Have you spent a little too long in Sydney? Getting fed up of the hustle and bustle of Australia’s most popular tourist destination? Thankfully, there are loads of places you can go nearby for R and R. One of the best is the Blue Mountains. While you can make a day trip, it’s a much better idea to spend a few days here. That way, you’ll be able to make the most of a number of conservation trails and bush walks – and when you get back on the beaten track, there are some excellent places to eat and drink.

While you may not need much more persuasion to go to the Blue Mountains, there is one issue – the cost. Instead of looking at a fancy hotel or resort, cast your eyes towards a hostel instead. Whether you want a cool backpacker pad, a love nest for you and your partner, or just somewhere to park your car for the night and get some sleep, there’s a Blue Mountains hostel for you.

And that’s where we come in. Rather than letting you spend hours trawling through the internet for the perfect place to stay, we’ve brought them all together in one place. We’ll help you find something that suits your travel style and budget.

So, get ready to wake up surrounded by the refreshing mists of the Blue Mountains – we know you can’t wait!

Quick Answer: Best Hostels in Blue Mountains

best hostels in Blue Mountains

The Best Hostels in the Blue Mountains

We get it; you’re already packing your bag and booking the fastest way to the Blue Mountains. Visiting this beautiful area should be a no brainer on everyone’s Sydney backpacking list. But first, let’s find your ideal place to stay in this epic part of Australia.

Knowing where to stay in the Blue Mountains comes in pretty handy when you’re looking for accommodation since the region isn’t necessarily small. Each of the listed hostels has its own character and personality, and now it’s up to you to pick the one that’s most closely matched to you.

The Flying Fox – Overall Best Hostel in Blue Mountains

Best Hostels in Blue Mountains
Flying Fox is our choice for the best overall hostel in Blue Mountains
  • $
  • Great location
  • Log fire
  • Nightly campfire

The most popular hostel in the Blue Mountains, the Flying Fox is just a five-minute walk from the station in Katoomba. It’s super sociable, and solo travellers will have no trouble blending in from the moment they arrive. Whether that’s in front of the log fire with a Tim Tam and a coffee or outside enjoying the nightly campfire. This eco-friendly hostel’s staff can happily help you find the best activities to do in the Blue Mountains, along with a whole lot of freebies – breakfast, a book exchange, and even musical instruments (though you can’t take them with you) all await!

Blue Mountains YHA – Best Hostels for Solo Travellers in Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains YHA beset hostels in Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains YHA is our pick for the best hostels for solo travellers in Blue Mountains
  • $
  • Onsite adventure company
  • Pool table
  • Great kitchen

While you decide what your next move would be on the giant chessboard above, let us fill you in on the finer details of this hostel in the Blue Mountains. It’s a great base if you want to enjoy abseiling and canyoning. If you’re worried about booking those activities, don’t be; there’s an adventure company on site which can take all the stress out of sorting that. So you’ll be free to play pool, chill out in front of the log fire, or have a wander around Katoomba – the town where the hostel is based!

No14 Lovel St Hostel – Best Hostel for Couples in Blue Mountains

No14 Lovel St Hostel best hostels in Blue Mountains
No14 Lovel St Hostel is our pick for the best hostel for couples in Blue Mountains
  • $$$
  • Free breakfast
  • Shared kitchen
  • Outdoor terrace

Nothing kills romance quicker than a sweaty, noisy dorm. However, just because you’re travelling with your other half doesn’t mean you should give up enjoying hostel prices – and, just as importantly, the awesome atmosphere you get when surrounded by other travellers. Thankfully, at No 14. Lovel Street, you don’t have to! An early 20th-century guest house with many of the original features, it’s a beautiful place to come home to after a day of trekking in the bush or abseiling down a cliff.

Echo Point Motor Inn – Best Hostel for Families in Blue Mountains

Echo Point Motor Inn best hostels in Blue Mountains
Echo Point Motor Inn is our pick for the best hostel for families in Blue Mountains
  • $$
  • Free parking
  • Tour desk
  • BBQ

Sometimes, hostels aren’t the best if you’re travelling with young children. However, this motel is an excellent alternative, with family rooms sleeping up to four guests. You can even get pet-friendly options if you’re travelling with a furry friend! You’ve got loads on your doorstep here too – the Three Sisters viewing platform and Echo Point are less than a five-minute walk away, and it’s the same distance to many of Katoomba’s restaurants and bars. There’s free parking too!

