Welcome to Delhi, India! You are now entering perhaps the most complicated and chaotic city in the world. For most backpackers, Delhi is only a gateway into the rest of India and not a destination unto itself.
Delhi is MASSIVE, crowded, polluted, noisy, and filled with traffic. Unfortunately, Delhi is a necessary experience for those catching the cheapest flights into India.
Trying to decide where the hell to stay in this truly sprawling urban mess is super challenging.
That is exactly why I wrote this no-stress guide to the best hostels in Delhi for 2021!
Get all of the inside information on the best places to stay in Delhi, India.
The goal of this hostel to guide is to show you the way to the best, most comfortable backpacker accommodation in Delhi.
I want to compensate for Delhi’s craziness by finding you the best possible place to stay, so you can get the rest you need to crush the rest of your travels in India.
Delhi can be overwhelming and tiring, so after reading this hostel guide you should have a good idea of where to find all of the best hostels in Delhi.
A stint in India’s 2nd largest city need not be a totally stressful experience.
This hostel guide is here to get you booked into the right spot in Delhi easily and quickly, no matter what type of backpacker you are…
Let’s get to it…
Editors Note: Check out my Backpacking India Travel Guide here
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Delhi
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Delhi – Zostel Delhi
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Delhi – Jugaad Hostels
The 12 Best Hostels in Delhi
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Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Delhi – Zostel Delhi
- $$
- Location Tho
- 24-Hour Reception
- Tour/Travel Desk
As a backpacker on your own in Delhi, the closer you are to all the action the better, we’d say. It’s fine to be far out, but in terms of travelling around Delhi on your own and meeting people at a hostel, we’d recommend Zostel as the best hostel for solo travellers in Delhi. It’s located right in the heart of Paharganj (backpacker sorta area, V central, aren’t you lucky), it’s warm and welcoming, and there’s no hassle to get in and out of central you just… step into it. Connaught Place and Old Delhi are a short walk away. It’s very friendly atmosphere-wise and the staff are delightful, too.
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Delhi – Jugaad Hostels
- $$$
- Cafe
- Common Room
- Free Breakfast
Located in the affluent South Delhi area of Haus Khaz – which is a pretty hip district – is this equally hip hostel, Jugaad. The decor is a minimalist-rustic sort of thing, the atmosphere is great, and there’s a common room where you can chill/work. Exploring the Hauz Khas area with its cafes and restaurants and art and stuff is definitely something you’ll want to do – that’s why we reckon this is the best hostel for digital nomads in Delhi. You don’t wanna just see all the tourist stuff/get scammed, do you? Well, this is a slice of local, modern Delhi that someone on the road long-term will appreciate. A V cool little oasis.
Overall Best Hostel in Delhi – The Madpackers Hostel
- $$$
- Rooftop Terrace
- Cafe & Restaurant
- Air Conditioning
Whoa everybody! Watch out, it’s the MADPACKERS, whoaaa, crazy! What’s mad about it is not quirkiness, zaniness, any other kind of kooky madness, but rather its GOODness. It’s really good. The overall best hostel in Delhi, in fact. Amazing staff are able to help you get acquainted with Delhi (let’s face it, Delhi is a lot to take in on a first visit) and make you feel more comfortable; e.g. they can book trains for you – saves a LOT of hassle, trust. All in all the vibe of this place, although it’s not the cheapest, all adds up to the best hostel in Delhi 2021, what can we say?
The Madpackers Hostel is one of our favourites in Delhi 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.
Best Cheap Hostel in Delhi #1 – Roots Hostel
- $
- Late Check-Out
- Air Conditioning
- 24-Hour Reception
WHAT!? This place is SUPER cheap. Even by Delhi backpacker hostel standards it’s cheaper than everything else by a longshot. Really. And is it a dive? Is it horrible? No, it’s neither, it’s a really laid-back place (rare for Delhi) set away from the madness of the city centre and as such it attracts laid-back travellers. So it’s a win-win – cheap AND social AND nice surroundings. That’s why it’s our pick for best cheap hostel in Delhi. It’s clean, nicely decorated, got loads of communal spaces, and it’s situated in the posh Sainik Farms area (South Delhi). Basically a sick hostel full of cool people.
Roots Hostel is one of our favourites in Delhi 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.
Best Cheap Hostel in Delhi #2 – An After Story
- $
- Common Room
- Self Catering Facilities
- 24-Hour Reception
This is another fancy (but cheap) recommended hostel in Delhi. It’s located to the southwest of the city, but still within the gargantuan sprawl of it all. So if you wanna get central, you can get central. It’s not as fancy as some of the others, but a bit more playful in the decor, which perhaps reflects the awesome nature of the amazing staff at An After Story. We know, the name is weird for us too, but so are many hostel names. Essentially – but let’s not make too big a deal of it – this is an airport hostel, since it’s just 10 mins away. And that is just ultra convenient.
An After Story is one of our favourites in Delhi 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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View on Osprey View on REIBest Cheap Hostel in Delhi #3 – Nomadia Hostel By Anara Homes And Villa
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Cafe
- 24-Hour Reception
Nomadia Hostel is another top hostel in Delhi that’s located in the hip south-side of the city. That is usually synonymous with being pretty cool, and this is certainly another contender for the coolest hostel in Delhi – mainly for the beautiful, stylish decor which we just can’t get enough of in all these South Delhi backpackers hostels. Unlike some of the other hip hostels, Nomadia is actually a little bit cheaper, which makes all the difference if you’re looking for a budget hostel in Delhi – especially one that’s a bit cooler than some of the more central offerings.
