close to the airport, modern and clean.
Dorms from: $12 USD.
Private rooms from: N/A.
Location: Kuta.
This hostel has made the list because it’s great value for money and a bangin’ place to perch up when you arrive, or as you leave Bali due to how close it is to the airport (you can walk there!). It’s not overly social as most people are passing through before heading off to their next destination
Why you’ll love it:
- Easy access to the airport.
- A nice pool to relax by (can you see the theme in Bali? It’s unlikely you’ll find a hotel without a pool!)
- Clean, modern and convenient!
But you can explore on foot from the hostel; you’ll reach the beach within a 20-minute walk. It’s clean and modern, what more could you want?
10. Arya Wellness Retreat – Best for the Ladies (Female Only)
Price: $$$
Best for: Ladies (this is a female-only stay), a relaxing, healthy and social stay.
Highlights: Swimming pool, movie nights, health and wellness activities.
Dorms from: $38 USD.
Private rooms from: $100 USD.
Location: Ubud.
Looking for one of the best women’s hostels in the world? Arya Wellness Retreat is the perfect hostel to meet like-minded women from all over the world. Chill on a beanbag and sip on a fresh coconut while listening to cool travel stories.
Why you’ll love it:
- Daily meditation, yoga, massage, manicure, and pedicures (sooo much wellness!)
- Weekly activities to help you meet new people, including day trips and family dinners.
- Safe space to hang out with like-minded women.
After a long day of exploring Ubud, head back to the hostel and have a healthy, but super tasty dinner, at the on-site restaurant. With a specially designed to offer an array of vegan options to help you detox your body while using only the freshest, locally sourced produce.
As much as I love Bali, shit can go wrong anywhere…
Safety comes first. Helmets, lockers and good insurance are important, especially when staying in hostels!
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!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Hire the Best Balinese Driver – Pak Edy
Hiring a driver literally takes all the guesswork and stress out of your trip. From knowing the best shortcuts that don’t result in parking in a rice paddy to planning out the most incredible Balinese adventure, Pak Edy has it covered.
With years of experience, Balinese local Edy knows the absolute best spots to visit on the island and how to tailor your adventure to your interests and needs. He also knows exactly where the most incredible and authentic food can be found in Bali.
Call or Text +62 812-3765-6124 on WhatsApp to book Pak Edy for your Balinese adventure.
Still not sure where to stay in Bali?
Bali’s hostel scene is cool… like really freakin cool. There doesn’t seem to be a shabby hostel on the market. They are all incredibly modern and come with all the bells and whistles that you could dream of. In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t come with a swimming pool!
If you’re still wondering where to stay in Bali, I get it, there are a lot of options. Book in at The Farm for a couple of nights and go from there. If that’s a bit too tight on your wallet, or you want to stay further south in the heat of Uluwatu, check into Bali Bobo. Or, if you’re one of the many digital nomads or entrepreneurs heading to Bali, you HAVE to book in at Tribal. There’s no question about it.
There are options for every type of traveller in here, so I hope by now you’re gearing up to lock in your fav! 🙂
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Indonesia for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the best places to visit in Bali covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in Bali if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in Bali before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Southeast Asia backpacking guide.
Yes Rachel, Bali is the best Indonesian Island and having best hostels. It is known for its forested volcanic mountains. Its culture is very unique and it is the home of many religious sites. It has huge popularity because there are millions of tourists who visit this Island. If you want to stay in Bali, there is the comprehensive selection of hostels. The Bali Hostels are the resource for great value accommodation. Thanks for sharing!