Katoomba Mountain Lodge – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Blue Mountains –

Katoomba Mountain Lodge best hostels in Blue Mountains
Katoomba Mountain Lodge is our pick for the best hostel for digital nomads in Blue Mountains
  • $
  • Two warm lounges
  • Reading room
  • Jobs board

When travelling as a digital nomad, it’s important to have somewhere to be sociable and meet other travellers while also having space and privacy to get on with work when you need to. The Katoomba Mountain Lodge is perfect for that! If you don’t mind splashing a little extra, you can get a single room where you can spend your time working. When you fancy a bit of company, just head to one of two lounges and chill in front of the cosy fire! Long term travellers in Australia will find a jobs board – handy if you want a couple of weeks away from your laptop but still need an income!

Belgravia Mountain Guest House – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Blue Mountains

Belgravia Mountain Guest House best hostels in Blue Mountains
Belgravia Mountain Guest House is our pick for the best hostel with a private room in Blue Mountains
  • $$$$
  • Great location
  • Free parking
  • Tea and coffee

With a range of private rooms, solo travellers, couples, and groups of three won’t be disappointed with Belgravia Mountain Guest House. If you’re on your own, it may be a little pricey, but for the larger rooms, you won’t be paying too much more than the average bed price here! There’s a whole lot within walking distance of the property, and free parking for those who use their own transport.

Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel in Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel best hostels in Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel is our pick for the best cheap hostel in Blue Mountains
  • $
  • Pool table
  • Courtyard garden
  • On-street parking

Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel shows that there really aren’t any wrong choices in Katoomba. The closest to the train station, this has a huge selection of rooms, meaning it’s not just suitable for solo travellers and backpackers, but also families and large groups of friends! Should you want to keep the costs down, trade eating at one of Katoomba’s restaurants for prepping something in the fully equipped kitchen, then chow down in front of the fire in the lounge. After you’ve had time to digest dinner, fit in a couple of games of pool and a beer before bed!

Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel is one of our favourites in Blue Mountains 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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Active Roots Security Belt

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Hide Yo’ Money!

What to Pack for your Blue Mountains 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.

Product
Description
Don’t Let Snorers Keep You Awake!
Don’t Let Snorers Keep You Awake!

Ear Plugs

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Keep your laundry organized and stink free
Keep your laundry organized and stink free

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Stay Dry With a Micro Towel
Stay Dry With a Micro Towel

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Make Some New Buddies…
Make Some New Buddies…

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Reduce Plastic – Bring a Water Bottle!
Reduce Plastic – Bring a Water Bottle!

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!

Why You Should Travel to Blue Mountains

With some of the most beautiful landscapes in New South Wales, the Blue Mountains are the ideal escape. On a big backpacking trip around Australia, they’re one of the easiest options to get out and discover the stunning natural beauty of the country. Not only that, but you can learn about the area’s aboriginal history – after all, this is the land of the Gundungurra and Darug peoples.

Even if you’re sold on that, you might still be struggling on which hostel to pick. We’ve given you some awesome options, if we do say so ourselves! If you’re torn between two, three, or four, then keep it simple and go for our top recommended hostel in the Blue Mountains, The Flying Fox. It’s the best combination of value for money, a friendly atmosphere, and lots of stuff to do on your doorstep.

Best Hostels in Blue Mountains
Flying Fox is our choice for the best overall hostel in Blue Mountains

FAQ about Hostels in Blue Mountains

Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Blue Mountains.

Travel Safety Tips for Blue Mountains

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.

Final Thoughts on the Best Hostels in Blue Mountains

Whether you want to hike along the conservation trails (keeping an eye out for venomous snakes and spiders, of course), explore the limestone Jenolan caves, or sample the area’s burgeoning food and drink scene, you won’t be disappointed with the Blue Mountains. And their proximity to Sydney is a great weekend away for a traveller spending some time in the city to top up their budget! One of the most unique adventures in Australia, it’s a hub for outdoor activities too. There’s more than enough to do that you’re likely to feel disappointed if you only make a day trip!

And if you’re going to stay for the weekend, you’ll need to have somewhere to stay. But which Blue Mountains Hostel will you choose – a backpacker hub, a mountain guest house, or a romantic bed and breakfast? If you’re sick of people and want a different type of stay, why not book an eco-lodge in the Blue Mountains?

And, if you’re moving on from the Blue Mountains, always make sure you have your next accommodation sorted. There are endless amazing hostels in Australia, you just need to find the right one for you.

Have you ever been to the Blue Mountains? If you’ve stayed somewhere that you think should be on our list, let us know in the comments below!


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!