Nomadia Hostel By Anara Homes And Villa is one of our favourites in Delhi 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.
Best Hostel for Couples in Delhi – LetsBunk Poshtel
- $$$
- Cool AF
- Free Breakfast
- Common Room
We don’t think we’ve ever seen such an Instragrammable place as this one. It’s easily, EASILY, the best hostel for couples in Delhi because, well, you want to be staying somewhere amazing that you’re gonna remember, right? So here’s the place. LetsBunk Poshtel is all about ultra-minimalism: a lot of white and dark metal creates cool contrast, angular furniture and retro-futuristic touches help finish the vibe off. Jeez. It’s just really cool. In fact, let’s say the COOLEST hostel in Delhi. Yeah, let’s say that. It’s out of the centre, but there’s plenty around the hostel in terms of restaurants and bars. Wow tho.
LetsBunk Poshtel is one of our favourites in Delhi 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.
Best Party Hostel in Delhi – Soul Stay
- $$
- BBQ
- Free Breakfast
- Common Room
Often wary of things that have ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’ in the title because, well, it might just be an excuse to be a bit more earthy and less clean and tidy, you know? Thankfully that is NOT the case at Soul Stay. And when we say best party hostel in Delhi, bear in mind this is DELHI and not SE Asia. It’s a fun place with a great atmosphere and a list of weekly activities to keep you on your toes. It’s a lil’ oasis located outside the city centre but still, they take you out drinking and dancing, for rooftop dinners, and for chill sessions (???). Feels very homely and you’ll love it if you’re sociable and like fun.
Soul Stay is one of our favourites in Delhi but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Delhi – The Hosteller
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Bar & Cafe
- (Huge) Outdoor Terrace
Wow, ok, so this place is almost the coolest hostel in Delhi – but we already covered that one. Though this place is definitely a close runner-up… or maybe it’s a tie. We’re not sure. We do however reckon that this hostel is the best hostel with a private room in Delhi. The private rooms here are BIG and they’re VERY COOL. Exposed brick walls painted white, minimalist layout, clean lines… it’s very design-oriented and we love that. We also love the huge outdoor space they’ve got filled with tables, pool table, etc. where they put on nice little events sometimes (including beer pong). Also near a metro station.
The Hosteller is one of our favourites in Delhi 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.
More Best Hostels in Delhi
Some neighborhoods are more fun than others – discover which are the best areas to stay in Delhi and then book the right hostel!
AmigosIndia
- $$
- Cafe
- Air Conditioning
- Bicycle Hire
A very friendly and welcoming place, this youth hostel in Delhi definitely lives up to its name in that regard. It features bright and eclectic (if a little basic) decor, the beds are comfortable, but most of all the staff are amazing and we say it so many times it’s almost boring now but GOOD STAFF IS GOOD. Basically. But yeah they’ll sort you out with onward travel plans and stuff – that’s the sort of thing that you’ll actually be very thankful for in India, really. It’s also a great location for getting to the airport since it’s not actually very central at all.
Joey’s Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- 24-Hour Reception
We’re not sure who Joey is but this is his hostel and it’s very central. It’s not in the main backpacker area of Paharganj, it’s east of that part, but you can still get into the thick of it very easily. The staff are very welcoming and friendly, and make you feel at home as soon as you arrive. There’s always someone on-hand to ask about travel or general Delhi advice (you’ll probs need some). Overall it’s a great hostel: beds have individual lights/plug sockets/curtains, it’s got a good security system, there’s a lot of showers/toilets, and it’s just got good vibes all round. Decent choice.
goStops Delhi
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Common Room
- Tour/Travel Desk
First of all, you’ll be pleased to know that goStops is a chain of hostels all across India, so for assured quality and know-what-you’re-getting-ness, then you should be acquainted with these guys. Their Delhi iteration is the same. Decent. Staff who encourage the use of the common area – which they weirdly call ‘The Nursery’ – so people meet and mingle and all that, a fully equipped kitchen (though will you use it with so much tasty food around?), loads of New Delhi hotspots are in 10-15 min walking distance, they’ve got a lush outdoor area for chilling, it’s all modern and stylish. Need we say more?
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What to Pack for your Delhi 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.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Delhi
That’s all I got amigos. You have made it to the finish line of my best hostels in Delhi 2021 list.
By now you have gathered that navigating Delhi is a hair-raising experience.
Hopefully with the help of this hostel guide you can book a comfortable hostel for yourself and find a little respite away from the city’s chaos.
Backpacking in Delhi and India in general is a hell of an experience. Through all of the fun, pain, and beauty, getting quality rest is obviously super important.
Where you stay matters. You are now sufficiently armed to confront the day-to-day hassle of visiting Delhi by booking one of the best hostels in Delhi.
Whether you are looking for the cheapest possible hostel, a place to grab a private room in Delhi, or just a centrally located hostel so you can get in and get the hell out with ease, this hostel guide provides you will all of those options and more.
All of the best hostels in Delhi are now on the table. The choice of where to book is yours!
Still not sure where to book? Feeling a bit like your standing in the middle of a Delhi bazaar? No worries…
When in doubt, I recommend that you just book my overall top pick for best hostel in Delhi: The Madpackers Hostel. Happy Travels guys!
FAQ about Hostels in Delhi
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Delhi.
Travel Safety Tips for Delhi
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.
More Epic Hostels in India and Asia
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Delhi.
Planning an epic trip all across India or even Asia itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Asia, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Delhi has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
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!
